These integrations can help you work more productively in your inbox by making it easier to send documents, write persuasive emails, and more. To help you filter through the selection, we’ve compiled a list of six great Outlook add-ins to help sales reps better serve their customers.

iPlanner Pro Office 365

The idea behind the iPlanner Pro Office 365 add-in is to give you a planner within Outlook. This add-in lets you create tasks and appointments, track projects, and brainstorm ideas. The planner also integrates with other Office 365 services like Groups and Microsoft Teams, making it simple to communicate with colleagues, organize teamwork, and coordinate events. When your whole team is on the same page, it’s easier for everyone to provide seamless customer service.

Method CRM

One of the biggest challenges for a business of any size is to provide stellar customer service even when things get busy. CRM software helps you overcome this barrier by providing a 360-degree view of each lead and customer, so you always know what they need.

The Outlook add-in from Method CRM brings this visibility right into your inbox. When you open an email, you can update contact information, refer to previous interactions, and view transactions synced from QuickBooks, all without having to switch between programs. The add-in can also be customized to suit your business’s unique workflows. If you’re already a Method CRM user, this add-in is a must-have for your customer service toolkit.

DocSend

Every day you send email after email containing important documents. Understandably, it can be a struggle to keep track of everything — especially when multiple individuals are accessing these documents. That’s where the DocSend Outlook add-in comes in.

Instead of manually attaching files to your messages, sending DocSend links allows you to track who has read your documents and when. You can also update your documents at any time, and rest assured that recipients will always see the most up-to-date version — no more clutter caused by sending the same document back and forth! With the DocSend add-in, it’s easier for you, your team, and your customers to stay on the same page.

WittyParrot Email Templates

How many times have you sat down to write an email, only to struggle with the wording? This is a common problem for sales reps. When you’re sending follow-up emails to different types of buyers, your voice has to change. The email you would send to a middle-aged professional is likely different than the email you would send to a millennial.

If your company has a diverse customer base, the WittyParrot Email Templates add-in is a great solution. First, you use the WittyParrot platform to pre-build modular, reusable blocks of email content. Then, use the Outlook add-in to quickly find and insert relevant snippets of content into your message. This tool makes it simpler for busy sales reps to ensure that their messages are always tailored appropriately for the target audiences.

RiteTone Emotional Intelligence

One of the best ways of building brand loyalty among your customers is to evoke an emotional connection. However, you want to be sure that the emotion you’re creating in your audience is a positive one.

Similar to WittyParrot, the RiteTone Emotional Intelligence add-in is another resource to improve the content of your email messages. As you compose an email, the tool uses linguistic analysis to provide feedback on your emotional tone and language style. With this guidance, you’ll be able to write more effective emails that connect with customers in the way you want them to.

Evernote

If you’re used to keeping track of your notes digitally, then the Evernote add-in is a natural fit. This add-in brings Evernote into your Outlook inbox, helping you keep your projects and communication organized. Emails can be saved in notebooks, while notes and document snippets can be attached to outgoing emails.

As a bonus, the Evernote for Teams add-in combines the power of Evernote with the benefits of Microsoft Teams. Viewing Evernote content alongside your team chat helps everyone understand the context of the conversation. As a result, you can collaborate more efficiently and provide better service to your leads and customers.

Choosing the Right Outlook Add-Ins

When deciding on Outlook add-ins for your sales team, start by considering your needs. Which of your current processes are inefficient or difficult? What do you feel is missing from your email communication with customers? Once you have the answers to those questions, start identifying add-ins that will address those pain points. However, keep in mind that less is more! Outlook add-ins are meant to increase your productivity — so focus on the ones you need, and skip any that won’t add value to your sales process.

The post Best Outlook Add-Ins for Sales Reps appeared first on Method.

Personalized, well-timed emails help to engage leads and keep them interested in your product or service. But with leads at so many different stages of the sales pipeline, figuring out when to send these emails and how to word them can be confusing.

In this post, we’ll look at several follow-up email templates that can be used by many types of businesses. These emails target leads at various stages of the sales conversion process, including:

• Those who are waiting on requested information
• Those who need an extra push to engage with your company
• Those who are ready to make a purchase and need to know what the next step is
• Those who have already made a purchase and may be ready to buy again

Keep reading to learn how each of these email templates can be used to keep the sales conversation moving forward.

