Three Things Your CRM Software Can Do That Saves You Time, Energy, and Money

Hello, darling! Welcome to Le Blog.

I’m Chloe, the client experience strategist for wedding vendors who want to USE their CRM software for all its worth. Because here’s what I’ve noticed: Most of you are using your fancy CRM like an expensive contract holder. That’s it. It’s like buying a sports car and only driving it to check the mail. Tragic, really. So today, I’m pulling back the curtain on what your CRM can actually do when it’s set up correctly. Pour yourself something delicious (a homemade London Fog is my current drink of choice), and let’s dive in.

Things Your CRM Could Be Doing For You (That Currently Cost You Time, Energy, and Money)

If you’re staring at the screen thinking, “Okay, Chloe, if my CRM isn’t just for contracts, what is it actually for?” Oh, darling, I am so glad you asked. Yes, your CRM software delivers your contracts and collects signatures, but it is so much more! Let’s start at the very beginning of your client journey: the inquiry. 

Manage Inquiries 

Whether someone finds you online or through a referral, the first step is to get in touch. Ideally, they’d reach out via your inquiry form (which you’ve hopefully embedded in your website and linked on your social media, hint, hint). Without a CRM, you get a notification that someone inquires, and you have to stop whatever you’re doing to respond to them. Then, you have multiple back-and-forths before they maybe book a consultation call. I’m exhausted just thinking about it. 

But what if you could eliminate all the in-between? 

With properly built CRM software, your lead can inquire and instantly get an email that sends them to your scheduler. The lead schedules a call, gets a follow-up confirmation email, and voila, it’s a date! Isn’t that so much easier? Plus, your CRM can send reminder emails so no one forgets about your upcoming meeting. And it does all of this automatically, so you don’t have to interrupt your entire day (or night, because we all know couples who are reaching out to vendors at 3 am) to send an email. 

Automate Onboarding & Manage Client Communication 

Okay, so you’ve had your consultation call. You love them, they love you, and everyone is ready to move forward (yay!). What’s next? Your proposal, contract, and deposit! This is likely the part you already know. But did you know that you could automate this process, too? One of my favorite things to build is an automation that starts with a custom proposal. All you need to do is go into the proposal form, select the correct smart fields, and send it to your client! Once they sign and pay the deposit, your CRM sends the next emails in the sequence. Your client feels valued thanks to the high-touch onboarding process, meanwhile you can put your feet up because you didn’t have to do every step of it yourself. Everybody wins!

Whatever your process looks like, we can build an automation that handles it. You can build automations that send questionnaires, important documents, and schedule calls at the right time. Your CRM software can even send payment reminders so you don’t have to constantly check when each payment is due. Beyond all of this, your CRM acts as a client portal. You can store important planning documents in there so you and your clients can access them at any time. 

Simplify Offboarding 

The value of a well-built CRM doesn’t stop there. For so many wedding vendors, they show up on the wedding day, and that’s it. While I highly recommend giving your couples space during their honeymoon, you shouldn’t just disappear after delivering your final service (whether that’s planning, flowers, catering, or photos)! But I understand that you need to shift your focus to your next client. Well, luckily, your CRM can also complete an entire offboarding workflow for you. 

I love offboarding workflows because they’re the last touchpoint you have with your client. Think of an offboarding workflow like the cherry on top. You want to leave them with a good impression, right? So send them a short questionnaire about their experience working with you! This gives you some valuable feedback and encourages your client to leave a Google review. A short offboarding process provides closure to your service and allows both parties to feel satisfied. 

Extra Perks Most People Don’t Realize 

These are just the things that happen during the client experience. Your CRM software can also act as a digital storefront for passive product sales or even as a coaching platform. You can set up service-specific automations for things like trial appointments (looking at you, hair and makeup artists) and set up memberships. When you have it set up correctly, your CRM is so much more than a contract manager. It’s a 24/7 virtual assistant, client portal, and automated communication tool all in one. 

What You Get When Your CRM Software is Built For Your Business

So darling, do you still think of your CRM as “just for contracts?” We’ve seen what a well-built CRM can do for your business. But let’s talk about how this impacts you, as the business owner. I’ve been building custom CRMs for nearly 5 years, and I have seen the incredible transformations time and time again with every wedding pro I’ve worked with. 

Peace of Mind

It always starts with peace. You probably don’t even realize how much of your mental energy is dedicated to making sure you send the right documents to the right client at the right time. When you don’t have a solid system, there is always the nagging feeling of “What if I forgot something?” You care deeply about your clients, and you want them to have the best experience possible. But you’re also a human with a business and a life outside of it, and sometimes that means things fall through the cracks. 

That’s why having CRM software is so important! It manages all the administrative tasks for you so you can focus on doing what you love: flexing your creativity muscle while crafting incredible experiences for your clients. You don’t need to be on 24/7 to answer emails and double-check documents. You can build the system once and count on it for every day after. 

Time 

The next thing my clients start seeing is how much TIME they have back in their schedule! You will be amazed by how much time those small, repetitive tasks take. But once you automate these tasks, you’ll see how much more time and energy you have to dedicate to the craft you love. Or maybe to catch up on all the shows you’ve wanted to watch (I’m currently on season four of The Bear and oh boy do I have thoughts). 

Confidence 

I’ll be honest with you, darling, it will take some time to adjust to your automations and truly trust your CRM software. But it will happen, and when it does, you’ll be overwhelmed by how much better you feel. When you’re fully using your CRM, you can get rid of all the haphazard notes in your notes app and the never-ending spreadsheets you’ve been using to track everything. The essentials will all be in one elegant streamlined system. And when you’re not trying to manage 15 different platforms, you can dedicate your attention to your clients, and they will feel the difference. A custom CRM build means a better experience for you and your clients. 

Bespoke CRM Setups for Wedding Pros 

So tell me, what would your life be like with a CRM software built specifically for your business? I imagine it would feel something like this: 

“Since working together, everything feels more cohesive, intentional, and elevated. The workflows are not only beautiful and thoughtfully laid out, but they actually make my day-to-day easier. I feel less scattered, more confident, and finally supported by systems that allow me to focus on what really matters… serving my clients and growing my business in a way that feels sustainable.” 

-Chloe, New England Wedding Photographer

I offer custom Honeybook and Dubsado setups for wedding pros who are ready to feel in control of their business again. By the end of this process, Oura ring numbers will be soaring. You’ll have room for a mimosa brunch on Wednesday, AND your kid’s soccer game on Saturday. And your clients will be OBSESSED and begging for more. Ready to get started? I know I am. Fill out the calling card form to schedule your free coffee chat!