Is Convertkit a CRM? Clarifying its Role in Simplifying Client Onboarding for Service-Based Businesses
UPDATE SEPT. 2024
Convertkit has announced they are rebranding to the name Kit.
When this post was originally written in 2023. Since then Convertkit (Kit) has rolled out a sister software of KitBoard, that functions as a CRM. This post does not comment on KitBoard. However, I have taken a quick peak at it and as a CRM, I quite like the ease of use and customization it offers. If you are a Convertkit (kit) user and/or like the use of KanBan style board to manage leads I encourage you to check it out.
In the realm of service-based businesses, one thing remains constant: the need for effective client management. As your client base grows, so does the challenge of keeping track of their details, preferences, and interactions. This is where Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems usually come into play.
Convertkit is a widely-used platform in the email marketing realm and some wonder if it can double as a CRM. Let’s dive into ConvertKit and its role in simplifying client onboarding for service-based businesses.
The Big Question: Is Convertkit a CRM?
Let's address the elephant in the room right away: No, ConvertKit is not a CRM. It's an email marketing platform. This fundamental distinction is crucial for service-based businesses looking to optimize their client management strategies.
At its core, ConvertKit specializes in email marketing, enabling users to design, send, and automate email campaigns. While it's true that ConvertKit offers features that can assist in client management, it doesn't provide the comprehensive capabilities that a dedicated CRM system would offer.
Confusion Whether Convertkit is a CRM
The source of confusion regarding ConvertKit's CRM status may arise from its ability to integrate and connect with various CRM systems. This integration allows you to manage your client interactions within a single platform, making it easier to send emails, automate follow-ups, and track leads. While ConvertKit is not a CRM itself, it can certainly play a pivotal role in your client management workflow by streamlining key aspects of the process and allowing you to email clients through it.
Streamlining Client Onboarding With Convertkit
One way ConvertKit contributes to client management is by simplifying the onboarding of new clients. Service-based businesses often face the challenge of efficiently welcoming and orienting new clients. ConvertKit's email marketing capabilities come into play here.
ConvertKit leverages tags as a means of categorizing and organizing your subscribers. For service-based businesses, this feature offers a valuable tool for keeping track of clients and leads. While ConvertKit is not a CRM, it provides a way to distinguish between different groups of clients and leads through the application of tags.
Picture this scenario:
You've just signed a new client, and you want to ensure they have a seamless onboarding experience. In ConvertKit, you can accomplish this by tagging your new client appropriately. Once tagged, an automation sequence can be triggered to welcome them and provide essential information about your services.
Automation is a cornerstone of ConvertKit's functionality. By tagging clients and setting up automation rules, you can ensure that new clients are promptly introduced to your services. This not only simplifies the onboarding process but also sets a professional tone from the very beginning of your client relationship.
Connecting Converkit with CRM’s
While ConvertKit doesn't qualify as a standalone CRM, it's worth noting that it can directly integrate with some CRM systems, like Monday.com and Jetpack CRM. These direct connections enable a seamless flow of data between your email marketing and CRM systems.
However, many other CRMs, such as the popular Dubsado, require the mediation of a tool like Zapier to link with ConvertKit. This intermediary step extends ConvertKit's functionality by enabling it to work cohesively with a broader spectrum of CRM systems.
The ConvertKit Advantage
In the world of service-based businesses, a robust CRM system is often essential for client management. While ConvertKit isn't a CRM itself, it offers a valuable set of tools for enhancing your client onboarding and management processes.
Through the intelligent use of tags and automation, ConvertKit allows you to welcome new clients professionally and manage leads efficiently.
By connecting with various CRM systems, it ensures that your email marketing efforts are seamlessly aligned with your broader client management strategy.
So, while ConvertKit may not be a CRM in the traditional sense, its role in simplifying client onboarding for service-based businesses should not be underestimated. When wielded with intention and strategy, ConvertKit proves itself as a powerful ally in your client management arsenal.