/ Marketing
Do I need a CRM?
Once you're losing track of enquiries, yes. Below roughly 20 leads a month a spreadsheet is genuinely fine.
/ 01
The short version
The point of a CRM is that nothing gets forgotten — not that it looks professional.
/ 02
What actually matters
- • Track every enquiry with source, status and next action.
- • Set reminders for follow-ups.
- • Simple options: Pipedrive, HubSpot free, Notion, or a spreadsheet.
- • Only adopt what you'll actually update.
- • Report monthly on conversion rate by source.
/ 03
The bit most people get wrong
An unmaintained CRM is worse than a spreadsheet because you trust it. Pick the simplest thing you'll keep current.
/ 04
What to do next
Start a single sheet today with date, name, source, status, next action. Fill it for a month before buying anything.
/ 05
Where RIOT fits in
We're a small Colchester studio helping UK SMBs get CRM and pipeline right without agency waste or freelancer flake. If you've read this far and you want a second opinion on your specific setup, book a 20-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth doing anything at all.
We work with clients across Essex, Suffolk, London and the wider UK — and remotely with brands abroad. No lock-in, no monthly retainer minimums, no pretending your problem is bigger than it is.
/ FAQs
Common questions
What does a CRM cost?
Free to £30/user/month for small business tools.
Can it automate follow-ups?
Yes — that's usually the biggest win.
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