Boosting Sales with CRM Apps: 15 Expert Opinions

By Greg Grzesiak Greg Grzesiak has been verified by Muck Rack's editorial team
Published on April 1, 2024

In the quest to streamline sales and enhance customer relationships, we’ve gathered insights from CEOs and founders on the CRM apps that have revolutionized their businesses. From how users drive CRM success to ParmaCRM optimizing lead nurturing, explore the diverse experiences and success stories behind fifteen CRM applications that are changing the game for sales teams.

  • Users Drive CRM Success
  • HubSpot Enhances Lead Nurturing
  • Ghost CSM Boosts Content Strategy
  • Gorgias Automates E-Commerce Support
  • Apollo.io Increase Deal Closures
  • CollabX Customizes Lead Management
  • Close CRM Records Client Conversations
  • Go High Level Automates Lead Nurturing
  • Zoho CRM Streamlines Client Management
  • Airtable Coordinates Custom Orders
  • Pipedrive Streamlines Sales Pipeline
  • Freshsales AI Identifies Prospects
  • Tave Manages Photography Business
  • Streak Pro Integrates with Gmail
  • ParmaCRM Optimizes Lead Nurturing

Users Drive CRM Success

I’ve had success with HubSpot as well as Salesforce. But the main driver toward success in sales processes is not the CRM of choice, but the users and leadership who are implementing them. It’s no different than having a gym membership and expecting to automatically lose weight.

Michael HammelburgerMichael Hammelburger
Founder, Sales Therapy


HubSpot Enhances Lead Nurturing

At TileCloud, we’ve found immense value in integrating HubSpot as our CRM platform, which has been instrumental in refining our sales processes and enhancing customer interactions. A specific use case where HubSpot truly made a difference was in our lead nurturing strategy.

By utilizing HubSpot’s email automation and segmentation capabilities, we were able to tailor our communication based on customer interests and engagement levels, resulting in a significant increase in conversion rates. With HubSpot, we were able to create a series of automated emails for customers who showed interest in specific tile designs but hadn’t made a purchase. These emails provided additional information, styling tips, and exclusive offers related to their interests.

This personalized approach led to a 30% uplift in sales for those segments, demonstrating the power of understanding and responding to customer needs effectively. HubSpot’s analytics also allowed us to measure the success of our campaigns in real-time, enabling continuous optimization of our sales strategy.

Drew MansurDrew Mansur
Co-Founder and Director, TileCloud


Ghost CSM Boosts Content Strategy

As the CEO of RankWatch, Ghost CSM has been instrumental in enhancing our sales processes and customer interactions. One specific use case involves streamlining our content-publishing workflow. With Ghost CSM’s user-friendly interface and powerful editing capabilities, we’ve been able to create and publish high-quality content efficiently. This has not only improved our content production speed but also enhanced the overall user experience for our audience.

Additionally, Ghost CSM’s built-in SEO features have allowed us to optimize our content for search engines, helping us attract more organic traffic and improve our website’s visibility. Overall, Ghost CSM has played a crucial role in elevating our content strategy and driving better results for our business.

Sahil KakkarSahil Kakkar
CEO & Founder, RankWatch


Gorgias Automates E-Commerce Support

Gorgias has been a game-changer for our sales processes and customer interactions, particularly due to its seamless integration and automation capabilities tailored for e-commerce. One specific success story that stands out involves the optimization of our customer service response times and the personalization of customer interactions.

Before integrating Gorgias, our team struggled with managing incoming customer inquiries efficiently, which often led to delayed response times and a backlog of unresolved issues. This was not only affecting our customer satisfaction rates but also had a noticeable impact on our sales, as quick and effective communication is crucial in the e-commerce space.

Upon implementing Gorgias, we were able to automate a significant portion of our customer service through the use of their smart autoresponders and pre-made templates. This drastically reduced our response time. Moreover, Gorgias’ ability to pull in customer data from various channels into a single view meant that our team could offer personalized and informed support without having to switch between platforms or ask the customer for information already provided.

A particularly noteworthy success was during a high-volume sales period. Gorgias enabled us to maintain our customer service quality despite the surge in inquiries. The system’s efficiency in handling routine questions allowed our team to focus on more complex issues, ensuring that customer needs were met promptly and effectively. This not only helped in retaining customers but also in converting inquiries into sales, as the quick responses and personalized service positively influenced purchasing decisions.

Matt GorenMatt Goren
Head of Marketing, Tom’s Key Company


Apollo.io Increase Deal Closures

Our team has found a combination of HubSpot and Apollo.io to be instrumental in improving our sales processes and customer interactions.

