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Effective CRM Consulting
Your CRM project is finally over...
...and your effective CRM consulting partner started it all off by listening carefully as you told him how badly you needed CRM software. He impressed you with his knowledge as he rattled off the various different software packages that you would need to be a CRM machine.
He then put together a quote that outlined each component of the software (most of which was meaningless to you - so he must be really smart) along with the implementation, integration and customization services necessary. You haggled on the software price and the hourly rate and once you were happy that you were getting the best price and not being ripped off...you signed the contract.
And now that you have that shiny box of software sitting on your shelf you're wondering how you will know if it was all worth it.
Effective CRM Consulting is not what that short story was about. Unfortunately, it is a very common scenario which is one of the major obstacles to turning the high CRM failure rate around. From salesmen and accountants being certified as CRM engineers by newly formed software companies...to CRM client companies that just won't understand that they need a solid customer relationship management (CRM) strategy before they start buying software. Software and a Plan go hand in hand.
As a CRM consultant, my focus is helping my client build a solid CRM Plan, or strategy, that will work in conjunction with a functional CRM platform (the software and technology). In my experience, the two do not work well without each other. Putting the two together is the effective CRM consulting we bring to the table.
A Value-Added Reseller (VAR), on the other hand, is focused on selling software which provides them a margin. This is also the lead in for a slew of related per-diem based services. Their comfort zone is selling, implementing and customizing software (to the clients set of requirements). What they are not comfortable with is finding the underlying problems that justify a major investment like this. Most of them are happy letting you think that their software will solve all your problems simply by installing it. If you are working with a VAR, I hope you have already developed a comprehensive strategy to guide them!
I'm sure that many of you have either searched for CRM solutions or have been approached by a software salesman cloaked as a CRM Consultant. If this is the case, then you've found a website that will open your eyes about how you can take your business up a notch. There's a lot of noise out there, so plug your ears and spend some time reading and thinking. I promise, I won't call you with a sales pitch.
Oh, by the way. I do work with CRM Software each and every day. It's a great platform to implement a well defined and effective CRM strategy. I couldn't deliver effective CRM consulting without it. But we'll get to that a little bit later.
| CRM Consulting Blog at Effective CRM Consulting The CRM Consulting Blog lets you know what's new at Effective CRM Consulting |
| A Simple CRM Definition I believe a good CRM definition is as follows: CRM is the application of a well developed customer strategy, based on a high level of customer awareness, to a properly matched set of CRM technologies and services. In other words there are two components, both of which are required, that make a successful CRM solution. |
| CRM Failures CRM Failures are prevalent. But they are totally avoidable. I do a little talking and then I leave it to you to share your story.... |
| CRM Success Stories CRM success requires a vision, customer awareness, an overall CRM strategy or plan and a thoughtful marriage with the technology that delivers it a measureable outcome. |
| Keep Your CRM Strategy Simple Without a CRM strategy, there is no guiding corporate wide vision for how you will interface with customers. This is a key component which works in conjuntion with your functional CRM initiative (the technology). It takes both to succeed. |
| CRM Software Saves the Day Let's just destroy the myth right off the bat. CRM Software cannot solve your problems for you. It's simply the vehicle we use to make CRM strategies and tactics more effective and efficient. |
| CRM News One stop shopping for CRM news. And the best part is that it's right in the middle of all of these CRM tips. |
| Contact Effective CRM Consulting If your business is about to invest time and money into a CRM initiative, or has not acheived the results they had hoped for, feel free to contact Effective CRM Consulting. It's possible one phone call can get you back on track but we're also here with a complete set of CRM related services if you need them. |
Contact Effective CRM Consulting
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crmvendors.wordpress.com
Hi Mike,
Some of your readers may find a blog I'm running crmvendors.wordpress.com (soon to be themarketingmojo.com ) to be useful. What I'm trying ...
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