Best CRM for prospecting

As a sales professional, effective prospecting is key to building your pipeline and closing deals. Managing leads, tracking follow-ups, and organizing outreach can quickly become overwhelming without the right tools. A dedicated Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system can help you streamline your prospecting efforts by organizing leads, automating outreach, and providing insights into your interactions—all from one platform.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the best CRM options for prospecting, focusing on tools that will help you efficiently manage leads, improve follow-up strategies, and boost your sales performance.

Why you need a CRM

When you're prospecting, managing relationships effectively is crucial if you want to nurture a strong business relationship. A CRM system can streamline your prospecting efforts, ensuring you never miss an opportunity. Let's explore some challenges you might already be facing, and the benefits having the right CRM can provide.

Challenges without a CRM

If you're in a busy sales team, prospecting becomes challenging without the right CRM in your tech stack. You may already be facing these without realising how much time it eats up.

• Disorganization: Scattered data across multiple platforms leads to inefficiency.
• Missed opportunities: Without a centralized system, critical follow-ups can slip through the cracks.
• Inefficient processes: Manual data entry and tracking consume valuable time and resources.
• Lack of insight: Inadequate data analytics hinder informed decision-making.
• Inconsistent communication: Disjointed communication channels result in a poor customer experience.

Benefits of a CRM

Fortunately with the right CRM, you can feel a huge burden lifted and get some time back. And, some other benefits.

• Centralized information: All customer data in one place, easily accessible and manageable.
• Enhanced efficiency: Automates routine tasks, freeing up time for strategic activities.
• Improved customer relationships: Personalized interactions based on comprehensive customer data.
• Better decision-making: Data-driven insights enable more accurate forecasting and strategy planning.
• Increased sales: Streamlined processes and better follow-up lead to higher conversion rates.
• Consistent communication: Unified communication channels ensure a seamless customer experience.

How to evaluate and choose a CRM

With a lot of CRMs to explore – you want to make sure your decision making process will empower you to find one that fits with your workflow and requirements.

1. Define your requirements

When selecting the best CRM for prospecting, it's crucial to identify the key features your startup needs. Look for functionalities such as lead management, automated follow-ups, email tracking, and analytics. These tools will help streamline your prospecting efforts and ensure you can efficiently manage and nurture leads.

Key features of a CRM for prospecting

• Automated processes: Streamlines tasks by automating repetitive workflows.
• Contact enrichment: Automatically finds Leads, Customers email addresses and contact information, enhancing efficiency.
• Structured pipeline: Tracks Leads, Customers through defined stages, ensuring process clarity and effectiveness.
• Mail merge and email sequences: Increases communication efficiency with follow-up templates and automated sequences.
• LinkedIn connection: Seamlessly imports Leads, Customers from LinkedIn and tracks conversations within the CRM.
• Analytics: Provides essential data analysis and predictive insights for better planning.

2. Budget considerations

For sales teams, budget is always a critical factor. Balance the cost of the CRM with the return on investment (ROI) it can provide. A good CRM should not only fit within your budget but also offer features that can help you scale your prospecting efforts and drive growth.

3. Selection Process

Start by researching different CRM vendors that specialize in prospecting. Read reviews, ask for recommendations from other startup founders, and consider the scalability of the platform. Ensure the vendor offers good customer support and regular updates to keep the software aligned with your growing needs.

4. Get a demo

Before committing to a CRM, it's crucial to understand how it will meet your prospecting needs. A demo can provide a hands-on experience, allowing you to see the features in action and ask specific questions related to your startup's requirements. This step can help you make an informed decision and ensure you choose the best CRM for prospecting. Get started by booking a demo of folk.

3 tips for implementing a CRM

1. Import your data in your new CRM

Transitioning to a new CRM involves migrating your existing data. Start by exporting your data as a CSV file from your current CRM. Proper data migration ensures you retain valuable prospecting information and maintain continuity in your operations.

2. Create your first pipeline

Once your data is imported, set up your first pipeline tailored to prospecting. Define stages that reflect your prospecting process, such as Lead Captured, Contacted, Qualified, and Follow-Up. This structured approach helps in tracking prospects' progress and ensures a systematic follow-up, enhancing your lead conversion rates.

