Survey: Crm Tools

people:

searchers

investors

intermediaries

lenders

lawyers

accountants

consultants

insurance

tasks:

getting started

see job postings

share your PPM

see my deals

read interviews

browse posts:

getting started

asia

australia

europe

tip for the week

deal sourcing

corona

operating

africa

interview

latin america

bestof

deal making

industry news

single sponsor

case studies

self funded

accounting and legal

networking

traditional

getting funded

women in search

acquisitions

north america

10/01/2019 Redacted Redacted

searcher The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Kenan-Flagler Business School George Washington University

Results are in! Thank you to the 20 respondents to the survey. The full results with data visualizations can be found on the LinkedIn article I put together for you all.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/searcher-crm-survey-results-joe-steigman
Key results:
+ Top platforms (# respondents): Excel (8), Zoho (6), HubSpot (4), Pipedrive (3), Streak (2), Copper (1), Klenty (1), Microsoft Dynamics[redacted]), Persist IQ (1), Tryoncourse.com (1)
+ 85% of respondents are satisfied with their CRM
+ Top attributes (# respondents): Ease of Use (16), Price (15), Comprehensive Capabilities (10), Email Integration (6)

16 likes 253 views 18 comments

searcher University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School Harvard University - 10/02/2019

Has anyone encountered a target that is ESOP owned, or can anyone comment on what acquiring an ESOP owned company would look like? I met a founder/owner who is retiring, and is gradually moving his ownership to employees in an ESOP model. I'm interested in the company, but unsure how the ESOP structure may hinder my efforts to acquire. Advice appreciated!

like reply | 1 like

searcher University of Dallas - 10/03/2019

OnCourse CRM should be on this list (tryOnCourse.com)

like reply | 0 likes

searcher The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Kenan-Flagler Business School George Washington University - 10/04/2019

Thanks! I will definitely break out the "other" services when I report back out.

like reply | 0 likes

University of Southern California Claremont Graduate University Baylor University - 10/03/2019

Good post, interested in seeing the results. I'd be interested in a follow up survey on b2b databases such as zoominfo, data.com or others.

like reply | 1 like

searcher The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Kenan-Flagler Business School George Washington University - 10/04/2019

great idea - could you message me a list of some of the databases you're interested in? I can get that going.

like reply | 0 likes

University of Southern California Claremont Graduate University Baylor University - 10/09/2019

Fantastic! I've used zoominfo, salesloft, data.com but have also outsourced this work on upwork with varying success. I know there are a lot newcomers to this space, would be good to hear of others.

like reply | 0 likes

intermediary City University of New York (CUNY) System - 10/09/2019

We did an evaluation about two years ago and looked for a blend of price/operating cost (for our entire organization), functionality, extensibility, and developer strength to ensure the offering can be maintained to current technology and business needs and standards. Having had a lot of CRM experience, it was interesting to see the landscape again and narrow it down from the 400+ credible CRM's to the few that pass the litmus test. The CRM can be an adjunct to your ops or it can be centric to ongoing operations on multiple fronts. Depending upon how you view it and what you want from it will influence your view of potential candidates. I answered your survey too. Look forward to your results.

On the other front for B2B, include uplead.com. Another DB that is robust, has AI routines to narrow focus and integrates with CRM systems.

like reply | 0 likes

searcher The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Kenan-Flagler Business School George Washington University - 10/14/2019

Stephen, give your experience do you have a CRM that you recommend personally? Also, thanks for the suggestions on the b2b databases. I'm starting to build the survey.

like reply | 0 likes

intermediary City University of New York (CUNY) System - 10/16/2019

We eventually chose Zoho, and in one of the rare life moments where you don't second guess a decision, this was one. Since we converted over, it has only been improved and given us a better means to control costs and improve our process. Ultimately, a good choice.

like reply | 0 likes

admin Stanford University - Graduate School of Business Massachusetts Institute of Technology Harvard University - 10/11/2019

Thanks, ^[redacted]‌, for updating your post to reflect the data and visualizations. Very interesting.

like reply | 0 likes

investor University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School Washington University in St. Louis - 10/11/2019

Do you find that these CRM tools are as useful for target companies as searchers/PE firms? We have had several of our portfolio companies ask for assistance choosing a CRM (or asking advice on whether they even need a CRM), and I'm curious as to whether you think a CRM for an operating company (say, a manufacturing firm) would need different capabilities.

