"New programs can help firms rid themselves of their Rolodexes" [The Star-Ledger] says that while you might think of CRM software as being a tool for mega-corporations (or costing mega-bucks), relatively affordable web-based versions of CRM software are now available. Along the way, Highrise gets a mention.
For many businesses, especially small businesses -- a law firm, say, or a niche retailer -- the idea of embarking on an effort to move to a CRM system can seem like a daunting task. Yet with a new breed of CRM, the emphasis is on simplicity and ease-of-use, as well as helping you run a business without the need to configure and install complex software. You pay a monthly fee, and then you can forget about the technical end of maintaining the CRM software...Highrise, offers a free plan, for two users and 250 contacts. A $24-per-month plan provides up to six users and 5,000 contacts, while the $149- per-month plan allows for unlimited users and 50,000 contacts. I particularly like the description used by 37 signals, the makers of the Highrise CRM: Highrise is a great way for business to keep track of who talked to whom, what was said and what needs to happen next. The software excels in the way it blends contact management, to-do lists and other features. You look at a contacts page in Highrise, and you have a window into your communications with that person, notes from meetings, background and any tasks related to the contact...
If you're working on your own, you can certainly try to make do with sticky notes, a simple address book and your memory. But if multiple people are working on projects together, maybe even in far-flung locations, then coordination becomes essential. Given that an increasing number of small businesses now operate in a virtual environment, or have telecommuters, the need for tools to know who's doing what is even more important. Just beware: Even these streamlined CRM services won't do much for you unless you actually use and update them.
