Let’s be honest, most CRMs aren’t built with small businesses in mind. Selling Lane is different. It’s designed with unparalleled ease of use, putting the power of streamlined customer management in your hands – no technical expertise required We like to Call it “The Easy CRM”

Your customers expect fast, personalized service. But delivering that experience can be tough when you’re bogged down by complicated tools. Selling Lane CRM’s intuitive design lets you focus on what matters – building relationships that drive your business forward.

Why Ease of Use is Essential for Small Businesses

• Quick Adoption: Lengthy training or complicated setups discourage your team. Simple CRM means everyone’s up and running quickly, maximizing the value from day one.
• No Tech Headaches: You’re the expert in your business, not IT. Intuitive CRM means you don’t need a tech degree to manage customer data and streamline processes.
• Increased Efficiency: Time spent wrestling with software is time not spent on sales, client work, or strategy. Easy-to-use tools boost productivity across your team.
• Empowered Employees: When tools are simple, employees feel confident using them. This leads to better customer experiences and improved data accuracy.

How Selling Lane CRM Delivers on Simplicity

• Intuitive Interface: Selling Lane features a clean, uncluttered dashboard. Key information is readily accessible, reducing time spent searching for what you need.
• Easy to set up workflow: Customize your sales pipeline or add fields to contact forms with a few clicks – no coding knowledge required.
• Step-by-Step Guidance (Video): In-app tutorials and a helpful knowledge base provide support when needed, smoothing the onboarding process.
• Mobile-First Design: Manage your business on the go. Selling Lane’s mobile app ensures critical customer information is always at your fingertips.

Real-World Examples: Easy CRM

• Service Business Example: A landscaping company owner replaces messy spreadsheets with Selling Lane. Now, scheduling jobs, sending estimates, and tracking crew availability takes minutes, not hours.
• Freelance Example: A freelance designer ditches email chaos for leads. Selling Lane’s simple project pipelines and automated reminders keep projects moving and clients delighted.
• Retail Example: A boutique owner uses Selling Lane to create customer profiles with ease. These profiles drive personalized offers and loyalty programs, boosting repeat business.

The Benefits of An Easy CRM: Goes Way Beyond the Software

Selling Lane’s commitment to ease of use doesn’t stop at its interface. Here’s how it translates into value for your small business:

• Affordable Pricing Plans: Transparent, scalable pricing makes CRM accessible, even for the smallest businesses.
• Fast Onboarding: Enjoy a quick setup process and immediate benefit, without expensive consultants.
• Exceptional Support: If you do have questions, Selling Lane’s friendly support team is there to help you get back on track quickly.

Experience the Selling Lane Difference: It’s Not Just Easy, It’s Empowering

Complex CRMs can overwhelm small businesses, leading to underutilized software and wasted resources. Selling Lane CRM breaks that mold. Its intuitive design and simple features unlock the power of customer relationship management without the steep learning curve.

If you’re ready to ditch the complicated tools, streamline your operations, and focus on growing your business, it’s time to discover Selling Lane.

Click Here to Try Selling Lane today and experience the transformative power of simplicity. Start your free trial now!

Absolutely! Here’s a blog post covering the topic of identifying CRM goals:

Identifying Your CRM Goals: A Step-by-Step Guide

Customer relationship management (CRM) software is an incredibly powerful tool in the modern business toolkit. However, without careful planning, it can become just another piece of software that doesn’t fulfill its potential. That’s why setting well-defined CRM goals is crucial. Identifying what you want to achieve with your CRM lays the groundwork for successful implementation, maximizes ROI, and helps create a powerful engine to fuel your business’s growth.

Let’s explore a step-by-step approach to setting impactful CRM goals:

Step 1: Align CRM Goals with Your Overall Business Objectives

Your CRM strategy should mirror your overarching business goals. Consider these key questions:

• Growth: Do you want to expand your customer base and increase sales?
• Efficiency: Are you looking to streamline processes and reduce operational costs?
• Customer Satisfaction: Is your aim to improve customer retention and boost loyalty?
• Data Insights: Do you want to gain deeper insights into customer behavior for better decision-making?

Step 2: Map Your Customer Journey

Visualizing your customer journey—from initial awareness to purchase and beyond—brings clarity to how your CRM strategy can be used at various touchpoints.

• Lead Generation: How can you use your CRM to attract and capture leads more effectively?
• Lead Nurturing: How can your CRM system streamline the process of turning prospects into customers?
• Closing Deals: How can your CRM accelerate sales cycles and improve close rates?
• Customer Support: How can your CRM enhance post-purchase experiences for better retention?

