The Power of PM Tool-Based CRMs:
A Cost-Effective CRM Solution for Small Businesses
In today’s competitive business landscape, managing customer relationships is crucial for the success and growth of small businesses. While traditional CRMs can be complex and costly, there is a cost-effective alternative that offers a smart solution: PM tool-based CRMs.
In this blog, we will address common questions about the need for CRM software, the complexity of CRMs, and the hefty price tag associated with unused features.
We’ll also introduce PM tool-based CRMs as a game-changing alternative that levels the playing field for small businesses.
Get ready to discover the power of PM tool-based CRMs and how they can help you stay competitive without breaking the bank.
Table of Content
1. What is a PM tool-based CRM?
(i) Benefits
2. Drawbacks of traditional CRMs
3. Limitations of a PM tool based CRM
4.Tips for selecting the right tool to setup your CRM
5. Top PM tools for CRM management
5.1. ClickUp
5.2. Asana
5.3. Monday.com
Do I need CRM software? Why are CRMs so complex? And why should I pay hundreds of bucks even when I’m not using all the features?
Don’t worry! We have the answer to these burning questions and many more.
A Customer Relationship Management system, or CRM, is powerful software that helps businesses manage client-related data, store leads, address customer concerns, and ensure unmatched interactions with your brand. It’s a game-changer!
Small businesses always face tough odds. They need to play their cards wisely to stay in the game.
One critical factor that plays a crucial role in the sustenance and growth of businesses, especially small ones, is their ability to plan their finances efficiently.
If your cost-to-serve is higher than your competitors, they will have a significant edge over you. And that edge is enough to kick you out of the race.
But fear not! We have a solution that will level the playing field and help you stay competitive without breaking the bank. Get ready to discover the alternative that provides equal value without the hefty price tag
Why your business needs a CRM?
Are you a business owner who is not sure whether you need a CRM?
Worry no more, we got you covered!
We’ll explain to you the benefits of having a CRM in general, and if you ever at any point or time wanted to achieve any of the following, then a CRM is the way to go!
BTW, We don’t sell CRMs, so you can trust that our advice is unbiased and legit.
Personalized outreach:
A CRM helps you ensure a personalized experience for your clients by keeping track of all of their interactions with your business.
You can easily see what hooked them earlier, what you have pitched them before, and what you should pitch them in the future.
In today’s world, email marketing is no longer a “set it and forget it” strategy. If your message is not personalized, it will likely end up in the spam folder.
Data-driven decisions:
Using the data stored in a CRM, you can develop dashboards that will help you make data-driven decisions, especially when it comes to sales and marketing.
You can know how much you are spending to mature a lead, how many emails it takes to capture the interest of a lead, and so on.
This data can also help you set realistic KPIs for the future.
Execute more with less:
A CRM can help you save your sales and marketing teams from boring, recurring tasks.
You can automate email outreach, create and manage campaigns, fetch data directly from Google Ads or Meta to your CRM, and much more.
This will free up your team to focus on more strategic tasks, and it will also help you get more done with less.
Improved customer service:
According to a 2018 report, poor customer service costs businesses more than $75 billion per year.
Just imagine how much you could save by improving your customer service! One of the best ways to do this is to automate customer service tasks.
With a CRM, you can set up automation that will receive complaints and queries from clients and send them to the relevant person.
This will free up your team to focus on more important tasks, and it will also help you provide a better customer experience.
Pros of PM tool-based CRMs for small businesses:
Big players like Salesforce and HubSpot may seem tempting with their flashy features, but let’s be real here – they can be budget busters!
Fear not because we’re about to reveal a game-changing alternative: PM tool-based CRMs.
Get ready to discover why big CRMs can drain your funds and why a PM tool-based CRM is the savvy and cost-effective choice for your new business.
1. The Pricey Predicament:
According to a survey by Capterra, the average cost of a CRM implementation is around $5,000 per user, per year.
That’s quite a chunk of change, especially for a new business trying to make every penny count.
Big CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot often come with hefty upfront costs, complex pricing tiers, and add-ons that can send your budget spiraling out of control. Who needs that headache when you’re just starting out?
2. The Fun and Friendly Alternative
Platforms like Monday.com, Asana, and ClickUp offer CRM features that seamlessly integrate with your project management workflows.
