{"id":13059,"date":"2020-06-18T07:06:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-18T11:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.method.me\/?p=13059"},"modified":"2026-01-07T06:56:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T11:56:28","slug":"small-business-survival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.method.me\/blog\/small-business-survival\/","title":{"rendered":"Small business survival: How a CRM can help you"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic made small business survival even more difficult than it was before. With shelter-in-place regulations across the United States and national unemployment at an all-time high, many wondered if small businesses would survive at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, however, small business owners across the country proved their resiliency. Whether you took a short term pivot on the products and services you offer or used resources from the Small Business Administration like emergency loans or the paycheck protection program<\/a>, you found a way to adapt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And with recovery on the horizon, now is the time to think not only about small business survival but about how you can make your company even better than before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, we look at why a CRM solution needs to be part of your small business survival plan. Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How a CRM can help your small business survive <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. More successful sales and marketing campaigns <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A CRM holds an abundance of information you can use to learn more about your leads and customers. From information on what purchases your customers have made to data on what messaging resonates with your target audience, a CRM helps you uncover new insights about your customer base. Insights you can then use to shape and refine your sales strategy<\/a> and marketing efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And trust us when we say these tidbits of information are critical to closing sales. Research<\/a> has shown that personalization means more to buyers than ever before and is only expected to increase in importance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201c72% of buyers only engage with messaging that\u2019s personalized to them.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n– Forbes, 202<\/em>6.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Given this, the customer data a CRM holds is a goldmine of information you can use to better target and convert your prospects. With the help of a CRM, you can tailor your sales and marketing campaigns to each lead \u2014 ensuring that you speak directly to their specific pain points and highlight exactly why they need your product. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method CRM users:<\/strong> To better understand your target audience, you can use custom reports in Method<\/a> to see what your best customers have in common and build your ideal customer profile (ICP) around this data. Once your ICP is defined, every sales and marketing campaign you launch should focus on and target this persona. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Improved cash flow management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Positive cash flow is a critical part of small business survival. But even in the best of times, it can be a challenge. In fact, cash flow is something that 62 percent<\/a> of small business owners struggle with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201c62% of small business owners experience cash flow problems.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n– Inuit QuickBooks, 20<\/em>26.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, a CRM helps you better understand how much cash you\u2019re actually bringing in. By tracking every sales opportunity as it progresses through the funnel, you get real-time updates on how likely a deal is to close and when you can expect to receive payment from it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you use a QuickBooks CRM<\/a>, like Method<\/a>, you can streamline your finances even more by automatically syncing transactions between your CRM and QuickBooks account. With a QuickBooks CRM, you don\u2019t have to worry about recording your sales twice or having deals that don\u2019t close on your books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method CRM users:<\/strong> Track every stage of your sales pipeline<\/a> in Method and use the Opportunities app to learn which opportunities are most likely to become sales and when you can expect these deals to close. Then use our payment gateways<\/a> to get paid faster and keep your cash flow positive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. More repeat business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Considering that CRM stands for<\/a> customer relationship management, it makes sense that a CRM helps you better serve and manage your customers<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For small businesses, this means providing a level of service that keeps customers coming back and stops them from shopping with your competitors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a CRM makes it easier for you to stay competitive and helps small companies survive against big businesses<\/a> like Amazon and Walmart by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n