CRM Systems Explained: Why Every Small Business Needs One

Written By Mark Lennon

ou’ve probably heard of CRMs — but if you still think they’re only for big corporations, think again. A good CRM can help even the smallest business manage leads, improve follow-up, and streamline marketing.

What Is a CRM?

A Customer Relationship Management system is software that stores your client information, tracks interactions, and helps you automate communication.

What Can It Do?

  • Keep all customer records in one place

  • Track emails, calls, meetings and follow-ups

  • Create sales pipelines

  • Automate email sequences

  • Improve conversion rates

Popular CRMs for Small Businesses:

  • Zoho CRM: Affordable and powerful (and a personal favourite)

  • HubSpot: Excellent free tier for beginners

  • Pipedrive: Great for sales teams

Signs You Need One:

  • You’re losing track of leads or follow-ups

  • You use spreadsheets to track customers

  • You can’t easily report on your pipeline or marketing performance

Bonus: Automation

Combine your CRM with email automation, lead scoring, and calendar booking to create a seamless customer journey.

Mark Lennon
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