Step 3: Get Input from Key Stakeholders

Don’t work in a silo. Talk to different departments, including sales, marketing, and customer service, to understand their needs and challenges. This collaborative approach ensures your CRM goals address concerns and pain points across your organization.

Step 4: Make Goals SMART

Remember the SMART acronym for goal setting. Your goals should be:

• Specific: Clearly define the desired outcomes.
• Measurable: Use quantifiable metrics to track progress.
• Achievable: Set ambitious yet realistic goals.
• Relevant: Ensure goals align with your business priorities.
• Time-bound: Include deadlines to drive accountability.

Step 5: Prioritize Goals

With a long list of potential goals across the organization, focus is essential. Prioritize the goals that will deliver the most significant impact on your business.

Example CRM Goals:

Here are some examples to illustrate SMART CRM goals:

• Increase lead conversion rate by 15% within 6 months
• Reduce customer churn by 10% over the next year
• Improve average customer satisfaction score by 20% within the next quarter
• Shorten the sales cycle by 20% within the next 9 months

Step 6: Track Your Progress and Adjust

A CRM strategy is not set in stone; it should adapt. Regularly monitor these key performance indicators (KPIs) that relate to your goals:

• Lead generation metrics
• Sales conversion rates
• Customer satisfaction scores
• Customer churn rate
• Sales pipeline health

Make data-driven changes to your strategy as needed.

Remember: It’s a Journey, Not a Destination

Developing a strong CRM strategy takes time. Celebrate initial successes, but also continue to analyze data and refine your plan as your business grows and your relationship with your customers evolves

Let Your Goals Drive Your Success!

By systematically defining your CRM goals, you’ll transform your CRM from just a collection of information into a powerhouse of efficiency, growth, and customer satisfaction.

1. Identify Your CRM Goals

Identifying your CRM goals is like charting a map for a treasure hunt, where the treasure is a thriving, loyal customer base and the map is your strategic plan. It’s about pinpointing exactly what you want to achieve with your CRM system to support your business’s growth and enhance customer satisfaction. For a company like Selling Lane, LLC, this could involve several specific objectives, each tailored to different aspects of customer relationship management. The primary aim could be to improve customer retention rates by 15% within a year by offering more personalized follow-ups and support, thereby deepening relationships and fostering loyalty. Another goal might be to increase the efficiency of sales teams by 25% through better lead management and prioritization, streamlining the sales process from initial contact to close.

Beyond these, CRM goals should also focus on harnessing data to gain actionable insights. This means setting objectives around the collection, analysis, and application of customer data to refine marketing strategies, tailor product offerings, and predict customer needs before they even arise. For Selling Lane, this could translate into using CRM analytics to identify cross-selling and upselling opportunities, thereby boosting average transaction values by a targeted percentage. By setting clear, measurable goals in these areas, a business can ensure its CRM strategy is not just a concept but a driving force behind achieving tangible outcomes that propel the company forward. Read Full Article on CRM Goals

2. Choose and Easy to Use CRM

Choosing the right CRM for your business is akin to selecting the perfect pair of shoes for a marathon; comfort, fit, and long-term support are paramount. The “right” CRM should feel like an extension of your team, empowering your business without adding unnecessary complexity. For a company like Selling Lane, LLC, with its goal of reaching and managing thousands of customer relationships while aiming for a significant monthly viewership, the CRM chosen must strike a balance between comprehensive functionality and user-friendly design.

First off, simplicity is key. An easy-to-use CRM doesn’t bog down your team with a steep learning curve; instead, it fits seamlessly into your existing processes, enhancing productivity right out of the box. This means looking for a platform with an intuitive interface, straightforward customization options, and responsive customer support. Additionally, it should offer easy integration with the tools your team already relies on, be it email, calendar apps, or customer service software, creating a cohesive ecosystem that centralizes customer information and interactions.

