Best CRM for advertising in 2024

As an advertising agency, managing multiple client campaigns, tracking performance, and staying on top of client communications can quickly become overwhelming without the right system in place. A powerful Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system can help you streamline your operations by centralizing client data, automating follow-ups, and tracking the progress of your campaigns—all in one platform. With the right CRM, you can improve collaboration, optimize campaign management, and enhance client relationships.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the best CRM options for advertising agencies like yours, focusing on features that will help you stay organized and deliver exceptional results for your clients.

Why you need a CRM

As a busy advertising agency, a CRM can change how you manage client relationships and streamline your operations. Here's how.

Challenges without a CRM

Without the right CRM in place that can align with your existing tech stack and streamline your workflow – your team will find it hard to collaborate and their day to day tasks will get taken over by things other than their main priorities. We've noticed a few common challenges across agencies which add up, including.

• Disorganization: Without a CRM, keeping track of client information and project details can become chaotic.
• Missed opportunities: Important leads and follow-ups can easily slip through the cracks.
• Inefficient processes: Manual data entry and scattered information slow down your workflow.
• Lack of insight: Without centralized data, gaining actionable insights is difficult.
• Inconsistent communication: Keeping communication consistent across various channels is challenging.

Benefits of a CRM

Fortunately, the right CRM can help you address these challenges, and create a single source of truth that will help your team collaborate better, and improve their efficiency. Alongside some extra benefits.

• Centralized information: All client data and project details are stored in one place.
• Enhanced efficiency: Automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows.
• Improved customer relationships: Better manage interactions and build stronger relationships.
• Better decision-making: Access to real-time data and analytics for informed decisions.
• Increased sales: More effective lead management and follow-ups drive higher conversions.
• Consistent communication: Maintain a unified communication strategy across all channels.

How to evaluate and choose a CRM

With a lot of CRMs to choose from, and little time to look into each one – it can feel overwhelming which can hinder your decision making process. To help you out, we've put together some tips that you can adapt accordingly.

1. Define your requirements

Before diving into research mode, it's important to spend the time to identify the key features needed for your advertising business. Look for functionalities such as campaign management, lead tracking, client communication tools, and analytics. A CRM that integrates seamlessly with your existing tools, like email marketing software and social media platforms, can significantly streamline your operations and boost productivity. Unsure where to start? Check out the following features we've rounded up specifically for you and edit the list according to any other specific needs you're after.

6 features advertising companies need from their CRM

• Client management: A good contact management feature should allow for efficient tracking of client information, give you an overview of communication history, and custom fields.
• Mail merge: Don't get caught out by some CRM tools only work for certain email providers. Find one that works for both Gmail and Outlook so your CRM works for you instead of the other way around.
• Automation: Workflow automation to save time on repetitive tasks such as getting rid of duplicate contacst.
• Customization: Dashboards should have the ability to tailor to the specific needs of your agency and team needs along with privacy settings.
• Integration: Seamless integration with other marketing tools and platforms.
• Collaboration: Features that support teamwork and communication within the agency.
  

2. Budget considerations

Although budgets can be tricky to manage, balancing cost and return on investment is essential when selecting a CRM. While it's tempting to opt for the most affordable solution, consider the long-term benefits of investing in a robust CRM tailored to the advertising industry. Evaluate the potential ROI, including improved client relationships, increased efficiency, and higher conversion rates. Many CRM platforms offer tiered pricing plans, so choose one that aligns with your budget and growth projections.

3. Selection process

Choosing the right CRM involves thorough research. Start by compiling a list of potential vendors that specialize in advertising. Read reviews, request demos, and consult industry peers for recommendations. Pay attention to the vendor's reputation, customer support, and the scalability of their solution. A vendor with a proven track record in the advertising industry can provide invaluable insights and support as your business grows.

4. Get a demo

Before you commit to a CRM – make sure you book a demo to experience it first hand and ask any burning questions you have. A demo can provide you with a hands-on experience, allowing you to see the interface, explore its functionalities, and ask any questions you may have. This can help you determine if the CRM aligns with your agency's needs and workflows. Get started with a demo of folk.

4 best CRM software for advertising

Let's unpack the best customer relationship management software on the market and explore them in more depth.

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1. folk

Best for: All-in-one CRM with marketing automation and sales pipeline management

folk is designed to simplify the management of client relationships and workflows. It offers a user-friendly interface and customizable features that make it a versatile choice for advertising agencies.

Key features

• Comprehensive contact management,
• Mail merge that supports Outlook and Gmail,
• Task automation and reminders for sales and marketing workflows,
• Customizable pipelines,
• Integration with popular tools,
• Detailed analytics and reporting,
• Social listening tools to turn engagement into lead generation,
• Responsive on-the-go mobile and tablet ready browser.

Pros

• Intuitive user interface: The intuitive design makes it easy for teams to get started quickly without extensive training.
• Customizable pipelines: Agencies can tailor pipelines to match their specific workflows, ensuring smooth project management.
• Detailed analytics: In-depth analytics help agencies measure campaign performance and make data-driven decisions.
• Integration capabilities: folk integrates with a wide range of tools, including email, social media, and project management software, enhancing overall efficiency.
• Contact management: Bring all your contact information from multiple email providers and social media accounts into one place effortlessly.
• Multiple pipelines: Create multiple pipelines from sales process, to marketing and new prospects from lead generation efforts all in one place.
• Personalized emails: Get AI-assistance to personalize your targeted marketing campaigns effortlessly.

