CRM Agency - Top 10 CRMs Designed For Creative Agencies

Agency life just hits different.

You're busy, and you need to provide solutions for your clients now.

You have to work smarter and not harder. You need to be able to choose an agency CRM that can handle what you need without having to do a ton of research.

Don't worry, we got you. Let us turn your agencies into CRM agencies.

Why Do You Need a CRM for Advertising Agencies?

Think of the top 3 things that you would need if you owned a marketing, advertising, or creative agency. We'll wait.

Chances are some sort of client management was near the top of your list. How a creative or marketing agency tracks and manages client projects and keeps communications organized is essential for staying efficient.

Imagine having to manually keep track of multiple clients, including where your employees progress with a particular project, such as email threads, texts, calls, financials...it would take so much time and effort to keep this all organized, especially if multiple forms of communication and technologies are being used.

As an agency grows, using common tools like Excel to keep track of client projects just doesn't cut it, and honestly, it's easier and better to use tools that can scale with your company as it grows rather than always having to switch to new tools and go through training and onboarding over and over again.

Luckily, there are a lot of great CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems out there that are tailor-made for creative agencies.

How Does CRM for Marketing Agency Differ From General CRM

CRM systems designed for marketing agencies have unique features tailored to their specific workflows and client needs, setting them apart from general CRMs.

While traditional CRMs focus on broad sales and customer support functionalities, CRMs for marketing agencies cater to the nuanced demands of managing multiple clients, campaigns, and creative projects simultaneously. Here's how:

1. Client-Centric Customization: Tailored for managing multiple client accounts with specific dashboards and trackers.
2. Campaign and Project Management: Includes tools for tracking campaigns, deadlines, and deliverables.
3. Team Collaboration Tools: Features shared workspaces, task assignments, and communication logs for creative teams.
4. Marketing-Focused Analytics: Provides detailed insights into campaign ROI and client-specific KPIs.
5. Integration with Marketing Tools: Connects seamlessly with platforms like Google Analytics and social media tools.
6. Billing and Invoicing Features: Supports agency-specific needs like client retainers and invoicing.
7. Scalability for High Client Volume: Designed to handle large-scale campaigns and dynamic client bases.

CRMs for marketing agencies are purpose-built to streamline agency operations, unlike general CRMs that focus on broader sales and support functionalities.

What Features Should You Look for in a CRM for a Marketing Agency?

Determining what features you should look for in a CRM depends on what your agency does. We can't tell you "this is the best CRM for a digital marketing agency" or not since that's subjective. But we can tell you what to look for so you can make your own informed choice.

For instance, if you're a specialized digital marketing agency focused on written content creation like blogs and website copy, you'll likely want a CRM that offers integration with popular Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress.

For CRM software for advertising agencies, you'll likely want features like a native social media management system built-in or the option to integrate with one, as well as the ability to integrate with Google.

If you're a more general agency offering different types of marketing work across the board, then the best CRM might be more of a "jack-of-all-trades" so that you cover all the bases for what you need now and in the future.

The features you want in a CRM for your agency should align with the type of work you provide. It's also worth looking into whether the CRM is "a CRM for creatives" in the sense that it caters to creative people.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself before you make a decision on which CRM to buy for your agency:

• Does this CRM cater to my type of agency (marketing, advertising, creative)?
• Which CRM features would benefit my agency the most?
• Which communication features do I need? (email, phone, SMS, instant messaging, etc.)
• Which project management features do I need? (Calendar, appointments, Gantt chart, etc.)
• Which automation features do I need? (Marketing automation, sales automation, customer service automation, etc.)

Evaluation Criteria for CRMs for Digital Marketing Agencies

Considering that implementing a CRM is at the very least a decent investment, and it's usually quite a process to switch from one CRM to another, you probably want to make sure that you get it right the first time.

