smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Going the extra mile

Going that extra mile and selling harder doesn’t necessarily mean...
Have your say »

RSS

The basics of Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Jun 05 2008

A no-nonsense introduction to the basics of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and how to use it.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this article

Prize Draw

Smallbusiness.co.uk has teamed up with Avery® Quick&Clean™ Business Cards to offer five lucky readers the chance to win a copy of BBC Dragons' Den James Caan's new book The Real Deal and a pack of Avery® premium heavyweight business cards. To enter the prize draw, simply answer our question here

Polls

News

Sales figures predict lean Christmas

Christmas this year could be harsh for small retailers, after figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) show sharp falls in high street sales.

Small businesses 'hit with VAT burden'

Small firms will be especially burdened with administration costs from the reduction in value-added tax (VAT), according to the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Government to review procurement

A review into the public sector contract procurement process has been welcomed by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), which hopes it will lead to a fairer deal for firms.

Social networking marketing 'is a risk'

Using direct marketing through social networking sites is a risk as it cannot be controlled in the same way as other forms of marketing, according to an expert.

Assess marketing campaigns 'frequently'

Marketing campaigns need to be constantly assessed and adapted to ensure they are still working, an expert warns.

Scottish businesses struggling in crunch

Scottish businesses are not helping themselves in the credit crunch as 30 per cent do not advertise their firm and over a quarter do not ask for advice, both the highest rates in the UK, according to BT Tradespace.

Online marketing aids small firms

Small companies using efficient online marketing can 'punch above their weight' and develop their brand more than other forms of marketing would allow.

Brewers cheer ale sales

Small brewers have reason to celebrate as cask ale sales buck the industry trend, with an increase of eight per cent, reports the Small Independent Brewers Association (SIBA).

'Cut red tape' for small businesses

David Cameron has called for Gordon Brown to cut the red tape surrounding government contracts to allow smaller, newer firms to win business.

Companies looking for growth

Cash rich, well-run businesses will be in a strong position to gain market share and make acquisitions over the coming months, a source reports.

OFT publishes new contract guidelines

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is publishing guidelines on business contracts intended to protect consumers from unfair small print.

Guides & Tips

Getting customer feedback

The customer is always right, apparently. So it follows that listening to your customers and finding out exactly what they want is a sure-fire way of improving your product or service and consequently boosting revenue. But sadly, it is not usually that simple.

Need to know: CRM

Loyal customers can sustain your business by consistently returning and buying your product or service. But you cannot create loyalty without putting in the groundwork. This is why it’s crucial to establish a customer relationship management (CRM) system to help you identify who your most loyal clients are, why they keep coming back and how to enhance their overall customer experience.

Dealing with dissatisfied customers

Nobody likes disappointed customers, but if your business handles complaints well you could find an angry one becomes a loyal advocate of your business. Alex Tomlin explains how

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Tax Guide, the FT Guide to Personal Tax is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and Jonquil Lowe, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as 100 tax-saving tips.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

Formerly the Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide, the FT Guide to Business Start Up is now published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc, this unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.