Social Media and CRM Integration

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) has always been an element of running a successful business, and it has always emphasized managing interactions with consumers based upon developing a deeper understanding of customers’ needs and desires. Social media is an important resource for gauging these needs and desires and communicating effectively with customers. When this is the case, you can see how important it is to employ CRM integration system software to stay organized.

In the past, customer relationship management has been accomplished in a number of ways, including compiling relevant data about customers from a variety of sources, including the customer’s history with the company, interactions with customers via telephone, email, and through the company’s website, etc.

Several advances in technology and shifts in communication patterns in recent years have highlighted the importance of other methods of customer communication, however—specifically the incredible ways in which digital, social media, and mobile technologies have evolved.

Social media’s importance in CRM integration is increasing and will continue to do so; as a result, it is equally important that companies avail themselves of  CRM integration applications that are well integrated with social media. Given the competitive nature of the current online landscape, it is important to seek the best CRM integration system software solutions for your needs that is currently available on the market. 

Not all CRM integration solutions are created equally—and in some cases, while two solutions may be well-loved by their users, they do not offer the same features and functions. What may be right for one organization isn’t suitable for another; what may leave one company grappling for better social CRM integration may be the ideal solution for another.

Because of this, it’s very important for organizations to choose the right CRM integration solution (or combination of solutions) for their needs. Here are a few of the aspects that should be considered when shopping for a social CRM integration business product:

Nowadays, with the exponential rise of business and customer acquisition opportunities available on the most popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok, it is imperative to consider a CRM integration system software for your unique needs.

Of course, one of the primary purposes is to streamline social media interactions with customers in a way that complements the company’s overall  CRM integration strategy. That can’t be effectively accomplished if the CRM integration software or application in question is not integrated with the social media tools preferred by the company, or if the integration itself is incomplete or does not meet the company’s needs.

Different organizations and different customer demographics often require not only the use of different social media platforms, but different features and functions, and different methods of recording and tracking interactions. These can all be accomplished with CRM integration. 

Prior to choosing a CRM integration solution, companies should be prepared with research indicating which social media platforms they require integration with, and what that CRM integration should entail. It would be highly recommended to select a CRM integration system software package that would serve the company’s current and future needs.

This would eliminate having to upgrade to a different customer relationship management system software when your current CRM integration package does not support a popular social media platform. A change in CRM integration package is an easier transition than having to start over with a new CRM integration solution due to the delay in adoption that employees would face when changing over to a new CRM integration solution. Hence, it is important to thoroughly compare CRM integration solutions when doing your research. 

Gone are the days when mobile applications associated with CRM integration and other business solutions were strictly pale, pared-down, shadows of their desktop counterparts, plagued by limited functionality or buggy interfaces. It’s become expected for employees to be able to access the software and other solutions they need on the go, not only so that they are able to fulfill work tasks in a greater variety of environments, but also to facilitate improved work/life balance, boost morale and provide employees with highly valued flexibility.

When researching a customer relationship management system software solution, investigate what mobile application options are provided, and the specific features and functionalities offered by the apps. It’s important to know whether or not the CRM integration product’s mobile offerings are in line with what your particular team needs to be able to accomplish when working remotely.

Automation, user interface, and the way in which a product is delivered—whether it is a local install, SaaS (Software as a Service), etc.—can all play a role in determining whether or not the product is compatible with the way in which your team does business. 

When possible, it’s a good idea to get a sample version of the CRM integration product so that it can be tested by multiple employees to determine whether or not its features and interface meet their needs in an operational environment.

This is also advantageous when planning for change, as it can give team leaders a better idea of the amount and types of training that will be required before the new CRM integration solution goes live. 

While a great deal can be learned by visiting the individual websites of CRM integration solution providers, it can also be extremely helpful to use unbiased, third-party resources that are geared toward comparing the characteristics and features of different products. 

Before consulting with a  CRM integration platform comparison, it is important to know what current weaknesses you would want to address along with what features you would want to implement in the future as well.  Refer to our CRM integration buyer's guide for more information.

Choosing the best CRM integration package would allow for seamless customer relationship management system software adoption at different deployment points in your company’s CRM software implementation roadmap.

Once you have narrowed down your choices, consider the CRM integration rankings and  CRM integration software reviews as well to make the best-informed decision.