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Writer's pictureDouglas Grays

Folk CRM Review: What it is and How to Use it to Grow Your Business

Updated: 3 days ago


Douglas Grays Author
Douglas Grays Author

The following Folk CRM review is grounded in my personal experiences with setting up and utilizing CRM systems. With over two decades of experience in using CRM software, I possess a solid understanding of their setup and operation. However, it's important to note that I am not a computer expert. My evaluations are based on the software's intuitiveness, ease of setup and use, and its integration into the workflow of a busy salesperson or business owner. I have great respect for anyone who dedicates their time to developing software with the aim of enhancing operations. While a particular software package may not align with my specific needs, it doesn't imply that it won't be suitable or happily adopted by others. I will however, call out any issues I come across when reviewing a particular software. This review solely reflects my own experiences.

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Folk CRM Review Introduction And Summary

In today's competitive market, businesses must utilize advanced tools to streamline operations and build strong customer relationships. That's where Folk CRM comes in. This innovative platform takes CRM to the next level with powerful features tailored to boost productivity and business growth. Let's explore how Folk CRM can transform your customer management.





Folk CRM Target Audience and Use Case


Folk CRM Target Audience:

  • Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs): Folk CRM is a great fit for SMBs that need a user-friendly and affordable CRM solution to manage their sales, marketing, and customer service activities.

  • Startups: Startups often have limited resources and need a CRM that can grow with them. Folk CRM's free plan and affordable paid plans make it a perfect option for bootstrapped startups.

  • Solopreneurs: Folk CRM is also a great option for solopreneurs who need to manage their customer relationships and sales pipeline. The platform's free plan is perfect for individual users.

  • Teams: Folk CRM can be used by teams of all sizes, from small teams of 2-3 people to larger teams of 20 or more. The platform's collaboration features make it easy for teams to work together on deals and manage customer relationships.


Folk CRM Use Cases:

  • Sales pipeline management: Folk CRM can help you visualize your sales pipeline, track deals through different stages, and identify bottlenecks. This can help you close more deals and improve your sales efficiency.

  • Contact management: Folk CRM can help you centralize all your customer contact information in one place. You can also create groups and tags to segment your contacts for targeted campaigns.

  • Email marketing: Folk CRM's built-in email marketing tools allow you to create personalized email sequences and automate your customer acquisition efforts

  • Customer service: Folk CRM can help you track customer support tickets, resolve issues quickly, and improve customer satisfaction.

  • Light Weight Project management: Folk CRM can be used to manage projects, track tasks, and collaborate with team members.




Folk CRM Functionality and Features


Folk CRM is a newcomer to the CRM scene, but it's quickly gaining traction thanks to its unique blend of powerful features, ease of use, and affordability. Whether you're a solopreneur or a small business owner, Folk CRM can help you centralize your customer interactions, streamline your sales process, and close more deals.


Key Features of Folk CRM


  • Contact Management: Ditch the spreadsheets and messy databases! Folk CRM lets you import contacts from various sources, add custom fields, and keep all your contact information up-to-date in one centralized location. You can also create groups and tags to easily segment your contacts for targeted campaigns.

  • Pipeline Management: Visualize your sales pipeline with drag-and-drop ease. Move deals through different stages, track their progress, and identify bottlenecks with Folk's intuitive pipeline management tools.

  • Email Campaigns: Craft personalized email sequences and automate your outreach efforts with Folk's built-in email marketing tools. Track email open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to measure the effectiveness of your campaigns.

  • Integrations: Connect Folk CRM with your favorite tools like Gmail, Calendly, and Slack to create a seamless workflow. Zapier integration unlocks even more possibilities, allowing you to connect Folk with thousands of other apps.

  • Chrome Extension: Say goodbye to manual data entry! With Folk's Chrome extension, you can import contact data from websites with a single click.

  • AI-powered Features: Let AI do the heavy lifting! Folk uses AI to generate personalized sales discovery scripts, suggest email drafts, and even predict the likelihood of a deal closing.

