Ten Great CRM Resources
November 19th, 2011Several times a week we get calls and emails from our awesome CloudContacts customers (and sometimes prospective customers) about which CRM tool is right for them and their business. I generally explain that there isn’t one size fits all and that their best bet is to try out a few of the services that we recommend and find the one that works best for them. It’s also important that they allow their team to try out the service as well. Feel free to contact us if we can help provide some guidance on which CRM tools are worth considering for your business.
I asked our newest team member Kayla to put together some great resources if you want to learn more about the variety of CRM services that are available and also keep up-to-date on CRM news and views. Here’s her list of ten of the top CRM resources:
1. PGreenBlog
Paul Greenberg, author of “CRM at the Speed of Light: Social CRM Strategies, Tools, and Techniques for Engaging Your Customers”, has been labeled by many the “godfather of CRM”. He is involved in a variety of CRM organizations, as well as having an award-winning blog. While the blog lacks in design and eye-appeal, reading his posts reveal why he received SearchCRM’s “Blog of the Year” award. Greenberg’s latest posts have been intensely detailed reviews of CRM businesses, and explaining new ideas of CRM. A recent move from Greenberg that will add fuel to the CRM flame is the creation of “CRM Idol”, a contest that is giving small, CRM-related companies the chance to shine.
This website, created from the editors of CRM magazine, provides CRM-related news to its audience. Along with a daily newsfeed, a blog is also available (destinationCRMblog.com) that voices their opinions on new innovations in the CRM world. While the blog lacks depth, the site provides a wide range of information.
Working as both a customer and provider of CRM companies, Richard Boardman strives to give advice to his readers and also “help organizations get real value from CRM technology”, according to his blog. While he focuses more on the technological aspect, he also goes into depth about many concepts that would educate and help anyone whether they be a customer or a provider.
4. Brent’s Blog
As a co-founder of CRM Essentials LLC, a CRM consulting/advisory firm, Brent Leary focuses on teaching business people the best practices of implementing CRM strategies.
5. FirstCoffee
Anything and everything CRM related is covered in an entertaining, yet opinionated context in this blog.
6. CRM Search
This website has the unique aspect different than other blogs and sites. A five-star review system is present, ranking everything CRM-related: software, books, even leaders and innovators. But along with reviews, the site also contains CRM news and a blog.
7. @CRM_Pulse
Although CRM Pulse isn’t a site or a blog, it’s a constant feed of CRM industry news via (drum roll, please): Twitter. If you are looking for the most impartial source of CRM news, it’s these guys. They gather CRM-related blog posts and news from many sources, bringing them together to create one steady flow of information you can find in one place. Their tweets mainly regard the activity of big CRM corporations like Salesforce and SugarCRM, as well as new integrations of CRM in business.
As a consultant with experience in both the private and public sector, Hailey’s blog is based on the implementation of CRM strategies and services.
9. CRM Mastery
Jim Berkowitz’s website design was by far the most appealing and his text wasn’t disappointing either. He focuses on statistics and strategies, and his commentary offers ideas and advice to the reader that couldn’t be found elsewhere.
Although it isn’t strictly a CRM blog, the blog focuses on the relationship between the corporation and the consumer. There tons of suggestions that would help a small company implement new CRM ideas.
