Customer relationship management (CRM) is important to most businesses and many are using the Internet as a tool to help with CRM.

Using the Internet to manage relationships with customers and clients can be as simple as keeping a list of email addresses and noting in your diary when you next need to email out a newsletter.

Some people are concerned that using the Internet to manage relationships with customers will take away the personal touch, which is so important for most businesses. But using the Internet for CRM helps automate the process of managing your dealings with customers, freeing up time to spend with them face-to-face and on the telephone. In fact, using your website as a CRM tool can improve the personal touch with your customers.