The team, over here at Selling Lane, absolutely love using Venmo. We send money to friends and families, to our children, and even to the local coffee shop where we all partake in way too much caffeine. PS, my 89-year-old grandmother just sent a birthday gift with Venmo to my niece. If she can figure it out, anybody can. Most of you are familiar with Venmo’s awesome QR code system for payment, but I searched the web recently looking for a way to “link-to-pay” , to my surprise, there was quite a bit of miss-information.

So I thought I’d make it abundantly clear how it’s done. By the way, Link to Pay and QR pay is a standard feature in Selling Lane’s invoicing system, but we thought we’d show you how to do it for other services, such as your outbound mailers or other marketing materials.

How to Add a “Link-to-Pay” link

It’s actually quite simple, it looks like this: https://venmo.com/{Username}

this is the shorter version, it will link you to something more complicated, that looks like this: https://account.venmo.com/u/{username}

IMPORTANT: Do not include the @ symbol from your Venmo username, or it will not work.

How to Find your Link-to-pay UserName?

• Open the App
• Make sure you’re logged in
• Click on the “Me” icon on the lower right
• And it will show your name and your @{username} in the upper left.
• No use that to create your Link-To-Pay Link

Who Do I Find My Venmo QR Code?

• Open the App
• At the top center you’ll see your Avatar, tap on it
• then at the top you’ll see “Venmo Me” tap on it.
• It will show you your Custom QR code.

We recommend you take a screenshot of your Venmo Pay Me QR Code and add it to your printed invoices and even the back of your business card.

How long does it take to get my money with link-to-pay?

Funds sent should appear immediately in your Venmo account. If you have notifications turned on, you should see that the money arrives immediately. From there you can transfer it into your bank account as needed or use it to pay other bills.

Is Venmo Income Taxable:

In the words of my father, Lord rest his soul, “all income is taxable.” So you should treat payments coming from digital payment processing services, like any other payment method, such as cash or business check. We highly recommend you consult your tax advisor on the best way to manage payments that come in through digital portals. Business software systems, such as, Selling Lane makes it easy for you to track invoices and inbound payments so when tax day comes, you’re prepared.

We as a species have evolved into an “always-on,” “every task is critical,” “self-important” successful business leaders. There’s a pervasive myth: the idea that constant hands-on management and a never-ending stream of work is the hallmark of success. The feeling that you are so interwoven into the DNA of your business that you cannot take time off or let others do your tasks.

But, let’s challenge this notion because I believe true success, or what I like to call “Personal Business Nirvana,” is achieved when your presence isn’t a necessity for your business to thrive. THAT’S RIGHT, you should be able to take a long weekend off and never have to check in. It’s about creating a system so robust and efficient that it allows you the freedom to step away, whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or the head of a large organization.

But, But, But, If I’m Not needed, What Am I Actually Doing?

One of my friends, the general manager of a large car dealership, asked, “if I’m not needed won’t they just replace me, or cut my position?”

Of course not, because you’re now more valuable than ever. When you’ve reached Personal Business Nirvana, you can step back and actually run the business, think through the big picture problems and see your vision through to fruition. More importantly, you can be the leader that you were designed to be. Once you have the ability to delegate responsibilities to other people, or automate with CRM systems, your value actually increases dramatically.

Don’t Be The “Hit By a Bus” Kinda of Guy or Gal

In my younger days, I was in a stagnant job, because I believed I was the most valuable person there. I was the only one who knew how to manage the large processes that make the company tick. I was a one-man band. It was exhausting, but in my 30s I thought that was what the company wanted from me.

I remember sitting in a parking lot or our hotel, trying to connect to Wi-Fi while my wife and kids were waiting to go to Disney, as I worked on tasks that I could’ve easily delegated. I could never disconnect, I felt too self-important.

Thank God, my boss straightened me out one day. He took me aside and said, “Don’t be that guy that if he’s hit by a bus, the company stops running. That simply irresponsible, and is not good for the company you work for or for your own personal health.”

