#easy to use CRM

[marketingartistry]

A CRM is a powerful tool that can help your small business grow smarter and faster by improving customer relationships, sales tracking, and marketing efforts. The best CRM for your business depends on your specific needs, budget, and technical comfort.

Start by trying out free options like HubSpot CRM, then explore paid tools like Zoho CRM or Salesforce Essentials if you need more advanced features. The right CRM will help you stay organized, boost sales, and deliver better service — the keys to thriving in a competitive market.

[happsalesindia]

Top Challenges in Implementing Sales CRM: Overcoming The Roadblocks by Mitigating Risks With CRM Failure

Introduction

Making a decision to implement CRM software is possibly one of the most strategic decisions an organisation can take. When implemented and managed well, a CRM initiative can add wings to help organisations soar, grow and prosper.

This decision involves a lot of time, money, and commitment from all stakeholders, particularly from the business leaders. Many analyst reports show how an unbalanced and myopic approach to this initiative can jeopardise the success rates of CRM implementations.

One of the reports from Gartner stated that almost 50% of CRM implementations fail. Similarly, as per Forrester, 49% of CRM projects fail. Some businesses have failed even two to three times after implementing a new CRM. These statistics are the cause for some much-needed risk analysis and mitigating measures.

All these may seem overwhelming. But many companies do succeed with their CRM implementation. The key here is to learn from other’s mistakes and take the right approach as you embark on this strategic journey.

11 Most-common Reasons for CRM Failure

Inadequate management commitment

Many times, business leaders feel that their responsibility ends after selecting a CRM software. The reality is that it does not end there.  On the contrary, leaders play an important role after that.

One of the main reasons for CRM failure is when leaders expect it to automatically generate revenue, and deliver results. Instead, they need to “walk-the-talk” and start using the CRM themselves. Team members need to see how their managers regularly use CRM for managing their work and business objectives. Managers should not review business performance outside the CRM in some excel or google sheets.

It is important for managers and leaders to set an example. They need to  constantly demonstrate and coach their team members on the best practices, and its benefits. Learning through active observation is much more powerful than just someone preaching!

Misplaced CRM philosophy – Micro-management v/s Empowerment

CRM initiative is a very strategic decision that has the power to help organisations grow and drive predictable business results. It is critical that your team understands the project vision and this core purpose from the leaders.

Your team members should understand that the objective of the initiative is to empower them and make them successful. They should not perceive this like yet another process for managers to monitor their activities and micro-manage them. They should get a feeling that the initiative will add value to their individual performance and productivity, and give them more time and ammunition to excel in their work.

It goes a long way to encourage and motivate your team members to use the CRM software effectively to start seeing results. Leaders need to create ample positivity around CRM usage to make it work favourably.

Measuring Wrong Metrics

Peter Drucker said, “you can’t improve what you can’t measure”. This is true in the case of a CRM initiative as well. It goes a long way when you put together a cadence mechanism to measure your team’s KPIs (key performance indicators) using the CRM.

The ideal KPIs that you may want to measure could include revenue growth, deal progress, sales velocity, pipeline and weighted pipeline, deal conversion rates, sales cycle time, etc. That way your team will be able to appreciate the business value that a CRM adds. You will have a better buy-in from them that will also help you drive CRM adoption and usage across the board.

However, if you use your CRM to only measure the number of team activities, customer visits, their attendance, working hours etc., it might dilute the very purpose of the initiative. It could even be detrimental to your team’s morale and overall productivity.

Poor Planning

According to MIT Sloan, CRM failure occurs for those businesses that don’t do prior planning before making the investment. These businesses don’t spend time trying to evaluate their own business needs and  analyse the pain points they wish to solve by using a CRM.

They experience CRM failure not because of the limitations of CRM capabilities but due to their own lack of understanding and planning.

Resistance To Use

Resistance to change is another factor for CRM implementation failure.  People are used to the traditional methods and might be quite reluctant to move to a new way of life. Forcing a new method or software may cause resistance among users to abandon their old familiar methods. Human resistance has a big impact on a system’s effectiveness.

Other reasons for resistance might be due to lack of  training and a clear understanding of the software. This might have an impact on team productivity; eventually leading to frustration among users.

Complexity in Usage

Complexity of the software is another major factor for CRM implementation failure. While your business might  need a  CRM software with a simple interface, there are chances that you might land up  choosing a complex CRM. Because of its wide functionality and features, a CRM system can sometimes be complex to use. Users who are unfamiliar with CRM systems and who prefer to use a simpler interface can get overwhelmed with this complexity. For instance navigating through many screens just for one feature can be time consuming and frustrating.

Cumbersome Data Entry

Another important reason why many CRMs fail is that the end-users find data-entry very cumbersome and laborious. Sales team members are required to update the CRM regularly, which requires them to devote their time and effort. This may not happen if they find the CRM software interface not very seamless and easy to use. Not using the system to the full potential is one of the main issues in implementing CRM.

Lack of Customization

Few CRM systems might provide just basic functionality and may not be flexible enough to accommodate customization to meet specific client needs. In that case, businesses may not be able to align their CRM initiative with their needs and priorities. This will be a huge impediment to achieve your company goals.

Inadequate Training and Support

The efficient usage of CRM software heavily depends on the training and support provided by the CRM vendor. End users may not use it to its full potential if they lack adequate training support. Without proper ongoing training support,  users might face challenges and it can hinder end-users from effectively using all features in the CRM.

Poor  Fitment

One major cause of CRM failure is the insufficient compatibility of CRM software with the unique requirements of the enterprise. This substantial gap between the softwares capabilities and the organisation’s objectives hampers the installation of the CRM to a great extent.

Selection of Wrong Implementation Partner

There are many CRM projects that have failed not because of the software but by selecting the wrong implementation partner. It is important that the implementation partner is well equipped in terms of expertise, domain skills, experience and knowledge required for implementing this software.

Best Practices for CRM Implementation  – Steps To Mitigate Risk of CRM Failure

Now that we have discussed the various challenges in implementing CRM successfully, let us discuss what important steps will help you to mitigate all the risks.

Proper Goal-setting and Planning 

Clearly define your goals and objectives for implementing a CRM software. It is a good idea to make a note of all your pain points that you are planning to solve and the business objectives you want to achieve through this transformation initiative. It is important to have a clear vision of where your company should be after implementing the CRM software. Defining a purpose will serve as a guiding principle to help you at every step during the CRM implementation journey.

Committed Leadership

The commitment from the leadership team plays a pivotal role in making the CRM implementation successful. Shifting from old traditional systems to a modern one needs a lot of commitment and focus. Transitioning to a new CRM will be easy only when everyone in the organisation is committed to it and are encouraged to use it. The leadership team has to clearly pass on the message as to why are you implementing this new software. The Whys and Hows have to be clearly communicated to all the stakeholders across the organisation.

Buy-in From End-users

Gaining buy-in from end users is very important for successful implementation of the CRM. This means that all the stakeholders involved and directly affected by the new process comprehend the need for the change. It is necessary to make them understand the benefits and objectives of the proposed change. It is a good idea to take inputs from the end-users while evaluating the field service management software. This enables  them to feel valued and motivated; and in the process they will willingly participate and cooperate with the new change. This will ensure  increased productivity and overall success of the implementation.

Management Reviews Using CRM

It is very important for managers and leaders to lead by example. Often, they are so used to using Google sheets or excel sheets that they fail to embrace new technologies. It is important that they need to practise and demonstrate the benefits to employees.

The CRM platform should be actively used by managers and leaders for all their reviews and interactions. By doing so, they effectively communicate to their team members that the new system is worthwhile to integrate into their daily workflows.

When managers start actively using the CRM system in team meetings, the team members get inspired and follow suit. They start experiencing the effectiveness of the CRM on how it increases productivity and offers insightful data to help them with their performance.

Consistent Usage Across the Board

Consistent usage across the organisation is one of the important strategies for successful CRM implementation. A CRM can deliver significant benefits only when it is used to its full potential. Therefore it is very important that every stakeholder involved uses it consistently and effectively. It enables cross functional collaboration when individuals from different departments use the CRM to share information.

This helps to a great extent in decision making. With up-to-date information available from all stakeholders, management can use this data to identify trends, track important KPIs and make informed decisions.

Constant Feedback Mechanism

Consistent feedback from the users is one of the best practices for CRM implementation. Getting first-hand information from users in terms of systems usability, softwares ability to meet objectives and its impact on time management etc., helps the management to take proactive steps. This information enables management to make informed decisions before issues escalate.

