Why brokers choose us
What Is the Key to Vertica CRM's Success?
Every CRM company claims to be the best. So how do you know which one to trust, and which ones make promises they can't keep? Here's what we believe is the key to the success of Vertica CRM (formerly Business Brokers CRM), and a checklist you can use to judge any CRM vendor, including us.
Quick answer
The key to Vertica CRM's success is that it gives business brokers everything they need in one comprehensive, cost-effective and easy-to-use system, built by people with decades of brokerage experience and backed by real support. It combines the CRM with a broker website, automatically updated listings, lead capture that shows which visitors viewed which listings, a real-time activity feed, email campaign tracking, automated feature sheets and automation for routine work. To judge any CRM vendor, ask whether it was built for business brokers, whether you can see your own process in the demo, who sets it up and trains your team, and whether you can speak with clients like you.
Every business broker has heard the pitch. The CRM that will transform your business. The system that does the work for you. The best platform in the industry.
So how do you know which company to trust, and which ones offer false promises and claims? It's a question I hear from brokers all the time, and it's a fair one. A CRM is a big decision. Choose wrong, and you lose months of time, thousands of dollars and your team's patience.
Anyone can claim to be the best. The only proof is seeing it work on your own deals.
Here's what we believe is the key to our success, and a simple way to test whether any CRM company, including ours, can back up what it says.
The five keys to our success
1. Everything a brokerage needs, in one system
Most brokerages run on a patchwork: a contact manager, a separate website, an email marketing tool, spreadsheets for buyers and folders full of documents. None of them talk to each other.
Vertica CRM was built as one comprehensive, full-stack system for business brokers. Your CRM, website, listings, buyer registration, email marketing and documents all work together, so information entered in one place appears everywhere it's needed. (More on what that saves: Vertica CRM makes you and your brokers more money.)
2. Easy to use, and easy to customize
Powerful software that nobody uses is worthless. Vertica CRM is designed to be user-friendly for brokers, not just for administrators. The website and CRM platform are self-manageable and easy to customize, so you can update listings, content and settings without calling a developer. (Why ease of use decides adoption: involve your team and keep them on their toes.)
3. Automation that handles the busywork
No software can close a deal for you. Anyone who promises that is making exactly the kind of claim you should be wary of. What good software can do is take the routine work off your plate. Vertica CRM's many automated features handle follow-up reminders, buyer notifications, listing updates and feature sheets, so you can spend your time where it matters: with sellers and buyers. (Automation for business brokers.)
4. Real support, maintenance and marketing help
A CRM isn't a one-time purchase. It needs maintenance, updates and someone to call when you have a question. Vertica CRM includes ongoing maintenance and support, and through our sister company, Business Brokers SEO, brokers can also get help with search engine optimization and social media marketing, so the system brings in clients, not just organizes them.
5. Decades of brokerage experience
Vertica CRM wasn't designed by software people guessing what brokers need. It was built by people with combined decades of experience in business brokerage, who lived the problems it solves. That experience shows in the details: the way buyers register, the way documents are released, the way listings reach your website. (Our story: challenging the status quo.)
Features that set Vertica CRM apart
These are some of the features brokers point to most often when they tell us why they chose Vertica CRM:
| Feature | What it does | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Automatically updated website listings | Listings in the CRM appear on your website and update automatically | No double entry, and buyers always see current listings |
| Lead capture and visitor tracking | Captures leads and shows which visitors viewed which listings | You know which buyers are interested in what, before you call |
| Real-time activity feed | Alerts you when registered buyers log in | Service your buyers in real time, while they're engaged |
| Email campaign tracking | Shows who opened and clicked your campaigns | Follow up with the buyers who are paying attention |
| Automated feature sheets | Creates listing feature sheets from the listing record | Professional marketing materials in seconds |
| Mobile-friendly platform | Works on phones and tablets as well as desktops | Manage deals from anywhere |
| Ongoing maintenance and support | Updates, fixes and help when you need it | The system keeps working, and keeps improving |
Individually, each feature saves a little time. Together, they mean you know more about your buyers, respond faster and market your listings more professionally than brokers juggling separate tools. (Why business brokers need CRM software.)
