Solo CRM Success

How to Prioritize and Scale as a Team of One

Author

Jessica Jantzen
January 21, 2025

Hey there! Imagine walking into a new role where you’re the entire CRM team. No junior colleagues, no tech specialists—just you. Overwhelmed yet?

That’s exactly where Pınar Şatvan found herself when she joined Juit, a ready-meals startup. Speaking at the INSIDE CRM Meetup, Pınar shared her story of navigating the challenges of solo CRM management and the strategies she developed to thrive. Her advice? Start small, prioritise what matters, and let automation do the heavy lifting.

Whether you’re a solo CRM manager or part of a small team, her insights will help you work smarter, not harder.

What You Will Learn in 5 Minutes:

đź’ˇ How to choose the right CRM tool to save time and effort.

đź’ˇ Why automation is your best friend as a one-person team.

đź’ˇ Simple techniques for prioritising tasks when everything feels urgent.

The Role of the Right CRM Tool

Let’s be honest: working with the wrong CRM tool is like running a marathon in flip-flops. Sure, you’ll get to the finish line eventually, but it’s going to be painful.

When Pınar started at Juit, she inherited MailChimp—a name everyone recognises, but not exactly built for scale. After months of frustration, she convinced her company to switch to Braze. The result? Automated workflows, advanced segmentation, and way more time to focus on strategy.

Takeaways:

- Your CRM tool should make your job easier, not harder. Automate, personalise, and scale—or it’s not worth it.

- If your tool feels like a roadblock, don’t hesitate to explore alternatives. The right tool pays for itself in efficiency.

- When pitching a switch to stakeholders, focus on what they care about: ROI, scalability, and growth.

Automation: A Solo CRM Manager’s Superpower

When you’re managing CRM alone, automation isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. As Pınar put it, “Automation is like having an extra set of hands.” Her approach was simple but effective: map out the customer lifecycle, identify key triggers, and build workflows that run in the background.

How to Make It Happen:

1. Think Like a Customer: What moments in their journey matter most—signing up, purchasing, or re-engaging? Focus there.

2. Start Small: Build one workflow at a time. Nail it. Then move on to the next.

3. Tweak and Refine: Use real-time feedback to improve. No process is ever perfect from day one.

Prioritisation Made Simple: The PIE Framework

Ever feel like everything on your to-do list is equally important? Pınar shared a method that saved her sanity: the PIE framework. By scoring tasks based on Potential, Importance, and Ease, she was able to focus on what truly mattered. Her twist? Add a little “gut feeling” to the mix.

Pınar’s Advice:

- Quick wins are gold. Start with tasks that are easy to execute and pack a punch.

- Big projects? Break them into bite-sized steps so they’re less intimidating.

- Don’t forget to consider other teams’ workloads. Align your priorities with theirs for smoother collaboration.

Continuous Improvement and Collaboration

Even when you’re a one-person show, you’re not on your own. Pınar emphasised the importance of building relationships and keeping up with industry trends.

Her Tips for Staying Ahead:

- Learn constantly. Follow what other brands are doing, even in different industries. You never know where inspiration might strike.

- Don’t overlook your CRM tool’s support team—they’re there to help.

- Communicate. Regular check-ins with colleagues ensure everyone’s aligned and prevent last-minute surprises.

Key Takeaways

  • Your CRM tool should help you automate, personalise, and scale your efforts.

  • Automating lifecycle journeys isn’t just smart—it’s necessary for solo CRM success.

  • Use frameworks like PIE to decide what to prioritise.

  • Keep learning and collaborating to improve your strategies and campaigns.

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About the Speaker

Pınar Şatvan is the CRM Lead at Juit, a ready-meals startup, and has eight years of experience in CRM marketing. She’s passionate about using data to create meaningful customer connections and impactful campaigns. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

About the Meetup

Organised by Audrey Mann and Jessica Jantzen, the INSIDE CRM Meetup is a platform for CRM professionals to share insights, strategies, and success stories. It brings together experts from various industries to discuss the latest trends and innovations in customer relationship management.

Disclaimer: This article has been generated with ChatGPT based on an audio transcript and presentation slides from the INSIDE CRM Meetup. The content has been reviewed by the presenter to ensure accuracy and relevance.