Moreover, scalability cannot be overlooked. As Selling Lane aims to expand its reach, the CRM must be able to grow alongside the business, accommodating an increasing number of contacts, more complex customer journeys, and evolving sales strategies without a hitch. This flexibility ensures that as the company scales, the CRM remains a pillar of support rather than a bottleneck to growth. In essence, choosing the right CRM for Selling Lane involves finding a solution that is not just easy to use but also aligns with the company’s ambitious growth trajectory, ensuring the marathon ahead is run on a path of efficiency, engagement, and expansion. Read Full Article

3. Keep your CRM Data Clean and Organized

Keeping your data clean and organized in your CRM is like maintaining a well-oiled machine; it ensures everything runs smoothly and efficiently, preventing costly breakdowns. For a company like Selling Lane, LLC, where data is the lifeblood of decision-making and customer relationship management, this practice is non-negotiable. Clean data directly translates into more accurate insights, better-targeted marketing campaigns, improved customer service, and ultimately, a more streamlined sales process. It’s the groundwork that supports every strategy aimed at reaching that ambitious target of 20,000 viewers per month.

Start with regular data audits. This involves periodically reviewing the data within your CRM to identify and rectify inaccuracies, duplicates, or outdated information. Implementing standardized data entry practices is crucial here; it minimizes the risk of errors from the get-go. For instance, establishing clear guidelines on how contact names, addresses, and other key details are entered can significantly reduce inconsistencies.

Moreover, leverage the power of automation wherever possible. Many modern CRM systems offer tools that can automatically clean and update records, merge duplicates, or flag data that seems out of place. This not only saves time but also ensures your data remains in top shape with minimal manual intervention.

Organizing your CRM data also means categorizing and segmenting it in a way that aligns with your business goals. For Selling Lane, this could involve segmenting customers based on their interaction history, potential value, or feedback. Such segmentation enables personalized marketing efforts and sales pitches, making your approach more effective and increasing the chances of achieving those viewer targets.

In essence, keeping your CRM data clean and organized is an ongoing commitment that pays off in enhanced efficiency, sharper insights, and more meaningful customer interactions. For Selling Lane, it’s a critical step toward sustaining growth and achieving its strategic objectives. Read Full Article on Keeping Your CRM Data Clean

4. Integrate your CRM with Google Calendar:

Integrating your CRM with Google Calendar is like setting up a backstage pass for your entire team to sync effortlessly with each other’s schedules, ensuring that no beat is missed in the customer relationship symphony. For a business like Selling Lane, LLC, aiming to engage and manage a vast array of customer interactions efficiently, this integration can be a game-changer. It streamlines appointment setting, follow-ups, and reminders, thus ensuring that the team remains in harmony, and every customer interaction is timed to perfection.

Imagine the convenience of directly scheduling meetings from within your CRM and having them automatically populate in Google Calendar, visible across your organization. This not only saves time but also significantly reduces the chances of double-booking or missing meetings. It allows the sales team at Selling Lane to focus more on what they do best – building relationships and closing deals – rather than juggling calendars.

Moreover, this integration facilitates a more personalized approach to customer engagement. With access to an organized calendar view of customer interactions, the team can easily identify opportunities to reach out at the right time, be it for follow-ups, product demos, or simply to check in. This timely interaction can significantly enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, which are crucial for achieving Selling Lane’s viewership goals.

Additionally, integrating your CRM with Google Calendar enhances transparency and collaboration among teams. It allows everyone, from sales to customer support, to have a unified view of customer engagements, upcoming appointments, and deadlines. This level of visibility ensures that everyone is on the same page, fostering a more cohesive and efficient approach to managing customer relationships.

In essence, integrating your CRM with Google Calendar is a strategic move that can streamline operations, enhance team coordination, and elevate the customer experience. For Selling Lane, it’s not just about keeping schedules in check; it’s about leveraging every opportunity to connect with customers in a timely and meaningful way, driving towards that goal of reaching 20,000 viewers per month. Read Full Article on Google Calendar Integration

5. Regularly Train Your Team For CRM Success

Regularly training your team is the keystone in the arch of CRM success, binding together all other strategies and ensuring they work in concert to achieve your goals. For Selling Lane CRM, with its ambitious target of engaging at least 20,000 viewers per month, equipping the team with the latest skills, knowledge, and best practices in CRM use is non-negotiable. It’s about creating a culture of continuous learning and improvement, ensuring the team is not just familiar with the tools at their disposal but also masters in leveraging them to enhance customer relationships.

This commitment to training ensures that every team member, from sales to customer support, fully understands how to utilize the CRM to its fullest potential. Whether it’s keeping data clean and organized, integrating with tools like Google Calendar for better time management, or utilizing analytics for strategic insights, regular training sessions keep these practices top of mind. Moreover, as CRM technologies evolve, so too do the capabilities they offer. Regular training sessions ensure that Selling Lane’s team remains at the cutting edge, able to take advantage of new features and integrations that can improve efficiency and customer engagement.

