As a business owner, you’ve probably discovered how much of a hassle finding the right CRM tool can be. From the cheap and useless to the pricey and complex, there are numerous options available.
That makes finding the right one a bit overwhelming, especially when you’re looking for one that integrates with WhatsApp.
To learn How to connect Close CRM to WhatsApp visit our dedicated guide.
Close CRM: A Quick Overview
Close is a sales engagement customer relationship management (CRM) software designed to help small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) turn more leads into profit. It’s often chosen by entrepreneurs and sales teams looking to reach more leads and follow up with the hope of closing more deals in a shorter period.
Thanks to its multichannel platform, Close allows users to email, text, and call prospective clients from the desktop without the need for any add-ons.
One of the highlights of this software is that it features various innovative sales tools developed to boost performance and increase revenue. One example is the Power Dialer, which dials a list of leads automatically and in succession, one after the other.
Another feature is that each touchpoint with a lead is automatically tracked in a visual timeline. This way, sales teams can skip the CRM busywork and simply focus on closing as many deals as possible.
Who Is Close Best Suited For?
Being a versatile, user-friendly CRM tool, Close can easily be utilized by any company regardless of its size. However, since it lacks advanced marketing features, it’s not high on the list for many marketing-focused teams.
On the other hand, Close is great for the following types of businesses:
- Small and medium-sized sales teams: designed for sales teams made up of 100 or fewer members who want to scale their efforts in reaching new leads and boosting performance.
- Small businesses: provides quality lead automation and management tools to help small businesses scale quickly.
- Medium-sized businesses: versatile enough to be tailored to suit growing businesses, and with the help of its multichannel communication, nothing will slip through the cracks.
Close Pricing Plans
Close offers three price plans. Each plan comes with a free 14-day trial. Users can opt to pay either monthly or annually, with a 15% discount for the latter.
Here’s a list of each plan and its standard month-to-month billing price:
- Starter: $29 per user
- Basic: $69 per user
- Professional: $99 per user
- Business: $149 per user
Close CRM: Pros and Cons
Here are some of the pros and cons of Close CRM according to user reviews:
Pros
The most common perk of using Close CRM is that it’s easy to operate. Thanks to its intuitive interface and user-friendly setup, even those with little sales experience can easily utilize it.
In addition, it has a feature where you can easily assign tasks to team members. Plus, you can set task reminders and follow-ups.
Users were also impressed with the software’s sales automation features. They help close leads with minimal technical hassle.
Furthermore, users like the way Close centralizes their lead generation and sales pipeline, while simultaneously organizing members of the sales team. Its multichannel communication system ensures that no leads or tasks get forgotten or left behind.
Cons
One common drawback is that users noticed the lack of inbox customization. Instead of allowing users to define which criteria will show up on their to-do list, it’s left up to Close to decide what they consider to be an action item.
Another is that the software doesn’t set the time at which emails go out. Not being able to keep track of what emails went out at what time can be frustrating, especially when dealing with multiple leads at once.
A final common drawback mentioned by several users is that Close could track hours, lunches, and breaks from sales teams. Many were forced to implement another software to do the job for them.
Why Use CRM Integration with WhatsApp?
There are numerous reasons why you can choose to integrate WhatsApp with customer relationship management (CRM) tools.
For starters, it can help you expand communication channels for your customers. Plus, it makes it more feasible for you to reach out to new leads via SMS.
In addition, there are certain cases where you can use integration to connect with various social media platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook.
Although, the most critical reason is that with a good WhatsApp integration, you can remain compliant in various aspects of data and advertising with the EU’s GDPR rules.
The popular message service can be integrated via the WhatsApp Business App or via the more advanced version, WhatsApp Business API.
What You Need to Know About CRM WhatsApp Integration
In this day and age, we’re constantly witnessing a rapidly evolving digital landscape. One of these innovations is CRM tools. Another is a popular messaging app known as WhatsApp, which according to a recent survey, is used by over 2 billion users worldwide.
