This article was originally posted at Tenfold.com

Dave Orrico, Vice President of InsideSales.com’s Enterprise Sales, once said: “The No. 1 key to success in today’s sales environment is speed. The salesperson who delivers the most valuable information to their customer or prospect first, wins the game. The best sales professionals rely heavily on tools like salesforce.com to provide that competitive advantage for information acceleration.”

It does sound like Salesforce software is the fix-all for all your sales woes, right? It might be. Salesforce is possibly the most popular cloud-based CRM system in the market today. It is best known for its CRM solutions, which include Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Service Cloud, Analytics Cloud, and App Cloud, among others.

However, Salesforce and your success with it really depends on how you use its features. A CRM system will inherently benefit your business, regardless of size. According to studies, a dollar spent on a CRM system gets you $5.60 back. Sales practitioners know this; and thus, the CRM market is projected to be worth $37 billion this year.

This demand is not about people getting on the bandwagon. It is testament to the importance of a reliable CRM system, such as the Salesforce software, to your sales and overall business operations.

Introduction to Salesforce

Salesforce, the company, is best known for revolutionizing the CRM industry through its innovative use of cloud computing. Because of its efforts, it has made CRM affordable for most businesses.

There are no set-up fees nor hardware/ software requirements needed. You won’t have to maintain nor upgrade your CRM system. You can add users, features and capacities when needed. It is accessible from multiple devices, anywhere you are.

Salesforce has made CRM within reach; there’s practically no reason to miss out on making the most of it.

What Is The Salesforce Software

Salesforce software actually refers to the company’s comprehensive CRM solution. This integrated product allows you to organize and manage all prospect and customer interactions. It provides you with sales automation tools and analytics tools, among others.

The Salesforce software is made up of: Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud, Commerce Cloud, Analytics Cloud, IoT Cloud, App Cloud, Health Cloud, Financial Services Cloud, Force.com, and Chatter. Let’s look at some of these.

Salesforce Sales Cloud
This Salesforce software application tracks and manages contact information and interactions. It is where you manage and nurture leads, and set up select marketing automation features. Likewise, you also get assessments and reports regarding your marketing campaign.

Salesforce Marketing Cloud
This is where you manage your marketing channels, from setting up and personalizing email marketing to managing your mobile messaging and setting up and personalizing web content. You can also manage social engagements, and set-up cross-channel customer journeys.

Salesforce Service Cloud 
This is the customer support aspect of the Salesforce software. Through it, your team can keep abreast with your customers’ history, conversations and issues. It helps your customer support team personalize interactions and solve problems faster.

Salesforce Analytics Cloud
You turn to Salesforce Analytics Cloud when you want to see how you’re doing. Get accurate performance insights, and use this information in making crucial operational decisions. Let data drive your sales and marketing.

As Dave Elkington, CEO and Founder of InsideSales.com, said: “You have to generate revenue as efficiently as possible. And to do that, you must create a data-driven sales culture. Data trumps intuition.”

How To Best Use Your Salesforce Software

The Salesforce software is designed for prospect and client management that pushes you towards increased returns and business growth.

Improve pipeline marketing.
The Salesforce software can help you at all stages of the pipeline, from gathering and qualifying leads to turning these leads into opportunities. Because it lets you effectively manage prospects and customers, you can minimize lead leakage, automate follow-ups, and track where your leads are in the sales funnel.

You can potentially make the most of the opportunities that come your way through efficient contact management and data-driven user engagements.

Develop effective and repeatable sales cycle.
The use of the Salesforce CRM can provide you with useful insight on your client’s journey. You gain information on their commonalities, pain points and motivations. This can then guide you in developing content and follow-up strategies that are responsive to their needs. This helps you move people through the sales funnel faster. Use the analytics apps to see leading sales drivers and areas for improvement. Tweak where necessary, then repeat.

Build effective teams.
The Salesforce software improves communication across different teams in your organization, wherever these teams are. From marketing to sales and support, members get access to the same comprehensive pool of data. They are empowered with information that personalizes conversations and helps address issues more efficiently.

Compete at the same level as other businesses.
Regardless of how big or small your business is, it has become requisite to implement a reliable CRM system if you want to compete at the same level as the rest. Don’t be left behind. Make sure you stay on top of your customers and prospects, and get the most from the opportunities that come your way.

Dan Sincavage

Dan is a Co-Founder of Tenfold and currently serves as the Chief Strategy Officer. Dan oversees the Tenfold sales organization, manages strategic partner relationships and works with key enterprise accounts to ensure their success with the Tenfold platform.