Setting Up Your CRM

When you first begin using a CRM platform (such as Zoho, Keap, Hubspot, or Salesforce), the ideas seems simple enough - get all of this information from my spreadsheet of contacts into one place.  Then you begin learning about all of the cool features such as email templates, workflows, and integrations with other software you use. Shiny object syndrome may hit you. We've all been victims to it before, so you're not alone. 

Over time, that shiny CRM platform becomes... well, a mess. And using it slowly shifts into the category of "tools I should use, but generally avoid." When you hit this point, it's time to evaluate. Either have someone else in the company take on this task or hire a third-party marketing consulting. As the primary user, it can be difficult to honestly evaluate your CRM. 

CRM Best Practices Guide

We've put together a...

Join Candice DeRiso and Chitra Iyer for a webinar on April 22, 2020

A marketing audit is a comprehensive, systematic,and periodic examination of a company's marketing. It is used to evaluate your marketing assets and activities, and using the resulting analysis to aid your business in planning. An audit should cover both an analysis of the external situation facing the business and a thorough review of internal marketing goals, strategies, capabilities, processes, and systems. The results are actionable recommendations for the company.

Read More About the Webinar

There is a LOT to say about marketing audits, so we've gathered some resources you may want to read through. 

An article from The Balance SMB offers 5 Reasons to Conduct a Marketing Audit in Your Small Business.

99 Designs wrote about When and Why you should do a marketing audit. "The...

     Those who work in PR (Public Relations) are often thought of as "spinners" for their ability to spin the narrative of a bad situation in a company. How do you handle things when the world seems to be in chaos and your business is impacted? This is the situation with the Corona Virus, Swine Flu, Ebola, and sometimes the "old fashioned" Flu. All of these have impacted businesses around the world at some point. In the past, I've seen nearly an entire office spread the Flu to each other. It was like a wave - one department after another getting sick, being out for a couple of weeks, and then returning. How the management team handled it made a big difference in the company's success and longevity. 

Responding to Chaos

     As I've watched, listened, and read to various businesses respond to this worldwide situation, some...

There is a lack of trust in brands today. Why? Manipulative marketing and sales tactics. These "old school" tactics have caused the average consumer to think twice before opting in or laying down any cash. It's understandable. So how do modern marketers battle the past and build trust with their target customers?

Communicate the authenticity of your brand to customers

The word "authentic" seems to often be abused and misused these days. What does it really mean to be authentic as a business or brand? The definition of authentic is, “representing one’s true nature or beliefs; true to oneself and therefore worthy of belief.” This means your brand is trustworthy and that your entire team believes in and understands the purpose of your business. 

When it comes to communicating your authenticity, look to your "why." A business's brand...

We are excited to participate in several marketing events in the coming weeks of 2020 in Austin, Texas. If you will be attending one of these events, please let us know by filling out our Contact Form. 

Social Media Week, Austin #SMWATX

• February 26 - 28, 2020
• SMW brings together marketing, media, and technology professionals from more than 50 countries with a curiosity and passion for new ideas, innovations and emerging trends in social media.
• Candice DeRiso of Beckmann Collaborative will be presenting at SMWATX: How to Build a Winning Content Strategy
• Learn More at SMWATX.com

South By Southwest #SXSW

• March 13 -22, 2020
• Experience 10 days of unparalleled discovery, learning, and networking with creatives across tech, film, and music industries at the 2020 SXSW Conference & Festivals
• Candice DeRiso, Rachel Denton, and Meredith Gonsalves will be presenting...

How do you define Client Relationship Management (CRM) in your business? What does it look like in your day to day operations? 

Leads and Prospects... the Strangers in Your Business

First, let's talk about your leads. Rather than focus on how you generate leads in this article, we will review what to do once they are in your database or CRM software to nurture and develop those leads.  Consider the sales process as being similar to making a new friend or dating - it is important to have that mindset at this stage of the client relationship. 

1. Communicate Based on What You Know 

The first email or phone call made to connect with a lead should be relevant to any inquiry made by that lead. Just like on a first date, you start from what you know. If that lead came in from a whitepaper he download, then (logically) you want to follow-up to...

When you're on a budget (of both time and money), it can be tough to step away from billable work to focus your efforts towards working "on the business." And yet, a realistic marketing plan is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that billable work continues to roll-in. Without customers, there is no business. Without marketing and sales, there are no leads to become customers.

Marketing is NOT Rocket Science, nor is there a Magic Formula

Sorry to all of my marketing entrepreneur friends selling a formula, but I simply disagree. At its core, marketing is simply the ways a business most effectively communicates what they do and why they do it with the intention of generating revenue from those communications. No formula that someone creates will always apply to you. There will be cool ideas embedded in a formula for sure, just remember that your business -...

As an Austin, Texas based business, Beckmann Collaborative is always seeking to build relationships in our community. Among the many organizations in the greater Austin area is an organization making a huge impact on innocent lives in a difficult situation. 

"The Refuge for DMST™ was launched in November 2013. The primary purpose of The Refuge for DMST is to develop The Refuge Ranch, a long-term therapeutic ranch just outside the city of Austin, with on-site comprehensive services for girls, minors through age 19, who are survivors of sex trafficking... It is the largest, long-term, live-in rehabilitation facility for child survivors of sex trafficking in the United States." More about The Refuge

According to a study conducted by UT Austin, there are a least 79,000 minors and youth victims of sex trafficking in the state of Texas (Source: research.utexas.edu...

Marketing & CRM Specialist with Beckmann Collaborative

This is both a part-time job and mentoring opportunity. This position is ideal for someone interested in marketing strategy, customer relationship management, marketing automation, content marketing, and social media planning. The Marketing Associate will further develop skills in an atmosphere where it is safe to fail and ask questions. While this is a part-time position, the intention is for the person to grow into a full-time role in the company or get the support needed to find an ideal job.

Working with Us

• You will read and understand data from broadcast emails, Google Analytics, Zoho CRM, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms.
• Use critical thinking skills to define and solve problems.
• Based on data analysis, present marketing solutions for client projects to the team.
• Be open to taking feedback that will help...

Whether you celebrate the holidays or not, it's hard to deny the magic that is in the air this time of year. There seems to be more hope, joy, and gratitude than usual. It's an ideal time to reflect on the year coming to a close and recognize those who have supported you in one way or another. 

Thank you to our growing community of clients and partners. As we reflect on our year, it has been filled with the good fortune to have relationships with incredible people and businesses.  We wish all of you a very happy holiday season filled with love, joy, and prosperity. 

What Goes Into Your Business Holiday Greetings?

If you're thinking about the best way to show your gratitude and spread the holiday cheer, then consider what works best for your customers or clients. If you serve other businesses, it can be as simple as a hand-written note. You do not need to send...