With their intuitive interfaces and pricing plans that won’t make you break a sweat, PM tool-based CRMs give you the power to handle customer relationships by spending less that a 100 bucks per month in terms of tool subscription.
3. The Flexibility Factor:
PM tool-based CRMs offer a unique advantage: flexibility.
These tools are designed to adapt to your specific business needs and can be customized to fit your workflows seamlessly.
Unlike traditional CRMs that come with a predefined structure and fixed features, PM tool-based CRMs allow you to mold the system to align with your business processes.
This flexibility ensures that you’re not stuck with unnecessary features or limited by rigid systems.
4. The User-Friendly Advantage:
Another significant benefit of PM tool-based CRMs is their user-friendly interface.
Many project management tools prioritize ease of use and intuitive design, making them accessible even for users who are not tech-savvy.
You don’t need extensive training or a dedicated IT team to set up and use these CRMs effectively.
With drag-and-drop functionality, visual workflows, and user-friendly interfaces, you can quickly get up and running, saving you time and effort.
5. The Proof is in the Pudding:
PM tool-based CRMs have been gaining popularity among small businesses for a reason—they work!
These tools have proven track records of helping businesses streamline their customer relationship management processes effectively.
By centralizing customer data, tracking interactions, and automating tasks, PM tool-based CRMs enable businesses to enhance customer engagement, improve response times, and increase overall customer satisfaction.
The success stories of businesses leveraging these tools are a testament to their effectiveness.
Drawbacks of Expensive CRMs:
Established CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce offer a range of features and functionalities, they often come with a hefty price tag.
While considering CRMs for small businesses, the cost isn’t the only concern. There are also many other drawbacks that can affect the efficiency of a business.
Some of these drawbacks are covered below:
1. High Cost and Limited Scalability:
One of the primary drawbacks of expensive CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce is their high cost. These platforms typically come with complex pricing structures and require ongoing subscription fees, making them a significant financial burden for small businesses and startups.
Furthermore, as your business grows and your customer base expands, the costs of these CRMs can skyrocket, making it difficult to scale efficiently without costing a fortune.
2. Complex and Overwhelming Features:
While feature-rich CRMs can be appealing, they often come with a steep learning curve.
Expensive CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce are known for their extensive functionalities, but this complexity can be overwhelming, especially for small businesses with limited resources.
Learning how to navigate and fully utilize these features can take time and effort, diverting your focus away from core business activities.
3. Limited Customization and Flexibility:
Another drawback of expensive CRMs is their limited customization options.
These platforms often follow a standardized framework that may not align perfectly with your business processes and workflows.
Customization typically requires additional costs or technical expertise, creating barriers for small businesses seeking tailored CRM solutions.
4. Integration Challenges:
Integration is crucial for businesses that rely on multiple tools and software to streamline their operations. While established CRMs provide integration capabilities, the process can be complex and may require technical expertise or third-party services, adding to the overall costs. On the other hand, PM tool-based CRMs are designed to integrate seamlessly with popular project management tools, reducing integration challenges and simplifying your workflow.
5. Unnecessary Features:
Expensive CRMs often come with a wide range of features that may not be relevant to every business.
Paying for unnecessary features can be a waste of resources, especially if you only require essential CRM functionalities.
While expensive CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce have their merits but the drawbacks of high costs, complexity, limited customization, and unnecessary features make them less suitable for small businesses and startups.
That’s why we recommend small businesses to consider a customized PM tool-based CRM. Opting for a cost-effective alternative like PM tool-based CRMs offers a practical solution.
Drawbacks of Expensive CRMs:
While PM tool-based CRMs provide cost-effective solutions for small businesses, they do have limitations compared to comprehensive CRM platforms.
These tools may not offer the same level of depth and specialization in customer relationship management as dedicated CRMs.
Advanced features such as complex sales pipelines, deep analytics, or sophisticated reporting may be lacking in PM tool-based CRMs.
It’s important to assess your specific business requirements and determine if the features provided by PM tool-based CRMs align with your needs.
Tips for Choosing PM Tool to setup CRM:
Top PM Tools for Small Businesses:
ClickUp:
Asana:
Monday.com
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