{"id":14248,"date":"2022-02-02T09:25:57","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T06:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/?p=14248"},"modified":"2025-10-29T17:12:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T14:12:04","slug":"crm-features","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/crm-features\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential CRM Software Features To Prioritize For Your Small Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you&#8217;re a startup or a small business owner, do you think you don&#8217;t need a CRM? Do you believe that good old Excel will help maintain a customer base and reporting while the business is still small?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you think so, then you might be living in an ancient world. Isn&#8217;t it time to leave messy spreadsheets in the past and upgrade your sales with a CRM that works for you?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">No business can do without a CRM system these days.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lead generation<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, arranging data inflow, sales funnels, customer retention, all planning and reporting activities have long gone automated. Today, it&#8217;s hard to imagine running even a little business without a CRM that helps keep you afloat and succeed in a post-COVID world by streamlining crucial tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Let us bring you over and suggest what CRM features you should pay attention to when choosing your perfect CRM system to boost sales and increase revenue.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"table-of-contents\">\n<p class=\"table-of-contents__title\">Outline:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#what\">What is a CRM, and why do you need it for your business?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#in\">In what small business industries is CRM most commonly used?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#crucial\">Crucial CRM functionality your small business needs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#optional\">Optional CRM features to keep an eye on<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"what\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What is a CRM, and why do you need it for your business?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Modern\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/glossary\/customer-relationship-management-crm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Customer Relationship Management (CRM)<\/span><\/strong><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0system is a holistic AI-driven set of tools that allow you to improve interactions with your customers and increase profits dramatically.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You may not feel it when you start your business with a few clients. But when the data inflow increases with the growing number of customers, you get confused and find yourself overlooking relevant information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Suppose you want to get your data organized and effectively managed, follow up with customers, save valuable time on repetitive work automation, and turn your data into sales. In that case, you can&#8217;t do without a CRM. No one can, and the growing CRM market, which is worth\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/fitsmallbusiness.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">$58.04 billion<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0as of 2021, is the proof.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">CRM capabilities include acquiring and then building long-term relationships with customers, systematically leading them through the sales funnel, and using sales analytics to make data-driven decisions. Such a system is essential for any business scale, but today we will only talk about CRM key features that are vital for small businesses.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class='posts-into__content'>\r\n<div class=\"post\">\r\n    <div class=\"post__img\">\r\n        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ov5yOPYVEOmIpoSCqd4wfSF9cTc0wtN7dvfmMQRc-1.png\" class=\"attachment-327x160 size-327x160 wp-post-image\" alt=\"Off-The-Shelf CRM Software Vs. Custom CRM Solution: Making The Right Choice\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ov5yOPYVEOmIpoSCqd4wfSF9cTc0wtN7dvfmMQRc-1.png 3000w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ov5yOPYVEOmIpoSCqd4wfSF9cTc0wtN7dvfmMQRc-1-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ov5yOPYVEOmIpoSCqd4wfSF9cTc0wtN7dvfmMQRc-1-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ov5yOPYVEOmIpoSCqd4wfSF9cTc0wtN7dvfmMQRc-1-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ov5yOPYVEOmIpoSCqd4wfSF9cTc0wtN7dvfmMQRc-1-1536x768.png 1536w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/ov5yOPYVEOmIpoSCqd4wfSF9cTc0wtN7dvfmMQRc-1-2048x1024.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/>    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"post__content\">\r\n        <p class=\"post__content-title\">\r\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/off-the-shelf-custom-crm-solution\/\">Off-The-Shelf Solution Vs. Custom CRM Development: Making The Right Choice<\/a>\r\n        <\/p>\r\n        <p class=\"post__content-date\">1\/04\/2026<\/p>    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"post\">\r\n    <div class=\"post__img\">\r\n        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2jT2rNPfndRmSJ9SOdn9VFEchk8AEKpSGvPPM1Xu-1-1.png\" class=\"attachment-327x160 size-327x160 wp-post-image\" alt=\"CRM\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2jT2rNPfndRmSJ9SOdn9VFEchk8AEKpSGvPPM1Xu-1-1.png 3000w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2jT2rNPfndRmSJ9SOdn9VFEchk8AEKpSGvPPM1Xu-1-1-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2jT2rNPfndRmSJ9SOdn9VFEchk8AEKpSGvPPM1Xu-1-1-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2jT2rNPfndRmSJ9SOdn9VFEchk8AEKpSGvPPM1Xu-1-1-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2jT2rNPfndRmSJ9SOdn9VFEchk8AEKpSGvPPM1Xu-1-1-1536x768.png 1536w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/2jT2rNPfndRmSJ9SOdn9VFEchk8AEKpSGvPPM1Xu-1-1-2048x1024.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/>    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"post__content\">\r\n        <p class=\"post__content-title\">\r\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/best-sales-crm-software\/\">13 Best Sales CRM Software Of 2026<\/a>\r\n        <\/p>\r\n        <p class=\"post__content-date\">17\/03\/2026<\/p>    <\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"in\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In what small business industries is CRM most commonly used?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Various CRM system features can be used in almost any field.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">IT companies, online stores, media, law firms, hospitality and recreation, fashion and beauty, education firms, and others show an increased demand for CRM software to automate tracking and recording of their business processes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Overall,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/fitsmallbusiness.com\/crm-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">91% of companies with more than 10 employees<\/span><\/strong><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0used CRM platforms in 2021, and most of them used CRM sales data features to enhance customer interactions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14252\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background390.png\" alt=\"Importance of CRM\" width=\"1032\" height=\"323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background390.png 1032w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background390-300x94.png 300w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background390-1024x320.png 1024w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background390-768x240.