Training also fosters a sense of ownership and confidence among team members. When they are well-versed in the CRM system, they are more likely to use it proactively, exploring new ways to enhance customer interactions, streamline processes, and ultimately contribute to reaching the company’s viewership and growth objectives. It turns the CRM from a mere tool into an integral part of their strategy for success.

Tying it all together, regular team training is the catalyst that ensures the CRM strategy is not just theoretically sound but practically effective. It’s about bringing to life the goals of improving customer relationships, enhancing efficiency, and driving growth. For Selling Lane, investing in team training is investing in the very foundation of their ambitious growth strategy, ensuring that the entire team is aligned, capable, and motivated to use the CRM not just as a database, but as a dynamic engine for achieving their vision. Read more about CRM Success

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Why a CRM for Small Business Matters

As a small business owner, you wear many hats. You’re the sales manager, the marketing expert, the customer service guru – and that’s just the start. With everything on your plate, it’s easy for leads to slip through the cracks, customer information to become scattered, and your already limited time to be consumed by tedious tasks. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to discover the transformative power of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.

What is CRM?

I know most of you might understand what a CRM is so apologies if I’m repeating myself. Please feel free to skip to the next headline if you already know..

Let’s break it down. CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. Essentially, a CRM system is a powerful tool that helps you centralize customer data, streamline processes, and gain valuable insights into your business. It’s like your organized digital memory bank of everything customer-related, empowering you to provide better service, build stronger relationships, and ultimately grow your revenue.

Common Problems Faced by Small Businesses

• Lost Leads: Every lead is precious for a small business. Relying on spreadsheets, sticky notes, or a cluttered inbox makes it far too easy to overlook potential customers, miss follow-ups, and ultimately lose out on sales.
• Disorganized Data: When customer information is spread across multiple sources, it’s difficult to get a clear picture of client needs, preferences, and past interactions. This leads to lost opportunities and a less-than-stellar customer experience.
• Crappy Processes: Time-consuming manual tasks like data entry, appointment scheduling, follow-up emails, and invoice generation steal hours from your week. This diverted time could be used for strategic planning, networking, or closing those deals.

How CRM for Small Business Solves These Challenges: Real-World Benefits

Let’s explore how CRM directly addresses those pain points, unlocking tangible benefits for small businesses. Here are some relatable examples:

• Scenario #1: The Landscaper Juggling Leads A landscaping company relies on phone calls and a handwritten notebook for leads. Calls get missed, details forgotten, and follow-up is inconsistent.

  • CRM Solution: A CRM captures leads from phone, website forms, and social media in one place. Reminders ensure timely follow-up, and the ability to add detailed notes keeps every lead hot.

• Scenario #2: The Boutique Struggling with Customer Data A boutique owner has customer info scattered in a spreadsheet and email folders. It’s hard to see buying trends or remember preferences to make personalized recommendations.

  • CRM Solution: The CRM tracks purchase history, notes on style preferences, and birthdays. This enables targeted email offers, personalized upsells, and loyalty programs, boosting customer satisfaction.

• Scenario #3: The Consultant Wasting Time A freelance consultant spends hours creating invoices, sending reminders, and scheduling appointments. This eats into time that could be spent serving clients.

  • CRM Solution: Automated invoicing with online payment options speeds up cash flow. Built-in calendar integration streamlines appointment scheduling, and email sequences nurture leads, saving valuable time.

Why Selling Lane as the Ideal Solution

While the concept of CRM software is powerful, finding the right CRM that fits the specific needs and budget of a small business is crucial. This is where Selling Lane shines.

Selling Lane is designed with small businesses in mind. Here’s why it’s an excellent choice:

• Ease of Use: No complicated setup or technical expertise is needed. Selling Lane has an intuitive interface that your team will pick up quickly.
• Core Functionality: Essential features like contact management, lead tracking, invoicing, task management, and a customizable sales pipeline with Menu Selling are all included.
• Affordability: Selling Lane offers competitive pricing plans, making it accessible for even the smallest businesses.
• Scalability: As your business grows, Selling Lane can grow with you, offering more advanced features and integrations.

The Bottom Line: CRM Empowers Growth

Investing in a CRM isn’t a luxury for small businesses – it’s a strategic necessity. By streamlining operations, enhancing customer experiences, and providing data-driven insights, a CRM system like Selling Lane empowers small businesses to:

• Never miss a lead
• Nurture relationships for repeat business
• Boost efficiency and save time
• Make smarter, data-driven decisions
• Unlock the growth potential of your business

Ready to experience the CRM transformation? Explore Selling Lane today and see how it can simplify your operations, supercharge your sales, and drive sustainable growth. Sellinglane.com

Let me know if you’d like additional sections or adjustments made to this post.

