The CRM Marathon Finish Line
Once you have come such a long way on your CRM marathon, it’s only natural to start looking for the finish line. You deserve a medal – or at least some sort of reward or recognition for getting this far,…
The CRM Marathon: Rest Breaks
When running a CRM marathon, you can sometimes become so focused on keeping up the pace that you forget to enjoy the scenery along the way. But if you sprint from the starting line at full speed, you can quickly…
The CRM Marathon – and CRM Hurdles
To finish a CRM marathon, you will need patience and persistence. Honestly, almost no runner feels like getting up at 5 a.m. every day to hit the road, but real winners keep going. They know that if they persist, they…
CRM Marathon Coaches
It’s impossible to win any race without a good coach. Not everyone has had experience rolling out a CRM system before. Many firms also lack adequate internal resources or have limited bandwidth. As a result, asking for help isn't just…
CRM Success Steps and Strategies – Part 11: Don’t Do It Alone
If this all sounds a bit overwhelming, don't worry. Few people have the extensive experience to successfully deploy a CRM system by themselves. Still fewer are excited about expending the effort to get this experience. Fortunately, you don't have to…
CRM Success Steps and Strategies – Part 6: Roll Out Gradually
Once you have selected your system, you can begin planning for the CRM rollout. Don't make the mistake of attempting a “boil the ocean” implementation, deploying too many features to too many people in too big a hurry. Firm wide rollouts…
Diving Into CRM
Have you ever heard the saying that you have to walk before you can run? It’s usually being spouted off by one of those really annoying self-important know-it-alls with all of their clever little sayings. You know, the ones who…
The CRM Marathon
When you first begin a CRM rollout in your firm, it's easy to get carried away and want to really take off right out of the gate. It's perfectly understandable that you might get excited about the potential of CRM to help…
Communication for CRM Success Part 1: Effective, Ongoing Communication
Whether you are rolling out a new CRM system or trying to enhance the adoption or participation with your current system, effective CRM communications is key. At most firms, you've really got to talk it up. In some firms, you may…
CRM Success by the Numbers… It’s As Easy as 1, 2, 3
When people who are tasked with responsibilities for CRM systems are asked to define success, many words come to mind - words like challenging, demanding, difficult, stressful, time-consuming… painful, impossible, unattainable… changing jobs, retiring, quitting, outa here... It can be…
Your CRM Journey – Part 8: Rest Stops
Sometimes, when you are trying diligently to get to your ultimate CRM destination, the temptation can be to really ‘put the pedal to the metal’ and try to get there as quickly as possible. The problem is that when you…
Your CRM Journey – Part 3: Travel Companions
It’s always more fun to travel with a friend, so you may want to invite some CRM users and other folks along for the ride. CRM is a team sport. Trying to go it alone is not only incredibly painful…
CRM Success by the Numbers – Part 3: Proxies for Progress
There are also some good numbers that can be used as proxies for CRM success and progress, especially during the initial stages of a CRM rollout. This is a time when it can be a bit premature to try to…
Slow and Steady Wins the CRM Race
To win the marathon and achieve CRM success, you have to take things at a slow, methodical pace. I often work with Clients who are so eager to roll out their CRM systems that they just can't wait. They want to…
A Happy New CRM Year
The way to avoid causing a CRM 'revolution' at your firm and have a truly Happy CRM New Year is to forget about all of the sweeping changes you resolved to make. Instead, you need to make only one resolution…