Beyond the Basics: What Makes Folk Unique?

While Folk CRM offers all the essential CRM features you'd expect, it also boasts some unique selling points that set it apart from the competition:


  • Flexibility and Customization: Folk CRM is highly customizable, allowing you to tailor it to your specific needs and workflows. Create custom fields, views, and dashboards to see the data that matters most to you.

  • Ease of Use: Folk CRM is known for its intuitive interface and user-friendly design. Even if you're not a tech whiz, you can get up and running quickly and easily.

  • Affordability: Folk CRM offers a free plan for individual users, and its paid plans are very competitively priced, making it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes.

Folk CRM Walkthrough and User Experience


Ease of Use: Signing Up and Logging In to Folk CRM

When I first explored Folk CRM, the simplicity of its sign-up process immediately stood out. It's designed for quick and easy access, a crucial feature for businesses looking to hit the ground running. Logging in is just as straightforward, a testament to Folk's commitment to user-friendliness.

  • Simplified Sign-Up Process: I found the registration quick and hassle-free, ensuring a smooth start.

  • User-Friendly Login Interface: The login page is intuitive, making it easy for me and my team to access our accounts efficiently.


Folk CRM User Interface: Clean, Intuitive, and Efficient

Upon logging in, the clean and intuitive interface of Folk CRM greeted me. It's not just about looking good – the layout is functional, making navigation a breeze. Every feature and tool is just a click away, saving time and enhancing productivity.

  • First Impressions: The dashboard's visually appealing and organized layout impressed me.

  • Navigating the Dashboard: Accessing key features and tools is effortless, which I found crucial for managing my busy schedule.


Folk CRM Database Management: Uploading and Organizing Contacts

A cornerstone of any CRM system is its ability to manage contacts effectively. Folk CRM shines here. Uploading my database was an absolute breeze. The system guides you through each step, and the ability to customize contact fields means I could tailor my database to my specific needs.

  • Uploading Your Database: The process is simple and guided, making it accessible even for those not tech-savvy.

  • Customizing Contact Fields: I appreciated the flexibility to organize my contacts exactly how I wanted.


Social Media Integration: Leveraging LinkedIn and Other Platforms on Folk CRM

In today's interconnected world, integrating social media with your CRM is vital. Folk CRM requires manual input for social media URLs, but this approach gives you complete control over the data you include. It ensures precision in the way you manage your digital relationships.

  • Folk's Approach to Social Data: The manual input allows for precise data management, something I found very useful.

  • Integration with Social Platforms: Combining CRM with social media platforms is seamless, enhancing my digital networking capabilities.


Folk CRM Contact Management: Creating and Segmenting Groups

Effective contact management goes beyond storing information; it's about organizing it in a way that's functional and enhances your business processes. Folk CRM's ability to segment contacts into custom groups is a standout feature. It allows for targeted management of different relationships, be it customers, prospects, or leads.


The Art of Contact Segmentation: Folk CRM enables me to create groups that reflect the diverse needs of my business. With custom groups, I can easily categorize contacts based on their interests, purchasing history, or any other relevant criteria. This level of segmentation allows for more personalized and tailored messaging, ensuring that no opportunity is missed.


Custom Groups for Targeted Management: This feature helps me organize my contacts efficiently, ensuring that I can reach the right people with the right messages. Whether it's sending a promotional offer to a specific group of customers or following up with warm leads, custom groups enable me to streamline my communication efforts. By easily sharing these groups with specific team members, collaboration becomes seamless, and different teams can focus on managing their respective sets of contacts.


The Flexibility of Customization: Folk CRM's custom groups offer me the freedom to customize and adapt to the unique needs of my business. There are no limits to how I can organize and structure these groups, making it an incredibly versatile feature. This level of flexibility sets folk CRM apart from its competitors, empowering me to optimize my contact management strategy and drive better results.