3. Onboard Your Team

Effective CRM implementation requires your sales team to be on board and proficient with the new system. Conduct training sessions to familiarize them with the CRM's features and functionalities. This will empower everyone to leverage the CRM to its full potential, driving better prospecting outcomes and supporting your business growth.

The 5 best CRMs for prospecting

1. folk

folk is a modern CRM platform for managing contacts, workflows, and relationships, offering customizable pipelines, AI-driven tools, and integrations to enhance deal management and prospecting.

Key features

• Contact enrichment: Automatically enriches contact details by finding emails and LinkedIn URLs, enabling efficient outreach without manual data entry or additional costs for email services.
• LinkedIn integration: Seamlessly import contacts from LinkedIn and Sales Navigator to bring all your contacts into folk and leverage your network, and use templates for quicker, streamlined communication.
• Mail merge and email sequences: Full email sync compatible with Gmail and Outlook, and access to templates, and tracking features, enabling users to manage all communications directly from the CRM.
• AI-powered features: AI tools assist in managing contacts and relationships, automating routine tasks, and suggesting actions to improve productivity.
• Integrations: folk integrates seamlessly with over 6,000 apps, including Gmail, Zapier, and Make, allowing users to centralize their workflow and reduce manual data entry.
• Multiple pipelines: Cover your whole sales cycle with folk's customizable dashboards, and create multiple pipelines .

Pros

• Ease of use: folk is praised for its intuitive interface, making it accessible even to non-technical users with quick onboarding and a minimal learning curve.
• All-in-one: folk streamlines your workflow by allowing you to import contacts from LinkedIn, automatically find their emails, reach out through customizable email sequences, and track interactions in a pipeline, eliminating the need for multiple tools and saving time and money.
• Complete personalization: Over custom fields, pipelines, dashboards, automation and workflows.
• Integrations: folk integrates seamlessly with over 6,000 apps, including Gmail, Zapier, and Make, allowing users to centralize their workflow and reduce manual data entry.
• Collaboration: Create collaborative notes on each profile and attach them to the right contact, and assign reminders so the right person follows-up.

Cons

• Reporting: Currently lacks reporting features, but there are plans for future implementation.

Price and plans

You can try folk for free with a 14-day free trial. After that, a monthly or annual subscription plan is as follows.

• Standard: $20 per user, per month.
• Premium: $40 per user, per month.
• Custom: Starts from $60 per user, per month.

2. HubSpot

Hubspot CRM is a user-friendly, scalable platform offering integrated tools for managing sales, marketing, customer service, and operations efficiently.

Key features

• Marketing Hub: Includes email marketing, ad tracking, landing pages, and lead generation tools, perfect for capturing and nurturing leads.
• Sales Hub: Provides deal tracking, pipeline management, sales automation, and reporting to streamline the prospecting process.
• Lead scoring: Prioritize leads with predictive scoring to focus efforts on high-potential prospects.
• Automation capabilities: Automate repetitive tasks like email follow-ups and lead nurturing to save time and improve efficiency.
• Customizable dashboard and reports: Create customized dashboards and reports to track metrics and gain insights into prospecting performance.

Pros

• User-friendly interface: The intuitive interface makes it easy for startup founders to manage their prospecting activities without a steep learning curve.
• Comprehensive free plan: The robust free version includes essential CRM features, ideal for startups with limited budgets.
• Seamless integration with marketing tools: Smooth integration with marketing tools creates a unified platform for managing leads and customers.
• Automation capabilities: Powerful automation tools help save time by automating email marketing, lead nurturing, and sales workflows.
• Extensive learning resources: HubSpot Academy offers free courses and certifications to help users maximize the platform's potential.

Cons

• High cost at higher tiers: Pricing can become expensive as you scale, which may be a concern for growing startups.
• Limited customization in free plan: The free plan has limited customization options, which might restrict flexibility.
• Complexity in advanced features: Advanced features have a steep learning curve and may require additional training.
• Email marketing limits: The free plan restricts the number of emails you can send, which could be a drawback for businesses with larger lists.
• Additional costs for add-ons: Many useful features come as paid add-ons, increasing the overall cost.

Price and plans

Prices and plans on HubSpot's sales hub on an annual subscription are as follows.