I never thought of it that way, I always thought that the more important I made myself, the more valuable I became. I never realized the owners were thinking that I was actually dangerous to the company.

So I hired a second, and eventually a third, and before long, I was not managing the team myself. Instead, I was directing and soon became project manager, acquisitions manager and ultimately CMO of the company.

As soon as I replaced myself, I was able to grow to the next level, and became invaluable in a different way.

The Illusion of Indispensability to be Successful

Many entrepreneurs and business leaders fall into the trap of believing that their business can’t function without their constant oversight. There’s a certain ego boost in feeling indispensable, but this is a dangerous mindset. If a business can’t operate without you, it’s not just a business; it’s a job. You’re essentially tethered to it, which isn’t sustainable in the long run.

The Power of Delegation and Automation to Become Successful

The key to achieving this Business Nirvana lies in two main strategies: delegation and automation.

• Delegation: Putting the Right Players in the Right Positions

  • Delegation is not just about offloading tasks; it’s about empowering your team. It involves putting the right people in the right roles, with the right training, and then trusting them to do their job without micromanaging. This doesn’t mean relinquishing control. It means cultivating a team that’s capable of operating efficiently in your absence. It’s about creating leaders, not followers.
    My father used to say: “delegate than investigate.” in other words, empower people to do their jobs, but then check in from time to time to make sure that they are actually completing the tasks you assigned them. This is a much less stressful management method for both of you, and it holds people accountable

• Automation: Let Technology Do the Heavy Lifting

  • For solo entrepreneurs and large businesses alike, automation can be your co-pilot. With the advancements in technology, especially in CRM systems, tasks that used to consume hours can now be automated. From customer interactions to sales pipelines, and even basic administrative tasks, these systems can keep your business running smoothly while you’re away.

The Long Weekend Test

A good litmus test of your business’s independence is the ‘long weekend test’. Can you take a long weekend off without your phone ringing off the hook? Are there systems in place ensuring that things are moving along, even in your absence? If the answer is yes, you’re on the right path.

The Benefits of Redundancy on your quest to become successful

Having a business that can run without you doesn’t just afford you personal freedom. It also adds to the value of your business. A company that’s dependent on its founder is a risky proposition for investors and potential buyers. On the other hand, a self-sustaining business is far more attractive and valuable.

Bottom Line: Embrace Your Redundancy and Flourish

In conclusion, strive to make yourself redundant. It might sound counterintuitive, but it’s the epitome of business success. When your business functions perfectly well without you, you’ve not only created something sustainable and scalable, but you’ve also achieved true Business Nirvana – the ultimate freedom to enjoy life outside work while knowing your business is thriving. This isn’t just success; it’s smart, sustainable, and truly fulfilling entrepreneurship.

CRM software is not just a tool; it’s a game-changer for sales teams and solo business owners alike. It’s the engine behind sales strategy, customer engagement, increase sales and ultimately revenue growth. Here’s an expanded look at how CRM software, like Selling Lane (shameless plug), can transform your sales process and performance outcomes.

OK, here they are, so you don’t have to read the whole post,

1. Understand and focus on customers specific needs
2. Help you upsell and cross-sell with ease.
3. Nurture leads into raving fans.

Study Your Customer to Increase Sales Perspective

CRM software empowers you to understand your customers like never before in human history. By analyzing purchase history, communication logs, and support tickets, you’ll reveal hidden insights into customer behavior and preferences. This data helps you craft personalized messages and offers that resonate, leading to increased conversion rates and more personalized relationships.