Before implementing these, our team faced challenges in generating a high-quality lead list and effective sequences. This, of course, was affecting our ability to reach out to our ideal business clients and close deals.

We decided to use the combination of HubSpot and Apollo.io because of how efficient and effective you can work with these two. After learning how to use features such as Plays, Analytics, Sequences, and their leads database, we definitely started to see an increase in interactions with our ideal business client and started to successfully land more deals.

At this point in time, we continue to look for positive outcomes by training our team to learn more about how to use these CRM tools.

Richard DalderRichard Dalder
Business Development Manager, Tradervue


CollabX Customizes Lead Management

At Digital Web Solutions, our in-house CRM software, CollabX, has revolutionized our sales processes and customer interactions. One notable success story involves streamlining our lead management system. With CollabX, we customized lead pipelines tailored to our specific business needs, allowing us to track leads from initial contact to conversion efficiently. This organized approach enabled our sales team to prioritize follow-ups, significantly increasing conversion rates and overall sales performance.

CollabX’s advanced analytics capabilities also played a crucial role in optimizing customer interactions. By analyzing customer data collected through CollabX, we gained valuable insights into customer preferences and behavior patterns. This empowered our team to personalize communication and tailor product recommendations, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Overall, CollabX has been instrumental in driving growth and fostering stronger relationships with our clients, demonstrating the power of an in-house tailored CRM solution.

Vaibhav KakkarVaibhav Kakkar
CEO, Digital Web Solutions


Close CRM Records Client Conversations

We use Close CRM as a way to always keep in touch and know what’s going on with our clients. Probably one of the most helpful things has been the fact we’ve been able to record conversations with clients automatically and take notes during those calls so we can always look back at a conversation and know what was said, what the next steps are, and where we’re at in a project with a client.

Those paper-and-pen notes are great for productivity, but when it comes to being able to manage clients, projects, etc., having a well-equipped CRM has been key for us.

Zachary BernardZachary Bernard
Founder, We Feature You PR


Go High Level Automates Lead Nurturing

Go High Level has been the game-changer for us, no doubt about it. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife when you’re used to juggling a bunch of loose tools. For a marketing agency like Catalyst RVA, which thrives on seamless communication and streamlined processes, it’s been a revelation.

Here’s a specific success story: We were struggling with lead management and follow-ups. Leads would come in through various channels, and despite our best efforts, some would fall through the cracks. It was like trying to catch water with a sieve. Enter Go High Level. We implemented it as our central hub for all things CRM, and it was like suddenly having a bucket instead of a sieve.

The game-changer was its automation capabilities. We set up a system where every new lead was automatically entered into a tailored nurturing sequence based on their interests and how they found us. It meant that no one was forgotten, and each lead received personalized attention without us having to manually manage every single interaction.

But here’s the kicker: It not only saved us a ton of time but also significantly improved our conversion rates. Leads weren’t just being managed; they were being nurtured, and it showed in our sales numbers. We had a client dealing with a frustrating lack of data tracking their conversions. We plugged them into our Go High-Level system, tailored a few automation sequences for their specific concerns, and watched the magic happen. Their lead conversion rate shot up by 20% simply by having a proper landing page and tracking in place.

So, yeah, Go High Level isn’t just a tool for us; it’s been the backbone of refining our sales and onboarding processes and enhancing customer interactions. It’s like having a silent, super-efficient team member who works 24/7, never takes a break, and always nails their tasks.

Andrew JenkinsAndrew Jenkins
Owner, Catalyst RVA Marketing Agency


Zoho CRM Streamlines Client Management

To better manage our client interactions and streamline our sales procedures, we utilize Zoho CRM. It’s been quite beneficial! For instance, we can manage all of our client interactions centrally with Zoho CRM. This guarantees that we don’t overlook any crucial information and can efficiently follow up with them.

I would like to provide one example of a successful customer who expressed interest in our product but also had some reservations. We were able to monitor and quickly respond to their queries and concerns by using Zoho CRM. We had access to their preferences and buying history, which allowed us to better adjust our strategy to suit their demands.

With Zoho CRM’s features, which include task management and email integration, we can easily stay organized and productive. For example, we can schedule appointments directly from the CRM or create reminders to follow up with customers.

Kartik AhujaKartik Ahuja
Digital Marketer, kartikahuja.com


Airtable Coordinates Custom Orders

At PinProsPlus, we’ve found Airtable to be an instrumental CRM tool in enhancing our sales processes and customer interactions. Its versatility and user-friendly interface have allowed us to customize databases that track every aspect of our customer journey, from initial contact to post-sale follow-up.