• Starter: $15 per user, per month.
• Professional: $90 per user, per month.
• Enterprise: $150 per user, per month.

3. Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a web-based CRM for small businesses, offering lead management, automation, email integration, and customizable pipelines to optimize sales.

Key features

• Lead and deal management: Centralized tools to manage leads and customers, interactions, and sales pipelines, helping teams act quickly on opportunities.
• Sales automation: Workflow automation to handle repetitive tasks, such as lead routing, follow-ups, and email sequences, allowing sales teams to focus on closing deals.
• Email integration: Full email sync, templates, and tracking features, enabling users to manage all communications directly from the CRM.
• Advanced reporting and analytics: Real-time data analytics and custom reporting tools to track sales performance, forecast revenue, and gain actionable insights.
• Customization and security: Options to customize pipelines, fields, and user permissions, with robust security measures to protect data.

Pros

• User-friendly interface: The intuitive and visually appealing interface makes it easy for users to navigate and manage their sales pipelines.
• Sales pipeline focus: Specifically designed for managing sales pipelines, offering a visual approach that helps sales teams track deals and activities effectively.
• Customization: High degree of customization, enabling users to tailor the platform to their specific sales processes with custom fields and workflows.
• Lead management: Effective lead management features, including lead scoring and tracking, which help sales teams prioritize and convert leads more efficiently.
• Automation features: Includes automation tools that help streamline repetitive tasks, such as sending follow-up emails and moving deals through the pipeline, saving time and boosting productivity.

Cons

• Limited advanced features: Lacks some of the more advanced CRM features, such as extensive marketing automation and AI capabilities, which are available in other platforms.
• Basic reporting in lower tiers: The reporting and analytics features in the basic plans are somewhat limited, requiring upgrades to access more in-depth insights.
• Price increases with add-ons: The cost can increase quickly when additional features or integrations are added, making it less cost-effective for businesses with growing needs.

Price and plans

An annual subscription plan basis is as follows.

• Essential plan: Starts from $24 per user, per month.
• Advanced plan: Starts from $44 per user, per month.
• Power plan: Starts from $79 per user, per month.
• Enterprise plan: Starts from $129 per user, per month.

4. Zoho

Zoho is a CRM system with a strong sales focus. Its got features such as journey orchestration, sales process management and workflow automation. There's also something for marketing teams, including lead hurting, event management and customer segmentation.

Key features

• Sales automation: Automates sales tasks like lead management, deal tracking, and follow-up actions.
• Lead and contact management: Manages customer information, tracks interactions, and segments contacts for targeted campaigns.
• Multi-channel communication: Integrates with email, phone, social media, and live chat to manage customer interactions.
• Sales pipeline management: Visualizes and manages sales pipelines with drag-and-drop functionality.
• Email integration: Integrates with popular email services for seamless communication and email marketing.

Pros

• Affordability: Zoho CRM offers competitive pricing with various tiers, making it accessible to small and medium-sized businesses as well as larger enterprises.
• Customization: Extensive customization options allow businesses to tailor the CRM to their specific needs, including custom fields, modules, and workflows.
• Multi-channel communication: Zoho CRM supports email, phone, social media, and live chat, enabling businesses to manage all customer interactions from a single platform.
• AI-powered features: Zia, the AI assistant, provides intelligent insights, predictive analytics, and task automation, helping to improve sales and marketing efficiency.
• Mobile accessibility: Zoho CRM offers a robust mobile app, allowing users to manage customer relationships and access data on the go, with offline capabilities.

Cons

• Steep learning curve: The extensive customization options can be overwhelming for new users, requiring a significant time investment to master the platform.
• Complex setup: Initial setup and configuration can be complex, particularly for businesses without technical expertise or dedicated IT resources.
• User interface: Some users find the interface to be outdated or cluttered compared to other modern CRM platforms, which can affect usability.
• Performance issues: Occasional reports of slow performance, especially with large datasets or complex operations, can hinder productivity.
• Limited third-party integrations: While Zoho integrates well with its own suite of products, integration with third-party applications can be limited or require additional effort.

Price and plans

Zoho's free plan limited is to three users suitable. After that, an annual subscription plan is as follows.

