“Many of the attendees understood CRM or had a rudimentary system in place, but didn’t realize that by incorporating CRM technology into their email marketing programs, they could substantially increase their effectiveness in acquiring new customers and strengthening existing business relationships,” said Pearl. 

Pearl introduced the attendees to IntelliClick® for GoldMine email as a CRM integrated marketing option. “Integrating your CRM with your email marketing is the best way to identify and track new sales opportunities,” he said. He also recommended that businesses link their website forms to their CRM  system to facilitate effective lead management and distribution  Using tracking software such as IntelliClick® for GoldMine email, businesses can identify website visitors, track their navigation, and then follow-up immediately to convert the lead before it falls through the cracks.

Powernet is a monthly networking event hosted by Midtown Athletic Club inBannockburn,2211 Waukegan Rd.Bannockburn, IL 60015on the third Wednesday of every month.  Each event guarantees a dynamic speaker, new business connections, the opportunity for business growth, and refreshments.  This was Pearl’s first time addressing the group. 

About Business Automation Solutions, Inc.: Business Automation Solutions, Inc. is a certified GoldMine CRM software consultant and developer since 1995, offering customized, value-added products for GoldMine email, including IntelliSend® email merge engine for GoldMine sales software and IntelliClick® click track and website navigation software for CRM integrated email marketing.  For IntelliClick/IntelliSend inquiries, please call 888-827-5628 x204. 

When companies shop for any CRM solution like GoldMine sales software, they usually need a good consultant as well.  Consultants typically offer one of two main payment arrangements: hourly or retainer. Hourly consultants will keep track and charge for time spent in all areas of your project, whether it be consulting, implementing or training employees on the CRM software. Most consultants will deduct in 15 minute increments and should provide a monthly report. Hourly rates can vary based on the type of service. For example a consultant may charge $150 per hour for technical support, $165/hour for training and $175/hour for consulting.

Our company prefers to work on a retainer basis because we believe quite simply that it is the best way to nurture a relationship with our clients.  We set an agreed upon retainer rate each month and work the number of hours necessary to complete the work needed, whether it be consulting, training, implementation or support.   Clients like this because our retainer rates usually cover everything, so there are no surprises on the monthly invoice and it makes it easier for them to budget into the future. They don’t have to keep track of our hours or make decisions as to where to allocate our time within the project. Instead, they can call us at will, whenever a need arises. These CRM users love being able to call for help “on demand” and get our immediate attention.

On our end, we like retainer relationships because it transforms us from a hired consultant into a trusted advisor and we become an integral part of our client’s team. We have a stake in the project’s outcome and a vested interest in the success of our client’s business goals.  Billing is straightforward.  We don’t waste time reviewing client invoices.  We focus on the project at hand and get it done quickly since there is no incentive (as there is with hourly pay) to spend more time on the work.  In the end, our clients business grows and we grow too.

We’d be happy to tell you how a satisfying retainer relationship with BAS can help simplify your GoldMine software pricing. Call us today at 888-827-5628.

So your company has decided it needs CRM, and is planning a GoldMine CRM implementation. What’s the best way to successfully prepare?

 One of the most important first steps is to make sure everyone is in agreement on the goals of the new solution.  Marketing, Sales and IT may all have different needs for reporting and analysis.  Our job is to customize the solution for the customer, so that all groups are happy.  Common goals are essential!

 Next, it’s very important to have all the technical requirements of the implementation ready and in place before the installation.  This includes servers and laptops as well as devices with remote access, such as cell phones.  Also, if integration with other systems is important, make sure to discuss that up front, so that all of the necessary steps can be taken.

 Even a sophisticated solution like GoldMine can only function well if the data within is accurate. All data should be checked for integrity and de-duped before it is incorporated into the new system.  We often remind our clients to check their excel spreadsheets, Outlook and MS Word files for data that should be included in the new CRM.

 Most departments will already have security systems in place among the groups, users, records and fields. We help our clients review these security systems in advance so that the new system does not compromise those in place.  Where changes need to be made, we do that as well.

