I have to admit that every now and then, I want the sales “easy” button. Sales is tough at times, sure. But sales is about consistency, and that can mean a couple of things. First, keeping consistent efforts yields results. Some of the easiest ways to do this are maintaining progress and meeting client expectations. Second, it can also mean consistent communication. The easiest way to build rapport is not just by keeping touch, but by showing your value.
Salesmanna includes a valuable feature: the ability to build a newsletter. As amazed as I was to first learn about this feature, I worried about the time it would take. Like most sales people, I work hard to protect my selling hours. But if an effort produces results – in other words, I see the value – I’m all in.
Creating a newsletter sounds daunting, but it’s not. It’s an e-blast. It’s a touchpoint and a personalized selling feature that will set you ahead of your competition and take minimal time to create. Here’s an example. I wanted to share a recent success story about a partnership that generated positive outcomes. I can cut and paste pictures and send this information in an email, but I wanted a better layout and an explanation about how my products and services can help others like this customer. I wanted something more professional too.
With the newsletter feature, I can create an e-blast in a matter of minutes. I can include my logo, contact information, pictures, stories, and more. It takes less than 15 minutes to create a story that can generate hundreds of leads. I measure the ROI in my time invested by giving the newsletter stats a quick review. Who opened my emails and spent time with them? The engagement statistics tell me who my BEST prospects are and who connected with my message. I now have stronger credibility to follow up when I ask if someone enjoyed what I shared. It’s the best version of an “easy” button I could ask for, and it creates value that is memorable for your prospects.
Here’s another reason why this feature makes communication easier than you can imagine. Unlike using a separate e-blast system, my contacts are all in one place. I don’t have to import them or manage subscriptions (and I don’t have to pay when I have above 2,000 contacts). In just a couple of quick steps, I can create distribution lists for specific campaigns or send to all my contacts at once. The newsletter feature adds a touch of professionalism and value that puts you leaps and bounds ahead of your competition.
Value matters. And with Salesmanna, you get all the valuable features for one easy price.
You’ve heard of “CRM”- you may have even signed up for one, but you don’t know how to use it effectively. We see this problem all the time with small businesses.
What is a CRM?
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. It is a form of managing contact with all contacts- future customers, current customers, past customers. A good CRM will allow your business to manage all contacts along with the data and information associated with those contacts.
How do I use my CRM more effectively?
If you’re using a CRM now but don’t think you’re getting your money’s worth (or your time) from it, it might be because you aren’t using it well.
In order to get the most out of a CRM, first of all we suggest pairing it with your marketing automation. With an integrated CRM + Email Marketing tool, any leads from email marketing will link back to your customer profiles, and any tags in your CRM will help you send more effective emails. The two can be used separately but, like peanut butter and jelly, they’re just better together.
Another tip is to be glued to your CRM! Ironic, since most people using a CRM probably need to get off your computer and talk to someone face-to-face, we know. But if you ever forget to add a new contact to your CRM, you could miss an important lead. If you get a lead but forget to take notes on your opportunities, you may never follow up. This is why CRMs are so important. Having a good, integrated CRM tool is like having a hands-off personal assistant (that never takes vacation!)
Sales managers should be the first on the CRM bandwagon because a good CRM allows managers to see a dashboard and stats of their entire team. Good reporting helps managers mark sales goals, identify problems, and make the most of leads. In Salesmanna a manager can see what each salesperson is accomplishing throughout the week, month, or quarter. At any point the sales manager can gauge profit and sales goals from the dashboard reporting. These tools in the hands of a great manager can take any business from good to great.
Salesmanna’s basic plan is the CRM without Marketing Automation. Here is what we offer:
Track new leads
Nurture current leads
Keep records of conversations, calls, or emails
Email contacts directly from your contact book
Use tags to easily sort through contact lists
Search & filter through your entire contact list
Integrate with Salesmanna’s Marketing Automation tool to send email campaigns
Customize the fields that appear with each contact
Add contacts to lists for easier campaign and newsletter sending
Check out what we have to offer and let us know if you have any questions!
So, what exactly is Marketing Automation? Marketo.com defines Marketing Automation as “a category of technology that allows companies to streamline, automate, and measure marketing tasks and workflows, so they can increase operational efficiency and grow revenue faster.”
We like this definition, but let’s break it down a little better.
You started a business with your own savings and some elbow grease. You have 1000 interested followers on a sign up sheet sitting at the front of your store. What are you supposed to do with these email addresses?! That’s easy!
Those email addresses want something from you. “Keep me in the loop!” “Tell me about the new offers!” “Let me know if you have a giveaway!”
Don’t blow it! Make a plan, decide what you have to offer, and let them know about it. With Salesmanna, you can send your first email campaign to everyone and only nurture the actual leads that come from it. If one person clicks through to your website, you’ll know about it! Let that person know they’re valued, let them know you notice their interest. Offer a special deal or a referral discount to that customer! And the best part is that Salesmanna follows up with those interested leads AUTOMATICALLY. You don’t even have to press a button. It will send them a second email while you sleep. With a CRM + Email Automation software it is easier than ever to build meaningful, lasting relationships with interested customers.
Did you know an unhappy customer tells up to 20 people on average, while a happy customer only tells 5? It is well worth your investment to keep your customers happy.
