JDR Group's 'Digital Prosperity' Blog

In the last few months, SharpSpring, the popular marketing automation platform, has launched two new features: SharpSpring Sales Optimiser and SharpSpring Meetings. So, what exactly are they and how can they benefit sales teams seeking to improve their processes and results? Let's examine each one more closely.

Every transaction between a seller and a buyer is a relationship and, like all successful relationships, this needs to be approached in a specific way to ensure that a beneficial outcome is received by all parties involved. However, when a customer asks you to lower your prices, it can be all too easy for this relationship to descend into a battle, ultimately leaving both parties frustrated.

As such, our experts at JDR Group have created this easy guide to help you out in these situations, offering you a framework to follow that will leave everyone happy at the end of the transaction. It is important to have a documented and consistent way of dealing with these situations, allowing you to treat every customer fairly, while also ensuring that your company continues making a profit.

The only thing better than acquiring a new customer is to retain an existing one. Keeping your customers coming back will always result in a greater ROI, and it only costs a fraction of what you'd spend on winning a new customer. To help you achieve this, we've broken down 10 key steps you can use to boost your customer retention.

Being an effective salesperson means you have to strike a delicate balance between cultivating an excellent relationship with your existing clients, and going out to generate new business. Looking after your existing client base is absolutely a critical part of sales success - but the only way to keep growing is to actively seek out new opportunities.

HubSpot is the marketing leading sales and marketing software platform for small businesses. While not the ideal fit in every single case, for the majority of business owners we work with it is the platform we'll recommend. 

Sales forecasting is one of the most essential processes in an SME because every element of the business is tied back to sales. If you think about it, sales forecasting has a direct impact on your company’s financial performance and financial planning.

You may be aware that HubSpot offers a tool called pipeline management? But what is it and how can it assist with your sales pipeline management?

Ask many agencies and you will come away with the impression that lead generation is the Holy Grail. Sales is almost a dirty word – something that will take care of itself when the leads come in. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Lead generation is essential, but only a tiny minority of these leads will convert to customers on their own.

The best investment decision you can make for your business in the last third of 2017 is to get yourself a decent Customer Relationship Manager (CRM). There are many high-quality commercial systems available, although purchasing a licence for a premium package can be expensive. Fortunately, some of the big names in CRM software offer free versions of their apps, including many of the tools featured in the full package.

Regardless of what industry you are in, a CRM system is exactly what your company needs.

What Is A CRM System?

CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management with the aim to help grow and organise anything from a local company with a few employees, to corporate international enterprises. CRM Systems can manage a large amount of data all on one platform, enabling businesses to reach their full potential. They provide an insight into sales activities and account history, with highly useful and recommended reporting and tracking functions.