Giving service workers the knowledge tools they deserve, tapping social media in moderation, and other top tips help deliver CRM project success in the new year.

Avoid selecting software before defining business goals, always sell people on the new system, and use social media in moderation.

Has the concept of customer satisfaction passed its prime? Numerous recent CRM success stories suggest otherwise.

What’s the best way to make your marketing dollars go farther, faster? To answer that question, identify what your program does well, then focus on improving the parts that need the most work.

Calling all IT professionals: Do you want to battle a legacy CRM system, or is it time to migrate to the cloud? Beyond the technology fun-factor, don’t forget faster business innovation, as well as the career upsides.

But how fast does data need to flow? That’s a pertinent question, since the more real-time your integration between CRM and other systems, the more project cost and complexity will increase.

To determine project size, first define exactly what your CRM project should achieve.

For optimal SFA project results, justify you project using business process reengineering, targeting specific sales productivity improvements.

There are only three ways to justify an SFA project: via a breakdown, for business transformation, or as a business process reengineering strategy. And while the latter-most approach is the most effective, it’s also the most difficult.

The universe may have started with an intensely hot fireball, but your Salesforce.com deployment shouldn’t be a Big Bang.