Google Spreadsheet CRM templates are essential to manage your customer relationships for start-ups. However, not everyone is familiar with customer relationship managers. So Let’s explore CRM for businesses.

Table of Contents

• What is CRM?
• Why Google Spreadsheet and Workspace Applications Are Best for CRM
• How to Use Google Sheets as a CRM
• How to Create CRM in Google Sheets
• Benefits and Pros of Using Google Sheets as a CRM
• Limitations and Cons of Using Google Sheets as a CRM
• Tips for productive use of Google Sheets as a CRM
• Frequently Asked Questions on CRM and Google Sheets
• Conclusion

What is CRM?

CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. It’s a software or system that helps businesses manage their customers, and streamline their processes. These processes can be customer support, sales, marketing, and other areas. 

It’s usually a centralized place where all customer data is stored for customer interactions. It collects, organizes, and manages customer information. It’s helpful for businesses to track customer’s journeys at various stages.

A typical CRM system includes features for,

Storing essential prospect and customer-related data, 

Tracking marketing, sales, and other activities

Visualizing your pipeline 

Automating Communication

Enhance Customer Engagement

Analyzing customer behavior and preferences. 

Why do you need a CRM?

Customer Relationship Manager system helps you manage teams and customers. It helps you identify your customers for greater customer personalization and satisfaction.

You need a CRM solution to track, analyze, monitor, report, and interact with your customers.

Businesses can improve their customer engagement, increase sales, and build stronger customer relationships.

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Why Google Spreadsheet and Workspace applications are best for CRM

Small-medium scale businesses managing customers takes work. From prospecting to closing the deal every stage needs attention. That’s where we require Google Spreadsheet and Workspace.

Small and medium-scale businesses can easily manage customers in Google Spreadsheets. CRM has challenges such as handling large datasets, managing permissions, managing inquiries, etc.

Google Workspace offers tools such as Docs, Sites, Spreadsheets, Looker Studio, etc.

Let’s explore why Google Sheets and Workspace are best for Customer Relationship Manager solutions,

1: Free, Simple, and easy to use

Google Sheets is a free, cheap, and simple solution. Spreadsheets are simple to use and basic formulas are easy to learn. Google spreadsheets are easy to understand, customize, and collaborate, you can use them as CRM (customer relationship manager).

Creating a CRM based on a sheet is a cost-effective solution for small businesses and solopreneurs.

You can scale your workspace as your business grows. Google Marketplace offers free and paid add-ons.

2: Cross-Compatibility and Collaboration:

You can chat on the sheet in itself. You can comment on any cell, it will notify the user so they can take necessary actions. They also get an email notification and with the help of the Drive app, you will get a notification in Google Chat as well.

Google Workspace is a real-time collaboration office suite. It’s accessible on desktop and mobile which makes it a go-to solution for business people. There are many features in Google spreadsheet that make collaboration and accessibility.

3: Customization:

Google Sheets and Excel sheets are easy to customize. It’s very flexible to make changes or customize Google spreadsheet templates.

Google spreadsheets are flexible and easy to access. You can access your CRM or Projects built-in Google Spreadsheets easily. Based on Flexibility and Accessibility Google spreadsheet is a perfect CRM. Not only that, it’s a great platform for project management.

4: Different Solutions for Different Purposes

Google Workplace has Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites, Drawing, Keep, Tasks, and Looker Studio (formerly Data Studio). Each of these apps serves different purposes. These apps and services connect, collaborate with your team, and handle your work communication.

Email is essential to any business, and Gmail is the best platform to manage emails.

Google Forms can be used for data collection.

Similarly Docs to create SOPs, meeting notes, project planning, etc.

Sites to build a website for your business. It is a great tool for collecting your prospects’ contact information with the help of Google Forms. You can embed elements like Google Slides, Docs, and YouTube videos on your site.

Google Drawing to create workflows.

With these Google Workspace applications, we can build a customer relationship manager within Google Workspace.

5: Chrome Extensions, Add-Ons, and Third Party Services

If you already use any CRM, it’s easy to integrate with Google Workspace apps such as spreadsheets. You can even automate things with Zapier. It is compatible with many third-party CRM services.

Add-ons and extensions help create CRM solutions within Google Sheets and Workspace.      

Add-ons can help with tasks such as sending bulk emails, invoices, etc.

6: Security

You can have control over who accesses your spreadsheet and for how long. You can revoke access anytime or share any document for a specific period.

Google spreadsheets are secure, you can restore them whenever anything screws up. You can also download them in different formats as an offline backup.