In conclusion, custom groups in folk CRM are significant because they allow for targeted management, efficient organization, and customizable segmentation of contacts. This feature enhances the effectiveness of communication efforts, improves collaboration among teams, and provides the versatility needed to meet the unique needs of any business.



Folk CRM Contact Page: Clarity and Functionality

The contact page in Folk CRM is a clear example of the platform's commitment to clarity and functionality. It presents all necessary information in a crisp, clean layout. On the left, I have all the relevant details about a contact, and on the right, interactions, notes, and reminders are neatly organized.

  • Layout and Design: The user-friendly interface significantly enhances my productivity.

  • Managing Interactions and Reminders: This feature allows me to keep track of all customer interactions effortlessly, which is crucial for maintaining strong relationships.


Communication Tools: Email and Call Integration inside Folk CRM

One aspect of Folk CRM that I found particularly useful is its approach to communication integration. While it doesn't have a native click-to-dial facility, it seamlessly integrates with third-party applications, offering flexibility in choosing tools that best fit your business needs. Its strength lies in email communication with direct emailing, bulk emailing, email tracking, and AI email assistance.


When it comes to sending bulk messages to contacts, folk CRM shines with its user-friendly features. With just a few simple steps, you can effortlessly send out emails to all your contacts. Whether you need to reach out to potential leads or engage with your existing clients, folk CRM makes it a breeze.


One of the standout features is the ability to send bulk emails to specific groups with just a single click. This means you can easily target your messaging and improve efficiency in reaching out to your contacts. For instance, during our testing phase, we sent an introductory email to all of our potential leads using a helpful template provided by folk CRM.


The extensive template library offered by folk CRM ensures that you have a wide range of options to choose from. Whether it's a professional invitation, a promotional offer, or a simple follow-up email, you can find a suitable template to get started quickly. We particularly appreciated the 'let's partner up' template, which allowed us to compose a compelling introductory email to our potential leads.


In terms of speed and convenience, folk CRM exceeded our expectations. Sending the introductory email to 53 potential leads took less than five minutes, saving us valuable time and effort. Throughout our three months of testing, we were consistently impressed by how easy it was to create email campaigns for each of our contact groups.


While the templates may not be the most visually extravagant, folk CRM is focused on functionality and effectiveness. It prioritizes getting the job done when it comes to bulk email communication. With folk CRM, you can efficiently manage your email campaigns and ensure that your messages reach the right audience, without any unnecessary complications.


In conclusion, folk CRM offers a seamless and efficient solution for sending bulk messages to your contacts. Its integration with third-party applications allows for flexibility in choosing the communication tools that suit your business needs. With its user-friendly features, extensive template library, and quick sending capabilities, folk CRM simplifies the process of reaching out to your contacts and ensures effective communication.<


Folk CRM Chrome Extension: folkX for Enhanced Productivity


Folk CRM's Chrome extension, folkX, is a standout feature that enhances productivity significantly. It allows me to add prospects and leads from almost any website directly into my CRM. This tool is a game-changer for gathering contact information efficiently. With folkX, users can effortlessly add prospects and leads from virtually any website directly into their CRM, saving valuable time and effort


  • The Power of folkX Extension: The ease of use and functionality of the folkX extension impressed me. It's a simple yet powerful tool for expanding my contact database.

  • Adding Contacts from the Web: With folkX, I can quickly add new contacts to my CRM, saving time and effort.



Tracking Reminders In Folk CRM

Task management in Folk CRM is straightforward yet effective. Known as reminders, this feature may not be as sophisticated as some other tools, but it does its job well. It helps me keep track of when to call or follow up with a prospect.

  • Utilizing Folk's Reminder System: Setting reminders is easy, and the system is reliable, ensuring I never miss an important follow-up.

  • Effectiveness of Task Management: While basic, the reminder tool in Folk CRM meets most of my task management needs efficiently.