Here are some specific examples of how you can use CRM software to understand your customers better:

• Identify your most profitable customers. By analyzing purchase history data, you can identify the customers who are spending the most money with you. This information can help you focus your marketing and sales efforts on these customers.
• Segment your customers based on their interests. By analyzing communication log and support ticket data, you can segment your customers based on their interests and needs. This allows you to send targeted marketing messages and offers that are more likely to be relevant to each customer. Using selling lanes tag system is the easiest way to add a customer to a specific segment, and it even allows you to place the same customer in multiple segments. Example: auction buyer, might also be a seller. A Sufi book reader might also enjoy fantasy.
• Identify customer pain points. By analyzing support ticket data and complaints, you can identify the common problems that your customers are facing. This information can help you improve your products and services and reduce customer churn. For example, if a software company gets lots of calls to the support line asking for password reset, you might consider adding a reset my password button, so they can reset their own password. If a restaurant gets lots of complaints about parking, they might consider adding Valet parking or expanding their lot size.
• Predict customer behavior. By analyzing customer data, you can predict customer behavior. This information can help you personalize your marketing and sales efforts and improve your customer experience. For example, if you notice that customers are buying certain products during the holidays you can both stock up early and market early to increase sales. If a new car dealer has 500 customers out on three year leases, they can have their business development team call customers early and try to get them to trade ahead of schedule.

CRM software gives you the tools you need to understand your customers better and build stronger relationships with them. With CRM, you can:

• Get a 360-degree view of your customers. CRM software integrates with all of your customer-facing systems, so you can see all of your customer interactions in one place.
• Automate tasks. CRM software automates many of the time-consuming tasks associated with customer relationship management, so you can focus on building relationships with your customers.
• Collaborate with your team. CRM software makes it easy to share customer data and collaborate with your team to provide the best possible customer service.

If you’re serious about understanding your customers and building stronger relationships with them, then Selling Lane’s CRM software might be the right solution for you.

Upsell and Cross-selling Effectively

Upselling and cross-selling are two of the most effective ways to increase sales and grow your business. When you upsell, you encourage customers to purchase a higher-priced or upgraded version of the product they’re already interested in. When you cross-sell, you encourage customers to purchase complementary products or services.

CRM software can help you upsell and cross-sell more effectively by tracking customer purchases and allowing you to identify opportunities for upselling and cross-selling. With Selling Lane’s Menu Sales System, you can take this one step further by creating custom menus that offer complementary products and upgrades to your customers.

Here are a few ways to use Selling Lane’s Menu Selling System to upsell effortlessly:

• Create menus for different customer segments. By segmenting your customers based on their purchase history and preferences, you can create custom menus that offer them the most relevant products and upgrades. For example, you could create a menu for customers who have recently purchased a new phone, offering them complementary accessories such as cases, chargers, and screen protectors.
• Offer discounts and promotions on upgrades and complementary products. Offering discounts and promotions can make it more attractive for customers to upgrade or purchase complementary products. For example, you could offer a 10% discount on a new case to customers who purchase a new phone.
• Use images and videos to showcase your products and upgrades. Images and videos can help customers visualize how your products and upgrades can benefit them. For example, you could include images of different phone cases on your menu, so customers can see how they look on different phone models.
• Make it easy for customers to upsell and cross-sell themselves. Selling Lane’s Menu Selling System makes it easy for customers to upsell and cross-sell themselves. When customers are viewing a product, they’ll see a list of complementary products and upgrades that they may be interested in. Customers can simply add these products to their cart with a single click.

Here are 3 upsell examples, from three different industry types

• Clothing Upsell: Offer a discount on a second pair of jeans or a belt to customers who purchase a t-shirt.
• Electronics Upsell: Offer a discount on a laptop sleeve or carrying case to customers who purchase a laptop.
• Food and beverage Upsell: Offer a discount on a milkshake or dessert to customers who purchase a burger and fries.

