You might have heard the term "CRM" thrown around but aren’t exactly sure what it means. Or perhaps you’re somewhat familiar with the concept but don’t really understand why you need one when your business is running just fine doing it yourself.

→ Let's break down the benefits of using a CRM in your business so you can see how these powerful platforms can quickly become your business BFF!

What is a CRM?

CRM stands for Client Relationship Management, and essentially, it’s the hub for anything and everything related to your clients. It’s the best way to create a seamless, white-glove client experience.

A CRM simplifies your workflow by consolidating all your client-related activities—contracts, payments, emails, scheduling—into one platform. This centralization allows you to manage your business and client life cycle smoothly, without the need to juggle multiple tools or worry about missing any important steps.

Even better, a CRM keeps your business running in the background, welcoming new leads and progressing projects, even when you’re offline. Hello, time freedom!

Benefits of a CRM for Web Designers

Client Onboarding Made Easy

A CRM for web designers makes client onboarding a breeze. Instead of manually sending out welcome emails, contracts, and invoices, a CRM automates these tasks. This ensures every new client gets a polished and consistent onboarding experience, setting a great tone for your relationship (because let's be honest - how often are you forgetting to send something in a timely manner while juggling all the pieces yourself?)

Staying Organized

A CRM helps you keep track of project progress, deadlines, and tasks, so you’re always on top of what needs to be done next. This is super helpful for web designers juggling multiple projects at once, making sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Never Miss a Deadline

Thanks to automations and reminders in a CRM, you’ll never miss a deadline again. This builds trust with your clients and enhances your reputation. Set up reminders for upcoming deadlines and automate follow-ups to keep everything on track (including payments and reminders!)

Simplified Contracts & Payments

Forget juggling different platforms for e-signatures, payments, and reminders. A CRM brings all these functions into one place. Platforms like Dubsado and HoneyBook let you send contracts and invoices together in one neat package. Plus, you can set up recurring payments with auto-reminders, so you won’t have to worry about sending invoices manually. These payments can also be set up for every project depending on the milestones and deadlines.

Streamlined Automations

One of the coolest things about a CRM is its automation capabilities. Routine tasks can be handled automatically, freeing you up to focus on the creative work you love.

Picture this: you send a new lead their project proposal, contract, and invoice on a Friday. They sign, pay, and then... nothing. They don’t hear from you until Monday when you’re back online. Not ideal, right?

Now, with a CRM, once they sign or pay, it automatically welcomes them and outlines the next steps with links to an onboarding form or scheduler. Even if they’re in a different time zone or working over the weekend, everything keeps moving smoothly. Your client gets a top-notch experience, and you don’t have to do anything extra.

The Best CRM Systems for Small Business

When it comes to finding the best CRM systems for small business, especially for web designers, Dubsado and HoneyBook are my top picks.

Both of these platforms offer the essential tools you need to streamline your workflow and enhance client interactions.

Dubsado is a powerhouse CRM designed to cater to a wide range of service-based businesses (and what we use behind the scenes here at Hey Rachael!)

It offers robust features like invoicing, contracts, automated workflows, and more. Dubsado is all about customization, making it one of the best CRM software for small businesses that need a flexible and comprehensive tool. I personally love how robust the automations are. And if you like being able to customize your forms with CSS, Dubsado takes the cake.

Honeybook is designed with creative professionals in mind, and makes it really easy to get up and running using the platform fast. It’s one of the best CRM tools for small businesses that thrive on not starting from a blank slate; there are a LOT of templates you can plug and play from making it easy to get set up and using things quickly.

Honeybook has also released a LOT of cool new features for 2024.

☞ Read more about the 2 platforms here

Incorporating a CRM into your web design business isn’t just about staying organized—it’s about elevating the entire client experience. From seamless onboarding to automated communications, a CRM for designers like Dubsado or HoneyBook can revolutionize how you manage projects, helping you hit deadlines and deliver exceptional service every time.

Imagine the time you'll save and the professional impression you'll make with everything streamlined and automated. Say goodbye to manual follow-ups and missed deadlines, and hello to more time for creativity and client satisfaction!

Ready to level up your web design business? Explore these CRM options today and discover how the right tools can make a huge difference in your business and client experience.

☞ Click here to save 30% off Dubsado
☞ Click here to save 50% off Honeybook