Folk CRM Deal Tracking and Pipeline Management

Folk CRM offers impressive customization for deal tracking and pipeline management. The system allows me to create custom workflows and pipelines, which is crucial for managing deals and prospects effectively. With folk CRM, I have the flexibility to tailor the sales pipeline to my business's unique processes, ensuring a seamless flow of deals.


In addition to customization, folk CRM provides a user-friendly interface for managing deals efficiently. The platform allows me to easily track and manage deals through various stages. By visualizing the progress of deals as they move from one stage to another, I can stay organized and ensure that no opportunity falls through the cracks.


What sets Folk CRM apart is its ability to transform contacts into drag-and-drop cards on a board. This feature simplifies the deal management process, allowing me to intuitively move deals across different stages with ease. The visual representation not only helps me stay on top of my deals but also provides a clear overview of the entire sales pipeline.


Furthermore, Folk CRM understands that every business has unique requirements. That's why it allows me to create custom stages in the pipeline, ensuring that the deal management process aligns perfectly with my specific needs. This level of customization empowers me to streamline my workflow and optimize my sales processes.


Collaboration is also made seamless with folk CRM. The platform offers shared views, activity and interaction views, and real-time note-taking capabilities. These collaborative features enable my team to work together effectively, ensuring everyone is on the same page and can contribute to the success of our deals.


Advanced Features in Folk CRM: AI Tools and Magic Fields

Folk CRM doesn't just stop at basic CRM functionalities; it goes a step further with its AI tools and Magic Fields. These features offer innovative ways to enhance your outreach and data management.

  • AI-Powered Email Outreach and Magic Fields: The AI prompts for email outreach and the Magic Fields feature are innovative, helping me create more personalized and effective communication strategies.

  • Exploring the Potential of Folk's AI Capabilities: These advanced features have opened up new possibilities in how I manage and interact with my contacts.


Mobile Accessibility: Folk CRM on the Go

The Folk CRM mobile app, while basic, covers all the essentials for managing your contacts on the move. It's a handy tool for those times when I'm away from my desk but still need to access my CRM.

  • Features of the Folk Mobile App: The app provides the necessary functionalities for effective CRM management while on the go.

  • The Future of Folk's Mobile Experience: As with any new software, I anticipate continuous improvements to the mobile app, enhancing its utility further.

What third-party platforms and tools can Folk be integrated with?

Folk can be integrated with a range of third-party platforms and tools, which include Make, Zapier, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Gmail, Mailchimp, Outlook, and Slack.


How Folk CRM support team collaboration?

I found Folk CRM to be incredibly supportive of team collaboration. With its user-friendly interface and easy access to accounts, my team and I were able to efficiently work together. The dashboard's organized layout allowed us to access key features and tools effortlessly, ensuring we were all on the same page.


What sets Folk CRM apart is its robust set of collaborative features. Team members can easily be assigned to different groups or contact lists, enabling seamless information sharing and enhancing our overall teamwork. This feature proved invaluable in our day-to-day operations, as we could quickly disseminate vital information and stay organized.


Taking collaboration a step further, Folk CRM allowed us to create custom workspaces for each team. By assigning groups to support marketing and sales teams, we eliminated any potential confusion or overlap between departments. This efficient segregation ensured that each team had its own dedicated workspace to collaborate and work effectively.


The contact page in Folk CRM provided clarity and functionality by presenting all necessary information in a crisp, clean layout. We could easily access contact details, interaction history, and other relevant data, enabling us to have informed conversations and maintain strong customer relationships.


Additionally, Folk CRM offered the ability to track interactions and set reminders, keeping us on top of customer communications and ensuring timely follow-ups. This feature proved invaluable in nurturing leads and closing deals, as we could maintain a proactive approach in our interactions.


Folk CRM Pricing And Value

Folk CRM offers various pricing tiers, ensuring that businesses of all sizes can find a plan that suits their budget and requirements. From a basic free version, ideal for small teams or individual entrepreneurs, to more advanced plans with additional features and capabilities, Folk CRM ensures that you only pay for what you need. Each tier is structured to provide more value as your business grows, with premium features like advanced AI tools, increased data capacity, and more comprehensive customer support.


