CRM tool to manage sales prospects

[kmander]

I've started development on a tool to help manage the process of managing the outreach and negotiation process with site owners.

I plug the URL into the tool and keep a copy of all phone calls and emails. I can also drop notes, attach files and allow other users (I've been experimenting with outsourcing sales efforts) to use the tool.

Here's a screenshot of it in action (I've blanked out sensitive information):

What you're seeing: the lines in blue at the top are collapsed and the domain with the purple line is an expanded view. You can then see all the actions that have occurred - a historic timeline. On the right, you can initate actions and these are then recorded in the log. It's all AJAX snazzyness, no page reloads.

Would love to hear your feedback - is this something that could help you too (I'm thinking about releasing the code)? What features would you like to have in such a tool?
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[Clinton]

Keith, I take it this would be of interest primarily to those who follow your strategy of finding sites independently of the main marketplaces.

I think that's a great way of finding sites, and allows you to pick up the ones that are most likely to benefit and rise in value with a little TLC, but I don't know if the regular buyers here do that in any great way. My guess is that their preference is for the marketplaces.

I share your view that when it comes to finding sites you have a distinct advantage if you're looking where others aren't and/or thinking out of the box.

I'm keen to see how this thread develops.

[hooperman]

I tend to keep records in Google Docs and then search through my emails for past correspondence. It might not be the most efficient way of managing the process, but for the small(ish) number of site owners I approach out of the blue, it works.

This is probably a silly question, but what advantage does your tool give over keeping records for each site in a different document (Google Doc/MS Word/etc)? I can guess some of the functionality of the tool by looking at the screenshot, but maybe there is more? I'm not knocking the tool, just interested in finding out more

[ClaytonL]

It looks very useful. I was planning on using vTiger CRM to manage similar tasks. I imagine it's a bit more complicated to use, but it also includes support for marketing campaigns, multiple users, a basic API, and support tickets. From the quick glimpse above, it looks like your tool may be more efficient to use. I'd be glad to demo.

[kmander]

This is probably a silly question, but what advantage does your tool give over keeping records for each site in a different document (Google Doc/MS Word/etc)? I can guess some of the functionality of the tool by looking at the screenshot, but maybe there is more? I'm not knocking the tool, just interested in finding out more

Ha, a great question. I have a personal tendency towards getting custom software built, but it doesn't always mean it's the best strategy.

I'm sure Excel, Gmail labels etc would do just fine. There are some extra features to this tool that would be impossible to find elsewhere, especially not together like this - attachments, address book, multiple logins etc. I'm looking to get some new features developed such as email parsing (so correspondence is automatically in the tool) and some API calls so that I can report on inbound links, traffic etc into the tool.

There are plenty of off the shelf CRM tools that could do this too - but they rarely satisfy all your needs and the good ones come at a cost. This tool cost me $600 - not a huge amount and if it saves you time and helps close a deal, then it's well worth it in my opinion.

[kmander]

...I'd be glad to demo.

I'll see what I can do on that front.

[DomainMagnate]

I use excel and text files for this. I usually see pretty quickly if I'm gonna be interested in the site or not, so the list is not big at any given time

[kmander]

Any eager folk want to get involved in developing this tool further?

[ClaytonL]

Sorry Keith. How is it coming anyway?

[TrustButVerify]

Hey Kmander,

Did you pay to have this tool developed? I've been planning something similar although it looks like you're way ahead of me.