Combine the two and you get CRM WhatsApp Integration.
This revolutionary approach refers to the integration of a CRM platform, which in our case is Close, with WhatsApp. In other words, you leverage the accessibility and popularity of WhatsApp to manage customer interactions.
This two-way communication system allows you to boost your company’s customer support service while enhancing customer engagement and overall experience. It also enables businesses to quickly send and receive messages to track order updates, check on customer inquiries, and more. All of it can be seamlessly managed directly through the Close CRM platform.
So, what’s the missing link that brings Close and WhatsApp together?
This would be TimelinesAI, a technology company that offers a communication-focused workflow automation solution. It works to centralize client interactions by streamlining processes, boosting efficiency, and enhancing collaboration.
Examples of WhatsApp CRM Integration
Check out these examples that showcase various industries where WhatsApp CRM is accessible:
Banking
As institutions, banks need to be reliable and trustworthy and offer real-time support whenever possible. Using WhatsApp CRM integration, they can be all that, and more.
It allows them to offer instant support, send transaction alerts, and forward reminders. Some banks also allow their customers to perform various banking activities via WhatsApp for added convenience.
Travel Industry
WhatsApp CRM integration works great in the travel sector because it facilitates how travel agencies can send itinerary details and updates. It also allows them to reply to customer questions and feedback in real time.
E-Commerce
Commerce businesses can send orders, receive confirmations, and track their shipments all directly via WhatsApp. They can also quickly respond to customer queries, which helps enhance the overall customer experience.
Things to Consider Before Integrating Close CRM to Whatsapp
Before we get into the ‘how’ of Close CRM WhatsApp integration, let’s look at a few things you should consider first.
Automated Responses
Harnessing the power of automated responses is a great way to save time and boost efficiency. The trick is to plan out in advance a handful of potential automated messages that will be sent out to your customers.
Customer Preference
While CRM integration is designed to make life simple and more efficient, there may be some customers who prefer not to use WhatsApp as a form of communication. They may have other messaging apps in mind that they find easier to use or better suited for passing on messages.
So, it’s essential to get their approval before moving forward with this feature.
Data Privacy Compliance
When you run a business, whether it’s small or midsize, it’s important to remember that you’re dealing with customer data that needs to be constantly safeguarded against any type of online threat. For this reason, you must make sure that the CRM provider you choose to integrate with WhatsApp, aka Close, is compliant with data privacy laws.
Fortunately, Close has certain procedures it follows to ensure it meets Data Controller and Data Processor obligations set by the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Register free account on TimelinesAI
Before you dive into the integration process, it’s important to first set up your TimelinesAI account, which will enable you to seamlessly integrate WhatsApp with Close CRM. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:
- Register with TimelinesAI. You won’t need to provide your credit card information during this step.
- Connect Your WhatsApp Number. After registering, scan the provided QR code with your WhatsApp mobile app. This action will establish the connection between your WhatsApp number and TimelinesAI.
- Invite Your Team Members. To enhance collaboration, invite your team members to join your TimelinesAI workspace.
By following these simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying the benefits of seamless WhatsApp and Close CRM integration. If you encounter any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team. We’re here to help you every step of the way!
Set Up Webhooks
Webhooks may sound ominous, but they’re a vital part of the setup process.
Basically, webhooks are automated messages and status updates sent from WhatsApp to a destination system with a unique URL
However, before you can do that, you need to provide a unique URL where these automated messages can be sent.
Test the Account
Once everything has been set up, it’s time to make sure that the account is working as it should. The best way to do that is to send a few test messages to ensure the successful delivery and receipt to your personal account.
Final Thoughts
In this high-tech age, passing information back and forth has become an essential part of our lives, both personal and professional. Luckily, with the help of Close CRM WhatsApp integration, you can easily link up data, sales, and marketing tools.
It’s the perfect conduit to turn what would otherwise be a basic messaging app into a quick and foolproof method to communicate with the masses and get your message across.
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