Leveraging Trello as a CRM: A Comprehensive Guide for Small Businesses

Feeling overwhelmed by the long list of CRM providers? Finding intuitive and simple software for your company can be a challenge. If you’re in that boat, you’re in the right spot! Numerous small businesses struggle to identify the best customer relationship management system suited to their needs.

Hello! I’m AJ. After selling my business for over seven figures, I started Small Business Bonfire to help entrepreneurs, like you, avoid the mistakes I made. If you’re looking for a CRM system, you should definitely consider Trello. It made organizing our sales tasks much quicker than we imagined.

Ready to learn how Trello can boost your sales team’s efficiency and productivity? Let’s dive in!

### Getting Started with Trello

**Step 1: Create a Trello Board**
The main Trello page is where you can start by making workspaces. As you set up your Trello board, customize it to fit your needs. Trello boards are great for storing data, collaborating on tasks, and keeping track of progress. Ensure each board has a unique function or specific activity.

**Step 2: Set Up a Sales Pipeline**
A sales pipeline maps out each step a potential customer takes before becoming a paying customer. This organization helps in identifying and pursuing the right customers effectively. Typical steps include:

*Prospecting: Identifying potential customers.
*Lead Qualification: Determining if prospects could turn into customers.
*Meeting: Engaging with potential buyers.
*Proposal: Presenting detailed product information and pricing.
*Negotiation: Discussing prices, if necessary.
*Closure: Finalizing the sale.

**Step 3: Convert the Sales Pipeline into a Trello Board**
Create lists on your Trello board that reflect the stages in your sales pipeline. Trello’s drag-and-drop feature makes it easy to move tasks between different stages.

**Step 4: Create Trello Cards**
Cards represent tasks or records in your sales process. Select “Add card,” fill in the details, and then drag the card to the appropriate stage.

### Inviting and Training Your Sales Team

Invite your sales team by clicking the “Share” button and entering their email addresses. You can assign different visibility and control levels to each member. Trello also offers “power-ups” to integrate with third-party tools for improved functionality.

### Regularly Review and Update

To get the most out of Trello as a CRM system, review and update your boards and processes regularly with your team. Always aim to better understand your customers, streamline your sales funnel, and increase revenue.

### Pros and Cons of Using Trello as a CRM

**Pros:**
*Trello is user-friendly, especially for small businesses.
*Great for visual, drag-and-drop interfaces.

**Cons:**
*May need a more advanced CRM as your business grows and sales processes get more complex.

### Considering Other CRM Options?

* **HubSpot**: Offers a free version and paid plans with robust marketing and sales tools. Prices start from $20 monthly, with a free demo available.
* **Pipedrive**: Designed for sales reps, it helps in creating sales process stages, tracking progress, and automating tasks. Pipedrive also offers revenue forecasting and free trials.
* **EngageBay**: A single platform supporting marketing, sales, and customer support. Free for up to 15 users, it offers features like unlimited contact storage and easy implementation.

### Conclusion

Trello is excellent for organizing tasks and tracking their progress. It ensures that every prospective client gets proper attention. Is Trello the right CRM tool for your team? Let us know your thoughts!