Use CMS and CRM Tools To Grow Your Business
In the digital business world, it is critical for you to have tools that can help you save time and further the relationships you have with your customers, clients, and leads. That is why you might be thinking about CRM and CMS, but what are the differences between the two?
What Do CMS and CRM Stand For?
CRM stands for customer relationship management. This is a tool that you can use to build relationships with people who might be interested in purchasing your product and services. You can use a customer relationship management program to gradually move people down your sales funnel until they convert at the bottom.
On the other hand, CMS stands for content management system. This is a tool that you can use to help you post content on your website and social media profiles. Even though a CMS program can also help you build a relationship with your customers, it is more about helping you manage your digital footprint.
What are some of the differences between CRM and CMS, and how can you choose the right one for your company?
CRM: What Is Customer Relationship Management?
As mentioned above, CRM stands for customer relationship management. This is a tool that you can use to help you grow your company by keeping track of the interactions you have with your customers, clients, and the target market.
Your sales team probably has a lot of interactions with customers and leads during the course of the day, and it can be difficult for them to keep track of their interactions. Using this tool, you can make sure every potential customer and client feels valued.
It is possible for your sales team, and their teammates, to help you keep track of interactions they have with your customers and clients over time. That way, you don’t have to worry about forgetting about something you may have discussed with a customer or client, and you can make sure you don’t lose touch with those leads.
What Are the Benefits of a CRM Program?
If you decide to use a CRM program to help you grow your company, there are several benefits you might enjoy.
They include:
1. Improved Customer Service
One of the biggest benefits of using a CRM program is that you can dramatically improve your level of customer service. Using a CRM program, you can manage all of your contacts, collect important information regarding your customers, and keep track of your interactions with them.
That way, even if an employee has never spoken to a specific customer or client before, they can take a look at that customer’s history in your CRM program. That way, they can pick up right where the last person left off.
2. Better Customer Retention
You are probably focused on acquiring as many customers as possible. Customer acquisition is important, but you also need to focus on customer retention. You have worked hard to convert leads into paying customers, and you need to keep them.
If you have high rates of customer turnover, it can have a negative impact on your business. It can disrupt your cash flow, drive up your marketing expenses, and cut your profit margins. With a CRM program, you can access tools such as automated ticketing, sentiment analysis, and automatic cross-sell or up-sell opportunities. That way, you will have an easier time retaining your customers and clients.
3. Better Productivity
With the right CRM software, you can take advantage of marketing automation technology. That way, your employees do not spend as much time doing menial tasks, and they can focus more on carrying out various campaigns.
Furthermore, a CRM program can help you make sure that nothing falls through the cracks. You can use this tool to make sure your emails go to the right market segment, and you can take advantage of the dashboard that will provide you with detailed analytics. That way, you can make sure that your sales and marketing teams are as efficient as possible.
4. Improved Lead Communication
It can be incredibly arduous to nurture leads as they move through your sales funnel, but it does not have to be as tedious as people make it sound. With the right CRM program, you will make it easier for your sales and marketing teams to manage their communications with prospective clients.
For example, they can use this tool to take a look at the last touchpoint they had with a client. Then, if it has been a while, they can reach out to that client to follow up. You will have a potential client’s entire journey in front of you, and you can make sure you use the right tools to maximize your conversion rates.
5. Better Customer Segmentation
Your business might have hundreds or even thousands of potential customers sitting in a database. Everyone is at different points in the sales funnel, and some of them might be existing customers. You need to make sure you send the right messages and emails to the right people, and a strong CRM program can help you with that.
For example, you can use specific criteria to segment your contact list by location, age, gender, stage in the sales funnel, and prior sales. Then, you can choose the right sales and marketing materials to send to the right people, helping you maximize your conversion rate.
Clearly, there are a lot of benefits a CRM program can provide, and you need to select the right program for your company. How is this program different from a CMS program?
What Is a Content Management System?
When someone is looking for specific products and services, they probably are going to use the internet. You want to make sure your company shows up, and that means having a strong online presence. A content management system, usually shortened to CMS, is a program that you can use to create content, publish it on your website, and edit content down the road. You do not necessarily need coding knowledge to use a CMS program, and it can make it easier for you to handle numerous pages of content and social media profiles.