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1032px) 100vw, 1032px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"crucial\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Crucial CRM functionality your small business needs<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In recent years, the growing demand for CRM software has boosted competition, making many CRMs accessible to small firms with low budgets and even solopreneurs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You probably don&#8217;t need the robust CRM capabilities many platforms offer. So, why buy things you&#8217;ll never use in the foreseeable future? Power up your small business with the CRM features you&#8217;ll benefit from!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1. Lead generation\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With an effective lead generation strategy, a business of any size can get\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">133%<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0more revenue than expected, which opens up excellent opportunities for small companies to grow. Therefore, pay attention to the lead generation and management tool when choosing a CRM.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14253\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background391.png\" alt=\"Lead generation CRM\" width=\"700\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background391.png 967w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background391-300x231.png 300w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background391-768x590.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Finding\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/glossary\/prospect\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">prospects<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is vital for a small firm, and it&#8217;s the most critical part of the selling process. Without prospects, no one can make sales! But don&#8217;t worry, lead generation tools within a CRM can help you find, qualify, and prioritize prospects easily.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/sales-crm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Snov.io<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, for example, offers a versatile CRM functionality that can help find, verify, manage, reach out to, and convert leads within one platform. With a quick onboarding process, you&#8217;ll get free access to business prospects and their email addresses in amounts that fit your small business scale.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You&#8217;ll be able to find emails on websites or social media with the help of the <a href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/linkedin-automation-tools\">LinkedIn prospecting tool<\/a> and set up omnichannel outreach campaigns, reaching out to your leads via email and LinkedIn.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"content-banner default\">\n<p class=\"content-banner__title\">Your trusted assistant<\/p>\n<p class=\"content-banner__description\">All-in-one CRM will help you grow your business quickly and effectively<\/p>\n<div class=\"content-banner__link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.snov.io\/register?lang=en&amp;signup_source=blog&amp;signup_page=snov.io%2Fblog%2Fcrm-features&amp;cta_type=banner\">Try today<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"content-banner__img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/all-in-one.png\" alt=\"Your trusted assistant\" width=\"224\" height=\"224\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2. Customer base management<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you want to sell your solution, you need to know your customer as your closest family. One of the CRM features \u2014 contact base management \u2014 is designed primarily to help you manage your clients&#8217; information through all the stages of their journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Your customers&#8217; profiles may include basic information such as name, contact details, industry, socials, purchase data (dates, frequency, items bought, payment method, etc.), and demographic data (age, gender, income country, birth date, hobbies, etc.), among others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14256\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14256\" style=\"width: 845px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14256\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background392.png\" alt=\"Prospect profile example\" width=\"845\" height=\"845\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background392.png 845w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background392-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background392-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background392-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14256\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Prospect profile example<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">CRM will also store customer feedback such as complaints, questions, survey results, and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Collecting and updating this data gives you the power to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Better understand your customers&#8217; needs and pain points,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Get a clear picture of how people move through your sales cycle,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Separate regular customers from one-time buyers,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Get valuable insights on actions that lead people to buy or walk away.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Using CRM software will release you from quite a lot of manual work as you regularly add or update customer profiles. With it, you can eliminate possible errors in the profiles, avoid double submissions, get a comprehensive knowledge of your customers, and a lot of other benefits, as you can see below:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-14258\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background393.png\" alt=\"The main benevfits of a customer database\" width=\"700\" height=\"621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background393.png 1032w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background393-300x266.png 300w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background393-1024x908.png 1024w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background393-768x681.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3. Pipeline management<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A pipeline is a method of overseeing leads as they move towards closing a deal. This CRM functionality empowers you with a visual snapshot of where prospects are in the sales process, with records accurately reflecting the steps sales reps need to take to close the deal and parameters for each deal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Simply put, the pipeline gives you a helicopter view of the prospect&#8217;s location on the way from the first contact stage to the successful deal completion. There may be several stages along this path, and each is recorded in the CRM.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here you can see what a typical pipeline looks like:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13157\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Background266.png\" alt=\"Snov.io CRM\" width=\"850\" height=\"317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Background266.png 1947w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Background266-300x112.png 300w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Background266-1024x381.png 1024w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Background266-768x286.png 768w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Background266-1536x572.