SO MANY CRM'S, WHERE DO YOU START?
Feeling overwhelmed by all the CRM options out there? We don't blame you. With established CRMs like SalesForce and HubSpot and newer players like Monday and Klaviyo all vying for your attention, it's tough to know which way to turn. The good news: we've made it a little easier to find the perfect fit for your needs.
We've spent countless hours working with many of these platforms, and we're ready to share what works (and what doesn't) for different types of businesses. In this deep dive, we'll help you cut through all the marketing fluff and help you identify the CRM that actually makes sense for your company. Because at the end of the day, you don't need the fanciest tool – you need the right one.
Zendesk's Agent Workspace in action. Credit: Zendesk.com
If you Google any variation of "best CRM," you'll most likely run into HubSpot, Salesforce, Monday, Klaviyo, and Zendesk. These are some of the most common names in the CRM world - so let's break down the pros, cons, and best use cases of each one.
HubSpot: With decades of experience to its name, HubSpot is best for organizations looking for a robust, all-in-one solution. It's more user-friendly than CRMs of a similar scope such as Salesforce, making it easier to adopt across multiple teams. HubSpot offers multiple hubs that allow for a comprehensive platform - operations, sales, marketing, content, and service, among others. However, it comes at a price: HubSpot is one of the more expensive CRM options.
Salesforce: Salesforce is a behemoth of a CRM. While it's not the most intuitive platform, the beauty of Salesforce is that it allows for more complex reporting and customization. You'll definitely need a developer on your team if you choose Salesforce, but a seasoned developer can tailor Salesforce to each type of end user and automate repetitive tasks.
Now that you know more about the 5 biggest players in the CRM space, let's think about a few additional criteria to keep in mind when you begin narrowing down your selection.
Know what you need: Take a good hard look at what you actually need your CRM to do – not what you think you need. Are you mainly focused on tracking sales conversations? Do you need serious marketing automation? Are you looking to manage customer service tickets? There's no point in paying for a Ferrari if you're just driving to the grocery store, and there's definitely no point in paying for complex CRM features that'll gather digital dust. Don't forget to loop in your internal teams as well to get their perspective on features they see value in.
Ease of use & learning curve: Think about your team's tech comfort level and how much time you can realistically dedicate to training. Even the most powerful CRM in the world won't help if your team finds it frustrating to use and starts creating workarounds. Like we mentioned above, some platforms are notorious for steep learning curves, while others pride themselves on being intuitive right out of the box. Be honest about where your team falls on this spectrum.
Think about your future growth: Don't forget to consider your growth plans and how your CRM needs might evolve. While it's tempting to choose the cheapest option that meets your current needs, switching CRMs down the line can be a massive headache. Pay attention to how pricing scales with user count and features, what kind of API access you get, and whether the platform can grow with you. At the same time, don't fall into the trap of paying for enterprise-level features you might need "someday" – there's a sweet spot between future-proofing and overbuying.
Choosing a CRM can be intimidating, but when you're equipped with a strong understanding of what your company needs, as well as the pros and cons of some of the most common CRMs, it will be a little easier to determine which platforms should make your shortlist.
👀 TLDR: It's hard to know which CRM to go with since there's so many options on the market, each with their own dazzling array of features. We broke down the pros, cons, and best use cases of 5 of the most common CRMs - Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Klaviyo, and Monday - and included three things to keep in mind when you're making your final decision.
Best Regards,
WEBITMD TEAM