There is always new technology, a new gadget, or some sort of brand new marketing tool panacea being released every year. With so many options out on the market, how do you know what’s right for your company?
Given the nature of the line of work, digital marketing agencies need to scan, store, and analyze a large amount of consumer data quickly. But without the appropriate foundational tools you can be subjected to quick upsells or scams in an effort to bring your business to scale. So, what foundational tools, you ask? Enter: a CRM.
A CRM (customer relationship management) software is a powerful tool that can be leveraged by digital agencies of all sizes. So, how can a CRM platform be beneficial to marketing agencies? With just one software, you can acquire and track new leads, foster relationships, and manage projects. Instead of managing things in an excel spreadsheet or email reminders, a CRM can wrap up all the loose ends to follow up within one neat package.
In this article, we explain why digital marketing agencies should consider getting a CRM system, and how it could help your agency become its best version yet in 2023.
What Do Digital Marketers Use?
Digital marketing agencies use a myriad of services and softwares for their day to day operations. From chatting up clients to planning the next campaign, specialized tools are the lifeline of any digital agency.
- Email automation systems: Email remains the backbone of a strong B2B and B2C marketing strategy.
- Project management apps: Juggling multiple projects and campaigns can easily lead to disorganization. Project management apps help agencies stay organized and connected. This also allows better coordination and cooperation among team members due to task delegation and timeline tracking.
- Lead tracker: The sales funnel is more marketing-oriented than it is sales oriented. Lead trackers built on sites, landing pages, and social media pages are a great way to keep track of interested prospects.
- Document storage: With cloud-based software, agencies can create, launch, and analyze a campaign whenever, wherever. That’s where cloud-based document storage comes in handy.
How CRM Can Help Digital Marketers
A marketing CRM can merge the benefits of all the previous tools. For example, with email optimization tools, marketers can now track emails based on opens, click-through rates, bounce rates, and replies. Tasks related to lead follow up, or deliverable progress, can be done through intrinsic PM functionality. And related documents, invoices, or contracts can be stored in cloud based document containers. So, what are the chief benefits of implementing a CRM tool into the ecosystem of your agency?
Benefits of Using a CRM
1. Real-Time Dashboard
Digital marketing agencies need to stay on top of their campaigns, no matter what. One of the most basic but essential features of the CRM is a real-time dashboard. Some CRMs even offer customizable dashboards so team members can access the information they need at a glance. This can be understood as a highlight reel of all the most important statistics and KPIs from ongoing promotions or organic content.
2. Marketing Automation
Writing, sending, and tracking emails all take time. This can easily add up to hours gone for your company. With a CRM software, it’s easier to get in touch with clients through automatic email campaigns. The email scheduling feature ensures they are sent out without fail. It syncs with your current email provider to send emails from your existing domain, and can even bring in current threads for tracking and lead assignment.
3. Track Sales Pipeline
Managing leads and clients is one of the biggest time sinks in a business. One of the best selling points of CRMs is the ability to manage leads and track their progression through the pipedrive. CRMs tie in email marketing and other business inputs so potential clients automatically get moved through the funnel.
4. Relationships Management
An agency can use CRM software to keep track of social media perception and online reviews and inquiries in real-time. Because everything is stored in your CRM software – from purchasing data to buyer history to preferences – customer service becomes one of the strongest points of your company. That means no more emails falling through the cracks, or line of communication going cold!
What to Look for In a CRM Software (They Aren’t all Built the Same).
Many CRMs lean into different selling points. Others are more marketing focused than their competitors. Some lean heavily into email automation and posting, while others hone in on lead management and sales.
Your software doesn’t have to be extremely creative – it just has to be compatible with your company. A few starting questions to determine fit can be:
- Is it easy to implement?
- Am I paying for more features than I need?
- Are my core marketing behaviors reflected in this software?
More than anything else, your chosen software should be compatible with your creative team. Your selected CRM’s user acceptance within your own firm should be a top priority.
Time to Supercharge
With CRM as your partner, you can focus on the creative aspects of agency work. Basic tasks can become scheduled, automated, and done in half the time. What would you do with more hours in the day, without extending past 5pm?
It’s all possible with the help of a CRM tool and strategic partners. Get in touch with us to learn more about your options, and how your digital marketing agency can benefit from the efficiency of a CRM platform!