How can I use Airtable as a simple CRM to track leads and customers?
Airtable isn’t just a spreadsheet—it’s a flexible database that makes it easy to organize customer information, track leads, and even automate workflows. For small businesses that don’t want the complexity (or cost) of traditional CRMs, Airtable can be a powerful alternative.
1. Create a base for your CRM
Start by creating a new “Base” in Airtable and name it something like “Customer CRM.” Each table can represent leads, customers, or deals, depending on how you want to organize your process.
2. Set up essential fields
Common fields include:
Name & Contact Info (email, phone, company)
Status (new lead, contacted, qualified, won, lost)
Source (where the lead came from)
Last Contact Date
Notes
This keeps everything structured and easy to filter.
3. Use views to manage your pipeline
Grid view for quick data entry.
Kanban view to move leads through stages (like Trello).
Calendar view to track follow-up dates.
Views let you see your pipeline in different ways without duplicating work.
4. Automate follow-ups
Airtable’s Automations let you set reminders, send emails, or move records automatically. For example, you can trigger a reminder email if a lead hasn’t been contacted in 7 days.
5. Integrate with other tools
Using Zapier or Make, you can connect Airtable to tools like Gmail, Slack, or your website forms. New leads can automatically flow into your CRM, saving manual entry.
6. Share with your team
If you have multiple team members, Airtable makes collaboration simple. You can assign leads, leave comments, and track who updated what.
Bottom Line
Airtable can be more than just a spreadsheet—it’s a lightweight CRM that helps you track leads, customers, and sales in a way that fits your business. With custom fields, flexible views, and automations, it gives you the power of a CRM without the bloat.
If you’d like help building an Airtable CRM tailored to your workflow, I can show you exactly how to set it up.