  • Free Plan: $0 per month

  • Standard Plan: $18 per month

  • Premium Plan: $29 per month

  • Enterprise Plan: Custom Pricing


Does Folk CRM offer a free trial?

Yes as you can see above, Folk CRM does offer a free trial that lasts for 14 days, and the best part is that no credit card is required to sign up. This allows you to try out the CRM and get a feel for how it can benefit your business without any financial commitment.


How does Folk CRM's pricing compare to other CRM options?

Folk CRM offers an affordable and robust platform for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). When comparing its pricing to other popular CRM options, folk CRM emerges as the superior choice. While Pipedrive has a starting price of $21.90 per month without a free plan, and Less Annoying CRM begins at $15 per month with no free plan, folk CRM stands out by providing a free plan and starting at $24 per month for their Standard plan. This Standard plan includes unlimited contacts, deal pipelines, and lead prospecting capabilities. Additionally, folk CRM also offers a more advanced Premium plan priced at $39 per month, which comes with the added benefits of messaging and enrichment capabilities. Overall, with its competitive pricing structure and wide range of features, folk CRM represents an excellent option for SMBs seeking an efficient CRM solution.



Folk CRM Commonly Asked Questions:


How does Folk CRM enhance productivity?

Folk CRM enhances productivity through its intuitive interface, efficient contact management, and powerful features like the folkX Chrome extension and AI tools. These functionalities streamline various business processes, making it easier to manage customer relationships and sales pipelines.


Can Folk CRM integrate with social media platforms?

Yes, Folk CRM allows for manual input of social media URLs, enabling seamless integration with platforms like LinkedIn. This feature ensures precise control over the social media data included in your CRM.


Is Folk CRM suitable for mobile use?

Absolutely. While the Folk CRM mobile app is currently basic, it covers all essential functionalities needed for managing your CRM on the go, making it a convenient tool for business professionals.


How does Folk ensure security and compliance for user data?

Folk places a strong emphasis on security and compliance for user data by undergoing rigorous audits, such as those conducted by Google, to bolster the platform's security measures. Each aspect of Folk's system and operations is designed to uphold the utmost standards of data protection, ensuring that user information is handled with the highest level of security and compliance. Through continuous monitoring, regular security audits, and robust data protection protocols, Folk provides users with a secure environment where their data is safeguarded effectively.


How is the customer service of folk CRM?

The customer service of folk CRM is exceptional, as it provides a wide range of support features to cater to user needs. Their help center allows for self-service, with a vast library of articles and a search bar for easy navigation. Additionally, they offer tutorial videos to assist users in understanding the platform better. Furthermore, folk CRM provides account setup consultations to ensure users start off on the right foot.


During a three-month testing period, the platform proved to be very reliable, with virtually no issues encountered. To evaluate their support team's responsiveness, a simple question regarding Slack integration was posed. Promptly, a detailed email response was received the next business day, showcasing the dedication and efficiency of their customer service representatives. It is worth noting that the question was resolved independently by utilizing the self-service portal, which is impressively comprehensive and user-friendly.


What are the limitations of folk CRM?

Folk CRM, while a commendable platform for relationship management, does have its limitations to be considered before determining its suitability for your needs. Firstly, it offers limited marketing options, which may restrict your ability to implement comprehensive and diverse marketing strategies. Additionally, folk CRM lacks extensive reporting and analytics capabilities, which can hinder your ability to derive meaningful insights from your customer data.


Moreover, this platform may not be the ideal choice for large sales teams, as it provides limited tools specifically designed for such scenarios. This can potentially affect your team's efficiency and effectiveness in managing their sales processes. It is also worth noting that, currently, folk CRM does not offer a mobile app. While this may not be a concern for everyone, having a mobile app can greatly enhance the flexibility and accessibility of the CRM platform.