Introduction to CRM Transformation

The road to small business and startup success is paved with challenges. Limited resources, fierce competition, and the constant juggling act of managing daily operations can feel overwhelming. The good news? There’s a powerful tool that can simplify your workflows, boost efficiency, and propel your business forward: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. Let’s delve into the most common struggles small businesses and startups face and explore how a CRM transformation can be your key to growth.

Scattered Customer Data: From Chaos to Clarity

Managing customer information with a hodgepodge of spreadsheets, sticky notes, and overflowing inboxes is a recipe for lost opportunities. Disorganization makes it tough to keep track of leads, follow-ups, and customer preferences, hindering sales and service.

CRM Transformation: A CRM becomes your central hub for all customer data. Contact information, interaction history, purchase patterns – everything is organized and easily accessible. You’ll have a clear, 360-degree view of each customer, empowering your team to build stronger relationships and drive revenue.

Time-Sucking Processes: Reclaim Your Hours with a CRM Transformation

Small business owners and startup teams wear many hats, making time incredibly valuable. Repetitive, manual tasks like lead follow-up, appointment scheduling, and invoicing eat away at precious hours.

CRM Transformation: CRM’s automation capabilities are a game-changer. Automate email campaigns, lead nurturing, client reminders, invoice generation, and repetitive tasks. This frees up time for high-value activities like strategizing, building relationships, and closing deals.

Limited Visibility: The Power of Data-Driven Insights

Intuition plays a role in business, but data-driven decisions are crucial for long-term success. Without clear visibility into sales pipelines, customer trends, and team performance, growth can be elusive.

CRM Transformation: CRM analytics and reporting features shine a light on your business. Track sales progress, conversion rates, customer behavior, and key performance indicators. These insights help you identify areas for improvement, optimize processes, and make strategic decisions that drive growth.

Customer Experience: Your Competitive Edge

In today’s crowded marketplace, delivering exceptional customer experiences is essential. Customers want to feel valued, understood, and promptly served. A positive customer experience fosters loyalty and repeat business.

CRM Transformation: A CRM allows you to personalize interactions. Access customer preferences, past orders, and communication history instantly. This personalized approach delights customers, builds brand advocates, and gives you a competitive advantage.

Evolving Market: Agility is Key with a CRM Transformation got the right key

Staying ahead in a fast-paced business landscape requires agility. Adapting to market trends, competitor moves, and technological advancements is vital for small businesses and startups.

CRM Transformation: CRMs help you remain agile with a treasure trove of customer data. Analyze buying patterns, identify market shifts, and pinpoint opportunities. This data-backed knowledge allows you to adapt offerings, marketing, and strategies, ensuring your business stays ahead of the curve.

Conclusion

The challenges faced by small businesses and startups necessitate smart solutions. A CRM transformation addresses these core challenges by streamlining operations, maximizing resources, and unlocking actionable insights. By centralizing customer data, automating tasks, and empowering data-driven decision-making, a CRM helps your business thrive.

If you’re ready to take your small business or startup to the next level, a CRM transformation is well worth exploring. Reach out to sellinglane.com to discover how we can guide your transformation and supercharge your growth.

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.

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Ever noticed those smooth roads and driveways in your neighborhood? They don’t just magically appear. There’s a whole industry behind it, and it’s called the asphalt and seal coating industry. And guess what? There’s a cool job in this field where you can make good money. It’s called a sales estimator.

Seal coating is a popular way to protect and extend the life of asphalt driveways and parking lots. It works by creating a barrier that protects the asphalt from the elements and prevents it from cracking and crumbling.

Starting a seal coating side gig can be a great way to make extra money. The business is relatively easy to start and operate, and there is high demand for seal coating services.

What’s a Seal Coating Sales Estimator?

A sales estimator is like a detective. They look at a project, figure out what materials are needed, how many people will work on it, and how long it will take. Then, they tell the customer how much it will cost. It’s a super important job because if they get it wrong, the company they estimate for can lose money.

“Seal coating is one of the best ways to protect and extend the life of your asphalt driveway or parking lot.” 

