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How to Use Close CRM: Step-by-Step Guide in 2025

by | Last updated Dec 18, 2024

how to use close crm

Close CRM is a tool that helps you sell more, plain and simple.

It’s like a super-organized digital notebook for your sales process.

Imagine having all your customer info, emails, and deals in one place so you and your sales team can work smarter, not harder.

Close CRM helps sales reps keep track of everything, from first contact to closed deals.

This means more sales success for you and your team!

In this guide, we’ll walk you through using Close CRM step-by-step so you can start closing more deals.

Close CRM Logo
Close CRM

Ready to boost your sales by up to 30%? That’s how much Close CRM users have increased their sales productivity.

Getting Started with Close CRM

Okay, are you ready to dive into Close CRM and close more deals?

Awesome! Let’s get your account set up and ready to go.

Close CRM Homepage

Signing up for Close CRM

Signing up is easy, just like creating an account on your favorite website. Here’s how:

  1. Go to the Close CRM website: Open your browser and head to close.com.
  2. Click “Start Free Trial”: You’ll see a big button that says “Start Free Trial”. Click it!
  3. Enter your details: Fill in your name email address, and create a password.
  4. Choose your plan: Close CRM offers several different plans. Pick the one that best fits your needs and budget. Don’t worry; you can always change it later.
  5. That’s it! You’re now officially part of the Close CRM crew.

To make things even more transparent, check out this product screenshot of the signup page:

[Insert screenshot of Close CRM signup page]

Setting up Your Close CRM Account

Now that you’re in let’s get your account organized.

Think of it like setting up your desk before starting your homework.

  • Customize your profile: Add a picture and fill in your contact information. This helps your team know who’s who.
  • Import your contacts: If you have contacts in a spreadsheet or another CRM system, you can easily import them into Close CRM. There is no need to type everything in again!
  • Connect your email: This lets you send and receive emails from Close CRM. It’s like having your inbox and CRM in one place. Super convenient!
  • Explore the main areas: Close CRM has different sections for your leads, deals you’re working on, and inbox. Take a quick look around to get familiar with where things are.

By setting up your account correctly, you’ll save time and avoid repetitive tasks later.

It’s all about working smarter, not harder!

Managing Your Contacts in Close CRM

Contacts are the heart of your sales process.

They’re the people you’re reaching out to, building relationships with, and hopefully turning into happy customers.

Close CRM makes it easy to keep track of all your contacts and stay organized.

Calling feature of Close CRM

Adding New Contacts

Think of Close CRM as your address book, but way more powerful. Here’s how to add new contacts:

  • Manually add a contact: This is perfect for meeting someone new at a conference or getting a referral. You can type in their name, email, phone number, and other essential details.
  • Import contacts: Got a spreadsheet with a bunch of contacts? No problem! You can import it directly into Close CRM. This saves you tons of time and avoids mistakes.
  • Capture leads from your website: If you have a contact form on your website, you can connect it to Close CRM. This way, new leads automatically get added to your CRM, ready for you to follow up with.

Organizing Your Contacts

Now that you have your contacts in Close CRM let’s keep them organized.

It’s like tidying up your room so you can find things quickly.

  • Custom fields: Do you need to track something specific about your contacts, like their birthday or favorite sports team? You can create custom fields to store this information.
  • Tags and segments: Think of tags like labels. You can tag contacts with things like “hot lead” or “newsletter subscriber.” Segments are like groups. You can create segments for different types of customers, like “small business owners” or “people interested in product X.” This helps you send the right message to the right people.
  • Smart Views: Want a list of all your contacts in California who last contacted a month ago? Bright Views lets you create filtered lists of your contacts. This is super helpful for targeted follow-ups and staying on top of your sales pipeline.

Communicating with Your Contacts

Close CRM isn’t just about storing contact information; it’s about making it easy to communicate with them.

  • Emails: You can send emails directly from Close CRM. This keeps all your communication in one place and makes it easy to see your email history with each contact.
  • Making calls: Close CRM has a built-in phone system so that you can make calls right from the app. It even logs your calls automatically, so you have a record of every conversation.
  • SMS messaging: Do you need to send a quick update or reminder? You can send text messages to your contacts right from Close CRM.
  • Templates: Are you tired of typing the same email over and over? Create templates for common messages, like welcome emails or follow-ups. This will save you time and ensure consistency.

By using Close CRM to manage your contacts, you can build stronger relationships, stay organized, and, ultimately, close more deals.

Plus, you’ll avoid those awkward moments when you forget someone’s name or what you last talked about!

Using Close CRM

Managing Your Sales Pipeline with Close CRM

Imagine a pipeline carrying water from a source to your house.

Your sales pipeline is similar to that, but instead of water, it carries your potential customers (leads) towards becoming paying customers.

Close CRM helps you visualize and manage this journey, ensuring no leads slip through the cracks.

Understanding the Sales Pipeline in Close CRM

Close CRM shows your sales pipeline visually, like a board game with different stages.

Each stage represents a step in your sales process, from the first contact to a closed deal.

This helps you see where each lead is and what needs to happen next.

You can even customize the pipeline to match how your business works. For example, your stages might be:

  1. New Lead: You just got their contact information.
  2. Contacted: You’ve reached out and had a first conversation.
  3. Qualified: You’ve confirmed they fit your product or service well.
  4. Proposal Sent: You’ve sent them a proposal outlining your offer.
  5. Negotiation: You’re discussing the details and working towards an agreement.
  6. Won: Yay! They’ve become a customer.
  7. Lost: They chose something other than your product or service.