Consistent feedback helps in improving user experience. Businesses can identify the pain points, usability issues and places where CRM falls short. With this knowledge, they are able to quickly address these issues, improve the system’s usability, and better the user experience as a whole. By addressing these challenges, management demonstrates their commitment and dedication to make the CRM implementation successful and help users have a positive CRM experience.

Progressive Adoption – Start Small and Then Expand

A proven approach for a successful CRM implementation is to start small and gradually expand. You may not want to boil the ocean with all the features in the first phase. It is a good idea to focus only on the necessary must-have features that have the highest impact on your business.

This enables businesses to efficiently manage the deployment process, reduce risks and ensure a smooth transition among users.

You may also consider the CRM roll-out for a specific department, and then expand to other departments. That way the early users can share their success stories, offer insightful advice, and assist in addressing any objections or worries from other users. Their positive experiences and feedback can have an impact on the larger user base and help the CRM deployment gain momentum.

Selecting The Right CRM Software

Choosing the right software will help you resolve most of the issues mentioned above and plays the most important role for succeeding in your CRM implementation journey. Following are  few important points to consider when choosing the right CRM software

● Easy to Use

The success of a CRM largely depends on how much the users adopt and use it. Users love to use the CRM only if they find it easy  and simple to use. A user friendly CRM should have a simple and an inherent interface that enables the users to navigate easily through different functions. The data entry should be seamless.  People with less technical knowledge also should find it easy to use crm. The actions they have to perform should be easy to comprehend without the need of in-depth instructions.

● Customisation

First and foremost, try to choose a software vendor who is flexible enough to align with your business objectives for installing a CRM. The vendor should be ready to offer customization so that you are able to align the CRM with your business needs and priorities. The CRM should have the features to address your pain points and meet your future business goals.

● Adequate Training Support

Make sure your CRM provider has an effective internal support and training team.   This gives your users the chance to learn the system thoroughly while also receiving excellent hands-on training. This is crucial since the success of the CRM depends on how extensively and effectively the users utilise it. They can completely lose interest in using the CRM if their questions are not promptly answered or if they are not properly trained. Their effectiveness and productivity can be greatly increased with the right training and assistance.

● Intuitive Dashboard

Having a dashboard that shows insights to real time data helps the management to have a quick view of the performance of their team members.  The management should be able to quickly and easily understand the performance of the team members.   Thanks to this real-time visibility, it helps the management team to quickly respond to urgent situations and take proactive steps whenever necessary.

● Pricing

In order to attract customers, few CRM software companies offer a very low Tier 1 pricing with very limited features. As your business grows and when you want to expand the number of users or add more records into the CRM, the pricing might be far more expensive. Choosing a CRM software vendor who offers a comprehensive framework with no hidden costs is a good solution to this.

Choosing The Right Implementation Partner

Choosing the right implementation vendor plays a very important role for a successful CRM journey.  It is advisable to select the right CRM implementation partner along with the CRM software. This will prevent any unexpected surprises and ensure a smooth implementation process. It is also important to evaluate the expertise of the implementation vendor, assess their industry experience and also see if they have a proven track record of successfully implementing CRM systems. Their technical know-how and experience plays an important role for the success of the CRM implementation.

You should also discuss the project timelines, milestones and cost of implementation to arrive at the overall TCO (total-cost–of-ownership). Knowing the overall TCO enables you to ensure that it aligns well within your budget.

Here is a detailed reference guide to help you choose the right CRM software vendor for your business.

Summary

In summary, customer relationship management software enables you to organise and manage client data in a structured way. Businesses can make wise decisions to increase revenue and boost profitability measured using a CRM.  It provides better visibility and a “single-version-of-truth” across the enterprise.

However, a CRM initiative’s success significantly depends on how the project is approached. In order to optimize the benefits of the implementation, careful planning and execution are essential. Organisations can reduce the risks associated with CRM installation by adhering to the best practices mentioned above. Organisations can realise their full potential and increase sales and profitability indicators with a properly implemented CRM system in place.

Original Source: Top Challenges in Implementing Sales CRM: Overcoming The Roadblocks by Mitigating Risks With CRM Failure

[jcmarchi]

3 AI use cases to elevate your strategy

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/3-ai-use-cases-to-elevate-your-strategy/

3 AI use cases to elevate your strategy

This article is based on Liza Adams’s brilliant talk at the Product Marketing Summit in Denver.

Product marketers and even CMOs rarely make it to the boardroom. In fact, only 41 members of Fortune 1000 boards are CMOs, and less than 3% of board members have managerial-level marketing experience. 

Why?

Because marketing is often dismissed as tactical – beautiful ads, catchy campaigns, and glossy brochures – while the strategic work that underpins it goes unnoticed. This misconception limits opportunities for marketers to demonstrate the true impact of their expertise on business decisions. 

But here’s the good news: AI is changing the game.

AI has the power to elevate product marketing from a tactical function to a strategic force. It enables us to align executives, refine priorities, and amplify results, making the work of product marketers more visible and valuable at the highest levels. 

Yet mastering AI isn’t a race – it’s a journey. Whether you’re just starting to explore its possibilities or already using it to shape strategy, it’s important to embrace where you are and keep learning.

In this article, I’ll show how AI can help you step into a more strategic role by focusing on three key use cases: 

Segmentation and targeting

Competitive analysis

Thought leadership 

These examples will demonstrate how AI can go beyond creating content to drive strategic decision-making and deliver real impact. 

Let’s dive in.

AI use case #1: Segmentation and targeting

Our first use case comes from a real scenario where I acted as a fractional CMO. The company was what I like to call a “COVID darling” – it experienced rapid growth during the pandemic; however, post-COVID, it struggled to sustain that growth. 

The executive team’s instinct was to expand their market and target more segments. My response? Don’t go broad – go deep.

Instead of spreading resources thinly across multiple segments, I encouraged the team to focus on two or three key segments. The goal was to understand these customers so thoroughly that we could become the best fit for their unique needs. Broad, shallow targeting wouldn’t deliver the value these customers required.

Here’s where the challenge got interesting. Each executive had their own idea about which segment to prioritize:

The CEO wanted to target healthcare, citing its large market size.

The CFO pushed for manufacturing, pointing to its high growth rate.

The CPO advocated for retail, aligning with the product roadmap.

The truth is, they were all right – from their individual perspectives. So, the product marketing team and I developed a framework to align these viewpoints and make an informed decision.

We identified evaluation criteria for analyzing each segment, including factors like market size, growth potential, competitive intensity, number of reference customers, and partner strength. Then, we built a heatmap to visually compare how each segment performed against these criteria.

This heatmap became a game-changer. It allowed the executive team to see, at a glance, how each segment stacked up. This data-driven approach shifted the conversation from subjective opinions to objective insights, making it clear which segments offered the most strategic opportunity.

By narrowing the focus and targeting the right segments, the company could allocate resources effectively, align their teams, and maximize their market fit – rather than chasing opportunities that stretched them too thin.

The challenge of gathering data

Before I dive into how we used AI to create a market heatmap, it’s important to acknowledge the most challenging part of the process: data collection and curation. 

While the conversation with ChatGPT took about three hours, gathering and organizing the necessary data took two to three weeks. This stage was critical because feeding AI accurate, well-structured data is the foundation for meaningful insights.

Here’s a breakdown of the types of data we gathered and the sources we used:

Market size and growth: Pulled from analyst reports, including Gartner, to estimate total addressable markets (TAMs) and growth trends.

Competitive intensity: Sourced from customer review platforms like G2 and Capterra to understand how competitors were performing in various categories.

Win rates: Derived from our CRM (in this case, HubSpot), including metrics on win-loss ratios.

Product roadmap alignment: Compiled in a Google Doc to compare customer needs across segments with our current and planned product offerings.

Partner strength: Extracted from a database tracking partner leads, conversions, and overall performance.

Customer references: Assessed from a reference database to evaluate the strength and quantity of reference customers in each segment.

This process involved pulling data from disparate systems, formatting it consistently, and redacting sensitive information to maintain confidentiality. Only after this groundwork was done did we begin leveraging AI.

How we used ChatGPT to create our segment targeting heatmap

Once the data was ready, we uploaded it into ChatGPT in spreadsheet format and began prompting it for analysis. Here’s a simplified walkthrough of how we approached the first two rows of our heatmap – market size and growth – using AI:

Initial prompt: “You are an expert market researcher and analyst in the supply chain management space. Please review the attached Excel sheet, analyze it, and provide a summary of your key takeaways. I will provide further instructions after that.” ChatGPT’s initial response included basic insights, like identifying the verticals with the highest growth rates and highlighting steady growth areas.

Follow-up prompt: “Please create a table with two rows: one showing the 2025 market size and another showing the growth rate you calculated. Please order the verticals as manufacturing, healthcare, energy, food, and retail.” This prompt resulted in a clear, organized table, allowing us to visualize and compare the market data.