Email Template for New Leads Who Completed a Web Form

This template is for that first interaction after a prospective customer fills out a form on your website. They may be requesting more information or signing up to receive a newsletter, e-book or promotional item. After your web-to-lead form captures their contact details, you can send this email in response.

Hi [name],

Thank you for your interest in [product or service]! As requested, we will be sending you a free copy of our brochure that provides details about this exciting new opportunity.

Please look over the available information, then contact our sales representatives if you have any additional questions or would like to make a purchase.

Thanks again!

[Signature]

Email Template for Leads Who Haven’t Responded or Shown Interest

Almost every sales representative has a list of ghost leads. These are prospective customers who filled out a form or requested information — and then vanished. They never responded to your first email and haven’t taken further action, so you have no idea what they may desire at this point in time. This email template restarts the conversation and nudges them to respond.

Hi [name],

This is [your name] from [company name]. I wanted to touch base with you to find out whether you had time to read the brochure and to see if you have any questions I can answer.

If you want to talk more or move on with the next step, you can reach out to me via email or call me at [phone number].

I look forward to speaking with you.

Regards,

[Signature]

Email Template for Interested Leads Ready to Make a Purchase

These are the leads that every sales representative is excited to follow up with. The person responded to your previous emails and has shown a solid interest in your company. Now you want to send an email to convert their interest into a sale while providing awesome customer service.

Hi [name],

Thanks again for the great conversation we had regarding the [products/services] that [company name] offers. Hopefully, you had a few minutes to go over the brochure information and consider what a great fit this could be for you/your business.

Let’s move on to the next step! Contact me at your convenience to [set up a meeting/place an order] so you can start using our [products/services] as soon as possible.

Regards,

[Signature]

Email Template for Existing Customers Who May Purchase Again

The sales cycle doesn’t end after you close the deal. In fact, building loyalty with existing customers is just as important as finding new leads.

Schedule reminders for yourself to follow up with past customers to see if they are interested in purchasing from your company again. As you introduce new offerings, you may also find opportunities to cross-sell or upsell customers on something that will complement their previous purchase. Use this email to reach out after they’ve had time to use your product or service.

Hi [name],

Thank you for your previous purchase with our company! I hope you’re enjoying your [product/service].

I wanted to reach out to you in case you needed to purchase the [product/service] again. We’re currently offering a special deal for loyal customers that you may be interested in. We have also expanded our lineup of [products/services], so you may find other items that fit your present needs.

I invite you to browse through our website to check out our new [products/services]. If you would like to place an order, you can get in touch with me directly at [phone number].

Regards,

[signature]

Make the Most of Your Sales Follow-Up Emails

When writing a follow-up email, keep it concise, make your point clearly, and entice the customer to take action. The templates provided here are a great starting point, but of course, you can personalize them to better suit your business. Once you find what works, you can look forward to closing more sales and creating happy, long-term customers.

The post Sales Follow-Up Emails to Convert Leads Into Customers appeared first on Method.

DocuSign: Document Signing Capabilities

DocuSign cuts down on paperwork when you need clients to sign documents and contracts. With this integration, you can send a PDF through Gmail, then have your client sign it directly in the email program before sending it back to you. Forget sending documents through regular mail and waiting for signatures — instead, obtaining convenient online signatures lets you begin work faster.

Asana: Turn Emails into Tasks

When an email comes in, you may have to do something important with the provided information — but you also have a lot of other emails to get through. Asana helps you turn your emails into tasks right within Gmail. Immediately assign the new task to a project or set a due date. With this reminder in place, you can rest easy while you finish going through your inbox.

Method CRM: Track Customer Interactions and Activities

Flipping between your Gmail inbox and your customer database can be a hassle when communicating with clients. Method CRM streamlines this process by offering a convenient Gmail add-on that provides you with CRM data inside Gmail. You’ll have immediate insight into each client’s recent transactions and activities with your company, allowing for more informed responses. You can also save new information into Method directly from Gmail, eliminating the need for double data entry.

Dropbox: Save Email Attachments in a Centralized Location

Dropbox is the perfect tool for sales representatives who receive tons of attachments, as trying to store all of these files locally can eat up hard drive space. With Dropbox’s Gmail integration, you can deposit an email attachment directly into your cloud storage — no downloading or uploading required. And by including Dropbox links in your email threads, you’ll know that everyone always has the most up-to-date files.

Pod: Scheduler and Calendar for Events and Meetings

With Pod, you’ll never forget to set up a meeting with a client or an event with other sales representatives. This Gmail integration allows you to turn emails into scheduled events instantly, without switching over to your Google Calendar. Pod also lets you see contact information and event history for everyone attending, so you have context for your upcoming meeting.