– Bob Vila, Home Improvement Expert

Benefits of a Seal Coating Side Gig:

• Low overhead costs: The main overhead costs associated with a seal coating side gig are the cost of equipment and materials. You can start small and purchase equipment as needed.
• Flexible schedule: A seal coating side gig is a great way to earn extra money without having to commit to a full-time job. You can work evenings and weekends, or on your own schedule.
• High demand: There is high demand for seal coating services. Homeowners and businesses need to seal coat their asphalt every few years to protect it and extend its lifespan.

1. Master the Basics

Before you can excel, you need to understand the fundamentals:

• Materials: Know the types and grades of asphalt, sealants, and other materials. Understand their costs and appropriate applications.
• Labor: Familiarize yourself with the workforce required for different projects and the associated labor costs.
• Equipment: Be aware of the machinery used, their operational costs, and maintenance expenses.
• Travel Time, how long does it take to get there? Can all your team arrive at the same time?
• Production Rates and materials, we recommend you check weekly with the suppliers to verify that the price has not sharply risen or plummeted. Different times a year have different effects on the price of the product, example if you’re in the middle of the fall season when everybody’s getting seal coated before winter, the supplier may increase the rate.
• Set up / clean up time, make sure to factor in the amount of time it takes to set up the equipment, and to clean up after the job. Underestimating here can really hurt your profits, especially since seal coating can be dirty work. If the seal coating company does not take precautions to protect areas that are not being sealed coated.

2. Invest in the Right Tools for the Job

Simple, business software, such as Selling Lane, can help you manage your customers with its CRM, keep track of your tasks with its built in task manager, and get you directions to the job. But more than that, it can provide a website for customers to find you, invoicing software, to get paid faster, and you can tag your customers to help you flow them through the process from lead to sold. We think it’s a must-have for any small business, especially a start-up.

Measuring wheel: This tool is used to measure the area of the asphalt that will be seal coated. Although the measuring tool built into your iPhone can also do a decent job, but there is risk, sometimes old-school methods are the best.

3. Continuous Learning

The construction industry is ever-evolving. Stay updated with the latest techniques, materials, and best practices. Attend workshops, webinars, and industry conferences.

4. Build a Network

Relationships matter. Connect with contractors, suppliers, and other industry professionals. A strong network can lead to referrals and more job opportunities.

5. Offer Consultation Services

Leverage your expertise by offering consultation services. Help clients understand the best materials for their needs, the importance of regular maintenance, or how to extend the lifespan of their asphalt installations.

6. Diversify Your Services

Don’t limit yourself to just asphalt and seal coating. Explore related services like striping, crack filling, or drainage solutions. The more you offer, the more opportunities you have to earn.

7. Prioritize Customer Service

A satisfied client is likely to refer you to others and come back for future projects. Ensure clear communication, provide accurate estimates, and be transparent about potential additional costs.

8. Understand Your Market

Know the going rates in your area. While you don’t want to undersell your services, overpricing can drive potential clients away. Find a balance that reflects your expertise and the market demand.

9. Manage Your Finances

Keep track of your expenses, from software subscriptions to travel costs. Efficient financial management ensures you’re pricing your services profitably.

10. Promote Yourself

Having an online presence is crucial. You can create a professional website using companies like Selling Lane, where you get full business software including the website for one low price. Or use companies like Squarespace, a dedicated website creation, tool, where you pay monthly, but can build something a lot more extensive. I’ve always been a fan of getting to the point though, showing customers what you offer and providing away for them to contact you. Simple is usually the best.

Either way, with a business website, you can showcase your past projects, gather client testimonials, and engage on social media platforms.

11. Upselling to Full Blacktop Replacement

Most of the time you’re going to be estimating for seal coating businesses, however, sometimes you’re going to come upon a job that requires Blacktop replacement. Finding these upsell can be a real bonus to your business, because the job goes from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Especially late in the season, Blacktop companies are looking for work to extend the season before the asphalt makers shut down for the winter.

Final Thoughts

Being an asphalt and seal coat sales estimator offers numerous avenues to make money. By honing your skills, embracing technology, and building strong relationships, you can carve a successful and profitable career in this industry. Remember, it’s not just about estimating costs; it’s about providing value to your clients and setting the foundation for long-term success.

Additional Tips:

• Offer discounts for new customers and repeat business.
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Guarantee your work.
• Get testimonials from satisfied customers.
• Network with other businesses in your area, such as asphalt paving contractors and home improvement stores.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success in the seal coating business.

Read More:

Why a Seal Coat / Asphalt Sales Estimator Needs a CRM and Invoicing Software?