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How to Use Google Sheets as a CRM, 

Setting up a Google Sheets-based CRM

To get started check some spreadsheet templates that are fit for your requirements. If you don’t find any template then you can create your template. You can get help from freelancers or spreadsheet experts to customize your spreadsheets. 

Here are some step-by-step instructions to create your CRM in Excel or Google Sheets.

1. Define your goals:

Before you start using Google Sheets as a CRM, it’s important to define your goals and objectives. 

What data do you need to track? 

What insights do you hope to gain from the data?

2. Design Your Spreadsheet:

Start by creating a master sheet to store customer data. Create separate additional sheets to track sales activities, marketing campaigns, and customer interactions. You can start with manual entries once you create CRM in Google Spreadsheet. 

3. Automate Data Entry:

For CRM you need customer data, use Google Forms or Zapier to automate data entry and populate your Google Sheets-Based CRM with the data.

You can copy and paste or export data from other sources. Embed Google Forms on your website to gather customer contact information.

4. Excel Your CRM with Functions, Formulas, and Filters:

Sheets have powerful formulas and filter capabilities. Formulas to calculate metrics like customer lifetime value, and conversion rate. You can segment your data based on criteria like location or purchasing behavior.

Once you get data in a spreadsheet you can organize your data the way you want. To make it more efficient and accurate you can add data validation. You can clean up duplicate and inaccurate entries.

Then all you have to do is add some formulas and automations with add-ons or Google script. The complexity of using spreadsheets as CRM depends on what type of tasks you want to do. You can create a professional CRM system in Google Spreadsheets with advanced formulas.

5. Collaborate with Team Members: 

Allow everyone to stay up-to-date on customer data, sales activities, and marketing campaigns.

Create Different worksheets for marketing, sales, and customer service. This ensures every department has its own space for managing its tasks. It also helps team members to collaborate effectively.

6. Protect Customer Data: 

Customer data is sensitive information. It would be best if you protected it with password protection. You can also give limited and restricted access. This limits who can access and modify the CRM spreadsheet

7. Regularly Review and Update Your CRM:

Regular review ensures the data is accurate and reflects the latest customer information. It makes sales activities and marketing campaigns effective.

If your customer data is incomplete or inaccurate this leads to customer dissatisfaction. 

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How to Create CRM in Google Sheets

1. Download or Make a spreadsheet CRM template

To get started you can download the Google Sheets template or create a simple template.

2. Customize the Google Sheets CRM Template to Fit Your Needs

    Define How Your Sales and Other Processes Work or Flow. Create sheets and tables accordingly.

       Once you know your workflows clearly, you can better make adjustments.

       Adjust and customize your sales or marketing stages and opportunities.

       Add/Adjust or modify the Fields

3. Input your existing or current pipeline information

If you have data you can import it into your new CRM sheet.

4. Centralizing your Google Sheets template’s use

Centralize your customer-related tasks and information in a spreadsheet. Train your team on how to use your centralized sheet.

5. Set Up Sharing for Your Google Sheets Template

You can share your new Google Sheet CRM with your team, including your sales, marketing, and customer service team members. This allows everyone within your circle to access and edit the information in real-time.

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Google Sheet Vs Software as CRM

Leading CRM applications have a learning curve. You have to spend some time learning and understanding popular CRM solutions. CRMs offer excessive features that businesses don’t need, making CRM systems complex.

These CRM solutions are also expensive for small and medium-scale businesses. But, spreadsheets are free and some add-ons provide CRM functionalities. People need simple CRM that’s what Google Sheets offers, it’s simple and you can upgrade as you scale. Google spreadsheet can work as CRM as well as a project management tool.

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Benefits and Pros of Using Google Sheets as a CRM

Cost-effectiveness:

Affordable for small businesses and startups who do not have a budget for CRM.

Free of charge:

Best for small businesses to store their leads and customers’ data for free.

Useful for companies starting with CRM and sales strategies.

Customizable:

Highly customizable formulas and reports to track and analyze customer data.

Keep customer data organized the way you want.

Customize to your business and needs.

Easy to use: 

Google Sheets and other platforms are flexible, simple, and intuitive.

Interface, familiar with, is extremely effective for organizing and editing the incoming lead data.

A friendly and adaptable framework.

Collaborative and Accessibility:

Google Sheets is a cloud-based tool, that enables collaborators to work on a single spreadsheet in real time.

It is easy for team members to share customer data, track sales activities, and collaborate simultaneously.