 Even with us onboard as your CRM consultant, it will simplify our relationship if a key contact or team is designated to serve as a CRM liaison between us.  This important individual or team can help us monitor changing customization needs and the level of corporate satisfaction. A “train the trainer” model can work well, where an individual within the company can help orient a larger user base on updates or changes.

 Proper CRM implementation is a little bit of a journey, but BAS can guide the way.  Contact our GoldMine CRM consultants at 888-827-5628.

Our last post illustrated how GoldMine CRM pricing is more economical than cloud-based systems over time.   The advantages of an on-site system don’t stop there, however.   Besides sheer economics, there are many other reasons to choose an on-premise solution like GoldMine CRM over a cloud-based one.

•  Right Size Solutions   Oftentimes, large companies don’t realize that a SMB solution like GoldMine Sales Software can function well for their company if they have internal smaller divisions or groups that don’t intend or need to scale their solutions company-wide. They can purchase a solution designed for the SMB market that will meet their needs perfectly, and save a lot of money in the process.  Cloud-based solutions are often “one size fits all.”
• Customization and Reporting Advantages    While most CRM softwares offer solutions that help sales and marketing teams to streamline daily customer and prospect communications, solutions like GoldMine Premium Edition 9.0 offer sophisticated customization options not readily available in the cloud.  Since the cloud works most efficiently by servicing companies en masse, customization can be expensive. On the other hand, GoldMine CRM is designed to simplify customization; and features “real time” dashboards, integrated customer service functions and bundles Crystal Reports, the most robust report writer available in the market today. This provides your company with a lot more bang for the buck and prevents large unanticipated expenses down the road when it comes time to pay for customer service add-on modules and outside reporting tools.
• Web Tracking and E-Mail Marketing Capabilities   For additional ways to enhance the marketing power of GoldMine CRM,  Business Automation Solutions, Inc. offers powerful add-on products, like IntelliSend e-mail sending software for GoldMine email clients and IntelliClick email tracking and website navigation software.  These solutions are fully integrated with GoldMine sales software.  IntelliSend seamlessly targets and sends high volume mass e-mail with user-controlled throttle capabilities.  IntelliClick provides valuable click tracking, alerting and website behavior analytics in with “real time” integration directly to GoldMine CRM.
• Use of current IT staff and networks   Installing an on-premise solution like GoldMine CRM allows a company to fully utilize its current IT staff and systems already in place at the organization. The company network stores the data, with remote access to it. With a cloud-based system, all information is stored and obtained through an internet browser, so information can be slow-coming or unavailable, depending on the conditions of the connection. 

A premise-based solution like GoldMine may just be the best solution for your company. Contact our GoldMine CRM consultants at 888-827-5628.

Did you know businesses can spend 30-50% of their CRM budget on software alone?  In the match of GoldMine vs. Salesforce, or any other cloud-based system vs. a premise based solution, it’s important not to be misled by the attractive sticker price of the cloud-based solution.  The most important consideration about CRM pricing is the cost of the solution over time.  While GoldMine CRM is a larger investment up front, it can save your company thousands of dollars over time.

 A GoldMine CRM consultant will explain that this is mainly determined by the licensing fees.  At first glance, cloud-based license fees are much lower than GoldMine sales software.  However, GoldMine CRM user licenses are concurrent, so the license can be shared across the user base and fewer need to be purchased since they do not have to be assigned by name.  With a cloud-based system, data is stored in the cloud and licenses are specifically assigned to a particular user.  Licenses continue to be rented at a per month fee for as long as the system is in use.   

Over time, this can become surprisingly exorbitant, increasing the CRM budget as time goes on, as show by the chart below:

True, the GoldMine sales software start-up costs are higher than the cloud, because of the licensing and  hardware installation, so it seems like a less affordable option.  GoldMine CRM also requires an annual maintenance fee, which is typically 15-20% of the cost of the software, that allows the company to obtain technical support and updates to the solution.  Still, as illustrated above, the option of renting licenses per user, can amount to double and even triple the cost of an on-premise system when amortized over time. 

If you would like to learn how GoldMine CRM emerges the winner in the GoldMine vs. Cloud match-up, or how a GoldMine sales software implementation can save your company money, please contact us or call at 888-827-5628.