What the heck is a Blacktop/Seal Coat Sales Estimator?

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QuickBooks and CRM are two essential software tools for small businesses. QuickBooks helps you manage your finances and accounting, while Selling Lane’s CRM helps you manage your customer relationships, tasks, link to pay, Free Business website, menu selling tools and much more. Together, these QuickBooks and CRM can help you run your business, improve your efficiency, and grow your customer base.

Do I Need Both QuickBooks and CRM for Your Small Business?

So, do you need both QuickBooks and CRM? If you want to streamline your operations, improve your efficiency, and grow your business, then using both of these tools is a good idea. However, if you’re on a tight budget or only have a small number of customers, then you may be able to get away with using just Selling Lane CRM, because it includes Invoicing and Link to Pay, which is a key ingredient of Quick Books.

Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not you need a CRM:

• How many customers do you have? If you only have a small number of customers, then you may be able to manage your customer relationships with pen and paper. However, if you plan to grow, then a CRM can help you find customers and sell more of them.
• What kind of customer relationships do you have? Every relationship with a customer is fragile, and needs to be nurtured to turn that customer into a raving fan and ultimately a long-term, multi-time buyer. A CRM can help you to track and manage the different stages of the sales funnel, including having products on your Business Website (included in Selling Lane), Menu selling when in front of your customers and provide better long term support.
• What is your budget? CRMs can range in price from a $6 dollars per month (that’s Selling Lane’s price per user) to hundreds of dollars per month. So, it is important to choose a CRM that fits your budget and needs.

If you’re still unsure whether or not you need a CRM, I recommend that you sign up for our 31 free trial and see if it is right for you.

Why Small Businesses Need QuickBooks:

• Accurate financial reporting: QuickBooks helps you track your income and expenses, create invoices, and generate financial reports. This accurate financial information is essential for making informed business decisions.
• Tax preparation: QuickBooks can help you prepare your taxes by automatically calculating your deductions and generating tax forms. This can save you time and money, especially if you file your own taxes.
• Time savings: QuickBooks automates many time-consuming accounting tasks, such as invoicing and bill pay. This frees up your time, so you can focus on other important aspects of your business.

Why Small Businesses Need Selling Lane CRM

Selling Lane CRM is a customer relationship management (CRM) system that is specifically designed for small businesses. It is a cloud-based CRM, which means that you can access it from anywhere with an internet connection, including your smartphone. Selling Lane CRM is also very affordable, making it a great option for small businesses on a budget.

Here are some of the reasons why small businesses need Selling Lane CRM:

• To track customer interactions. Selling Lane CRM helps you to track all of your customer interactions, including phone calls, emails, and social media messages. This information can be used to improve your customer service and sales process.
• To manage leads. Selling Lane CRM helps you to manage your leads by tracking their progress through the sales funnel. This information can be used to identify and nurture your most qualified leads.
• To provide customer support. Selling Lane CRM helps you to provide customer support by tracking customer support tickets and providing feedback to your customer support team. This information can be used to improve your customer support process and reduce the number of support tickets you receive.
• To generate reports. Selling Lane CRM generates a variety of reports that can be used to track your sales performance, customer satisfaction, and other important metrics. This information can be used to make informed decisions about your business.

In addition to the features listed above, Selling Lane CRM also offers a number of other features that are beneficial for small businesses, such as:

• Contact management: Selling Lane CRM helps you to manage your contacts by storing their contact information, purchase history, and other important information.
• Task management: Selling Lane CRM helps you to manage your tasks by creating and assigning tasks to your team members. This information can be used to track your team’s progress and ensure that tasks are completed on time.
• Sales pipeline management: Selling Lane CRM helps you to manage your sales pipeline by tracking the progress of your deals through the sales cycle. This information can be used to identify and close more deals.
• Business Website: 🚀 Ever dreamt of a digital butler that handles both your CRM and website? Forget juggling platforms; with our snazzy integrated Business Website feature, you’ll have your online mojo and business tools partying together under one digital roof.

Overall, Selling Lane CRM is a powerful CRM system that can help small businesses to streamline their operations, improve their efficiency, and grow their business. If you are a small business owner, I encourage you to consider using Selling Lane CRM. It is a powerful and affordable CRM system that can help you to streamline your operations, improve your efficiency, and grow your business.