• Standard: $20 per user, per month.
• Professional: $35 per user, per month.
• Enterprise: $50 per user, per month.

5. Salesforce

Salesforce is a robust CRM platform for large enterprises, offering tools for sales, marketing, service, and analytics, with extensive scalability.

Key features

• Lead management: Efficiently track and manage leads from first contact to conversion, ensuring no prospect slips through the cracks.
• Sales automation: Automate repetitive tasks like follow-ups and reminders, allowing your team to focus more on closing deals.
• AI-Powered insights: Utilize Salesforce Einstein for predictive analytics and personalized recommendations to optimize your prospecting strategy.
• Customizable dashboards: Create tailored dashboards to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and track the progress of your prospecting efforts in real-time.
• Email integration: Seamlessly integrate with email platforms to streamline communication and capture all interactions with prospects in one place.

Pros

• Comprehensive feature set: Salesforce offers an extensive range of features, making it a powerful tool for managing all aspects of prospecting and customer relationships.
• Highly customizable: Tailor the platform to your specific prospecting needs with custom fields, objects, and workflows.
• Extensive integration capabilities: Integrate with a vast array of third-party applications, ensuring seamless data flow across platforms.
• Advanced analytics and reporting: Gain deep insights into your prospecting data with powerful analytics and reporting tools.
• Mobile accessibility: Manage your CRM on the go with a robust mobile app that provides full access to all key features.

Cons

• High cost: Salesforce can be expensive, especially for small to medium-sized businesses, with high licensing fees and additional costs for add-ons and customization.
• Steep learning curve: Significant time and training are often required for users to become proficient due to its extensive feature set and complexity.
• Complex setup and customization: Initial setup and customization can be challenging and often require expert help or certified consultants, adding to the overall cost.
• User interface: Some users find the Salesforce interface to be outdated and not as intuitive as other modern CRM platforms, which can hinder usability.
• Overwhelming for small teams: Salesforce’s robust features may be overkill for smaller teams or businesses, leading to underutilization of the platform’s capabilities.

Price and plans

• Starter Suite: $25/user/month provides basic CRM features for small businesses.
• Pro Suite: $100/user/month includes advanced tools for growing businesses.
• Enterprise Plan: $165/user/month offers extensive customization and automation for large companies.
• Unlimited Plan: $330/user/month provides comprehensive features for large enterprises.
• Einstein 1 Sales: $500/user/month provides AI-driven insights and advanced features for large enterprises.

Conclusion

Choosing the best CRM for prospecting can significantly impact your startup's growth and efficiency. Each of the CRMs mentioned—folk, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, and Salesforce—offers unique features and benefits tailored to different needs and budgets. Whether you prioritize ease of use, advanced automation, or comprehensive integrations, there's a CRM that can help streamline your prospecting efforts and drive better results.

For startups looking for a modern, intuitive, and all-in-one solution, folk stands out with its customizable pipelines, AI-driven tools, and seamless LinkedIn integration. Don't miss the opportunity to try folk for free and see how it can transform your prospecting process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do sales teams use as a CRM?

Busy sales teams often leverage CRMs like folk, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, and Salesforce for their prospecting efforts. These platforms provide essential tools for managing customer relationships, streamlining workflows, and enhancing prospecting efforts. Each CRM offers unique features tailored to different business needs, making it crucial to choose one that aligns with your startup's specific requirements.

Do I need a CRM?

Yes, depending on the complexity of your process, a CRM can significantly streamline your operations. For startups, a CRM is invaluable for organizing customer data, automating tasks, and improving communication, ultimately leading to more efficient prospecting and higher conversion rates.

How much does a CRM cost?

The cost of a CRM varies widely, typically ranging from $15 to $500 per user per month. Entry-level plans start around $15-$25, mid-tier plans range from $40-$100, and advanced plans can go up to $500, depending on the features and scalability offered.

Does folk’s CRM respond to prospecting needs?

Yes, folk’s CRM is designed to meet prospecting needs effectively. It offers features like contact enrichment, LinkedIn integration, email sequences, and AI-powered tools, making it easier to manage and nurture leads. Its user-friendly interface and customizable pipelines streamline the prospecting process, enhancing efficiency and productivity.