Your CRM Is Useless Without These 5 Actions

Most print shops treat their CRM like a digital contact list. But used right, it’s not just storage, it’s your sales engine. Here’s how to turn it on.

1. Build a Visible, Trackable Pipeline

Stop relying on memory (“I think that brewery said they’d follow up…?”)

Instead:

• Log every quote, lead, and conversation

• See who's hot, cold, or stuck

• Prioritize follow-ups and forecast revenue with clarity

Action Step: Create clear pipeline stages (e.g. Lead > Discovery Complete > Quoted > Needs Follow-Up > Closed Won) and review them daily.

2. Automate Follow-Up (So You Stop Forgetting)

You don’t need to chase every lead manually. Let your CRM do it.

Set up automation to:

• Remind you when to follow up (use tasks!)

• Auto-email leads 2 and 5 days after quotes

• Alert you when someone clicks a quote or link

Why it matters: Most sales happen in follow-up, not the first touch.

3. Reactivate Dormant Customers

You’re likely sitting on thousands of dollars in repeat business.

With your CRM, you can:

• Filter customers who haven’t ordered in 90+ days

• Send “Ready to reorder?” emails

• Target specific niches (schools, breweries, etc.)

Action Step: Set a monthly reactivation campaign. It’s fast ROI.

4. Spot the Leaks in Your Sales Process

Your CRM doesn’t lie—it tells you where you’re losing money.

Track:

• How many quotes go unanswered

• Where deals stall

• Which industries convert best

• Which reps are underperforming

Action Step: Run a report each month. Fix what’s slowing sales.

5. Make Revenue Predictable

Without a CRM, sales feel random. With it, you can:

• Set daily outbound goals

• Build monthly revenue forecasts

• Identify top-performing customer segments

• Track conversion rates and plan better

Action Step: Use the CRM daily. Block time to live in it and help you sell

The Tool Isn’t the Win, the system is. A CRM only works when your team actually uses it. Build simple systems:

• Daily pipeline check

• Weekly outbound review

• Monthly reactivation

• Auto follow-ups

• Activity tracking

Want help turning your CRM into a sales machine? Sales Ink can get your team trained, accountable, and selling smarter. Don’t have a CRM? Check out the Sales Ink CRM here.