Heatmap creation: “Turn the table into a single heatmap reflecting forced rankings for market size and growth rate. Assign a score of 5 to the largest market size and highest growth rate, and a score of 1 to the smallest and lowest.” The output was a color-coded heatmap that visually represented each segment’s market size and growth potential, making it easy to prioritize opportunities.

By repeating this process for the remaining rows – competitive intensity, win rates, partner strength, and customer references – we built a comprehensive heatmap that showed the most valuable segments to target.

Presenting the analysis to the executive team 

Next, it was time to present the findings to the executive team. It’s important to note that this analysis was just a starting point – a framework to guide discussions and foster a 360-degree view of the market opportunities. 

Unlike previous conversations where each executive approached the problem from their one-dimensional perspective, this approach introduced eight dimensions of analysis, offering a more holistic view.

With the heatmap in hand, the executive team could now debate and refine the findings collaboratively. Some execs disagreed with certain rankings, so we made some on-the-fly adjustments to the data. 

We also assigned different weights to certain criteria, recognizing that not all of them were equally important. For example, market growth might carry more weight than competitive intensity, depending on the company’s priorities. 

This flexibility allowed us to fine-tune the analysis and reach a consensus. And, within a week, we validated the findings and identified the top two to three market segments to focus on. 

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[ms-demeanor]

It seemed like your job was getting better there for a minute under new management. Is it new management that's fucking up now, not "fixable", or is it holdovers from the old guy?

So my company, formerly owned by Gary, was "Strangled Bats LLC". The company that bought us is "BunnyCorp Inc." Late last year, BunnyCorp Inc hired "Bruno" as our new CEO. The middle management are Bunnies from BunnyCorp.

Gary was a shithead who abused his employees but he was a stickler for documentation, standards, and naming conventions. Even though we lost a lot of documentation when BunnyCorp let Strangled Bats' CRM subscription lapse, I was able to save a bunch of PDFs and we actually still have printed copies of a BUNCH of our documents. Strangled Bats LLC was a terrible place to work and was very old-fashioned on some things, but we save our papers.

BunnyCorp Inc has a lot of very friendly bunnies in management who are cuddly and cute and easy to get along with and wouldn't know a configuration manager if it bit them in the ass. BunnyCorp was interested in acquiring and absorbing many companies to become one big company and cared more about purchasing companies (and therefore their client bases) than it cared about integrating those companies into itself OR than it cared about making notes on its customers.

Bruno has a long history of working in MegaBigCo and making things very efficient. When Bruno was hired as CEO, BunnyCorp officers did a great job of putting a good face forward and making it look like they had their shit together. By the time Bruno started, I had been working at BunnyCorp for three months and had mostly been focused on trying to get Strangled Bats' systems to mesh with BunnyCorp.

In January, Bruno had been with the company long enough that he started making changes to make things more efficient, because he'd been there long enough to see that there were some problems. At that point, I had started to notice that it seemed like we were duplicating an awful lot of work that was no longer related to issues with un-meshed systems, because I had meshed a lot of our systems. I got promoted and started training someone to take over the simpler parts of my job and was given the responsibility of looking into a lot of our contracts and agreements.

In March, the shit hit the fan and Bruno and I simultaneously realized that BunnyCorp Inc had been papering over a vast chasm of problems, most of which had to do with:

people with institutional knowledge leaving because they were underpaid

previous owners being shit at documentation

nobody except LITERALLY FUCKING ME knowing what modern server hardware standards and pricing should be

solutions for clients that were built with an eye toward reducing cost in the moment rather than planning for growth or longevity

Bruno has good thoughts about improving stuff, thoughts that I support and think are a great idea and think we should try to implement, but he's also a MegaBigCo kind of guy and likes to let employees grind to prove that they're dedicated and worthy of a promotion/raise - this is a shitty attitude that I think is counterproductive and I think is on the verge of leading our entire senior staff into burnout, but he's not at all wrong about the changes that need to be made. Bruno found out that a bunch of our clients don't have spare server drives onsite and shit a brick because of how badly he wants us to get spare server drive to the client sites; he is willing to eat the cost if it means we can get spares to the clients. That's great, it's not wrong, and there aren't enough hours in the day for me to get that done and also do procurement.

Bruno is only just now seeing the tip of the iceberg in terms of how utterly fucked our documentation is; if Bruno is the captain of the ship telling us where to steer, I'm the lookout on deck who sees the icebergs before anybody else.

I have been shouting to the Bunny management about icebergs since December and the ship hasn't changed course; Bruno has directed us to put more coal in the boilers and speed up and to patch up some holes and scrape some barnacles off the hull, but I can't shout loud enough to get the Bunnies to pass on the message about the iceberg, so all I can do is make notes about where the iceberg is an when we hit it provide the notes that I took that the Bunnies ignored so that maybe we can start patching up the breaks before water floods in and kills us all.

Things were great for a while because I was no longer working with an actively abusive shithead. Working with Gary was like sighting icebergs on the deck of a ship that leaked a bit and avoided icebergs deftly, but I was left to freeze on the deck all the time because freezing on the deck was all I was good for. Getting acquired by BunnyCorp was like someone handing me a warm coat and telling me to go inside and have a cup of tea and sit by the fire. But then I realized that the niceness and the okayness with taking time off and the slight raise were very comforting but someone still had to go out on deck and watch for icebergs but now nobody is passing on the message that we need to steer away from the fucking icebergs because if you say there's an iceberg that might make someone feel bad and making people feel bad is counter to the BunnyCorp company culture.

I have a constant drumbeat in my head that says "I can fix this, I can fix this, I can fix this." If I work late and go get the info for all the firewalls that I can access, and share info with the team about the ones I can't access, I can update the documentation and fix this. If I get notes on all the servers, and get spares for every machine, and get the techs scheduled to go out and install, I can fix this. If I can go in to the configurations for all five thousand computers and manually check and archive all the old devices, and manually update a field for every one of the two thousand windows 10 machines, maybe our team of sixteen can replace twelve hundred and upgrade eight hundred computers at our two hundred client sites in the next five months. If only I can go through all of those two thousand configurations and update that field before I get dragged away to another phone call from a client or another meeting about how the next acquisition is going to go, so I better do it now, at eight pm at ten pm at midnight at two am when there's nobody to call and no meetings scheduled. If I could just *lock in* I can save us, I can make sure the clients are getting a good turnaround time on their requests and I can make sure the licenses are all getting renewed because I updated all the configurations and I will update all the configurations going forward and I will document this company at knifepoint and I will hold it together with duct tape and spite and I will make it work i will make it work nobody else is doing anything I have to make it work because that's an iceberg, I know some of them see the iceberg, and they're Bunnies and I'm a Bat, some of them have seen this iceberg long before I could see it but they're not turning but if I yell about it and make notes about it and lock in and document it and skip lunch and skip lunch and skip lunch and skip lunch and skip lunch and take half a break so that I can get another device off the list maybe THEN they'll act like there's an iceberg ahead and they'll turn and I won't have to fly off the deck and go find another ship and I can stay on the boat with my friends and the nice bunnies and it will be okay, it will feel like it did after Gary was gone and I could BREATHE and people said that I was smart and good at my job and I deserved more money and I had been treated badly and there were no icebergs because it was so bright and sunny and nice that the whole sea looked like dazzling snow and seemed soft and safe and like I wouldn't have to keep freezing on the deck to stay alive.

So.

You know.

There have been ups and downs. I'm having some trouble staying motivated and even with some decent management it's difficult to orient the team toward the metrics we need to meet in q3 to stay solvent and keep our forward momentum up.

I'm considering sniping our customers and starting my own business, nobody makes the office admin sign a non-compete.

[whateverisbeautiful]

Richonne in Retrospect - The 💋 List

(every Richonne kiss ranked)

#12: The Forest Farewell Kiss (1.06)

Now let me start by saying, similar to when I was making the reveling analysis of this 1.06 teaser a while back, these kisses had me damn near too distracted to type any commentary for this post lol. It's solid gold and I didn't realize til the re-watch just how much Rick is putting in work with this kiss right here, honey. 😋 He can't help but be spirited in his love for her, and I love that for Michonne. And she can't help but give her all when loving on Rick as well, so they really are a magnetic match made in heaven 😇...

It's funny because before I reviewed all the TOWL & TWD kisses to rank them, I hadn't thought this 1.06 one would have made it so high up for some reason. But then I rewatched it and y'all there was no way this could go any lower because this kiss is just passion x100. When I say no one does passion like Richonne, this scene really would be all the proof needed of that, even tho every kiss in my Top 12 proves Richonne has an incomparable passion for each other.

