The Difference Between CRM Software and Marketing Automation Software
In our blog titled The Distinction in Senior Living: Marketing Automation or CRM? we establish that the major difference between the two is this:
Marketing automation focuses on tracking and gathering data on prospects’ interests and behavior and using that information to automate repetitive marketing tasks, nurturing leads, and moving them into the sales funnel.
The CRM primarily focuses on managing interactions with prospective and current residents – that is, it is more sales than marketing-focused.
Another way to think of it is the marketing automation program operates in the space before a prospect becomes a lead; and, once they become a sales-qualified lead, they are now operating in the sales CRM.
In our study involving 100 senior and healthcare marketing executives, only 14% got the answer right. A peer of yours in New York City, rightly stated, “CRM is primarily sales focused while marketing automation software is typically marketing focused.” Another in Grafton, New Hampshire, correctly expanded on this notion, saying, “CRM software focuses on the customers you already have while marketing automation helps gain new customers.”
You are not alone if you weren’t sure what the difference was. Remember, 86% of respondents were unsure. “Besides the name, I cannot offer a true distinction between the two,” admitted one respondent from Oldham, Kentucky. Another from Miami, Florida, said, “I actually do not know, but I am interested in knowing.”
Now we know!
Bridging Insights to Action
Understanding the nuanced differences between CRM software and marketing automation software is just the beginning. As we’ve explored in this section, each plays a critical role in enhancing the senior care sector, focusing on different aspects of customer interaction and engagement. This knowledge is a stepping stone to diving deeper into the realm of automation in senior care. Our eBook, Guide: The Ultimate Guide to Automation Implementation: From Most Essential to Most Desired Features in Senior Care, delves further into this topic, highlighting the most essential and most desired features as chosen by your peers in the industry. Uncover more insights and elevate your senior care services by downloading our comprehensive guide today. Your journey towards more effective, efficient, and personalized care starts here.