How can use CRM software to nurture your leads and increase sales:

• Create a sales pipeline. A sales pipeline is a visualization of the different stages that a lead goes through before they become a customer. CRM software can help you to create and manage your sales pipeline, so that you can track the progress of each lead and identify opportunities for nurturing.
• Send targeted email campaigns. CRM software allows you to send targeted email campaigns to your leads based on their interests and needs. For example, you could send a different email campaign to leads who have visited your website but haven’t downloaded a white paper, and leads who have downloaded a white paper but haven’t signed up for a free trial.
• Automate follow-up tasks. CRM software can automate many of the follow-up tasks involved in lead nurturing, such as sending emails and scheduling phone calls. This ensures that your leads are always being nurtured, even when you’re busy with other tasks.
• Use drip marketing campaigns. Drip marketing campaigns are a type of email marketing campaign that sends out a series of emails to leads over a period of time. CRM software can help you to create and manage drip marketing campaigns, so that you can nurture your leads at their own pace.
• Provide valuable content. One of the best ways to nurture your leads is to provide them with valuable content, such as blog posts, e-books, and webinars. CRM software can help you to track which leads have consumed your content, so that you can target them with more relevant messages and offers in the future.

The idea of using tags in your CRM to categorize things in our lives is not a new concept, libraries and automotive parts departments have been using them for decades. And software companies only recently started adding tags to help us sort through our contacts.

What are tags? Tags are a powerful tool that can help you organize and manage your customer data in CRM. By tagging your contacts and companies, you can create custom categories and filters that make it easy to find the information you need

Here are seven awesome uses for tags in CRM:

1. Segment your customers and companies:

Use tags to segment your customers based on their interests, demographics, or purchase history. 
When it comes to marketing, one size does not fit all. By using tags in your CRM, you can create highly targeted call and email campaigns that speak directly to the interests and needs of specific customer groups.

For instance, tagging customers as “Return Buyers” or “Interested in Tech” or “Old School” allows you to send personalized emails with curated products or services that they are more likely to purchase. This segmentation leads to higher engagement rates, more conversions, and a marketing strategy that resonates on a personal level.

Suggested Segments for Interests, Demographics and Purchase History

• Demographics: Age, gender, location, income, education level, occupation, etc.
• Interests: Product categories, brands, hobbies, etc.
• Purchase history: Products purchased, date of purchase, amount spent, etc.

Use case: A clothing retailer uses tags to segment their customers by age and gender. This allows them to send targeted email campaigns to different customer groups.

2. Track your Sales Pipeline with Tags in Your CRM

Use tags to track the stage of each deal in your sales pipeline. This will help you stay organized and identify any potential bottlenecks. Time is money, and in the world of sales, knowing where to focus your time is crucial. Tags like ‘High Value’ or ‘Urgent Follow-Up’ can help your sales team prioritize leads that are more likely to close or require immediate attention. This ensures that high-potential opportunities are never missed and that your team is always working efficiently towards the most profitable outcomes.

• Sales pipeline stages: Lead, prospect, qualified lead, opportunity, closed won, closed lost, etc.
• Sales Pipeline Priority: Hot, Cold, Urgent, High Value, etc.
• Sales Time: This month, Next Month, Jan Deal, etc.

Use case: A software company uses tags to track the stage of each demo they give. This allows them to identify which demos are most likely to convert into paying customers.

3. Identify opportunities: 

Use tags to identify opportunities for cross-selling and upselling. For example, you can tag customers who have purchased a certain product with a tag for a complementary product.

Use case: A computer retailer uses complementary product tags to identify customers who have purchased a laptop. They then send these customers targeted emails with offers on laptop accessories.

4. Use Tags in your CRM to Improve customer service

Why add the additional expense of a separate support ticket manager such as Zendesk when you can add support tags to your customers and keep it all in one place.

Use tags to identify customers who need special attention. For example, you can tag customers who have had a negative experience or who have opened a support ticket.

Every interaction with a customer is an opportunity to learn and improve. By tagging interactions such as ‘Support Call’ or ‘Product Feedback’, you can keep a detailed record of how customers engage with your business. This data is invaluable for understanding customer behavior, improving service, and making informed decisions about product development and customer support strategies.

Listening to your customers is key to product improvement. By using tags like ‘Feature Request’ or ‘Bug Report’, you can categorize customer feedback and ensure that it reaches the right teams quickly. This organized approach to feedback management accelerates the improvement cycle and demonstrates to your customers that their input is valued and acted upon.