One of the things I always like about this kiss is how, while Rick and Michonne have been husband and wife for many years, post-episode 5 they somehow manage to kiss each other like they're even more married after Rick got down on one knee with a ring. Idk how to explain it, but something about all the kisses in 1.06 just felt married on a heightened level and I love it. Similar to the great off-to-war kiss in 8.01, this is Richonne having a passionate intimate farewell before parting ways to do something risky. And knowing that what they're about to do is dangerous, I love that they kiss in a way that is one; so invigorating and comforting and two; makes it clear that no matter what happens next they're in it together. This was an Us-Against-The-World kiss.👌🏽

I know neither of them is entertaining the mindset that this could be the last kiss they share, but I appreciate that they still kiss like it could be because they always want each other to know the depth of their love. Again, parting isn't easy for these two, especially after years apart and finally agreeing to go home together. So you know having to take on some of this CRM takedown separately isn't ideal for them. But this kiss communicates that even as they enter the lion's den they'll be back together and home soon because nothing is taking them from each other ever again.

I love how much it feels like Rick wants Michonne to know that even with him headed back into the CRM, she is still always and forever his choice. And the way Michonne looks at him after the kiss - that's her baby, y'all. I love how much she loves him. Richonne will always make time for each other so I appreciate that they both felt it's important to have not just a short farewell here but one that really takes its time and goes all in with the passion. The kiss is as hot as it's reassuring and it really is a ten out of ten, which just lets you know how blessed our ship is because that means I felt 11 other Richonne kisses are also on or above this excellent level. ♥️

[prettyinpwn]

I know I'm gonna sound like a crazy old broken record... but hear me out. Lots of speculation as to the true purpose of the thisisnotawebsitedotcom.com thing beneath the cut.

So... does anyone else feel like the ARG website is... odd? Like it's leading to something more coming? And before anyone screams, "Well, ackshully, Hirsch said he doesn't want to do a Season 3-"

YES. I KNOW. He said no Season 3 a million times. I was there when he told us Season 2 was it for the first time. But what he didn't say, however, was, "No more Gravity Falls anything... EVER.". Hence why we've gotten Journal 3, Lost Legends, and now The Book of Bill. Hirsch is veeerrrrry comfortable making more GF stuff.

And as someone that studied programming in college, I can tell you, this website does not seem like it was easy or cheap to make. It's effectively a single screen point and click game in a browser. Looking at the code, it seems they did use a framework called Bridgetown, lacing in looped animated MP4 files with clickable assets on top that make up the interactive elements (e.g the computer), with a lot of content made for the website itself from image files and text for each prompt a user might type. Sure, it's not the most difficult thing to program, but it's a lot more complex than, say, the searchfortheblindeye site back in the day.

That, and as someone who has worked in the corporate world, I'm sorry, but you don't pour this much effort/money into something that is just "lol cool things after product for funsies". If this was just for The Book of Bill, the smart marketing decision would have been to make the lofi album and the website, tease fans with both of them, and let them lead to an announcement of the book itself to tempt them into buying it, not the other way around. Like... Disney ain't gonna do that just out of love for fans. It's Disney, come on. They do things for money.

It's possible that Hirsch paid for it himself just for the fans, but I doubt it. Wanna know why? Because of the website's security certificate and ownership. Let's take a gander at this:

There are two odd things here. One, the range of the expiration. Most security certs last 1-2 years, at least they did at one of my previous places of employment (and we had like 50+ of them). This one expires November 7th, 2024. Odd, but maybe they only want the website up for a few months? Anyways, as an aside, everyone keep an eye out for November 7th, 2024. Could be nothing, could be something.

The other weird thing is the domain holder. Looking it up on ICANN, it gives this address:

Look that up on Google Maps, and it takes you to a company called Dun and Bradstreet. Long story short, the company does a bazillion things, but the main thing we're talking about here is:

Oh gee, Sales and Marketing. And their Sales and Marketing tools? Basically, they use data to tell companies who their audience is, so that they can market to them. Now, why would Disney care about this for a fandom for a show that's been done for almost a decade, just for a book that was released before said website (so we know they're not gathering marketing data for the book)?

Well, if I were to guess... long story short, all this stuff is a tactic to gauge who the Gravity Falls audience is now. Release the book, make some dough and fans happy, tie in a secret marketing data collection gimmick (AKA the website) using D&B as a vendor to hook the data into your CRM, send fans to a website to collect marketing data, and shabam. Now you know who the target market is all this time after.

And why in the hell would a company care about that? You tell me. Why care about who a target market is if you're not planning on marketing something to them later?

It could be that Disney is planning something similar to Gravity Falls and wants to gauge if there'd still be a market for that kind of show. Or... it could mean that Disney is planning on something more substantial related to Gravity Falls or Hirsch pitched it, and they were like, "Well, wait, let's collect data on this, first, so we'd know if it'd be a good business decision.". Not sure.

I mean, maybe I'm crazy, but doesn't this seem fishy to anyone else? If anyone else has any hypotheses as to why Hirsch and Disney have a Gravity Falls website owned by D&B, let me know, but to me... this smells... very... marketing oriented. And Hirsch doesn't seem like the guy to pour his own money into hiring an outside company to gather marketing data, that seems more up Disney's alley.

[tllgrrl]

Grimes 68 by @tllgrrl aka nefertiri jones

Summary: After almost 8 years apart, Michonne finds Rick Grimes, the love of her life and father of their children, and he brings her into the Civic Republic Military. For the time being: 1) She has to pretend to be someone else to avoid being seen as a threat; 2) He has to figure out a plan for the two of them to get out; and 3) They have to try and act like they’re strangers to each other instead of reunited lovers.

(The key word is “try”.)

* * * * *

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

The steel kill sticks striking against the brick wall rang in the parking lot of what was left of a post office.

A former postal service semi that now had protective grills over the windows led the next herd of the dead, or what the CRM called “deltas”— “delts” for short—into the large space on the one side of the harvest wall.

The shuffling hoard was drawn by the noise and flashing lights mounted on the truck.

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

The consignees readied themselves on the other side, and as the delts shambled to open spaces in the wall, each one was met with a blow that drove a sharp, prong-ended spear (“kill stick”) into its skull, followed by a twist of the wrist that destroyed its brain, effectively and finally killing it.

It was a repetitive, bloody, mind-numbing grind, and some said that it was brutal for the workers because it wasn’t easy to completely forget that the delts were once living human beings too.

Grimes had done his time at The Wall. He’d even become a legend with the number of kills he could rack up in a shift.

It was painted in big letters on the side of a nearby building, for all to see:

GRIMES 68.

He was also well-known for the number of attempts he’d made to do something no one else in the City wanted to do: Escape. Wanting to leave the safety and security of the CR so badly that he actually cut off his own shackled hand at the wrist, only to fail again and be brought back to the Wall.

Time and time again an officer in the Civic Republic Military gave him a chance to join up, and he refused each offer, preferring to be at the culling facility, killing the dead and planning his next escape attempt.

Then one day, he accepted the offer. He traded his Consignee jacket for a CRM uniform. Instead of using a kill stick, he got a fancy, deadly prosthetic hand with a retractable blade. He got all kinds of specialized training, all the perks as he rose through the ranks, and he never had to cull delts again.

But now, after having been gone for years, there he was. Back at the Wall. Watching.

Watching her.

The new consignee.

The dark-skinned Black woman with her hair cut short on one side of her head, exposing a beautiful profile; and locs cascading down just past her shoulder in the back and on the other side of her face .

The woman who, after her on-boarding interview, was designated a Type “B”, seeking safety, willing to work, and keeping to herself, but had the carriage and demeanour of an “A” who was always observing, was more than capable of defending herself, and being a provider of safety. A leader.

Word soon got around among the Consignees that the ex-consignee/now military officer known as “the famous Rick Grimes” had not only survived a chopper crash, but he’d started showing up at the harvest wall. Coming back to a place he’d gotten away from years earlier, only to return when a mysterious new consignee was brought into the CRM.

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

“Hey. Look who just pulled up,” said a consignee who had her red hair tied back with, of all things, a bright pink ribbon that was tied in a bow.

“Holy shit! ‘zat Grimes?” another consignee added, tying a bandana on his head, cholo style, then slipping on his face shield. “He doesn’t have to be here any more. What’s up with that?”

“Bethune’s not-so-secret admirer,” snickered the worker to pink bow’s left, stabbing his kill stick into a delt that sagged and dropped. “She doesn’t see him yet. But she knows he’s there. Watch. In 3..2..1.”