Cons

• folk doesn't have a huge marketplace of third party applications but this is easily solved by using Zapier if you're after a specific integration, as it'll connect with over 6,000 integrations

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 $80 per user, per month 

2. Zoho CRM

Best for: Business development

Zoho CRM has a strong sales focus. However, some of its features can also be used by marketing teams.

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Key features

• Advanced analytics and reporting,
• Marketing automation,
• Customizable dashboards,
• Multi-channel communication.

Pros

• Marketing automation: Automation features streamline repetitive tasks, allowing teams to focus on creative work.
• AI-powered insights: Zoho's AI assistant, Zia, provides actionable insights and predictions, helping agencies optimize their strategies.
• Integrations: Offers a huge range of integrations that are categorized by location and use including ones for shipping carriers, payment gateways and project management tools.

Cons

• User experience: The extensive features can be overwhelming for new users, requiring a learning curve thanks to its clunky interface. Zoho CRM isn't suitable for beginners, especially those in busy sales teams.
• Customization challenges: While highly customizable, setting up Zoho CRM to fit specific needs can be time-consuming.

Price and plans

Zoho CRM offers a free version with no credit card required giving access to basic and limited features. Annual paid plans are as follows.

• Standard: $14 per user, per month.
• Professional: $23 per user, per month.
• Enterprise: $40 per user, per month.
• Ultimate: Starts from $55 per user, per month.

3. Monday Sales CRM

Best for: sales teams and customer-facing teams

Monday Sales CRM was designed by the team behind Monday.com sales to complement and expand on their popular basic CRM template.

Key features

• Visual project management,
• Sales driven CRM,
• Time tracking
• Integration with various tools,
• Lead scoring.

Pros

• Sales-focussed CRM that can help with your sales funnel, pipeline and automation.
• Not as strong in marketing automation compared to other CRMs on this list.

Cons

• Not as robust for your marketing efforts or customer relationships.

Price and plans

Monday Sales CRM price and plans are as follows.

• Basic: $12 per user, per month.
• Standard: $17 per user, per month.
• Pro: $28 per user, per month.
• Enterprise: Undisclosed.

4. HubSpot

Best for: Free forever plan

HubSpot is one of the most mature CRM systems in the market. It offers a good lightweight CRM that has an unlimited free forever plan. However, if you're after the features that traditional CRMs have and a strict budget, HubSpot is an expensive investment.

Key features

• Contact and lead management,
• Email tracking and notifications,
• Pipeline management,
• Marketing automation.

Pros

• Free plan: HubSpot offers a free version with an impressive range of features, making it accessible for small agencies.
• Comprehensive features: Includes everything from contact management to marketing automation and detailed analytics.
• Basic marketing automation features: to bring social media marketing, content marketing efforts, and customer engagement into one place.

Cons

• Cost for advanced features: While the free version is robust, more advanced features come at a higher cost, which can add up for larger teams.
• Learning curve: Despite its user-friendly design, mastering all of HubSpot’s features can take time especially if you're upgrading to advanced paid plans. HubSpot is known to require some training for implementation.

Prices and plans

Once you're ready to scale, HubSpot is an expensive solution. Price and plans depend on whether you're after their marketing, sales, service, content, operations, or commerce hubs. All of which have separate CRM suite that has an annual subscription plan.

• Starter: $15 per user, per month.
• Professional: $450 per user, per month.
• Enterprise: $1,500 per user, per month.

Conclusion

Busy teams from digital marketing agencies or marketing agencies need a CRM that can take the heavy-lifting off their shoulders. The right CRM software for your team should adapt to your needs, not the other way around. While Zoho, Monday Sales CRM, and HubSpot provide great tools for advertising agencies, folk stands out as the best choice for its customization, ease of use, and relationship-focused features. Advertising agencies need a flexible CRM that can adapt to dynamic workflows and prioritize client relationships. folk excels in helping agencies streamline client management, track communications, and optimize campaigns without the complexity of larger platforms, making it the perfect fit for agencies looking to foster strong client relationships and deliver creative solutions efficiently. Try folk today, free.

Need a helping hand? Use our free tool to find your perfect CRM match.

More resources

• folk price and plans

Frequently Asked Questions

What do advertising agencies use as a CRM?

Advertising agencies typically use CRMs like HubSpot, Zoho, Monday Sales CRM, and folk to manage their client relationships, track campaigns, and streamline project workflows. HubSpot is popular for its all-in-one marketing, sales, and service platform, while Zoho offers a customizable, scalable solution. Monday Sales CRM is known for its project management capabilities, helping agencies keep tasks organized. folk stands out for its simplicity and focus on relationships, allowing agencies to tailor workflows specifically to their needs while keeping client communications front and center.

Do I need a CRM?

Yes, a CRM is essential for advertising agencies. It helps organize client interactions, track projects, and ensure that no leads or tasks fall through the cracks. With a CRM, you can centralize all your data, automate repetitive tasks, and streamline your workflow, allowing you to focus more on delivering impactful campaigns and building strong client relationships.

How does folk's CRM help advertising agencies?

folk's CRM helps advertising agencies by offering an intuitive, customizable platform that adapts to the fast-paced, client-focused nature of the industry. Its flexibility allows agencies to create personalized workflows that align with their campaign processes, ensuring smoother project management. With a strong emphasis on relationship-building, folk helps agencies nurture client connections, track communications, and keep creative projects on course, making it an ideal solution for the advertising world.

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