GMass: Mail Merge for Mass Email Campaigns

Instead of tediously sending one email at a time to your leads, GMass allows you to send mass email campaigns within Gmail. Draft your message, then connect to a spreadsheet to customize each email with the contact’s name and other information. You can send your email campaign immediately, or schedule it to go out later. This Gmail integration also allows you to track which emails are opened and send follow-up emails to specific contacts.

Selecting the Right Gmail Integrations for You

There are a lot of Gmail integrations and add-ons that can help you organize your emails and streamline your sales efforts. However, the ones that are right for you will depend on how you already use Gmail in your work. Evaluate possible integrations based on price, as well as capabilities. While you may find a free add-on that offers basic functionality, there may be a paid version with more features.

In addition, resist the temptation to install every cool add-on you find! Instead, check to see whether you already have a tool that performs similar tasks. After all, the goal of Gmail integrations is to minimize time spent bouncing between programs — so take the time to assess which features will be most beneficial to helping you reach your sales goals.

The post 6 Gmail Integrations to Improve Your Sales Capabilities appeared first on Method.

If you thought of following up with a prospective customer in order to close a sale, that’s a great start — but it shouldn’t be your endpoint.

Following up with existing customers after closing sales shows customers you care about their satisfaction, not just their purchases. As a result, customers will be more likely to trust your business and buy from you again.

Of course, you don’t want to bombard your customers with messages for no reason — timing is key. In this article, we’ll look at four great opportunities for customer follow-up.

And if you’re wondering how on earth you’re going to track these different follow-ups in QuickBooks customer notes, have no fear — using a QuickBooks-integrated CRM like Method CRM will make the process a breeze.

1. The ‘After the Sale’ Customer Follow-Up

A survey by TD Bank found that 77% of consumers appreciate it when brands express their gratitude, so why not spread the love?

Reach out to your customer a day or two after closing a sale to thank them for their purchase and encourage them to contact you with any questions.

Not only does this show the customer that you value their business, it also opens the door for ongoing communication.

Method CRM users: Streamline the process of sending thank you emails by creating a custom template that reflects your company’s voice. All Method account users can share the same template, or each user can create their own personalized message.

2. The ‘Asking for Feedback’ Customer Follow-Up

We all know that customers love to give their opinions — just look at any restaurant review site. Be proactive about asking for feedback on your products or services, and use this feedback to improve your offerings.

Following up after customers have had time to assess their purchases also allows them to discuss any issues that have arisen.

This, in turn, gives you the opportunity to spring into action. If you can turn the bad experience around, your customer will likely be willing to buy from you again.

Method CRM users: After closing a sale, schedule a customer follow-up activity to remind yourself to reach out for feedback. This activity can be scheduled days, weeks, or even months in advance, depending on what’s most appropriate for your industry.

3. The ‘Predicting Future Needs’ Customer Follow-Up

In some industries, there are specific times of year when customer demand peaks. For instance, accounting firms see a lot of business when taxes are due in the spring, while a tutoring company might see a surge in inquiries when school resumes in the fall.

Capitalize on this seasonality by reaching out to past customers to see if they need your offerings again. This is also a great opportunity to suggest products or services your customers may not know you offer.

Even if they aren’t ready to purchase yet, customers will appreciate the personalized approach — and you’ll be top-of-mind when they are ready to buy.

Method CRM users: Use the Gmail Gadget to easily view a customer’s order history while writing a follow-up email, without having to leave your inbox.

4. The ‘Celebrating a Milestone’ Customer Follow-Up

You reach out to friends and family when they experience milestones, so why not do the same for your customers?

Birthdays or purchase anniversaries are fun customer follow-up opportunities that allow you to thank customers for their business while reminding them of your products or services.

And if you include a celebratory discount, this may compel the customer to make another purchase sooner rather than later.

Method CRM users: Add a custom field to track birthdays, purchase dates, or any other information that helps your company maintain strong customer relationships.

Effective customer follow-up is much more than sending a ‘How’s it going?’ email once in a while.

Your chances of creating loyal customers are higher when you reach out at strategic opportunities — and when you have the right tools for the job.

If you’re ready to start driving repeat business, sign up for your free trial of Method CRM and see how it can help!

The post Customer Follow-Up Emails to Drive Repeat Business appeared first on Method.