Here are 6 considerations that should help you make the best CRM choice for your creative or marketing agency:

1. Flexibility: A flexible CRM can adapt to your agency's unique workflows, handle multiple client accounts, and support customized processes, ensuring it grows with your business needs.
2. Integrations with Third-Party Apps: Seamless integration with tools like project management software, analytics platforms, and social media tools helps centralize operations and enhance efficiency.
3. Communication Features: Built-in communication tools like shared workspaces, email tracking, and client messaging streamline collaboration within your team and with clients.
4. Usability: A user-friendly interface minimizes the learning curve, allowing your team to focus on delivering results rather than navigating complicated software.
5. Automation: Automating repetitive tasks such as data entry, lead nurturing, and follow-ups saves time and boosts productivity, enabling your team to focus on strategic initiatives.
6. Price: The CRM should provide value for its cost, offering the features your agency needs without exceeding your budget. Evaluate pricing plans to ensure scalability without hidden costs.

Keep in mind that different features will be more important to one agency than another, so numbering those features isn't needed since they are all equally important.

Agency CRM Best Practices

Using the right CRM for marketing agencies can transform your workflow and client relationships. By following these best practices, you can maximize efficiency and improve overall agency performance.

Keep Client Data Organized

Regularly update and categorize client information in your agency CRM to ensure easy access and reference, allowing your team to quickly find what they need and make informed decisions. An organized CRM helps prevent miscommunication and streamlines client management.

Automate Routine Tasks

Leverage the automation features of your CRM for marketing agencies for follow-ups, task reminders, and updates to reduce manual work, saving time and minimizing human error. This allows your team to focus on more strategic, creative tasks and ensures timely client communication.

Encourage Team Collaboration

Use shared workspaces, tagging, and internal messaging within your CRM for agencies to promote effective collaboration. This ensures everyone stays aligned on projects, deadlines, and client needs, which is critical for maintaining productivity and delivering top-tier service to clients.

Use Reporting to Drive Improvements

Regularly analyze CRM data through reports to identify successful strategies, pinpoint areas for improvement, and refine your agency's approach. A CRM for creative agencies provides valuable insights into campaign performance, allowing you to make data-driven decisions that enhance overall effectiveness.

Optimize for Client Experience

Use CRM data to personalize client communication to ensure a tailored experience, build stronger client relationships, and enhance satisfaction. By understanding client preferences and behavior through your CRM for marketing agencies, you can deliver more relevant content and improve engagement.

Top 10 CRMs for Digital Marketing Agencies Compared to Ringy

Full disclosure: we're here to promote Ringy as your agency CRM of choice, but we also understand that it's going to take more showing than telling when it comes to convincing you to give it a try.

Here's a detailed rundown of what Ringy offers to creative and marketing agencies based on the criteria we outlined above:

Now that we have the rundown on Ringy, here are 10 popular CRMs and how they stack up against Ringy. These CRMs were chosen based on their overall popularity and how they claim to cater to creative and marketing agencies.

• Hubspot
• Engagebay
• Monday CRM
• Inisghtly
• Act!
• Copper
• Zoho
• Salesforce
• Creatio
• Pipedrive

*All Pricing is Accurate as of November 2024*

1. Hubspot

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There's no denying it - Hubspot is one of the biggest names for CRMs for all types of businesses, and is often considered the crm for agencies. Hubspot has a lot of different tools and features, plus a hefty resource and training offering through the Hubspot Academy.

• Comparison to Ringy: Compared to Hubspot, Ringy is less expensive, doesn't charge based on users (instead, it's a static price per month), and includes business SMS and calling options like VoIP softphone.

2. Engagebay

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Engagebay boasts that they are the most "affordable all-in-one growth software", with a full suite of features from email marketing, lead management, automation, etc. Engagebay offers a similar setup to Hubspot, where you can subscribe to their all-in-one suite or one of their "bays", either for marketing, CRM & sales, or service.