like reply | 1 like

intermediary California State University, Los Angeles - 10/12/2019

Brooke, the "which CRm for who and why?" it's a standing question asked often. I find that the essential elements of a business drive the type fo CRM not the exact company crm.
i.e. how many contacts now ? are tagged and grouped and presorted? 125 people or 11k or is it brand new company or first CRM.
Will it contain email marketing campaigns, pull in website opt ins or manage commerce orders or just be online rolodex with a calendar for reminders.
I don't sell one...I've used many and feel qualified to weigh in with advice if you want it.
thanks
Dan

like reply | 0 likes

searcher - 01/23/2020

This is incredibly helpful! Thanks!

like reply | 0 likes

searcher New York University - Leonard N. Stern School of Business State University of New York at Binghamton London Business School - 07/18/2020

Thanks for posting the survey results, this is very helpful as we are currently evaluating which CRM to go with.

like reply | 0 likes

searcher Carnegie Mellon University Johns Hopkins University - 07/19/2020

You can't go wrong with a good old spreadsheet.

like reply | 0 likes

searcher Indiana University, Bloomington/Indianapolis - Kelley School of Business - 07/20/2020

Airtable has worked well for me. Also have started using Roam Research for my personal CRM. Takes a lot of manual entry, but the links make it easy to query and find common connections.

like reply | 0 likes

searcher Drexel University Johnson & Wales University - 07/20/2020

I have had a lot of success with Copper.com. It is helpful as we are solidly invested in Gsuite.

like reply | 0 likes

Cornell University - 07/20/2020

We use a combination of both Excel and Zoho, and they are both wonderful tools

like reply | 0 likes

sign in to join the discussion

Searcher Success Story: Being Managed to Manager to Entrepreneur

2021-01-19T19:00:00+00:00

Searchfunder Session: Blitzlaunching Search Funds in New Markets

2021-01-21T17:00:00+00:00

Searchfunder MeetUp - UK Searcher Bi-Weekly Brainstorm

2021-01-22T16:00:00+00:00

Due Diligence Office Hours with Elliott Holland

2021-01-22T17:00:00+00:00

Searchers Mastermind Group

2021-01-22T17:30:00+00:00

Women in Search Happy Hour

2021-01-22T21:00:00+00:00

Searchfunder Ops Session: Special Guest Walker Deibel

2021-01-26T19:00:00+00:00

Searcher Success Story: Getting Funded During Covid

2021-01-27T19:00:00+00:00

Selling Your Business - A Buyer's Perspective

2021-01-27T21:30:00+00:00

Business Owners: Elevate: The Summit for Growing & Selling Your Business

2021-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

Searchfunder's BIPOC MeetUp: Preparing to be a Diverse CEO

2021-01-28T19:00:00+00:00

Searchers Mastermind Group

2021-01-29T15:30:00+00:00

Searchfunder Session: Using HubSpot for Your Search & Acquisition

2021-02-02T19:00:00+00:00

Searchfunder Session: Tales from the Trenches: Due Diligence War Stories

2021-02-03T19:00:00+00:00

S.O.S.: Leaving Corporate America

2021-02-04T19:00:00+00:00

Searchers Mastermind Group

2021-02-05T15:30:00+00:00

Searchfunder MeetUp - UK Searcher Bi-Weekly Brainstorm

2021-02-05T16:00:00+00:00

S.O.S.: Lessons from the Zombie Apocalypse

2021-02-09T19:00:00+00:00

S.O.S.: Searchfunder Ops Session: Avoiding Catastrophe with Carveouts

2021-02-10T19:00:00+00:00

S.O.S.: Post-Acquisition Financing

2021-02-11T18:00:00+00:00

Searchers Mastermind Group

2021-02-12T15:30:00+00:00

Searchfunder MeetUp - Self-Funded Searchers

2021-02-12T19:00:00+00:00

7th Annual Booth-Kellogg ETA Week

2021-02-16T15:00:00+00:00

Searchfunder Session: Funding, Funding, Funding

2021-02-16T20:00:00+00:00

7th Annual Booth-Kellogg Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) Conference

2021-02-19T15:00:00+00:00

Wharton ETA Club Presents: Live Oak Bank

2021-02-23T18:00:00+00:00

S.O.S: Moneyball Recruiting Strategies for Small & Medium Sized Businesses in a Post-COVID Economy

2021-02-23T19:00:00+00:00

Legal Aspects of ETA Workshop

2021-03-03T18:00:00+00:00

SaaS Deals & Transaction Multiples

2021-03-31T05:00:00+00:00