A specific success story that stands out involves a complex, custom pin order for a large event. Using Airtable, we were able to seamlessly coordinate between our sales, design, and production teams, ensuring that each department was updated in real-time about the project’s progress. This coordination helped us meet a tight deadline and deliver a product that exceeded our client’s expectations, leading to a significant repeat business opportunity.

This experience underscored the value of having a flexible and comprehensive CRM system like Airtable, which not only improves our operational efficiency but also enhances our ability to deliver exceptional service to our clients.

Bradley FryBradley Fry
Owner, PinProsPlus


Pipedrive Streamlines Sales Pipeline

For us, Pipedrive has been instrumental. It streamlined our sales pipeline, allowing us to track leads and deals more effectively. Customer interaction improved, too, with features like centralized contact management and communication history.

This empowers our sales team to personalize interactions and build stronger relationships. Ultimately, Pipedrive has helped us close deals faster and provide a more positive customer experience.

Perry ZhengPerry Zheng
Founder and CEO, Pallas


Freshsales AI Identifies Prospects

Freshsales offered us a simple yet powerful solution with AI-driven insights that enhanced our sales strategies. Its ability to score leads and identify the most promising prospects allowed us to allocate our resources more effectively, improving both our sales processes and customer satisfaction.

Implementing Freshsales for an emerging SaaS client enabled us to leverage AI for lead scoring. This strategy prioritized high-value prospects, optimizing the sales team’s efforts and contributing to a 25% uptick in closed deals within the first quarter.

Marc BishopMarc Bishop
Director, Wytlabs


Tave Manages Photography Business

As a small-business owner and homeschooling mom, having a CRM is crucial for keeping on task and on top of my wedding photography business.

I have used Tave, which has provided a straightforward way to manage financials, schedule sessions and reminders, contracts, and client communication all in one place. It connects to other tools I use to manage my business and provides a client portal for my clients to be able to keep track of things as well.

Jennifer NolanJennifer Nolan
Dc Wedding Photographer, Jennifer Nolan Photography


Streak Pro Integrates with Gmail

Streak Pro for Gmail allows us to be agile and responsive, especially for a small business. It enables us to manage moves as they transition from inquiries through final payments in the same interface we use for 90% of our client communications. The integration with Gmail has also made it accessible and easy to learn for new staff who are just getting to know the moving industry. Streak allows them to learn the ropes and field requests in a familiar environment.

The ‘box’ feature keeps multi-thread bookings organized under the same move. No matter how many threads a client throws at us, we can stay on top of all those communications and related actions.

The customizable reports feature puts high-level sales information at our fingertips. We can see the average number of communications between a quote request and booking, how long clients are spending in each phase of our pipeline, and close rates by lead source, all at a glance.

We regularly sort communications by pipeline phase and number of emails sent to quickly surface leads that would benefit from a follow-up. It’s a quick way to find the most actionable leads when we don’t have the bandwidth to sift through the inbox.

Ashley GraberAshley Graber
Co-Owner, Cool Hand Movers


ParmaCRM Optimizes Lead Nurturing

At SEO-Migration Services, ParmaCRM has significantly transformed our sales processes and customer interactions. Its bespoke features, tailored for the dynamic needs of a marketing agency like ours, allowed us to streamline client communications and manage projects more efficiently. A memorable success was the optimization of our lead-nurturing process. With ParmaCRM, we could segment our leads based on their interests and engagement levels, enabling personalized follow-ups.

This strategy led to a remarkable 40% increase in conversion rates within the first quarter of implementation. ParmaCRM’s analytics also provided insights into client behaviors, empowering us to make data-driven decisions. This CRM tool has not just been instrumental; it’s been transformative, fostering growth and enhancing client satisfaction through its intuitive design and powerful functionality.

Roman BorissovRoman Borissov
CEO, SEO-Migration.services


Related Articles

By Greg Grzesiak Greg Grzesiak has been verified by Muck Rack's editorial team

Greg Grzesiak is an Entrepreneur-In-Residence and Columnist at Grit Daily. As CEO of Grzesiak Growth LLC, Greg dedicates his time to helping CEOs influencers and entrepreneurs make the appearances that will grow their following in their reach globally. Over the years he has built strong partnerships with high profile educators and influencers in Youtube and traditional finance space. Greg is a University of Florida graduate with years of experience in marketing and journalism.

Read more

More GD News