Did your company just recently start using Microsoft CRM? Is your boss hounding you everyday to enter your activities, leads, contacts, etc... Did you attend training only to feel lost when you logged in to actually use it?
You may just need something to reference for the basics in Microsoft CRM... There are several "How-To's" covered on our Microsoft CRM Fundamentals tip sheet. Below is a sample:
Leads
What is a lead?
A lead is an unqualified PERSON who has expressed an interest in your product or company. You should qualify them as “Fit” and /or “Fit and Ready” to do business with you/your company before converting them to an Account, Contact and/or Opportunity.
How do I manually enter a new Lead?
(1) Click LEADS in left navigation bar
(2) Click NEW below the SEARCH bar on the LEADS page
(3) ENTER as much information as possible about the lead.
(4) REMEMBER, fields with a *RED asterisk are REQUIRED.
(5) Click SAVE, SAVE and CLOSE or SAVE and NEW (when entering multiple leads at once)
When should a lead be converted into an ACCOUNT, CONTACT and possibly an OPPORTUNITY?
All leads should go through the qualification process. Leads should be converted into an Account, Contact and possibly an Opportunity after it has been deemed a valid lead and qualified to pursue further.
(1) Navigate to the lead record
(2) Click Convert Lead
(3) Check the appropriate boxes
(4) Click OK
All of the relevant information from the LEAD will be MAPPED to the appropriate fields on the ACCOUNT and CONTACT and, if applicable, the OPPORTUNITY.
How do I reassign and convert a lead?
There may be times when you need to assign a lead to another person after you have qualified them. You can do this and convert the lead at the same time by following the steps below.
(1) Navigate to the lead record
(2) Click ACTIONS on the top of screen
(3) Choose ASSIGN from the dropdown
(4) Click Assign to another user
(5) Enter the first name and hit TAB or click the
(6) Lookup and then highlight the users name
(7) Click OK.
(8) Click Convert Lead
(9) Check the appropriate boxes
(10) Click OK
All of the relevant information from the LEAD will be MAPPED to the appropriate fields on the ACCOUNT and CONTACT and, if applicable, the OPPORTUNITY.
When should I use the Web version vs. Outlook version?
You can do a lot of things in either Outlook or the Web version of CRM. However, if you get used to working in CRM, it will automatically sync to Outlook. (If you create something in Outlook, you have to set it to “Track in CRM”).
Best Practice is to keep the web version open in a window and Outlook open to the Inbox folders. This allows you to easily work in both applications and to use Outlook for what it does best.
TIP: Use the Web for CRM-related functions; Use Outlook for your Email, Appointments, Calendar
Our complete Microsoft CRM Fundamentals tip sheet includes info about Leads, Accounts, Contacts and Opportunities, with many other tips and best practices. If you would like a nicely formatted and illustrated copy of the tip sheet, please register on www.customer-connect.com to get access to our library. You can download it from there to print.
Download and Print your copy of our Microsoft CRM Fundamentals Tip Sheet today. Your boss will be really impressed with the speed and ease you are adapting to the new CRM application!