Are CRM-related tasks causing you more stress than you imagined they would? You want to take advantage of your CRM tool, but it’s taking your time and energy away from other operations!
If this sounds like you, I can relate! Only a few years ago, I was in your position: trying to implement CRM technology but feeling overwhelmed while doing it!
Hi, my name’s AJ! I recently sold my company for multiple seven figures. Now, I run Small Business Bonfire to help aspiring entrepreneurs.
One thing that helped my company use CRM software effectively was when I (finally) hired a CRM manager!
If you want to learn how a CRM manager can help take your sales, revenue, and efficiency to unimaginable levels, keep reading!
Key Takeaways
CRM managers create systems to improve client relationships and generate more sales.
A CRM manager should have excellent communication and organization skills and extensive company knowledge.
CRM manager education, experience, and skillset are things that determine the position’s salary.
Related Reading: Best Small Business CRM
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A CRM manager creates systems and other strategies that develop stronger customer relationships between the company and its clients.
These managers aim to understand customer needs better than anyone else!
As a result, companies discover the best ways to address and exceed customer expectations, creating more long-term clients!
CRM managers play a critical role in business success for several reasons!
For instance, these employees help with the following things:
Improving customer satisfaction rates Increasing sales opportunities Enhancing business operations
Let’s look into why these reasons are vital aspects to consider.
Improved Customer Satisfaction
CRM managers interact directly with customers, understand their needs, and ensure that the company is meeting them.
Because these employees spend so much time getting to know your customer base, it leads to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty!
Customer loyalty is critical because selling to repeat customers is significantly less expensive than selling to a new client!
Increased Sales Opportunities
By understanding customer behavior and needs, CRM managers can identify potential sales opportunities.
These sales opportunities have a higher chance of converting because these managers understand your target audience.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency
Lastly, a CRM manager streamlines and automates customer management processes!
As a result, this frees up resources and improves operational efficiency.
A CRM manager’s role encompasses various responsibilities to ensure effective customer relationship management.
For instance, these employees are tasked with analyzing customer interactions and data throughout the customer lifecycle to improve the following aspects:
Business relationshipsCustomer retentionDriving sales growth
On top of that, you can expect a CRM manager to handle the following things:
Developing, implementing, and monitoring systems for customer contactCollaborate with the sales and marketing teams to develop tailor-made strategies for customer engagement and problem resolution.Training and supporting team members to use the CRM system effectively and efficiently
What does a CRM manager do on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis?
Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered.
A CRM manager’s weekly responsibilities include the following things:
Meticulously monitoring customer interactions and dataPinpointing areas that need improvementStrategizing for better customer engagement
These managers organize and analyze data, draw insights, and prepare reports to share with the sales and marketing departments!
Also, a CRM manager routinely updates the CRM software and trains team members on its efficiency.
As a result, this ensures everyone is up-to-date with the latest customer engagement practices!
Every month, a CRM manager is responsible for organizing and overseeing larger-scale CRM initiatives, such as:
Launching customer engagement campaigns Implementing significant system updates
Also, a CRM manager analyzes the data a company collects over the month to identify trends or shifts in customer behavior, drawing actionable insights.
Lastly, these managers conduct monthly performance reviews of the CRM software, making necessary adjustments to ensure optimal functionality and effectiveness!
On a quarterly basis, a CRM manager must do the following things:
Conduct comprehensive reviews of customer relationships Identify trends in customer data Make strategic recommendations to upper management based on insights
Also, CRM managers oversee major CRM-related projects, such as:
Large-scale system upgrades The rollout of company-wide customer engagement initiatives
By overseeing these objectives, managers ensure the company executes these projects on time and within budget!
The average salary for a customer relationship manager is $110,300.
Of course, the average salary depends on several factors, including the following:
Experience Years with the company The average salary in your location Education Additional accolades or certifications
A successful CRM manager can make over $150,000 with the proper training and skillset!
While both roles are crucial in managing customer relationships, a CRM manager and coordinator have distinct responsibilities!
For instance, a CRM manager typically oversees the strategic development and execution of customer relationship initiatives.
Further, these managers leverage CRM software to do the following things:
Understand customer behaviorsIdentify sales opportunitiesImprove operational efficiency
On the other hand, a CRM coordinator often handles the tactical, day-to-day tasks such as:
Data entryReportingSupport for sales and marketing teams
Essentially, a CRM coordinator ensures the smooth functioning of the CRM software but does not necessarily drive the overarching strategy!
Sales and CRM managers are two roles small business owners often mix up because they sound similar!
However, like the previous example, these roles focus on different areas of the company.
Remember, the CRM manager is primarily responsible for managing and analyzing customer interactions throughout the customer lifecycle to do the following things:
Improve customer retentionFoster business relationships Drive sales growth
On the other hand, a sales manager is responsible for the following things:
Directly overseeing a company’s sales teamSetting sales goalsCreating sales strategies and forecasts Working towards achieving goals by providing guidance and mentorship to the sales team members
As you can see, CRM and sales managers play pivotal roles in creating a successful company.
Still, the positions do so in different ways!
Before you hire a CRM manager, it’s crucial to understand the qualifications to look for!
Education-wise, an exceptional CRM manager should hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field.
On top of that, these employees must have a deep understanding of CRM software.
Also, these managers should have analytical prowess to interpret customer data and draw valuable insights!
Outstanding communication skills are essential for coordinating with various teams and presenting strategies.
Lastly, a strong CRM manager should exhibit excellent leadership skills because they will be responsible for guiding teams!
How do you know if your small business demands a CRM manager?
First and foremost, if your company doesn’t have a CRM system, you don’t need a CRM manager (that one’s obvious, right?).