Creating and Managing Leads

Leads are your potential customers.

They might have filled out a form on your website, attended a webinar, or been referred by someone else.

Close CRM helps you keep track of all your leads and move them through your sales pipeline.

  • Qualifying leads: Not all leads are created equal. You need to figure out which ones are most likely to become customers. This is called qualifying. Close CRM lets you add notes and information to each lead to easily see who’s a good fit.
  • Assigning leads: If you have a sales team, you can assign leads to specific people. This makes sure everyone knows who’s responsible for what.
  • Tracking lead activity: Close CRM keeps track of all your interactions with each lead, like emails, calls, and meetings. This helps you see their engagement and what you’ve already discussed.
Leads feature of Close CRM

Converting Leads into Opportunities

When a lead is qualified and shows strong interest, it becomes an opportunity.

This means they’re closer to becoming a paying customer.

  • Creating opportunities: In Close CRM, you can easily convert a lead into an opportunity, which moves them to the next stage in your pipeline.
  • Tracking opportunity progress: Close CRM helps you track each opportunity’s progress. You can see its stage, deal value, and any upcoming deadlines.
  • Closing deals: When you win a contract, you can mark the opportunity as “Won” in Close CRM. This helps you track your sales success and determine which strategies work best.

By effectively managing your sales pipeline in Close CRM, you can improve your team’s performance, make better decisions based on activity comparisons, and ultimately grow your business.

It’s like having a roadmap for your sales process, guiding you and your team towards success.

Automating Your Sales Workflow with Close CRM

Imagine having a robot helper take care of some of your work so you can focus on the important stuff.

That’s what automation in Close CRM is like.

It lets you set things up so specific tasks happen automatically, saving time and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

Workflow feature of Close CRM

Introduction to Automation in Close CRM

Why automate your sales process?

Well, think about all those little things you do repeatedly, like sending follow-up emails or creating tasks.

Automation takes care of those repetitive tasks for you, so you can spend more time building relationships and closing deals.

Close CRM offers different types of automation to make your life easier:

  • Email sequences: You can set up a series of emails automatically sent out, like a welcome email when someone signs up for your newsletter or a follow-up email after a sales call.
  • Tasks and reminders: Remember to follow up with a lead again! Close CRM can automatically create tasks and send reminders so you stay on top of things.
  • Workflows: These are like automation recipes. You can set up workflows to automatically tag new leads or move them to a different stage in your pipeline based on their actions.

Setting up Automated Email Sequences

Let’s say you want to email new leads to introduce your company and your products.

Here’s how you can do it with Close CRM:

  1. Create an email sequence: Give your sequence a name, like “New Lead Welcome Sequence.”
  2. Add emails to the sequence: Write the emails you want to send. You can personalize them with the lead’s name and other information.
  3. Set the timing: Decide how often you want the emails to go out. For example, you might send the first email immediately, the second three days later, and the third a week later.
  4. Activate the sequence: Once you’re happy with it, activate it. Now, every time you add a new lead to Close CRM, they’ll automatically receive your welcome emails.
Inbox of Close CRM

Automating Tasks and Reminders

Close CRM can also help you stay organized and on top of your to-do list.

  • Creating tasks: You can create tasks for yourself or other members of your team. For example, you might create a task to follow up with a lead after a meeting or to send a proposal.
  • Setting reminders: Close CRM can send reminders about upcoming tasks or deadlines. This helps you stay on track and avoid missing anything important.

Automation in Close CRM can streamline your sales process, save time, and improve your overall efficiency.

It’s like having a personal assistant who takes care of all the little details so you can focus on what you do best – selling!

Conclusion

So there you have it! We’ve walked through the basics of using Close CRM, from setting up your account to automating your tasks.

Pretty cool. Close CRM is a powerful tool that helps you and your team sell more effectively.

Remember, it’s all about working smarter, not harder.

By using Close CRM to organize your contacts, manage your sales pipeline, and automate your workflow.

You can free up more time to focus on what matters most: building relationships and closing deals.

Now it’s your turn! Explore Close CRM, try its features, and see how it can help you achieve your sales goals.

You might be surprised at how much easier and more efficient your sales process can be.

Good luck, and happy selling!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Close CRM challenging to learn?

Not at all! Close CRM is designed to be user-friendly, even for beginners. It offers helpful tutorials and excellent customer support to help you get started quickly.

Can I use Close CRM on my phone?

Yes, you can! Close CRM has a mobile app for both Android and iOS devices. This lets you access your CRM and stay connected with your leads even when you’re on the go.

What kind of businesses is Close CRM best for?

Close CRM is an excellent fit for small businesses and sales teams who want a simple yet powerful CRM to manage their sales process. It’s especially popular with startups and businesses that do a lot of outbound sales.

Can I integrate Close CRM with other tools I use?

Absolutely! Close CRM integrates with many popular business tools, such as email marketing platforms, accounting software, and more. You can even connect it with thousands of other apps through Zapier.

Does Close CRM offer any training or support?

Yes, they do! Close CRM has a comprehensive Help Center with articles, videos, and tutorials. They also offer live chat and email support if you need help.