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A pipeline is sometimes confused with a\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/glossary\/sales-funnel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">sales funnel<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, but they perform entirely different functions. A sales funnel is a series of steps\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">your prospects<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0go through before buying your product. Meanwhile, a sales pipeline looks at what steps\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">sales reps<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0need to take to move leads through to the sale.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Most modern\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/why-you-need-a-crm-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">CRM capabilities<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0allow you to build pipelines with 100 stages and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You can adjust the number of stages to your individual needs. Usually, a small company may need up to seven stages only:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Lead in<\/strong>. You generate your lead with the help of an email finder, through your website, online event, marketing campaign, or lead magnets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Contact made<\/strong>. You contact the lead via phone or email.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Demo scheduled<\/strong>. You show your lead a demo video and tell more about your product or service.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Needs defined<\/strong>. You discuss the lead&#8217;s pain points, needs, and requirements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Negotiations started<\/strong>. You adjust pricing and manage the customer&#8217;s expectations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Lead lost<\/strong>. Alas, this stage identifies the deal dropping off.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Deal won<\/strong>. Hurray! You&#8217;ve got it! Your deal is a success.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You can move deals up the pipeline by simply dragging and dropping a deal into any stage. In addition, you can add notes to help your sales team align, stay focused on the deals of the highest priority, and concentrate your efforts on the best, most sales-ready, high-value leads.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The pipeline built in a CRM system allows you to quickly assess your sales progress and analyze how successful and productive your sales strategy is. It also clearly shows the workload of every salesperson in your team and helps you understand at what stage the deal drops off. This approach may prevent you from losing customers, track the stages at which issues arise, and ultimately \u2014 increase sales.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4. Deal stage management<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You can imagine a pipeline as a staircase that allows you to see where all deals stand at a glance, and\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/knowledgebase\/how-to-create-and-manage-deals-in-snov-io-crm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">deal stages<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0are the steps in this staircase that provide your sales team with valuable information about each prospect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Deal stage management is a great CRM feature that allows you to track each deal with high precision. CRM software houses all the information you need to know about a prospect and their interactions with anyone in your company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14266\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14266\" style=\"width: 1032px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14266\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background394.png\" alt=\"Deal stage management\" width=\"1032\" height=\"486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background394.png 1032w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background394-300x141.png 300w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background394-1024x482.png 1024w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Background394-768x362.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1032px) 100vw, 1032px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14266\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Deal stage management example<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In your deal profile, you&#8217;ll find all essential deal information, such as its value, team members responsible for closing the deal, when was the last call made, when was a follow-up email sent, what was the prospect&#8217;s reaction, and so on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Deals are customizable, and often, you can add up to 200 custom fields to a deal with any relevant data such as shipping methods, product weight, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In addition, you can comment on any action from your or your prospect&#8217;s side and filter deals on the same screen. This makes the life of a salesperson much easier as they have more power in taking control of the sales funnel.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">5. Customer interaction tracking<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One of the CRM key features is the possibility to track your audience&#8217;s interactions to better understand your customers&#8217; journey as they get to know your product or service.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0&#8220;walking in a customer&#8217;s shoes&#8221;<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0feature will give you a lot of insights that can improve overall business processes. It allows you to collect the data on your customer interactions with your website, social networks, in-app, and which channels they prefer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This precious data provides an excellent opportunity for you to develop an accurate, personalized marketing message and\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/glossary\/targeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">targeting<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0strategy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Last but not least, by tracking customer interactions, you can detect some user experience problems that you might not otherwise notice and thus minimize negative reviews that can be harmful to your small business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Therefore, don&#8217;t be lazy and make sure your salespeople update the customer interaction information on time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">6. Follow-up tracking<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Once a lead has entered your lead base, you should start the lead-nurturing process for them to stay interested in your product or service.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You can do this through targeted\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/email-drip-campaigns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">email drip campaigns<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, which are automated series of emails delivered based on the best timing, conditions, and set delays. They allow you to create an email sequence, schedule follow-ups, personalize your messages with the help of variables, and much more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Condition.png\" alt=\"Conditions in outreach sequences\" width=\"746\" height=\"380\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-35630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Condition.png 2048w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Condition-300x153.png 300w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Condition-1024x522.png 1024w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Condition-768x392.png 768w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Condition-1536x783.