Michonne—known to the other consignees as “Dana Bethune” —stationed at the far end of the wall, continued to methodically dispatch delts.

Then she stopped, looked over her shoulder, and found the tall CRM officer. Standing there, at ease, even with his helmet and face guard on, she knew he was watching her.

It seemed like they stood there, the only people at the wall. 5…10…15 minutes. Watching each other. Breathing the same air. At last…

3 seconds later, she turned her head back to the oncoming delts, and went back to work.

Behind her mask, the other consignees couldn’t see the small smile that graced her lips, or hear her whisper “I found you.”

Behind his mask, no one could see the CRM officer smile as he whispered “You found me.”

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

“You see that?” drawled the consignee to pink bow’s right, continuing to spear oncoming delts. “Somethin’s up with those two.”

“I know, right? For the past two weeks, he’s here. Same time every day she’s on shift, just before third break. Look at him lookin’. Even wearin’ the consignee jacket, the mask, an’ her hair all tucked in, it only takes him a second to find her. And a second for her to know he’s here. Like they’re—”

“Might could be that ass is imprinted on his brain!” laughed a big man nearby with a bushy black beard.

“Maybe it’s because she saved his life out there.”

“Peterson said somethin’ about that. It’s true?”

“‘parently so. His chopper went down. Got blown right outta the sky and crashed.”

“You serious?!”

“Word is it was a scrub with some kinda RPG an’ shit,” a consignee added to the story while wiping a splatter of brains and blood off of his face guard.

“Stop lyin’! How’d they even get that? After the Fall, CRM took over most of the bases out there with a quickness.”

“There was military stuff out in the wild even before everything went to shit. All kinds o’ stuff is still out there,” bushy beard opined. “Shouldn’t be a surprise all these years later somebody has a bazooka or some ordinance hidden away. There’s jeeps, even tanks here and there. I lived in one for a couple o’ months before I got found and brought here. CRM scoops ‘em up quick as they can, but—”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. So anyway, the scuttlebut’s that Sargent Major Loverboy there, an’ the other troopers jumped out of the wrecked chopper an’ the scrub starts firein’ on ‘em. The ones he could catch, he slit their throats…with a sword.”

“A what?” bandana scoffed, stabbing into what was left of the next delt’s face. “Get outta here with that BS, man!”

“I’m just tellin’ you what I heard! Grimes was about ta get got, when Bethune comes runnin’ outta the woods, grabs one of the dead trooper’s weapons and shoots the scrub!”

“Wow. Maybe that’s why he’s here all the time,” pink bow chuckled. “Hell, I’d be in love with her too.”

“Get in line,” beard snarked. “You really think those two know each other?”

“Know each other?” the woman laughed, stabbed a delt and shook its eyeball off of her kill stick. “I think they’re fuckin’.”

“No way!” bandana exclaimed. “She just got here!”

<<<Good work, Section 5 and 6 Consignees. Bethune and Clifton, please report to post-shift health check before boarding transport.>>>

“Think about it,” pink bow explained. “Grimes is an officer on the inside now and doesn’t need to be at the Harvest Wall any more. Who’d come back to this shit after their 6 years of consignment is up? Now, all of a sudden, he’s back. Out here almost every day. Why?”

She tipped her head toward the driveway and they watched Grimes remove his helmet and turn completely around to watch “why” aka “Dana Bethune” walk past, avoiding his eyes.

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

“Oh, yeah…” pink bow grinned. “They’re fuckin’.”

* * * * *

This bit of nonsense was inspired by The Walking Dead spin-off, The Ones Who Live - Episode 3: “Bye”.

Click HERE for the AO3 version.

Thank you for reading!

[stillaswind]

Analysis of Emily Kinney’s song/music video: When the midnight fireworks start.

And my prediction of how Daryl will first see Beth is based on this song and her song Easy.

We all know Daryl and Beth’s romance is a big fat slow burn.

Matches and gasoline leaks refer to an explosion.

People so shiny and pretty could be referencing the people in the CRM or an organization like it. They appear to be perfect but it’s all superficial.

This song is over 4 years old so we had to give her a few more years.

I think she is the fire that we can’t stop and bridges remind me of Rick and his separation of his family, and we know that his arc mirrors Beth’s.



I think the midnight fireworks line is literal and I’ll explain at the end.

When she is revealed to be alive she will be world famous and her life will never be the same.

Safe zone to danger feels very CRM

The light at the end of the tunnel

Again when she is revealed it will make worldwide news.

Ok so now my prediction of how Beth will be revealed to Daryl. I noticed that in this song and in her song Easy, (I’ve done an analysis on this song as well) she refers to Midnight.

Easy Corus:

The line: when the midnight fireworks start, everybody will know my name. Many of us seem to agree that Beth will be Daryl’s Christmas gift from Santa Claus. The majority of the population of Spain are Catholic and they celebrate Christmas at midnight on Christmas Eve. I looked it up and it seems fireworks are often a part of the celebration. Also Midnight symbolizes a new beginning. So I believe she may be revealed at midnight on Christmas during a fireworks show. I mean what could be more epic than that? I wonder if Gimple would even tell her his full plans, but it fits in my head.

@twdmusicboxmystery

[arsenicalikat]

TOWL - Finale reactions and Holy Shit.

I'm pretty sure we started out with Rick thinking, Fuck, I'm going to have to kill Pearl.

It was way too easy for Michonne to break in. Like way too easy.

Beale, not really a citizen? That's a strange way to put it. They only kill for food or compulsion. Right? What does that mean? Is that a question? Beale sharing his time with Rick, sharing the weight? What the fuck does that mean?

Of course, it was in the cat. Just for Michonne.

But also, all those pictures of Gabe- it kind of sweet in a it didn't have to be that way kind of way.

Lol, Michonne Bodied that soldier.

Beale making Rick take his prosthetic off means he doesn't know how Rick will react. I wonder if someone else reacted poorly to the briefing. And his talking about killing Claimer Joe is wild.

"THe soldier in question has never been someone like you." Hmmmmmmmmm??? What does that mean? Does he want Rick as his successor?

How old is Beale? He went to Nam, twice?

Ummmmm, the teddy? like the first episode? But also shows how brutal the CRM is. Like they are moving stuff and droped a stuffed animal. It makes you wonder how they got it? Why?

Child evacuation protocol? 14 years? 1,000,000 strong hordes? Evolution of the virus? He thinks they are saving humanity. He thinks they are the ones who beat the odds.

He sacrificed Philly to save PA. Such a hardship; it's not like they could fight and save them all.

(I'm only a little sarcastic.)

Only 10% of children saved? What the fuck?

He admitted to Omaha and Campus Colony. Wow.

So, they want to take over the CRP. They want to take over the world.

The walkie going off during the meeting was kind of great. Her walking out of the meeting can be so bad.

He wants Rick as the leader. I felt like that might be coming.

Is Rick really thinking about Killing Beale in his office? That is such a bad idea. I love that Beale took the gun and the prosthetic but not his knife.

Is Beale trying to get Rick to bring in Alexandria? You know that shit isn't real.

Swear on the sword... Holy shit! You know, I don't think Rick has ever not taken a beating in a fight until now. That was the hottest freaking Rick kill ever. My god, I want to watch that over and over.

Please don't have to kill that man in the elevator. You can't leave a trail of bodies that lead to you. Bro, a blood pool? an actual trail...

I love how they came to the same decision at the same time.

ah, shit, he saw the blood. Rick always gets the shit kicked out of him before he wins. That was brutal as fuck.

"Is this yours?" "What's in it?" lol, a body.

Is Pearl going to be the big bad in the next season- I really want a next season, like so bad.

This is the shit we do.

Why the fuck did he leave his hand behind? That is such a good weapon/tool. I mean, that sets up for the comic hook hand, but man, I really liked that hand.

The balls on them to do that surrounded by all those soldiers. Holy hell. They should be pissing their selves.

It took Pearl forever to realize who Dana/Michonne was. Like, she was supposed to be smart.

But using Beale and that soldier to pull the pins? That is freaking smart. Then Pearl coming in at the absolute wrong moment is freaking wild. She just fucked herself, there is no way Michonne will let her live.

The hand-holding was sweet, though.

How the fuck did Thorne live through that?? Is he going to kill her? Like actually? Is it like Shane all over again? He has to kill her like he has to. Fuck her up, Michonne!

LOVE DOESN'T DIE.

Get that man a gas mask, please.

They took it to the CRC/CRP. They took down the CRM. Free movement established. It's done.

Awwww! Omg! It's their babies. It's Judith. It's RJ. Rick sees his baby! "I knew it, Dad." Awwwwww.

"You're the brave man?" I lowkey hated that. "You can call me dad." Awwwww.

