You Don't Need Salesforce for Influencers
When you hear "CRM," you might think of complex enterprise software like HubSpot or Salesforce. But for influencer relationships, you need something much simpler.
An Influencer CRM should answer three questions:
- Who are they? (Profile, niche, audience)
- What's our history? (Past campaigns, results)
- What's next? (Follow-up, future opportunities)
The Minimum Viable Influencer CRM
At its core, you need to track:
| Field | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Handle / Profile Link | Quick access to their content |
| Follower Count | Rough reach estimate |
| Niche/Category | Match with campaigns |
| Engagement Rate | Quality indicator |
| Contact Info | Email, shipping address |
| Status | Prospect / Active / VIP / Inactive |
| Last Contact Date | Avoid over-messaging or ghosting |
| Campaign History | What products they've received |
| Post History | Did they deliver? Links to content |
| Notes | Personal details (loves coffee, has a dog) |
Why Spreadsheets Break
Everyone starts with Google Sheets. It works until about 30 influencers. Then:
- Multiple people edit the same row → data conflicts
- No automatic status updates → outdated info
- Can't track conversations → context lost
- No reminders → follow-ups forgotten
Lightweight CRM Options
1. Airtable + Automations
A step up from spreadsheets. You can build views, link records, and set up basic automations. Cost: Free to $20/mo.
Limitation: No native integration with Shopify or Instagram.
2. Notion Databases
Flexible, good for small teams. Great for storing notes and context. Cost: Free to $10/mo.
Limitation: No automation or integrations.
3. Purpose-Built Influencer Tools
Tools like Seeding Ops combine CRM with seeding workflow. Influencers move through stages (Prospect → Invited → Claimed → Shipped → Posted) automatically based on actions.
Advantage: No manual status updates. Everything syncs with Shopify.
Building Relationships, Not Databases
The best CRM is one that helps you remember the human details: their birthday, their pet's name, their favorite product from your line. These notes turn transactional partnerships into genuine relationships.