Thus, despite its strengths in relationship management, folk CRM falls short when it comes to offering robust sales and marketing tools that some larger, albeit more expensive, platforms provide.


What integrations does folk CRM offer with Google and Microsoft accounts?

Folk CRM offers seamless integration with major email platforms, making it incredibly convenient for businesses. Not only does it provide excellent compatibility with various email providers, but it also ensures a smooth synchronization of data. While focusing on email communication, Folk CRM enables direct emailing, bulk emailing, email tracking, and even AI email assistance. This means you can effortlessly manage your email communications, track responses, and leverage artificial intelligence to enhance your productivity.


Moreover, Folk CRM goes beyond just email integration. It also offers the ability to connect your Google and Microsoft accounts, allowing you to sync a range of essential data. With this integration, you can effortlessly import your contacts, ensuring that all your business connections are readily available within Folk CRM. Additionally, you can sync your calendar events, ensuring that your schedule is up-to-date and accessible at all times. And let's not forget about emails – Folk CRM seamlessly integrates with your Google and Microsoft accounts, enabling you to import and manage your email conversations effortlessly.


In summary, Folk CRM not only excels in email integration but also provides comprehensive compatibility with Google and Microsoft accounts. By connecting these accounts, you can effortlessly sync your contacts, calendar events, and emails, ensuring that all crucial aspects of your business are seamlessly integrated into Folk CRM with just a few clicks.


Can workflow automation be achieved in folk CRM?

Workflow automation is a crucial aspect of Folk CRM, empowering users with advanced features and customizable workflows. These functionalities play a pivotal role in effectively managing deals and prospects. The system offers the flexibility to create tailored workflows and pipelines, allowing businesses to align their sales processes seamlessly. This level of customization ensures efficient deal tracking and pipeline management, providing users with the tools they need to succeed.


Moreover, Folk CRM goes beyond traditional CRM solutions by incorporating AI tools and the innovative Magic Fields feature. These cutting-edge functionalities bring a new level of sophistication to contact management and interaction. With AI-powered insights and data-driven strategies, users can personalize their communication efforts, resulting in more impactful and effective outreach.


While Folk CRM might not have a native click-to-dial facility, it seamlessly integrates with third-party applications for communication integration. This integration gives users the freedom to choose the communication tools that best align with their unique business needs. By leveraging these integrations, businesses can streamline their communication processes and enhance overall productivity.


What's New at Folk CRM

Folk CRM has rolled out some exciting updates that are set to transform how sales professionals interact with leads and manage their data. The new LinkedIn Listening Tracker is a great feature that keeps you in the loop about your high-value leads' LinkedIn activity. This means you can jump on opportunities to engage with them at just the right moment, potentially boosting your conversion rates.


The revamped 1-Click Enrichment feature now allows you to find essential contact details with just a single click. This streamlined process is a real time-saver, letting you focus more on building relationships and less on hunting down information. With these updates, Folk CRM is proving its commitment to helping sales pros work smarter, not harder. Whether you're tracking lead activity, managing data, or prospecting, these new features are designed to make your job easier and more effective.


It's clear that Folk is listening to its users and delivering tools that address real-world sales challenges. If you're looking to up your CRM game, these new features from Folk are definitely worth checking out.



Final Thoughts On Folk CRM:

Hey Sales Warriors,

Folk CRM is more than just a tool; it's a comprehensive solution for managing customer relationships, streamlining communication, and enhancing productivity. Its user-friendly interface, combined with powerful features, makes it an excellent choice for businesses and solo salesmen looking to grow and maintain strong customer relationships. I found it very intuitive to use and although lightweight in features compared to more established CRM's it can still hold its head up high as a great platform to get started with. I gave it three stars as it does not quite fit in with my sales process but it's still a young player and I believe it will only get better. A great starter CRM for someone wanting to improve their sales process. I encourage you to give Folk CRM a try and see how it can transform your business processes.

3 Star Review






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