How fortunate we are! A Wealth of Hosted CRM
Over the weekend I had a chance to review an article by Lauren Carlson a CRM Analyst with Software Advice. I believe the purpose of the article is really to educate those considering investing time, energy and money in a hosted CRM solution that there is choice outside of Salesforce.com.
Lauren reviews 5 hosted CRM solutions that I am involved with or have had some involvement with and/or experience with in my past. I have had the opportunity of working at both Oracle and NetSuite. NetSuite being more suited to the SME marketplace. The Oracle CRM solution was spawned from the mega buyout of Siebel Systems. Many years ago I was involved with a practice implementing ACCPAC accounting applications for small businesses; this is where I first gain exposure to Sage CRM and of course when I originally started my consulting practice I was involved with SugarCRM. Today, having focused on Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online for my clients I have add a kaleidoscope of experience with all of these solutions.
Each of these solutions has its plus and minuses. Review Lauren’s article below to get her take on “5 Cloud CRM Systems to Consider”
Richard Bolton
Centricity360
Salesforce Alternatives | 5 Cloud CRM Systems to Consider
15 Key Elements All Top Web Sites Should Have | FreelanceFolder
15 Key Elements All Top Web Sites Should Have | FreelanceFolder.
This is a dated article from 2008, but I believe these points still hold true for a website today.
Richard – Centricity360
Social Media – Leads via LinkedIn Groups Most Likely to Convert : MarketingProfs Article
When assisting clients with LinkedIn strategies to drive traffic to blogs, websites or landing pages, I try to make certain that they are positioning thought provoking content within LinkedIn groups to drive traffic from a targeted audience. This MarketingProfs article highlights some interesting statistics on this very subject:
Social Media – Leads via LinkedIn Groups Most Likely to Convert : MarketingProfs Article.
Richard Bolton – Centricity360
Simple Marketing Formula…
I was reading a blog posting last week that I thought I’d share. Sometimes a 
really simple marketing formula can make a big difference in how to anticipate business growth for a new year.
It’s really important for small businesses owners to understand lead conversion. Lead conversion rate is basically the percentage of leads closed or converted to customers out of the total number of leads in a given year. The higher the lead conversion rate the faster you meet your business/revenue targets for the year.
Here is the excerpt from the posting on the Pollock Marketing Group website:
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# Clients/Conversion % = Leads Needed
Non-Profit’s – What’s your favourite Soup?
Being apart of a number of Non-Profit organizations in Ontario has always been a big part of how I give back to the community through my consulting company and personally. Whether it be Chairing the Marketing and Communication Committee for the Milton Chamber of Commerce, sitting on the Communication Committee for the United Way of Milton or my great joy, ski instructing for Ontario Track 3 Ski Association.
The advice I offer Non-Profits often more than not comes in the areas of marketing and technology. Regarding technology, one thing that always suprises me are non-profit orgainzations in Canada that do not take advantage of membership or in fact have never heard of TechSoup Canada.
TechSoup Canada is the Canadian partner of TechSoup Global. Many nonprofits and social benefit organizations worldwide serve the needs of low-income, underserved populations and create positive social change. We believe these organizations could have even greater impact through the appropriate use of technology. This requires assistance with obtaining, using, and sustaining technology.
Make certain that you join TechSoup to take advantage of great deals from technology companies like Microsoft, Symantec, Adobe and Cisco.
Register your organization today:
http://www.techsoupcanada.ca/getting_started/registering_your_organisation
Richard – Centricity360
Client referral incentives, building your business starts here.
One of the first strategies I discuss with clients when they want to grow their business is to ask their existing customers for referrals. Always a good strategy. I’ve seen and advised clients on creative strategies in offering referrals. One of my clients, an aesthetic spa, offers a gift certificate on Saturday’s if you introduce a new client to the spa by booking your appointment together. Works well. Think about your client base over the next few days and think of some creative ways to get referrals or just ask and remember to send them a thank you note.
Here’s an informative article in today’s Globe and Mail on client referral incentives:
Put Your Customers to Work for you. The Globe and Mail 27/08/2010
Richard
Centricity360
Social Media and Customer Acquisition- Paying off for Small Business……
Most of my social media clients are in the small business classification. Often I meet with prospects that are just unsure as to whether a social media campaign can help grow there business. There is more and more evidence that adding social media to your marketing mix can have a positive impact on your small business in the area of customer acquisition. I read a recent article on Click {Weekly} with statistics from eMarketer, stating that small business is generating net new customers through social media. It works, but it takes time and effort. Keep building your social media network, and yes it will pay off.
Social networks – the new frontier for customer acquisition
Richard
Centricity360
Marketing to Canadian SMB’s – Hmmmm short bursts of information……
I’m always very intrigued when ever I see an article on how to market to today’s busy entrepreneur. Since I target SMB’s in my business it’s always top of mind. When I read this article “Companies aim for bite-size Message” by Rick Spence of the Financial Post it really has changed the way I think about my own marketing. Let me know your thoughts on this article, does it change your approach?
www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=2284263
Richard
Centricity360