Also, if your business has started to accumulate a large amount of customer data that’s difficult to manage, that’s a key indicator a CRM manager might be necessary!
When your customer service representatives are missing customer inquiries, or customer satisfaction drops, a CRM manager can help you streamline your response and improve service.
Another sign you need this type of manager is if your sales and marketing teams are not working cohesively due to a lack of shared customer insights.
Your business may also need a CRM manager if you need to utilize your CRM software to its full potential.
Lastly, if your company is scaling rapidly, the need for a CRM manager becomes crucial to handle growing client relationships effectively!
Have you been searching for the best way to hire a client relationship manager?
If so, this four-step process is what you need!
The first step in finding the best manager for your CRM needs is outlining their responsibilities.
It’s best to meet with each department within your company to see which CRM manager skills and responsibilities are most needed.
That way, you hire someone who can help your entire company, not just one department.
It’s critical to be specific when outlining the responsibilities you want your CRM manager position to take care of.
Next, you must post the job offer!
Otherwise, how will you find qualified candidates?
Some reputable job-positing sites include the following:
LinkedIn IndeedZipRecruiter Monster
Ensure your job posting clearly lists the tasks and responsibilities associated with the position.
Also, it’s beneficial to list the salary (or a range) of the position because applicants understand what they’re in for!
The third step is reviewing the list of applicants who applied for your job posting.
It’s crucial to take your time with this step because you want to make sure you get the best person for the job!
Also, it’s beneficial to meet the most qualified applicants in person and ask more in-depth questions.
As you’re reviewing applicants, remember to look for the following things:
Experience: Note how many years the applicant has worked as a manager and with CRM processes Skills: Does the applicant have any CRM-related certifications or special skills to help them with customer relations? Communication. CRM manager duties demand a lot of communication; ensure this person not only has technical skills but communication skills as well.
After you and your team believe you’ve found the PERFECT person for the CRM manager’s job, it’s time to extend the job offer!
It’s critical to set a timeline for the offer when you send it to a candidate.
That way, you aren’t stuck waiting weeks for a response!
Also, ensure the candidate feels welcome to ask any questions before accepting the position.
What tools do CRM managers need in order to be successful?
The three things I’ve found most helpful in boosting customer loyalty, department-wide communication, and overall communication include:
Excellent CRM software A communication tool A task management tool
Here’s everything you need to know about each of these tools!
First off, CRM managers need a top-notch CRM platform to do their job efficiently!
An excellent CRM system is distinguished by its ability to efficiently manage and analyze customer interactions and data throughout the lifecycle.
As a result, your CRM should be able to do the following things:
Enhance business relationshipsCreate more customer loyaltyDrive sales growth
Further, here are some key features CRM systems should have:
Ease of useMobile accessIntegration capabilities with existing systemsRobust reporting on the customer experience Customizable dashboards for a comprehensive view of customer activities
Customer relationship management campaigns are more effective and easier to track with an advanced system that meets your company’s needs!
HubSpot CRM is one of the most popular CRM providers in the industry (and for a good reason!).
HubSpot does an excellent job of creating plans to match varying needs.
For instance, if your company is new to customer relationship strategies, HubSpot offers a free version of its CRM software!
Plus, HubSpot offers advanced tools and features, including the following:
SEO tools Advanced Reporting Sales automation Predictive lead scoring Customizable dashboards and reports
Check out our in depth HubSpot CRM review!
Pipedrive is a CRM tool designed to help your sales process flourish!
Some of Pipedrive’s top features include the following:
A visual sales pipelineCustomizable pipelines to match your sales cycle Team collaboration tools Activity reminders Segment leads Contact history
A good CRM manager can utilize Pipedrive to take your sales process from just okay to performing better than before!
To learn more about Pipedrive, check out our extensive Pipedrive review!
Last but certainly not least is Pipeline CRM!
Several businesses love using Pipeline because it’s easy to set up, allows for third-party integrations, and has an array of customization tools.
Also, Pipeline offers free trials, allowing your team to test customer relation strategies on the platform before buying anything!
Pipeline CRM is designed to improve sales processes and the overall customer experience.
Are you interested in learning more about Pipeline CRM? Check out our complete Pipeline CRM review!
Every modern customer relationship professional needs a communication tool!
That way, your CRM manager can communicate with your customer service, sales, and marketing departments easily.
Slack has an excellent free version that brings everyone together seamlessly.
As a result, your team can accelerate deals and ensure everyone is on the same page.
According to Slack’s website, the software can boost average win rates by 27% and average sales productivity by 26%!
For a free platform, it’s a no-brainer to add Slack to your toolbox alongside your CRM strategy!
Asana is a leading task management tool that helps keep everyone on the same page and working efficiently!
With Asana, you can manage complex work easily by creating a list view of all the tasks you must complete.
On top of that, Asana creates an easy-to-read timeline view of all of your company’s tasks, ensuring you complete all the top-priority tasks.
Other features that make Asana excellent include the following things:
Over 200 integrations Automated workflows AI capabilities Gantt chart timelinesGoals Advanced Reporting
Lastly, Asana has a plan for everyone!
That said, Asana offers a free plan, which is perfect for small businesses.
When you’re ready to advance, plans range from $10.99 to 24.99 per user per month.
Does your company need a CRM manager?
If so, you now have everything you need to hire one with confidence!
Remember, these managers must have excellent communication skills, understand CRM technology, and know how to lead others.
Good luck as you and your team find the perfect CRM manager! Let us know if we missed anything in the comments below!
The post What is a CRM Manager? Outline for Small Businesses appeared first on Small Business Bonfire.
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