Believe a little longer.

[salesforcetech]

Complete Guide: Asana to Salesforce Integration

Asana is one of the most widely adopted work management platforms, trusted by over 85% of Fortune 100 companies to manage team workflows. Meanwhile, Salesforce stands as a global leader in customer relationship management (CRM), empowering more than 150,000 businesses worldwide.

Although both platforms shine in their individual domains—Salesforce for CRM and Asana for task and project management—many organizations fail to recognize the true benefits of Salesforce and Asana integration. Using them in silos can limit productivity and lead to communication gaps.

If your teams rely on both platforms but haven’t integrated them yet, you could be missing out on a major opportunity to streamline processes, foster better collaboration, and accelerate your business goals. This blog explores the power of Asana to Salesforce integration, highlighting key features, benefits, and how to make the most of both platforms.

Overview of Asana and Salesforce

Asana is a flexible, intuitive project management solution designed to help teams track progress, delegate tasks, and stay aligned. It creates a centralized workspace where communication, task tracking, and project timelines are managed efficiently.

From team communication to task tracking and reporting, Asana empowers project managers to drive accountability while reducing inefficiencies and delays.

Salesforce, on the other hand, is a leading cloud-based CRM platform built for businesses of all sizes. It unites marketing, sales, and customer service efforts under one roof. Its powerful tools streamline lead management, automate workflows, and provide a 360-degree view of the customer journey.

Key Features of Asana

1. Communication Tools Asana fosters effective communication across teams. With built-in comment threads, task discussions, and image feedback features, teams can communicate clearly and act on tasks directly. Managers can post updates using rich-text fields, improving clarity.

Asana supports global teams with multi-language support including English, Spanish, German, Italian, and more. Meanwhile, Salesforce also enhances communication by offering a unified platform for customer and internal interactions.

2. Work Management Capabilities From subtasks to timelines, dependencies to custom fields—Asana covers it all. Its task structuring features ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. Pre-built templates and task approvals also help teams launch and manage projects with ease.

3. Reporting Tools Asana offers robust dashboards and real-time project tracking. Teams can align daily tasks with company-wide goals, while stakeholders stay informed with live status updates and exportable reports.

4. Team Collaboration and Control Asana enables seamless team collaboration through shared calendars, access permissions, and real-time updates. Whether you want to keep a project private or accessible to your full team, Asana’s controls give you the flexibility you need. Its real-time dashboards offer at-a-glance insights into project health—making it easier to catch delays before they become problems.

5. Easy Integration with Existing Apps Asana connects with over 300 popular apps, including Google Drive, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and more. This makes it a flexible solution that complements your existing tech stack without disrupting workflow.

Benefits of Asana to Salesforce Integration

Integrating Asana with Salesforce enhances workflow visibility and aligns customer-facing and project execution teams. Here's how your business can benefit:

1. Smoother Post-Sales Processes Once a deal is closed in Salesforce, teams can automatically trigger onboarding workflows in Asana. Attachments, notes, and tasks can be shared instantly between customer success and service teams, reducing handoff friction. Templates in Asana help create consistent onboarding experiences, and Salesforce Service Cloud connects teams from pre-sale to delivery.

2. Workflow Automation via Flow Builder Salesforce Flow Builder allows you to automate routine tasks in Asana, reducing manual errors and ensuring important steps aren’t missed. Automation between the platforms keeps both systems synchronized and ensures real-time updates. This not only improves efficiency but also enhances data accuracy between teams.

3. Visibility Into Business Goals With the integration, your Salesforce data can be tied to Asana goals—enabling better decision-making and transparency. As deals move through the pipeline, teams get visibility into how individual tasks impact larger objectives.

4. Better Cross-Team Alignment The integration breaks down silos between departments. Marketing, sales, and service teams can view the status of tasks, upcoming deadlines, and customer-specific projects in real time—reducing miscommunication and delays.

Final Thoughts

The Asana to Salesforce integration enables your teams to do more with less effort—automating routine work, reducing data errors, and bridging gaps between departments. If you're looking to boost productivity and collaboration, now is the time to act. 👉 Choose MultiSync Made Easy — the best tool to integrate Asana with Salesforce seamlessly.

[stuarttechnologybob]

How Startups Can Benefit from Cloud App Development Services?

Cloud App Development Services

Startups often face the rising common challenges such as limited and short budgets, rapidly changing markets and its competition, and the need to scale quickly. To overcome these hurdles, many are turning to Cloud App Development as an innovative solution. Cloud-based applications provide startups with the flexibility, speed, and cost efficiency they need to grow rapidly and remain competitive.

Faster Time and Response towards Market -

Speed is everything for startups and new organizations. Cloud App Development enables and leads towards faster development cycles and quick deployment. With cloud platforms, developers can build and test features rapidly, allowing the startups to bring their products to market in a shorter timeframe.

Lower Costs and Reduced Infrastructure -

Traditional app development services and operations require upfront investment in hardware, servers, and maintenance. While the Cloud App Development eliminates this need and it demands. Startups can run applications on cloud infrastructure and only pay for the resources they use, significantly reducing overhead costs.

Scalability as You Grow -

Startups might begin with a small user base but can grow rapidly. Cloud-based apps are designed and crafted to scale easily. As traffic increases, resources can be expanded automatically without significant changes to the app architecture. This means startups don’t need to worry about outgrowing their tech.

Enhanced Collaboration -

Cloud platforms and its features enable real-time collaboration among team members and present teams, regardless of their location and area. Whether developers, designers, or business stakeholders—everyone can work together more efficiently using cloud tools, which is crucial for agile startup teams.

Strong Security and Data Backup -

Security is a top most concern, especially when handling the customer data and its system. Cloud service providers offer built-in security features, data encryption, and regular backups to keep up the data safe. This provides startups with peace of mind, eliminating the need to invest heavily in IT security.

Easy Integration with Other Services -

Cloud apps can be easily integrated with third-party tools and resources such as payment gateways, CRM systems or analytics platforms and mediums. This helps the startups to create a more complete and functional solution personalized and customized as per their common needs and demands.

Expert Cloud App Development Support:

Startups that want to make the most of cloud technologies often partner with experts. Companies like Suma Soft, IBM, and Cyntexa offer specialized Cloud App Development services tailored to startup needs—ensuring speed, security, and scalability from day one.

[sujitchaulagainblogs]

How to Choose the Best CRM Software for Your Business

Choosing the right CRM software for your business is a big decision — and the right one can make a world of difference. Whether you’re running a small startup or managing a growing company, having an effective CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system helps you keep track of customers, boost sales, and improve overall productivity. Let’s walk through how you can choose the best CRM for your business without getting overwhelmed.

Why Your Business Needs a CRM

A CRM isn’t just a tool — it’s your business’s central hub for managing relationships. If you’re still relying on spreadsheets or scattered notes, you’re probably losing time (and leads). A good CRM helps you:

Keep customer data organized in one place

Track leads, sales, and follow-ups

Automate routine tasks

Get insights into sales performance

Improve customer service

The goal is simple: work smarter, not harder. And with an affordable CRM that fits your needs, you’ll see faster growth and smoother processes.

Define Your Business Goals

Before diving into features, figure out what you actually need. Ask yourself:

Are you trying to increase sales or improve customer service?

Do you need better lead tracking or marketing automation?

How big is your team, and how tech-savvy are they?

What’s your budget?

Knowing your goals upfront keeps you from wasting time on CRMs that might be packed with unnecessary features — or worse, missing key ones.

Must-Have Features to Look For

When comparing CRM options, focus on features that truly matter for your business. Here are some essentials:

Contact Management – Store customer details, interactions, and notes all in one place.

Lead Tracking – Follow leads through the sales funnel and never miss a follow-up.

Sales Pipeline Management – Visualize where your deals stand and what needs attention.

Automation – Save time by automating emails, reminders, and data entry.

Customization – Adjust fields, workflows, and dashboards to match your process.

Third-Party Integrations – Ensure your CRM connects with other software you rely on, like email marketing tools or accounting systems.

Reports & Analytics – Gain insights into sales, performance, and customer behavior.

User-Friendly Interface – If your team finds it clunky or confusing, they won’t use it.

Budget Matters — But Value Matters More

A CRM doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Plenty of affordable CRM options offer robust features without the hefty price tag. The key is balancing cost with value. Don’t just chase the cheapest option — pick a CRM that supports your business growth.

Take LeadHeed, for example. It’s an affordable CRM designed to give businesses the tools they need — like lead management, sales tracking, and automation — without stretching your budget. It’s a smart pick if you want to grow efficiently without overpaying for features you won’t use.