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 746px) 100vw, 746px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An email drip campaign is perfect for your small business needs if you want to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Welcome new leads to your community,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Keep your customers informed about your product or service,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Segment your audience into targeted groups based on user behavior,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Inform your customers about discounts or promotions,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cross-sell your products,<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Reactivate sleeping contacts and win customers back, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What you need to do is tune up your drip campaign once, and it&#8217;ll work for you with no extra effort from your side. You don&#8217;t even have to create your own personalized email messages! Use engaging ready-made\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/cold-email-templates\/\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">email templates<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0proven to bring you high open rates relevant at various stages of the sales funnel.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"optional\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Optional CRM features to keep an eye on<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">When your startup expands to a medium-size business, you might be looking to upgrade your sales processes with more CRM features. Why not get acquainted with some of them right now?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">7. Shared team task calendar (unlimited teamwork)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This CRM feature is gaining popularity as it helps build trust within a sales team. Let your salespeople be on the same page and have each other&#8217;s backs when working on a deal. Share notes, templates, set responsible members, and keep your team members updated on the following steps to close a deal in an easy-to-use sales ecosystem.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">8. Unibox<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>That&#8217;s another feature that enhances team collaboration by keeping all communications in one place. With Snov.io Unibox, for instance, you can sync emails from both internal and external mailboxes. The latter can be shared with team members, letting them monitor all conversations and the prospect&#8217;s level of interest in a product or service.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Unibox.png\" alt=\"Manage outreach in one place\" width=\"746\" height=\"438\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-34444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Unibox.png 1259w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Unibox-300x176.png 300w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Unibox-1024x601.png 1024w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Unibox-768x451.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 746px) 100vw, 746px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">9. Data import<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Accumulating all your sales data in one place is a rare case when\u00a0<\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8216;storing all eggs in one basket&#8217;<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0is a good idea. So, check all your spreadsheets, databases, email programs, or any other systems where you usually store your data and get ready to import it to your CRM.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You&#8217;ll be able to import any information, including accounts, leads, prospect profiles, even activities or cases, with the help of the advanced CRM functionality.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">10. In-depth analytics<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As your business grows, you might experience an increased need to update your reporting system to better analyze outcomes regarding the entire sales process, including leads, deals won and lost, your team performance, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An in-depth analytics feature will help you create insightful reports to track your KPIs. However, you don&#8217;t need to do it alone but share the report creation and analysis process with your teammates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A comprehensive analysis of the reporting data will improve sales forecasting, help your team work out advanced sales funnels, and craft excellent sales and marketing strategies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u2192 Looking for the best <a href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/linkedin-automation-tools\/\">LinkedIn automation tool<\/a> that would fit your unique goals? Check out our detailed post and choose the right solution.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To sum it up<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Acquiring a sales CRM system is no more luxury; it&#8217;s a bare necessity for small businesses. Building relationships with customers is now more important than ever, and companies need to leverage customer data to create better user experiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">CRM capabilities help automate the entire sales process and create a connected customer journey across all channels. With a CRM system, you can provide first-class customer service, thus increasing revenue and gaining a competitive edge at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And if you&#8217;d like to try a CRM platform that will solve a lot of issues your small business faces in the sales field, you can\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/sales-crm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">do it right now<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, for free.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/app.snov.io\/register?lang=en&amp;signup_source=blog&amp;signup_page=snov.io%2Fblog%2Fcrm-features&amp;cta_type=banner\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-13414\" src=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Background291.png\" alt=\"crm\" width=\"850\" height=\"228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Background291.png 1532w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Background291-300x80.png 300w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Background291-1024x275.png 1024w, https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Background291-768x206.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are the most relevant CRM software features for your actual and growing needs? Here are some ideas to help you make the right choice. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":14250,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[470,472],"tags":[544,613,1002],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14248"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/63"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14248"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42459,"href":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14248\/revisions\/42459"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/snov.io\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}