• Comparison to Ringy: Overall, Engagebay seems like a great choice for small businesses, as it comes with a lot of features for a low price. However, when you go through the features individually, there are functionality limitations here and there.

With Ringy, you know what you're getting straight up, and additional features are fully accessible.

3. Monday CRM

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Monday CRM is advertised as an all-in-one sales and marketing CRM that can grow with your business.

Comparison to Ringy:

Monday CRM is more like a robust project management software system with CRM features built into it. That being said, it's used by a lot of recognizable organizations and does have a lot of third-party integrations available. If you prefer more calling and SMS features, though, Ringy still wins out.

4. Insightly

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Inisghtly is an agency CRM with marketing and sales additions, rather than it being an all-in-one system. However, it does include all of the standard automation that you'd expect in a CRM and offers a lot of customization options.

• Comparison to Ringy: Ringy is preferable to Insightly in that it includes marketing and sales features without an additional cost. Also, Ringy has a built-in calling and SMS system, and third-party app integrations don't cost extra.

5. Act!

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Act! comes in both cloud and self-hosted options, which is interesting since most modern agency CRMs are cloud-based. As a CRM, Act! markets themselves as able to grow with small businesses. The interface isn't as pretty as some other CRMs, but the software itself is seemingly user-friendly and functional.

Comparison to Ringy:

As with a lot of the CRMs that we are looking at here, additional features come at an additional cost. Ringy includes all features available with a subscription, as well as the ability to integrate with third-party apps at no extra cost.

6. Copper

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Copper boasts agency CRM features that you'd expect while telling you exactly why it's perfect for your industry.

• Comparison to Ringy: Copper is very focused on the Google Workspace for most of its features and doesn't seem to offer any call or text functionality out of the box. It can, however, integrate with other CRMs that offer call and texting.

As we've said before, Ringy offers a complete call and business SMS solution right out of the gate, as well as additional sales and marketing features for no extra cost.

7. Zoho

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Zoho is a customer service, sales and marketing, and email solution. It even has features for human resources, IT, and legal. SaaS, as well as small to midsize businesses, are Zoho's main audience.

Comparison to Ringy:

There's no doubt that Zoho is a robust CRM that can grow with businesses, but its myriad of features and offerings can be confusing to someone who is just looking for a simple solution. Ringy is feature-rich but simple and can grow with your business without the confusion.

8. Salesforce

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Salesforce is a tough competitor for sure, as it's the most used CRM in the world. Salesforce offers endless features and integration compatibility, and it's useful for pretty much any business.

• Comparison to Ringy: Salesforce is an impressive CRM to be sure, but it takes quite a lot of time and money, let alone training, to be effective. However, it does grow with your business. Ringy is just a simpler solution if it includes the features you need, as you can be up and running in no time and onboarding and support are included in the subscription fee.

9. Creatio

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Creatio is a process management and CRM platform that offers drag and drop, as well as "low-code" or "no-code" solutions for you to build out targeted communications.

• Comparison to Ringy: Creatio is a full-featured CRM, but they charge extra for support costs, and although solutions can be purchased together as a bundle, they still charge per user for each solution.

10. Pipedrive

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Pipedrive is a simple, sales-focused agency CRM with a user-friendly interface that caters to teams of all sizes.

• Comparison to Ringy: Pipedrive has features similar to Ringy and is inexpensive, but they still charge per user and lock you into an annual subscription if you want the lowest price.

Summary

Choosing an agency CRM isn't always an easy process, but if you're armed with the right information, you'll be well on your way to making the right decision for your business.

Thankfully, most agency CRMs are flexible in that they can be used for many different types of businesses, but there are still some that cater more towards some business types than others.

Before you start looking into different CRMs, think about what you need them to do for your business. For instance, a CRM for a digital marketing agency might also be fine for an advertising agency, but you need to make sure that the features align with your use cases and budget.

Book a demo with Ringy today to see how our feature set can meet the needs of your business.