Test Before You Commit

Most CRMs offer a free trial — and you should absolutely use it. A CRM might look great on paper, but it’s a different story when you’re actually using it. During your trial period, focus on:

How easy it is to set up and start using

Whether it integrates with your existing tools

How fast you can access and update customer information

If your team finds it helpful (or frustrating)

A trial gives you a real feel for whether the CRM is a good fit — before you commit to a paid plan.

Think About Long-Term Growth

Your business might be small now, but what about next year? Choose a CRM that grows with you. Look for flexible pricing plans, scalable features, and the ability to add more users or advanced functions down the line.

It’s better to pick a CRM that can expand with your business than to go through the hassle of switching systems later.

Check Customer Support

Even the best software can hit a snag — and when that happens, you’ll want reliable support. Look for a CRM that offers responsive customer service, whether that’s live chat, email, or phone. A system is only as good as the help you get when you need it.

Read Reviews and Compare

Don’t just rely on the CRM’s website. Read reviews from other businesses — especially ones similar to yours. Sites like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot offer honest insights into what works (and what doesn’t). Comparing multiple CRMs ensures you make a well-rounded decision.

The Bottom Line

Choosing the best CRM software for your business doesn’t have to be complicated. By understanding your goals, focusing on essential features, and keeping scalability and budget in mind, you’ll find a CRM that fits like a glove.

If you’re looking for an affordable CRM Software that checks all the right boxes — without cutting corners — LeadHeed is worth exploring. It’s built to help businesses like yours manage leads, automate tasks, and gain valuable insights while staying within budget.

The right CRM can transform how you run your business. Take the time to find the one that supports your growth, keeps your team organized, and helps you deliver an even better experience to your customers.

[laxmankodadala]

Owl-PMS: Your Free All-in-One Sales CRM

Having a reliable CRM isn’t just a luxury — it’s a necessity. That’s where Owl-PMS comes in. More than just a typical CRM, Owl-PMS is a lifetime free sales CRM designed to help businesses of all sizes streamline their operations, manage leads, and close more deals — without spending a rupee.

Why Choose Owl-PMS?

1. 100% Free, Forever Owl-PMS offers a truly free CRM experience. There are no hidden costs, trial periods, or feature locks. Whether you’re a startup, freelancer, or growing enterprise, Owl-PMS provides all the essential tools you need — with no subscription fees, ever.

2. All-in-One Sales Management From tracking leads to managing follow-ups, Owl-PMS puts your entire sales pipeline in one easy-to-use dashboard. Automate your workflow, assign tasks to your team, and never miss a follow-up again.

3. Powerful Task & Workflow Automation Eliminate manual work with built-in task management and workflow automation. Owl-PMS lets you create custom flows that save time and increase team efficiency.

4. Real-Time Analytics & Insights Track your team’s performance and make data-driven decisions. Owl-PMS offers insightful analytics that show you what’s working — and what needs improvement.

5. Seamless Calendar & Communication Integration Connect your calendar and email to Owl-PMS to keep everything in sync. Stay on top of meetings, client calls, and important deadlines effortlessly.

6. Centralized Collaboration Hub Coordinate across teams without switching tools. Owl-PMS centralizes customer communication, notes, and tasks so everyone stays aligned.

Who Is Owl-PMS For?

Startups looking to grow without breaking the bank

Small businesses in need of a reliable CRM with no recurring costs

Freelancers and consultants who want to manage clients and leads efficiently

Sales teams that value productivity, automation, and simplicity

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been searching for a sales CRM that’s powerful, simple, and completely free, Owl-PMS is the answer. It’s more than just a tool — it’s your partner in productivity. Get started today and experience how easy it is to manage customers, sales, and tasks with Owl-PMS — for free, for life.

No fees. No limits. Just results. Welcome to Owl-PMS.

[niotechone]

Cloud Computing: Definition, Benefits, Types, and Real-World Applications

In the fast-changing digital world, companies require software that matches their specific ways of working, aims and what their customers require. That’s when you need custom software development services. Custom software is made just for your organization, so it is more flexible, scalable and efficient than generic software.

What does Custom Software Development mean?

Custom software development means making, deploying and maintaining software that is tailored to a specific user, company or task. It designs custom Software Development Services: Solutions Made Just for Your Business to meet specific business needs, which off-the-shelf software usually cannot do.

The main advantages of custom software development are listed below.

1. Personalized Fit

Custom software is built to address the specific needs of your business. Everything is designed to fit your workflow, whether you need it for customers, internal tasks or industry-specific functions.

2. Scalability

When your business expands, your software can also expand. You can add more features, users and integrations as needed without being bound by strict licensing rules.

3. Increased Efficiency

Use tools that are designed to work well with your processes. Custom software usually automates tasks, cuts down on repetition and helps people work more efficiently.

4. Better Integration

Many companies rely on different tools and platforms. You can have custom software made to work smoothly with your CRMs, ERPs and third-party APIs.

5. Improved Security

You can set up security measures more effectively in a custom solution. It is particularly important for industries that handle confidential information, such as finance, healthcare or legal services.

Types of Custom Software Solutions That Are Popular

CRM Systems

Inventory and Order Management

Custom-made ERP Solutions

Mobile and Web Apps

eCommerce Platforms

AI and Data Analytics Tools

SaaS Products

The Process of Custom Development

Requirement Analysis

Being aware of your business goals, what users require and the difficulties you face in running the business.

Design & Architecture

Designing a software architecture that can grow, is safe and fits your requirements.

Development & Testing

Writing code that is easy to maintain and testing for errors, speed and compatibility.

Deployment and Support

Making the software available and offering support and updates over time.

What Makes Niotechone a Good Choice?

Our team at Niotechone focuses on providing custom software that helps businesses grow. Our team of experts works with you throughout the process, from the initial idea to the final deployment, to make sure the product is what you require.

Successful experience in various industries

Agile development is the process used.

Support after the launch and options for scaling

Affordable rates and different ways to work together

Final Thoughts

Creating custom software is not only about making an app; it’s about building a tool that helps your business grow. A customized solution can give you the advantage you require in the busy digital market, no matter if you are a startup or an enterprise.

[whateverisbeautiful]

♥️Reveling in Richonne - TOWL

#56: The Real CRM (1.06)

gif cred: @andy-clutterbuck

Will the real CRM please stand up? 😁 The thing I most liked about these Rick and Beale exchanges is that while Beale was peeling back the curtain on what the CRM is really about, Rick got to let Beale know about the only CRM he and I recognize - and y’all, that’s Carl, Rick, Michonne. 💅🏽😌...

Beale sees major potential in Rick as he tells him he thinks the next decade's leader might be Rick Grimes. It’s like Okafor said, even though Rick has never wanted power, it’s undeniable that he has it and is a natural-born leader. But I think this natural-born leader is very eager to retire and just be a family man and the world should finally let him. 🙏🏽

Beale notes how Rick came back to them even after so many escape attempts and even despite having had the perfect out because they thought he was dead. They cut to several moments of Rick during his time in the CRM and then Beale says that Rick has become a powerful story that they can essentially parade around to others to convince them of why the CRM is the answer.

Even saying that is so detached and reductive - treating Rick as not a person but a persuasive story.

gif cred: @taiturner

Beale talks about how he and Okafor have sacrificed and he says Rick has already sacrificed too as he holds up his prosthetic, a reminder of Rick's willingness to sacrifice his own hand for his family.

Then Beale gets personal yet still seems so detached as he asks, “Who’s the person closest to you who’s died in all of this?” And Andy’s acting is so good as he pauses for a moment and then says, “My son.” I could shed several tears from those two words alone. 🥺

One; I love how often Carl was acknowledged in TOWL. He’s so impactful to Rick and Michonne so it’s only right. And the way Rick says 'my son' here, it's viscerally evident how personal this is to him. I love how there’s this vulnerability to the way he says it while also trying to keep a guard up.

Rick somberly says, “He’s who I saved tearing out that man’s throat.” Because truly there isn’t anything Rick wouldn’t do for Carl. 😭 And the pain on Rick's face when he says this hits hard. It's like you can visibly see him mentally returning to two extremely heavy moments from his past - the night he killed those Claimers to save Carl and the night he lost Carl in Alexandria.

And then, despite the fact that this is clearly an extremely hard loss and not easy to talk about, Beale seems like he doesn’t have a heart with his insensitive response.

Beale says, “But you couldn’t save him in the end.” And him disrespecting Rick and Carl had me wanting to swing on the Major General tbh. 🥊

After Beale's unfeeling remark, they show a quick clip of Rick and Michonne standing at Carl’s grave. 💔 Then Rick shakes his head and somberly answers, “No.” Which is just 🥺🥺🥺. 