Customer support tickets: Open, closed, unresolved, high priority, etc.

Use case: A telecommunications company uses tags to identify customers who have had a service outage. They then contact these customers to apologize and offer a resolution.

5 Use Tags in Your CRM to Create Instant Reports

Use tags to generate reports on your sales, customer service, and marketing campaigns. This information can help you make better business decisions.

Collaboration is essential in any business, and tags can play a pivotal role in ensuring everyone is on the same page. You could create quick reports using tags such as ‘Needs Review’ or ‘Awaiting Approval’ clearly communicate the status of tasks and projects within your team. This clarity helps prevent bottlenecks, ensures tasks are completed in a timely manner, and fosters a collaborative environment where everyone understands their responsibilities.

Graphic: A report showing sales data for different customer segments.

Use case: A used car lot uses tags to track customer satisfaction. They then generate a report on customer satisfaction by salesperson and dealer location.

6. Managing Event Attendees with Tags

Events are a great way to connect with customers and prospects, but managing attendees can be a logistical nightmare. Tags like ‘Webinar Attended’ or ‘Trade Show Guest’ can help you keep track of who has engaged with your events, allowing for effective follow-up and nurturing of those relationships. This targeted approach ensures that the momentum from your events is not lost and that potential leads are pursued appropriately.

Use Case: A Towing Software company, uses tags to track opportunities from each of the trade shows they attend, such as the Baltimore tow show, or Orlando Tow show. This way they can pull up two tags, 1 “opportunities” and 2. “Orlando Tow Show” and work those leads as a group.

7. Collaborate with your team: 

Use tags to collaborate with your team members on deals and customer relationships. For example, you can tag a team member in a note or task to keep them updated.

Use case: A real estate team uses tags to track the status of each property listing. They then tag team members in notes and tasks to keep everyone updated on the progress of each listing.

Final Thoughts:

These are just a few of the many ways that you can use tags in CRM. By using tags effectively, you can organize your customer data, improve your sales process, and provide better customer service.

In conclusion, tags in your CRM are more than just labels; they are powerful tools that can transform the way you interact with customers, manage your sales pipeline, and collaborate as a team. By leveraging tags effectively, you can create a more organized, efficient, and customer-centric business.

I hope this blog post has given you some ideas on how to use tags in CRM to improve your business. If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment below. And I hope you’ll consider Selling Lane’s Tag Manager as your favorite choice for small business software.

Even if software is not your thing, this guide to CRM Should Help.

“I remember the first day that I decided to quit my job and start my first business, I’m not going to lie, I threw up in my mouth a couple of times that day. Even though starting a business is thrilling, it was also overwhelming. I had products to sell, I needed to find clients, not to mention data to manage, all without much income coming in at first.

To say I was nervous, was an understatement, and one of the first things my partner and I had to do was figure out what CRM software we were going to use to track it all, because I was damned if I was going to run a business with pen and paper like my parents. I wish I had this guide to CRM the day I started.”

Kevin, co-founder of a software company in 2014.

If the term “CRM” has popped up in your research, and you’re feeling a tad anxious about it, fear not! This guide is here to ease your worries, let’s get you started, and in the words of Douglas Adam’s in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “Don’t Panic”

What is CRM Software?

A CRM, or Customer Relationship Management system, is like a digital assistant that helps you manage all your business’s relationships and interactions with customers. Imagine having a tool, on day one of your startup, that remembers every client detail, every transaction, and every promise you’ve made. And as you grow, and add employees, the business software becomes a critical part of your business. Check out this ultimate guide to CRM, it may help.

Why Do You Need CMR software?

CRM software is essential for businesses of all sizes. It helps you to manage your customer relationships more effectively, which can lead to increased sales, improved customer service, and reduced costs. Good CRM’s include Invoicing, websites, selling systems, task management and much more. Have you ever forgotten a client’s name or missed a follow-up call? Then a CRM system is your safety net, It ensures you stay on top of tasks, remember client preferences, and never miss an opportunity to grow your business.