If you want your business to be successful today, you must make sure you have a strong website. Developing and updating websites can be arduous, but CMS software can make it easier.
This program will provide you with a user-friendly interface that can help you track the content you publish on your website. This could include everything from landing pages to pillar pages and from blog posts to press releases. If your company has an e-commerce arm, a strong CMS program can help you with that as well.
What Are the Benefits of a CMS Program?
With access to a comprehensive CMS program, there are several benefits you will notice.
Some of the top benefits include:
1. Saves Time
Time is one of your most valuable resources, and a strong CMS program can help you save time. Building a website from scratch can be very difficult, but a CMS program can automate a lot of the tasks that you used to do by hand.
For example, you might want to use a CMS program to drag and drop certain elements into place. Or, you might want to use a CMS program to make quick edits to some blog posts. You don’t have to worry about changing complicated strings of code with a CMS tool.
2. Help With SEO
If you want people to notice your website, you need to take advantage of search engine optimization. It is usually shortened to SEO, and it is the process of making your website friendlier to search engines.
For example, you might be wondering where to use certain terms. Or, you might want to add alt-text and meta titles to your website. These are all issues that a strong CMS program can help you handle.
3. Access Customization Options
A strong CMS program will also provide you with a wide array of customization options. With plugins and extensions, you can add new functions to your program.
As an example, you might want to install plug-ins that can help you handle shopping carts on your e-commerce platform. Or, you might want to create specific content forms that you can share on certain pages. You can even use a CMS tool to compress images, making it easier for your website to load images and videos quickly.
4. Schedule Content in Advance
If you want people to keep coming back to your website, you need to update your information regularly. Therefore, you should consider scheduling content in advance. You could even schedule one blog post to post every day for a month with a CMS program.
You need to do research to figure out when your content performs the best. Then, consider publishing it at a time when as many people are going to see it as possible. A CMS program can help you schedule your content.
5. A Mobile-Friendly Platform
Finally, you can even use a CMS program when you are on the go. Most of these programs have a mobile option that allows you to edit your website and post content even when you are on the go.
On the flip side, you can also use a CMS program to make sure your website is mobile-friendly. There is a strong chance that mobile internet traffic is going to surpass computer traffic in the near future, so you need to make sure that your website will load well on mobile devices.
Clearly, a CMS tool can be important for your business. At the same time, you need to understand the differences between CRM and CMS software.
What Are the Main Differences Between CRM and CMS?
There are several notable differences between these two important platforms. They include:
Track Customer Interactions
If you need a tool that can help you track interactions you have with individual customers, you need a CRM program. A CRM program will provide the user with access to a list of phone calls, emails, and text messages that might have been sent between the customer and the company.
Use a CRM program that can help you make sure you don’t forget about conversations you have with customers.
Website Maintenance
You need to make sure your website is working as it should. Website maintenance can fix broken links, ensure content loads correctly, and prevent your bounce rate from going out. This is the job of a CMS program, which is responsible for keeping your website up and running.
Make sure you use a CMS program to keep an eye on various aspects of your website.
Move Leads Down the Funnel
If you want to acquire new customers, a CRM tool can help you keep track of individual leads. You can watch as certain prospects move down the sales funnel, making sure they are exposed to the right marketing materials along the way.
Use a CRM tool to ensure you keep in regular contact with potential customers and clients.
Publish Content
You need to publish content regularly if you want customers and clients to remain interested in your business. A CMS program is a tool that can help you schedule content in advance, making sure people know your website is still active. Regular publishing can also improve your search results ranking.
Find a CMS tool that can help you plan out your content in advance. Strong content should be attractive to both website visitors and search engines.
Both Are Valuable
Marketing campaigns depend on customer data, and both of these programs can help you improve your sales processes. There are different customer relationship management software and content management systems out there, and you need a contact management system to help your marketing and sales teams.
Improve Your Customer Interactions With CMS or CRM Software
Customer management is critical for both a regular and an eCommerce business. Use both CRM and CMS software to help you with your sales pipeline. Evaluate the benefits of all CMS or CRM solutions, and select the best one for your sales and marketing team.