A big element of the pain of this is that, before Carl passed, Rick viewed the weighted act of killing a man with his teeth as an act that kept Carl alive. But now, when he thinks about that moment he also has to think about how Carl still didn't make it, even despite what Rick was willing to do to protect him. 😞

I guess normally this would be an effective tactic from Beale. He gets the soldiers thinking about the person they most loved and lost and how they couldn’t save them, convincing them that committing to the CRM would be a way to prevent those losses and that pain from ever happening again.

But fortunately, after some heart-to-hearts in a crumbling apartment with Michonne, Rick is no longer susceptible to thinking the CRM can’t be beat so they must be joined.

Beale says, “What if I told you, you would never have to suffer that kind of loss again, that wherever you were running to, whoever you were running to…you could keep them safe, you could bring them to us?” For some reason, I doubt the sincerity of this offer.

And it seems Rick isn't buying it either. Plus, even if it was a legit offer, Rick would never just be content with keeping his people safe while the CRM exterminates mass amounts of other innocent people.

When Beale says, “Family, friends, a love…I don’t give a damn.” the not giving a damn part is clear. You can tell Beale has been so far removed from having people he loves for a long while.

Somewhat adjacent to a mindset that Rick nearly adopted before Michonne helped him return to himself, Beale thinks protecting people is a sufficient replacement for loving people.

Beale says he’ll spare the people Rick loves because he’s willing to take that chance on him. Rick continues to hang onto his knife under the table and Beale can’t tell that he has an increasingly feral Rick in front of him.

Like the way Rick looks at Beale...it was clear that the Major General was about to meet Red Machete Rick real soon. 👌🏽

gif cred: @riickgrimes

Beale goes on to tell Rick about how “The Next World will begin” and my extra self just liked hearing the title of Richonne’s s6 canon episode in TOWL lol. 😊

The time finally comes for Rick to swear on the sword and then we’re brought back to the moment in ep 1 when Beale wanted to ask a question and get the answer by looking in Rick eyes. And then here in the finale, Beale also gets an answer from Rick’s eyes because rather than swear on the sword and 'not let it take' like Okafor advised, Rick refuses to swear on the sword at all.

Rick's done playing along. So after they show a series of clips of Rick and Michonne taking down opponents in TWD, Beale quickly realizes that he’s got the wrong one as Rick’s expression shifts. He can tell Rick is very clearly in kill mode as Beale then grabs his weapon and says, “No.” But it’s too late.

gif cred: @coltseavrs

Rick chuck’s his knife at Beale and slides across the desk to tackle him down. 👏🏽

Beale and Rick get into some hand-to-hand combat, with Rick’s prosthetic again shielding him from getting cut up when Beale swings his sword. Beale wants to know why Rick came back if he hadn’t really conformed. Rick doesn’t believe the world is gonna end and Beale says the world won’t but he’s trying to make sure that the human race doesn’t end.

When Rick gets a hold of Beale’s sword he plunges it right through Beale’s hand and Beale’s first response is one of regret that he trusted Okafor enough to give Rick a chance. Cuz clearly that didn't work out too well for Mister Beale. 🙂

And then, after Beale’s long speeches and disrespect throughout this ep, it was finally Rick’s turn to speak. 😌

gif cred: @nobleriver

Rick lets Beale know, “I never lost my son. I lost myself. He brought me back.” 😭 I love how Rick now knows his son was always with him, even when he thought he lost him. And even after losing himself, his son was still able to bring him back.

Carl brought Rick back so many times as he lived and it’s heartwarming to know he continues to do that from the other side.

gif cred: @nobleriver

And then y’all already know I am beyond here for the fact that Rick then says, “My wife brought me back.” The way he puts that emphasis on “my wife.” 🔥 Oh he meant this. 💯

And you know it probably felt extra great for Rick to now be able to say 'my wife' knowing he's finally been able to give Michonne a ring like he wanted. 💍😌

gif cred: @machonnes

Hearing Rick call Michonne his wife will always be music to my ears. And I love that he can't help but say it with so much passion each time. 😊

And once again Rick has a perfect track record of giving Michonne her flowers. He knows the reason he’s here, and back to being himself, and fighting this fight, is because of his wife. Fighting for him, believing in him, and bringing him back are some of the many ways Michonne saved Rick's life.

I love the way this connects back to Michonne telling Carl that he and Rick brought her back in their heartfelt season 4 finale scene. Carl, Rick, and Michonne all brought each other back. 😭

(And little does Beale know that the wife Rick’s talking about is one Consignee Bethune. Looks like Beale was right to have her on his radar. 😋)

Rick says, “We’re the sword that kills. We’re the sword that gives life. One life. One unstoppable life.” I like that Rick gets to tell Beale this after the CRM thought they were the only answer.

gif cred: @likeafantasy

Again, he’s letting Beale know who the real C.R.M is and it was moving to see Rick doing this in the name of Carl and Michonne. His son and wife. He represented the Golden Trio well here. 🥹

(And I know some people wanted/expected TOWL to be super focused on CRM content. But the way I see it - it was.👌🏽 Because Carl, Rick, & Michonne sure got a whole lot of focus. 😌)

Rick's final scene with Beale made it ultra clear that Michonne and Carl give Rick so much strength. They did back then and they still do years later. His wife and kids are why he fights. 👌🏽

And I like that Rick reframed Beale’s mantra to see that it’s the people you love who really are the ones who give life. Hearing Rick say “one unstoppable life” also made me think about how he mentioned in the TWD series finale that Michonne showed him that they’re one unstoppable life.

And that’s why they don’t have to succumb to the doomsday fear of the world ending again because, as this apocalypse has shown, - their one unstoppable life doesn’t end even when the world does. 

gif cred: @likeafantasy

Then Rick concludes by saying, “We’re not dead…You are.” as he, in a bit of poetic irony, kills Beale with his own sword. It’s nice hearing Rick declare “We’re not dead” having lived the last few years feeling like a dead man. The real Rick is alive and well now. 🙌🏽

And the real Rick is also a little crazy, but that’s how it’s always been and we love him for it. 😌

Also, the snarl with that delivery.👏🏽❤️‍🔥 Rick can be at his most feral and every time I'm still just like...

Killing the CRM’s most powerful leader right here and now certainly qualifies as putting a major wrench in Richonne's plan, and so Rick has to quickly cover his tracks by telling Pearl that Beale went to the woods alone.

gif cred: @andy-clutterbuck

Then he sees a crate and gets an idea on how to remove the body which leads to another elevator scene. And while that lovely elevator scene in episode 4 was lighthearted and steamy, this next elevator scene is pure suspense. 😨👌🏽

[voiceapisolutions]

How Enterprises Use Voice APIs for Call Routing and IVR Automation

Enterprises today handle thousands of customer calls every day. To manage these efficiently, many are turning to voice APIs. These tools help businesses automate call routing and interactive voice response (IVR) systems.

What Are Voice APIs?

Voice APIs are software interfaces that allow developers to build voice-calling features into apps or systems. These APIs can trigger actions like placing calls, receiving them, or converting speech to text. For enterprises, voice APIs make it easy to integrate intelligent call handling into their workflow.

Smarter Call Routing

Call routing directs incoming calls to the right agent or department. With voice APIs, this process becomes dynamic and rules based.

For example, a customer calling from a VIP number can be routed directly to a premium support team. APIs allow routing rules based on caller ID, time of day, location, or even previous interactions. This reduces wait times and improves customer satisfaction.

Automated IVR Systems

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) lets callers interact with a menu system using voice or keypad inputs. Traditional IVR systems are rigid and often frustrating.

Voice APIs enable smarter, more personalized IVR flows. Enterprises can design menus that adapt in real time. For instance, returning callers may hear different options based on their past issues. With speech recognition, users can speak naturally instead of pressing buttons.

Scalability and Flexibility

One major benefit of using voice API is scalability. Enterprises don’t need physical infrastructure to manage call volume. The cloud-based nature of voice APIs means businesses can handle spikes in calls without losing quality.

Also, changes to call flows can be made quickly. New routing rules or IVR scripts can be deployed without touching hardware. This agility is crucial in fast-moving industries.

Enhanced Analytics and Integration

Voice APIs also provide detailed data. Enterprises can track call duration, drop rates, wait times, and common IVR paths. This data helps optimize performance and identify pain points.

Moreover, APIs easily integrate with CRMs, ticketing systems, and analytics tools. This ensures a seamless connection between calls and other business processes.

Final Thoughts

Voice APIs are transforming how enterprises manage voice communications. From intelligent call routing to adaptive IVR systems, the benefits are clear. Enterprises that adopt these tools gain speed, efficiency, and better customer experience, and that too without a lot of effort.