Benefits of Using a CRM System:

• Stay Organized: No more juggling between notebooks, emails, or apps. Everything is in one place.
• Build Stronger Relationships: By remembering client preferences and past interactions, you can tailor your service, making clients feel valued.
• Boost Sales: With all client data at your fingertips, you can spot opportunities faster and act on them. Great CRM’s include selling system’s to help you make those deals, such as Selling Lane’s Menu Selling System. It gives customers choices so they upgrade themselves.

A Nervous Person’s Guide to CRM and Choosing the Right Software:

• Understand Your Needs: Do you want mobile access? Do you need it to integrate with your email? Do you want it to give you free stuff like website builders and link to pay invoices?
• Test a Few: Most CRM systems offer free trials, for example, Selling Lane offers 31 days free, so you can play around and hopefully get hooked. But, test a few to see which one you’re most comfortable with.
• Consider your budget. CRM software can range in price from $6 per month to hundreds of dollars per month. It’s important to set a budget before you start shopping so that you don’t overspend. For example, we set a budget of $25 per employee per month for Phone, CRM and Accounting software, not an easy task, but to this day we still use that budget.

How to implement CRM Software:

• Start Slow: Begin with basic features. As you get comfortable, explore more advanced features.
• Train Your Team: If you have employees, ensure they know how to use the CRM.
• Stay Updated: CRM software gets updated. Make sure you’re always using the latest version.
• Consistency is Key: Make it a habit to update the CRM regularly.
• Clean Your Data: Outdated or wrong data can hurt your business. Regularly check and clean your CRM data.
• Use Integrations: Many CRMs integrate with other tools like email marketing software. Use these integrations to save time.

A couple of CRM Software Case Studies:

• Sarah’s Handmade Crafts: After using a CRM, Sarah saw her sales double in just one year, mostly because she could follow up on leads coming from Etsy and eBay more efficiently. She even added tasks to previous customers to remind them to purchase at key holidays such as Hanukkah and Christmas.
• Tech Fixers: A tech repair shop used CRM to track customer device repairs. They reduced device return rates by 30%. Selling Lane CRM also improved the speed in which they were able to fix the devices, because no device got left behind while they were waiting for parts, Selling Lane’s task manager specifically prevented this.

Common Myths About CRM Software:

• “It’s too technical for me!”: Modern CRMs are designed to be user-friendly. Plus, there are tons of tutorials available.
• “I’m just a small business. I don’t need it.”: CRM isn’t just for big corporations. Small businesses stand to gain a lot from using a CRM. Even when I was a solopreneur, my CRM was a crucial part of my operation and it just 6 to 12 bucks a month it was highly affordable and was like having an AI employee.

Why we created this guide to CRM?

We created this guide to CRM to help business owners like you understand the benefits of using CRM software and how to choose and implement the right system for your business.

Starting and running a business is challenging, and there are many things to juggle. Customer relationship management (CRM) software can help you automate tasks, streamline processes, and gain valuable insights into your customers.

With Selling Lane’s CRM, you can:

• Track leads and manage your sales pipeline with CRM
• Increase sales, upsell easier and grow your business, with Menu Selling
• Create proposals and invoices, then get paid faster with Invoicing and Link to Pay
• Automate tasks, create to-do’s, and get things done with Task manager
• Create your own business website and get found easier with Website Builder
• Share your business or personal contact info with potential clients with QR Code Business Card
• Create custom tags for your customers companies and projects, with Tag Manager

Bottom line, with CRM software, you can gain valuable insights into your customers, and turn them into raving fans

I get it, embracing a CRM software system might feel daunting at first, but it’s a game-changer. And with Selling Lane’s CRM, you’re not just getting an easy-to-use tool; you’re getting an AI partner that helps your business grow and thrive. So, take a deep breath, dive in, and watch your business soar to new heights!

We hope this guide is helpful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.