….and welcome to the Business Automation Solutions blog!  We’re a SMART Consulting Firm. (Sales, Marketing & Relationship Technology)

If you’re looking for information on how to maximize your GoldMine Software solution, you’ve come to the right place. As GoldMine Partners and certified consultants and trainers at BAS, our job is to educate customers about the benefits of GoldMine CRM and in this blog we’ll do just that.

We’ll offer valuable tips and tricks for getting the most from your GoldMine software, training and technical support and provide valuable content about the current trends and developments in GoldMine CRM.

We hope you’ll like what you read and visit often. Till next time,

The BAS Team

IntelliSend, an advanced email sending solution is directly integrated with Goldmine. It can also be used as a standalone sending solution for any emailing list. IntelliSend, ideal for high volume emailers, offers tight integration with GoldMine by allowing the user to select from GoldMine groups and templates to be used. It recognizes primary and additional contacts as well as email merge codes. IntelliSend records the sent email both to Goldmine history and on an extended details tab, called a ClickTrack tab. A log is instantly generated after the send that provides specific details of successful and failed sends.

Major advantages of using the IntelliSend add-on for emailing include optimizing system resources by using computer CPU memory to process email efficiently. Users can send large emailing blasts from any workstation or server without impacting GoldMine resources or licenses.

IntelliSend allows flexibility to send mass email on behalf of multiple people at the same time using the same or different email message templates. It also recognizes SQL queries in GoldMine to allow further segmentation of the target audience.

Importantly, IntelliSend helps high volume emailers avoid spam issues. It allows for quantity control on the send rate, date and time. Alternative SMTP relay servers are offered for enhanced deliverability as well as bounce management. For those seeking a full service eMarketing solution for GoldMine, IntelliClick directly integrates with IntelliSend so that users can take advantage of automated unsubscribe requests, message previewing and send testing, as well as many unique intelligent hyperlink tracking options.

For those interested in find out more information about IntelliSend & IntelliClick eMarketing for GoldMine, please join us for weekly live webinars.

You can register at http://www.intelliclicksoftware.com/webinars.htm

Companies seeking more information can visit IntelliClick Software at http://www.intelliclicksoftware.com/. North American Inquiries, please contact 888-827-5628 x. 204; European/UK Inquiries, please contact 44 01454 334430.

GLENVIEW, IL – Business Automation Solutions, Inc., (BAS) longtime GoldMine Consultant and developer of email tracking software, IntelliClick, a solution for Goldmine email tracking, is pleased to announce the selection of BAS to provide the solution for powering E2M’s professional newsletter services marketing company.

Steven Pearl, President of Business Automation Solutions, says “designing the E2M engine utilized everything that we have ever learned during our 17 years in business consulting on GoldMine CRM technology. We knew early on that for E2M to compete effectively in this crowded marketplace, they needed to implement something unique and powerful. When E2M came to us with this project, we felt totally competent and excited to take it on.”

“E2M project requirements included developing several complex systems designed to save critical staff time by having online forms automatically trigger multi-part follow up processes. We needed our staff available for the important work, and had to keep costs low. But it’s not just the technology”, says Kimberly Hamilton, Director of Marketing for E2M, “Steve and the BAS team were incredible in terms of helping us think through our business process from beginning to end, giving us guidance and options and then designing a system that fit our needs. Since the startup began, early in 2010, E2M has grown exponentially, due to the ability of BAS to consult on and implement complex strategies.”

About Business Automation Solutions, Inc.
Business Automation Solutions, Inc., (BAS) is a GoldMine CRM Solutions Partner and the developer of the popular IntelliClick eMarketing software. BAS is a sales, marketing and relationship technology solutions consulting firm.. BAS’ GoldMine Division implements CRM solutions for companies across the United States, in a variety of industries. Business Automation Solutions is headquartered in Chicago, IL. For more information, visit www.moreproductive.com call 888-827-5628.

About E2M:
E2M is an e-newsletter provider helping attorneys and financial professionals educate and communicate with their clients and referral sources. Our powerful e-mail tool includes business generation features like CALLS TO ACTION links and WEEKLY REPORTING for consistency and accountability.www.educate2motivate.com