41–50 of 60 posts
These days we use Trello with a card for each lead, where we keep track of the current status. The card moves between different states as we engage with the client (kanban style).
If you keep your mails in Gmail you already have a powerful tool to handle them and don't need CRM support for that.
In our company we use plain TXT files with an agreed formatting between the team mates. We have the plain TXT files stored in dropbox shared location. Easy, slick, cost 0, and accessible by search through OSX Spotlight. Also, we don't depend on third parties (we can move disconnect from dropbox at any time)
Could you post a template? That's a neat way of doing it.
Streak is a dead simple way for managing "things with workflows/pipelines". It lives in gmail so the overhead pretty low. http://www.streak.com/
+1. This is what I use as well. It is dead simple to use and free.
I'm also keeping an eye on FullContact. A few slight tweaks to their tagging feature and they'll be a great lightweight CRM for solo folks.
Agree with everyone saying to use something like Trello, Asana, Google Docs, etc. Unless you need a "special" CRM feature, I think you can get by on using a generic tool that fits your workflow, and is simpler to get going with. I'm building Notedock[0], it's really a general tool underneath all messaging on the homepage. I actually use it as a CRM, with a page for each contact (you can put all relevant details here,…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'll go further and say that researching CRM's only feels like work. It isn't. Cold calling and chasing contracts and closing them and completing the contracted work is all that counts as actually working. Choosing and installing and learning a CRM is easier. That's why it doesn't count.
Perfect observation of real, honest-to-God procrastination. You are usually better served taking the time researching the CRM and slacking off. Or at the very least admitting that the CRM research is part of your time off, not your job.
As explained by some posters above we did the procrastination thing and spent time researching CRMs :). Our situation however was 3 people selling lots of leads, managing mentors and investors and keeping track of a few hundred customers. I wrote a review of our findings, http://renooble.tumblr.com/post/79551891411/crms-for-small-s...
You are doing it wrong. I don't mean to be contrarian but if you want to be successful as a independent developer (I have been for almost 15 years now) and you are looking for a CRM you are off the rails. CRM systems are for the most part, for companies or sales individuals who need help managing the number of contacts they have at any given time and ensuring they follow a structured interaction pattern. I know about…