How to tell which CRM company to trust
Every vendor will tell you their system is the best. Instead of taking anyone's word for it, including ours, use this checklist:
Questions to ask
- Was it built for business brokers? Or is it a general CRM with a brokerage label on top? Ask how it handles buyer registration, NDAs, confidential documents and listings.
- Can I see my own process in the demo? A good vendor will ask how you work and show you the system configured around it, not just a canned presentation.
- Who sets it up and trains my team? Find out whether you'll get a configured system and real training, or a blank screen and a video library. (How Vertica CRM onboarding works.)
- Can I talk to clients like me? Ask for references from firms of your size and type. (Who uses Vertica CRM.)
- What happens when I need help? Ask who you'll talk to, how quickly, and whether maintenance and updates are included.
- How is my data protected? Ask about firewalls, backups and who can see what. (How Vertica CRM protects your data.)
Red flags to watch for
- Promises of guaranteed results, or claims that the system will close deals for you.
- Only a canned demo, with no interest in how your firm actually works.
- A blank system, where you're expected to design everything yourself.
- No references, or only one, from a firm nothing like yours.
- Support that's just a ticket queue, with no named people responsible for your success.
Sound too good to be true?
We understand the skepticism. That's why we don't ask anyone to take our word for it. Book a demo, bring your own process and your toughest questions, and judge Vertica CRM on how it handles your deals. If it doesn't fit, you'll know. If it does, you'll skip the frustration, time and expense of trying system after system.
What's changed since 2016
The keys to our success haven't changed since this article was first written. A few other things have:
- A new name. Business Brokers CRM (BBCRM) is now Vertica CRM. Same team, same focus on business brokers and M&A advisors, and a much bigger platform.
- A dedicated onboarding team. Every client gets a project manager, an onboarding specialist and a training coordinator who configure the system around the firm and train every user. (Onboarding.)
- AI built in. The AI CIM generator drafts a confidential information memorandum in minutes from the data already in the CRM.
- More of the process in one place. Vertica Sites for broker websites, Vertica Sign for document signing, Vertica Leads for buyer outreach and Vertica People for staff who work inside your CRM.
See it for yourself
Bring your process and your questions. Contact us for a short demonstration.
Schedule a Demo Questions? Call our office at +1 212 381 4994.Frequently asked questions
What is the key to Vertica CRM's success?
Vertica CRM gives business brokers everything they need in one comprehensive, cost-effective and easy-to-use system, built by people with decades of brokerage experience and backed by ongoing maintenance and support. Its CRM, website, listings, buyer registration, email marketing and documents all work together.
Is Vertica CRM the same as Business Brokers CRM?
Yes. Business Brokers CRM (BBCRM) is now Vertica CRM. It's the same company and team, focused on business brokers and M&A advisors, with a much larger platform than when it launched.
How do I choose a CRM company I can trust?
Ask whether the CRM was built for business brokers, whether you can see your own process in the demo, who will set it up and train your team, whether you can speak with clients like you, what support is included and how your data is protected. Be wary of guaranteed results, canned demos, blank systems and vendors without references.
Can a CRM close deals for a business broker?
No. A CRM can't close deals, and vendors who suggest otherwise are overpromising. A good CRM handles routine work such as follow-up reminders, buyer notifications, listing updates and feature sheets, so brokers have more time to spend with sellers and buyers.
What features set Vertica CRM apart?
Brokers often point to automatically updated website listings, lead capture that shows which visitors viewed which listings, a real-time activity feed that alerts brokers when registered buyers log in, email campaign tracking, automated feature sheets, a mobile-friendly platform and ongoing maintenance and support.
Does Vertica CRM help with SEO and marketing?
Yes. Through its sister company, Business Brokers SEO, Vertica CRM clients can get help with search engine optimization and social media marketing, and Vertica Sites provides broker websites connected to the CRM.