Experience with Insightly?

Question

Anyone using the free version (or any version) of insightly? I'm looking for some better tools to help me manage the very narrowly targeted direct mail and cold-calling I do, and I'm trying to figure out if I should just automate the spreadsheets I currently use, if I should convert everything into some sort of free/low cost CRM (because I'm really not using it that much, or looking for a lot of functionality right now) or if I should take some other approach.

Thoughts? Experiences?

Nathan Aune · Answer

I have used Insightly for my non-REI business and it's a great tool. It's pretty simple to use and is great for automating follow-up reminders, tasks, and even project pipeline processes. I am just starting my direct mail marketing but will be using Insightly to manage my leads, follow-up, as well as flipping pipeline tasks. Insightly has their share of videos, but I would also recommend these 3 that I found that were really helpful to build Insightly for your prospecting process. I hope these help!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i7MjH8hhck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2eJFrBYiw0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNCUuB_YinE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i7MjH8hhck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2eJFrBYiw0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNCUuB_YinE

Strass Berger · Answer

POSTIVIES:

Insightly offers a logically structured CRM software that helps to organize your business. Helpful features include tags, ability to assign tasks directly, link emails to Insightly to see the thread directly in the software, visually see progress/percent completion on tasks, and more.

NEGATIVES:

- With that being said, if you are a SMALL BUSINESS, do NOT expect to be taken care of by Insightly customer service. If you did want to be taken care of, you need to prepare to have to add a substantial budget for assistance.

-I was very disappointed because after speaking to the sales representative in August, I was offered a whole package that unfortunately took a MONTH to confirm. By that time the package was no longer available, and all the training sessions that were originally offered with my package had disappeared. When i revisited the training a few months later, Insightly tried to sell me a whole new packages to buy additionally. Obviously being a small business, this is absolutely not possible for us because the investment of Insightly is already a substantial investment.

Turner Monroe · Answer

I say set yourself up as if you have a much larger business than you currently do. Don't go overboard or buy a bunch of expensive things, but setting it up right now will allow you to grow and save you headache down the line.

Short answer: Pick an CRM and use it. There's lots out there that will work fine, HubSpot, Podio, Insightly, Salesforce, etc.

Mohammad (Asad) Asaduddin · Answer

For small volume, I am using Google contacts and Google calendar.

Jason V. · Answer

@Ethan Summers @Jeff B. - Thanks for the input guys

I think I'm just kind of somewhere in between needing any real CRM and just using a contacts list, but I do enough with my list that it'd be nice and helpful to have some automation added to it.

I do very selective direct mail and cold calls, and I essentially just need a reminder system when it's time to pick up the phone and dial a certain number, or write another letter to a specific owner. I suppose using a CRM would give me room to expand going forward, but I don't really want to invest the time, energy or money to do it right now when I'll be using about 1% of the functionality either.

I heard about a free version of insightly - and here I am.

Jeff B. · Answer

A CRM is very useful when there's lots of interactions leading to a sale. As a means to manage a contact list - - it's a major overkill.

Ethan Summers · Answer

I would definitely use a CRM some you can even customize to set follow up sequences for the leads that you have touched that aren't ready to sell I suggest "Podio". I have seen a much better response rate once i begin setting followups and tracking my leads with a CRM! Hope this helps! @Jason V.

Experience with Insightly?

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