Gmail has been my default CRM for as long as I can remember. After consulting with dozens of small business owners, I noticed that they were using their G Suite email as a de facto CRM as well. While using email as a CRM tool isn’t the right choice for a lot of folks, it’s a great way to ease into using a CRM. So, today, I’m going to show you how to use Gmail as a CRM.
To use Gmail as a CRM right out of the box, you will need to also use Google Contacts, Google Tasks, and Google Events as the foundation. If you use the Google Chrome Browser, you can also add on a variety of extensions that will turn your Gmail into a functioning CRM.
What is a CRM
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. Basically, a CRM will contain all the information you need about a person that will help you get and keep them as a customer. For example, a CRM will contain a prospect’s contact information, products they are interested in and a history of your communication with them.
If you’ve looked at CRM’s you’ve probably noticed that they can get pretty complicated. In fact, the biggest complaint about CRM tools is that no one has time to enter all that information or track all that information in a separate software.
This is where Gmail can come in really handy.
Why Use Gmail as a CRM Tool
You’re probably already using your G Suite Gmail to manage your sales. What you’re probably NOT doing is using the full power of the Google Workspace platform to track those sales. In this section, I’m going to show you how to use Gmail, Contacts, Tasks, and Calendar to run your sales.
It makes sense to use Gmail as a CRM because every business owner “lives” in Gmail and won’t have to click over to another tool, app, or software and double enter data and information that will move the sale forward.
If you’re a solopreneur, consultant, or freelancer, I recommend that you start with using Gmail as your CRM because it will help you ease into customer relationship management without spending a lot of time or money on new tools.
How to Use Gmail as a CRM
You can use your G Suite Gmail as a CRM right out of the box. Use the “Labels” feature to create folders and nested folders. Use Google Contacts for contact information and notes and to see your history of conversations. You can also use low-cost extensions and apps that will overlay basic CRM functions inside of your Gmail, so you never have to leave Gmail.
When you use Gmail as a CRM, you’ll get a clear idea of the features that are most important for your business. This way, when it’s time to scale into a more powerful CRM tool, you won’t overspend on features you won’t use or need.
Add your prospects as a Contact and fill out all the fields.
Your contacts are the heart and soul of your CRM. The more contact details that you include, the better. Your G Suite Contacts and Gmail contacts are seamlessly integrated. But you will have to make sure that you’ve added all the critical information to your sales prospects.
Use the “Relationship” field to create groups.
Google Contacts also has a series of what I call “advanced” fields such as “relationship”. This is a text field so you can make it whatever you like. You can add all kinds of contact details like other people from that company who are related to that contact — BUT — this will NOT link those contacts to that one. It’s just for reference. You can also use the relationship field to designate team members from customers.
Track your history with that contact.
You can also track your email history with that contact! This is a wonderful contact feature that few people know about. With every contact, you can track your email history. That’s a real time saver.
Use the Notes field to keep track of your relationships.
Each Google contact is loaded with the necessary fields; Name, Company, multiple emails, phone numbers, and addresses. There is also a NOTE field that you can use to add your updates.
Take advantage of the “custom fields” feature.
Google contacts gives you the ability to create custom fields. You can use those to track what products or services any of your contacts purchased or any other element you’d like to track.
Use Email templates to send follow-up emails.
One of the oldest features Gmail has is called “Templates”. Use Templates to create email templates that you send over and over again to contacts that email you with inquiries you answer all the time. You can create templates to schedule a meeting, to share basic explanations of the products or services that you offer. Again, if you send the same type of email more than once a day to any of your contacts — create a template.
Use the “Label” tool to create segments.
Gmail calls them labels, Outlook calls them folders. But the functions are the same. Use labels to group email conversations. I use labels to group emails by clients. But you can use them to create whatever folders you like. Your labels can be color coded so that you can easily find what you’re looking for.
Use “Tasks” to create lists and a basic pipeline
A sales pipeline is an easy way to track your leads as they go through your sales process. The basic sales process is LEADS, PROSPECTS, PRESENTATION, CONTRACT, CLOSE. Usually, the simplest sales pipelines is tracked using a spreadsheet. But I like to use my “Projects” or “Tasks” in Gmail to track my pipeline. I create a “list” for each of the phases of the sale and then I drop email into each list. Since the basic purpose of any pipeline is to move the lead forward, a task or project list is the perfect place to put those emails.
So there you have it – the FREE, down and dirty way to use Gmail as a CRM tool. This is an easy way to warm up and start.
Granted, this can get a little clunky, but even though I use several different CRM tools inside of the Gmail, I find myself always going to the native Gmail platform to track my deals.
Must-Have Features for a Gmail CRM Tool
Even though Gmail CRM tools are simplified CRMs, they come with a variety of features; some you’ll use and many that you won’t. In fact, if you just searched on the various Gmail CRM tools, you would get so overwhelmed, that your head would explode.
Today’s Gmail CRM tools can do just about anything a full-blown CRM can do, and that’s what makes it so hard to choose the best one for your business.
So, to make things easier, here’s my list of must-have features that will cover more than 80% of your needs.
Full Gmail Integration
Look, you’re already running your business out of Gmail. So you want to make sure that if you’re going to run a simple CRM system from your email, then you want to have full Gmail integration. That means that when you open your Gmail, your CRM opens right along with it.
Sales Pipeline
If you want to increase your sales, the best way to do that is to TRACK the progress of your prospects through the sales cycle with a sales pipeline. You can create a simple sales pipeline in a spreadsheet. Just create columns for Lead, Contact, Proposal, Close.
Email tracking and statistics
One benefit you get from using Gmail as CRM is the ability to see and track your email statistics. That includes open rates, and click-through rates. Tracking these statistics will help you improve your communication with customers.
Email Templates
Any CRM system you choose is going to have some element of email templates. This is a must-have feature. If you’ve already developed templates for customer correspondence, then you want to make sure that there is an integration inside that CRM for those templates.
Pre-filled contact fields
I’ve saved the best for last. One of the biggest obstacles that CRM users point out is how difficult and cumbersome it is finding and filling in the contact information. This is where a lot of simple CRMs for Gmail fall short. Depending on which CRM for Gmail you like best, you can always make up for this deficiency with another extension.
Mobile access and integration
I’m not sure that these needs to be said, but yeah, you have to be able to work on your CRM on a mobile device. This is especially important if you’re in a business that involves your going to client locations.
Features for teams
Just because you don’t have employees, doesn’t mean you don’t have a team. If you have an outsourced team, you want a Gmail integrated CRM that can accommodate your flexible organization. Typically, any team features will be a mid-range subscription.
It’s always a good idea to start with your native Gmail and manage your leads and prospects the way you normally would. My only recommendation here is to take the time to be as detailed as possible with your data entry. This will make future integration to a Gmail CRM infinitely easier.