Choosing a CRM as a Female Entrepreneur: Simple Before Clever

Someone enquired three weeks ago. You meant to follow up. Their email is somewhere under a school newsletter and a parcel notification.

That’s what a CRM (customer relationship manager) fixes: one place for every person, every conversation and every next step.

Process before tool

Before you look at any software, write down how a client moves through your business:

1. They find you.
2. They enquire.
3. You talk.
4. They book, or they don’t yet.
5. You deliver.
6. You follow up.

Your CRM only needs to track those steps. Anything more is optional.

What to look for

• easy to add a contact from your phone
• a simple pipeline view (columns for each stage)
• reminders for follow-ups
• connects to your calendar and email
• a free or low-cost plan to start

Set it up in an afternoon

• Create your stages.
• Add everyone you’ve spoken to in the last three months.
• Set one follow-up date for each.
• Block 15 minutes a week to update it.

The real test

The best CRM is the one you open every week. Simple beats clever.

If you’d like steady support while you put systems like this in place, Pocket Partnership (from £247/mo) gives you monthly coaching with Carlene.

Who’s waiting for a follow-up from you right now?