Get access to your lead and customer data anywhere

Integrations:

Integration is an important aspect of CRM. Google tools such as Google Analytics are easy to integrate with any third-party service.

Easy to collect customer data from multiple sources and analyze it in a single location.

Google spreadsheets can handle a lot of data. You can create various types of documents like docs and slides to store, sync, and integrate them.

Easy to migrate: 

You can always move your data to a real CRM later. Leading CRM software offers CSV import and export features.

Easily adapt Microsoft Excel worksheets into Google Sheets and vice versa.

Benefits of Using Templates

You can find many Pre-made CRM Google Sheets templates. These templates are free and paid. You can get inspiration from online templates and start building a personalized CRM solution.

Customizing Templates for Your Business

Changing columns and formulas to suit your specific sales processes and customer data needs. 

Advanced Features and Automation:

Automation helps reduce manual mistakes, saves time, and keeps your customer data current. Accurate data helps to create current reports and analyses.

Integrating CRM Functionalities into Google Sheets

Data Import and Synchronization

Google Sheets becomes a central hub for all your client information by pulling data from emails, sales platforms, and other points

Adapting to Growth and Changes

Creating a Customized CRM with Google Sheets

It’s about developing a system that perfectly suits your business’s unique needs.

You can monitor customer behavior, sales trends, and other important metrics. You can identify growth opportunities, and make strategic choices based on real data.

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Limitations and Cons of Using Google Sheets as a CRM

Data security: 

Customer data is stored on Google’s servers. Some businesses may be uncomfortable storing customer data on third-party servers.

Manual Data Entry:

Manual data entry can be time-consuming and error-prone.

Scalability:

Not suitable for businesses with large volumes of customer data.

Become more challenging as data and team size grow.

Inevitable Errors

In some cases, it can take more time for real-time synchronization which means a lack of Real-Time Data.

Hindered Teamwork Constrained Workflow Management

Google Sheets is inadequate for handling massive databases.

Integrating with different tools such as complex marketing strategies isn’t easy. 

Adding and maintaining an up-to-date spreadsheet is time-consuming and prone to error. 

Tips for productive use of Google Sheets as a CRM

Google Sheets is a powerful and versatile tool for Project management, Data analysis, and Collaboration. Here are some tips to use it effectively.

Use Google Forms to keep your data accurate, consistent, and uniform.

Automate repetitive tasks with Google app script.

Utilize conditional formatting to add visual insights on spreadsheets. Visualize how your client acquisition strategies are working, etc.

Keep your data centralized for CRM use.

Regularly review and customize your CRM spreadsheet template.

Create dashboards with Google Data Studio.

Use dynamic charts and dashboards to visualize your data. Google Sheets gives you plenty of options to visualize your data.

Utilize AppSheet to create mobile apps to make data easy to handle on mobile devices.

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Frequently Asked Questions | FAQs

Can I use Google Sheets as CRM?

Yes! Definitely. Google Sheets can be used as CRM (Customer Relationship Manager).

What is a CRM spreadsheet?

A CRM Spreadsheet is a sheet where businesses manage their customer relations.

How to make a CRM in Google Sheets?

Define your goal, and create a centralized sheet to gather all information from other sheets. Create charts and graphs to visualize your data.

Does Google Sheets have CRM templates?

Yes, there are many pre-made Google Sheet templates in the Google Template Gallery.

Are there CRM Excel templates free to download?

Yes, there are many Excel and Google Sheets CRM template providers. These templates can be downloaded for free. Some templates are paid and offer customization services.

How do I create a CRM dashboard in Google Sheets?

Create pivot tables of your important metrics and then create charts and graphs linked with Pivot tables. Move charts and graphs on a sheet so you can have all of your metrics on a single sheet.

Free Google Sheet CRM Template

If you need a free Google Spreadsheet Template to Manage Your Customers. You can go to onesheetcrm.com and get your free template.

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Conclusion

Google spreadsheet is simple, cost-effective, and a powerful CRM software alternative. Anyone can start with Google Spreadsheet as a CRM or Project Management tool. Everyone is familiar with Google spreadsheet and Excel which makes it easy to adapt.

Google Workspace is a go-to solution for project management and customer relationship management. Manage your day-to-day business and professional activities, get reports, and communicate effectively. If you are a start-up or freelancer manage your customers with Google Workspace and Spreadsheets. Small and medium-scale businesses can integrate third-party services and add-ons. Large businesses should use CRM software or create their own CRM solution.