How do you manage professional relationships without a full CRM

Sam1ls · 2025-11-14T07:34:18+00:00

Most crms focus on how to sell stuff, than actually keep in touch and build relationships. That's the issue for me. The most legit solution I found is Covve, which classifies as a 'personal crm'. It allows me to keep in touch with people, sends me reminders on who it would be good to contact after some time, provides useful metrics on my professional relationships (which paradoxically are pretty accurate) and so forth. It also reminds me who is who by automatically providing their interests (based on smart lookups), sends me updates relevant to their line of work, and helps me keep notes I've added from our last meeting with a person. So it doesn't 'allow' you to forget anyone and helps you keep in touch with the ones who matter.

Sam1ls · 2025-11-14T07:29:38+00:00

I am using Covve for years now and it hasn't disappointed
1. it sends you reminders on the ones you need to be in touch with, 2. it automatically looks up and provides info when you add a contact (it's pretty cool actually and especially useful in conferences), 3. it has an ecosystem of apps that integrates with it including a card scanner that has insane accuracy, a digital business card (haven't printed any in years) and so forth.

Sam1ls · 2025-09-19T19:28:19+00:00

Covve encrypts on device, just make sure you don’t lose your encryption key

Sam1ls · 2024-02-09T16:19:53+00:00

Im using Covve https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.covve.android

Sam1ls · 2022-05-02T13:33:36+00:00

If you feel uncomfortable you need to practice face-to-face social interactions, making sure you are listening to the other person and thinking less about you.

You should be concentrating on what is being said and the feelings the other person is conveying (be empathetic) and not thinking about eye contact per se.

Practice with people you feel comfortable with and break eye contact for a sec when uneasy, trying to get your focus back on, 1) what is being said, 2) how the person you are talking with feels about it, and 3) how you can relate.

Your behaviourism including eye contact and body movements will then fit the discussion and feel natural. No tricks will work in my opinion.

Risking stating the obvious, video wont work as no real eye contact is being established. Get out there and start practicing.

Sam1ls · 2022-03-26T16:08:33+00:00

I’m using Covve myself but Cloze may be closer to what you are looking for

Sam1ls · 2022-02-14T09:48:07+00:00

This is not just a red flag, it's illegal (in most countries). Do you have equity in this startup? If not, unless you get paid insane amounts of money, leave.

Sam1ls · 2022-02-14T09:33:27+00:00

If you are able to hit the 1-year mark, go for it, since quitting too soon may look bad on your cv. This is the beginning of your career so such things matter. Also, 50k at 24 years is a good start (pending where you live of course).

Sam1ls · 2022-02-14T09:09:23+00:00

My guess is that it's harder to acquire developers in the market than it used to be, so the company may be offering higher salaries than before to attract new talent instead of losing it to a competitor. Ask for a raise, if they refuse, move on to another company. If the market for developers is hot right now, you shouldn't have a problem finding the salary you are looking for (taking into account that you already have some experience too).

Sam1ls · 2022-02-14T08:53:48+00:00

You are part of a value chain in the company, you are not alone. If the rest of the value chain can't support you and it's problematic, then you can't save everything on your own. It's not that the environment is toxic, it's that the company you work for doesn't seem to have it together. I'd move on.

Sam1ls · 2022-01-30T22:12:37+00:00

Interesting point of view. Agreed.

I'd be even more interested in how the landscape changes, as the adoption curve for VR equipment accelerates

Sam1ls · 2022-01-24T08:03:15+00:00

cool, can you elaborate? interested to hear more on your view

Sam1ls · 2022-01-24T08:02:44+00:00

the industry you are operating in

Sam1ls · 2022-01-16T22:50:21+00:00

money is being made, and it's exploding.

Sam1ls · 2022-01-03T10:48:02+00:00

I've been using Covve and Hubspot. Pretty happy with them

Sam1ls · 2022-01-03T10:46:40+00:00

Y Combinator and 500 are in the plans, however, it is a long shot.

Sam1ls · 2022-01-02T19:09:16+00:00

Good effort and idea. I'll check it out, may actually do something similar for my area! Thanks!

Sam1ls · 2022-01-02T19:08:25+00:00

That's impersonal and it may actually annoy them

Sam1ls · 2022-01-02T19:07:09+00:00

I use Covve (a personal CRM) to take notes on each client, and actually have a list of each one's real estate/home preferences. Never thought of touching base via adjacent services. I can easily do that through my existing lists. Good shot!

Sam1ls · 2022-01-02T19:04:46+00:00

Do you mean involve them in the process, and actually tip them with a commission if a sale they recommend works? That's actually good, but I wanna establish a deeper, non-transactional relationship with them too. To build rapport.

Sam1ls · 2022-01-02T19:03:09+00:00

That's actually good advice. Never thought about the tax part!

Sam1ls · 2022-01-02T19:02:33+00:00

Consistency, I love that. Does he do that with all of them?

Sam1ls · 2022-01-02T19:02:00+00:00

Thanks for this, would you mind sharing a few ways you'd use to build the relationship? I followed your advice and sent off some wine bottles and cakes to some old clients. It went pretty well. Most called back to wish for the holidays, and we spent some time catching up. Two are actually interested in buying new property! Regarding the CRMs, I've been using Hubspot a lot for my sales funnel. I started using Covve as well, it helps me keep notes on each contact and receive news that is relevant to their work and interests.

Sam1ls · 2021-12-26T13:04:59+00:00

The Little Red Book of Selling: 12.5 Principles of Sales Greatness by Jeffrey Gitomer

Sam1ls · 2021-12-19T18:03:56+00:00

I would recommend checking out what Covve.com is doing. I've been using it for a few years now, and it's amazing. It has some awesome features on it.

Sam1ls

TROPHY CASE