At Azamba, we’ve been doing CRM for 20+ years, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned in that time, it’s how important your first 100 days of CRM are to your long-term CRM success.
For better or worse, those first 100 days set the tone. The trick, of course, is to set yourself up for success.
In this article, we’ll look at a few simple (but essential!) tricks to making the most of your first 100 days with CRM.
1. Get started.
Too many go-lives get endlessly delayed chasing perfection. Planning ahead is critical. Understanding your short- and long-term goals with CRM before getting started can help focus your team, system, and project, leading to better long-term outcomes. But don’t get stuck in this phase. That leads to lost time and momentum and can open the door to the sort of scope creep that can kill a project.
Your system will not be perfect from Day 1—and that’s ok! Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. You can improve your system over time as your needs clarify or evolve.
Your first 100 days with CRM are more about building good habits than having perfect data and perfect systems. So get in there and get started learning your system and building those habits! The fine-tuning can come later as you master your new CRM and determine your long-term needs.
2. Don’t get discouraged.
Your new system probably won’t be as good as your old system right away, even if your old system was just a bunch of sticky notes and your email archive.
Think of it like learning to ride a bike. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to go farther and faster than you ever could on foot. But early on, you’re going to fall a lot.
Your first 100 days of CRM are no different. For all its limitations, you likely knew your old system backwards, forwards, and side to side. Don’t expect to know your new CRM system so well too soon, and don’t get discouraged if you “fall down” from time to time while learning how to use it.
With time, practice, and fine-tuning, your new CRM system will naturally fit into your daily routine while taking you farther and faster than your old system ever did.
3. Try one new thing each day—even if it scares you!
The first 100 days of CRM is the perfect time to test your new system and make plans for improvements down the road.
Haven’t tried creating a new account yet? Let’s see how that works! Haven’t tracked an email directly from Outlook? Now’s the time to experiment!
If you’re a front-line user, get in the habit of writing down your reactions, ideas, successes, and frustrations. Nothing fancy—keep it simple and quick. The goal is to generate questions and suggestions to bring to your managers, project champions, or success coach.
If you’re a manager or project champion, make sure the lines of communication with your front-line users are open as they explore your new CRM system. You should explore, too, but they are the people the system must serve first and best.
What Else Can You Do?
You made a plan, you’re in the system, and you’re trying things out. You’re off to a good start! But your CRM journey is just beginning.
Ready to learn more about how to set yourself up for CRM success in your first 100 days? Join our webinar to learn more about what you should be doing during this crucial period.
If you are reading this after the webinar date, you’re in luck! You can watch it on-demand with the same link.