Integrate QuickBooks with Selling Lane CRM, Get the Best of Both Worlds

• Use Selling Lane to manage your customers, sales operations, estimates and task management.
• Import your customers into QuickBooks, then use QuickBooks to manage accounting and taxes.
• Let Selling Lane help you with your business website, menu, selling customers, and manage link to pay.
• Import Transactions into Quickbooks, then at journal entries to close out your month.

Examples of How Small Businesses use QuickBooks and CRM Together:

• A retail store uses QuickBooks to track their inventory and sales, and Selling Lane CRM to manage their customer loyalty program and website. They use Selling Lane’s menu selling system to show a menu of products and task management to remember when to reorder supplies.
• A consulting firm uses QuickBooks to track their billable hours and expenses, and Selling Lane CRM to manage their sales pipeline and client relationships.
• A software company uses QuickBooks to track their revenue and expenses, and Selling Lane CRM to manage their customer support tickets and product feedback.

If you are a small business owner, I encourage you to consider using QuickBooks and Selling Lane CRM. These tools can help you to take your business to the next level.

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Hello, seasoned business champions! Ever dreamt of taking a step back to enjoy the fruits of your hard work without compromising your business operations? Let’s explore how a CRM isn’t just a tool for growth, but a secret ally in maintaining a smooth, efficient business that lets you take that well-deserved break, so you don’t get business burnout.

“It’s not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”

Paul “Bear” Bryant, a celebrated football coach who understood that preparation and strategy are key to maintaining success.

For businesses that have hit their sweet spot in terms of size and clientele, the challenge shifts from growth to sustainability and efficiency. Imagine a world where your business operates like a well-oiled machine, even when you’re not there. That’s where a CRM like Selling Lane steps in – ensuring that every process is streamlined, and every client is cared for, even in your absence.

Someone once said to me that “you’re only truly successful when you’re no longer needed, when you can go on a vacation and know that the business will run without you.” But if you’re micromanaging every detail of your business, and not allowing others to use the tools that you provide them, you can never achieve this nirvana state.

How does CRM Help with Business Burnout?

A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system can be a lifesaver for business owners feeling the heat of burnout. Imagine having a tool that takes care of managing your customer interactions, keeps track of your services, and even helps in generating leads.

That’s what a CRM does! It organizes your chaos, ensuring that customer emails, appointments, and follow-ups don’t fall through the cracks. With features like automated responses, task reminders, and data analytics, a CRM doesn’t just manage; it propels your business forward while giving you the space to breathe and strategize rather than get bogged down by administrative tasks.

It’s like having a dedicated assistant that works 24/7, ensuring that your business relationships remain strong and opportunities are not missed, allowing you to take a step back when needed without the fear of everything falling apart.

“Success is not forever and failure isn’t fatal.”

Don Shula, a legendary NFL coach who recognized the balance between maintaining success and navigating challenges.

In the journey of maintaining a successful business, a CRM helps you balance customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. It ensures that every client feels valued, and every job is done right, all while giving you the peace of mind to step away when you need to.

Feature Spotlight: Effective Customer Relationship Management

Selling Lane’s CRM capabilities ensure that every customer interaction is personalized and efficient, building loyalty and satisfaction even when you’re sipping cocktails on a beach. It’s your silent partner against business burnout, maintaining customer relationships, ensuring that your business thrives even in your absence. Discover how Selling Lane manages customer relationships seamlessly.

“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

Vince Lombardi, a football coach who knew that behind every success, there’s a foundation of hard work and smart strategies

Your business is a testament to your hard work and smart strategies. A CRM like Selling Lane ensures that the foundation you’ve built doesn’t crumble when you decide to take a step back. From managing tasks to ensuring every client is cared for, it’s your safeguard against the challenges that come with wanting a bit of downtime.

Feature Spotlight: Maximize Efficiency with Task Management

Selling Lane’s Task Management feature ensures that every task is organized, prioritized, and executed to perfection, allowing your team to operate efficiently and ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks when you’re away. It’s your assurance that your business operates at peak efficiency, always. Learn how Selling Lane maximizes efficiency with Task Management.

The ability to take a step back without worrying about a dip in efficiency or customer satisfaction is priceless. With a CRM like Selling Lane, you’re not just maintaining your business; you’re enhancing its ability to operate smoothly, allowing you to take that break you’ve earned.

Ready to breathe easy with Selling Lane by your side?

Selling Lane -The Easy CRM

The most powerful business software

Without the high cost

Your next level awaits, and it starts with choosing Selling Lane - Get Paid Faster, Grow your Customer Base, and Crush Your Competition.

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