"Always ready" = "always maintained"

If you were a chef with a nice collection of high-quality knives, you'd want to take care of them well.

Not just because you'd have to replace them, but because you need them to be ready when it's time to work. They’re critically important for your work.

How you use them, how you store them, how you clean them, how you keep them sharp. All of that matters.

Your own work, dear reader, is not so different. You rely on a high-quality CRM system, probably every day, to help you excel in your work and mission.

Sure it's important to know how it works. But it's just as important to make sure it's well cared for.

To make sure it's in top condition when it's time to work (which is all the time), make sure you're giving it the care it needs:

• Keeping up with new releases, for security updates and any relevant feature improvements.

• Cleaning out duplicate contact records on a regular basis.

• Testing new configurations in a wide variety of situations.

• Organizing — and documenting — user roles and permissions.

• Ensuring backups are taken frequently (and testing to ensure those backups actually work).

• Training relevant staff on usage and configuration within their area of responsibility.

• Understanding how the CRM integrates with the rest of your website (your CMS, e.g. WordPress or Drupal), and handling all the security and upgrade concerns for that system as well.

• Designating someone on your team to oversee all of this care and maintenance.

I know, it may sound like a lot. Just the way caring for a good knife can sound like “a lot” when you’re used to owning the clunkers they sell at the dollar store.

But you can do it. With a little planning, and maybe a little outside advice now and then, you can keep your system sharp and ready.

And you'll be glad you did.

Because the right time to have your CRM working well and dependably is, well, all the time.

All the best,
A.