A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is an essential part of running your business. From pursuing leads to organizing relevant contact information, the right CRM system helps automate busywork so your team can improve efficiency and productivity.

A CRM system needs an effective organization strategy in order to serve you well. When customer data piles up without a data management plan in place, your CRM system can become cluttered and ultimately ineffective. Fortunately, there are many ways you can optimize your CRM system through savvy organizational strategies.

Here are the top CRM best practices to make the most of your CRM organization and generate maximum results.

Choose a CRM System With the Right Capabilities

Before you begin organizing your CRM system, take a step back and evaluate it. You may have trouble organizing data because your current CRM does not have the necessary features for your business to function optimally. If so, you may need to adopt a new solution.

Committing to a CRM system that your business has outgrown or that does not adapt well to business changes will be more of a hindrance than a help in the long run. Don’t be afraid to make a change, some companies are on their 3rd or 4th CRM implementation.

Eliminate Redundant Data in Your CRM

One of the best methods for organizing and maximizing your CRM results is deleting duplicate information or data that adds no value to your business. Over time, duplicate contact information and files can add up and create clutter, slowing down your productivity. One way to resolve this issue is by implementing CRM features that automatically delete duplicate information.

If your current CRM system lacks this capability, schedule times for your team to clean up duplicate data. This routine will help you maintain an efficient CRM system in which you can quickly find what you need, when you need it.

Categorize Data in a Way That Makes Sense

Important data can get lost in a CRM system due to a lack of logical naming & labeling conventions. For example, how many times have you tagged important contact information with the “Random” tag because you had nowhere else to put it? Make sure to use the proper tags, folder titles and file names to keep your information in the right place at all times.

Delete Irrelevant Data

As a business evolves, some data that served as a valuable resource in the past becomes irrelevant. If your CRM system is filled with dead leads, 10 year old campaigns, outdated information and other useless data, it needs to be permanently deleted — or at least downloaded and removed from the system. It’s much easier to find pertinent data when you don’t have to sift through tons of unnecessary information.

Organize Your CRM With LeadMaster

Looking to improve your CRM system or learn how to better organize your current CRM? Contact the experts at LeadMaster for additional guidance and custom solutions.