How to integrate Showell with your CRM system for seamless sales workflows

If you’re tired of bouncing between your CRM and your sales content library, you’re not alone. Integrating them can actually save time—if you do it right. This guide is for sales ops, admins, and anyone who wants Showell and their CRM to play nicely together, without the headaches. If you’re looking for a magic “Integrate Everything” button, you’ll be disappointed. But if you want real steps, honest advice, and a setup that actually works, read on.

Why bother integrating Showell with your CRM?

First, let’s get clear on what Showell does: it’s a sales content management tool. It keeps your presentations, brochures, and product info in one place, so your sales team isn’t hunting through endless file folders or sending outdated PDFs. Your CRM, meanwhile, tracks deals, contacts, and all the relationship stuff.

Without integration, reps waste time copying notes, re-uploading documents, or forgetting to log what they shared. Integrating the two means:

  • Salespeople can pull up the right content directly from the CRM.
  • You get a record of what was shared with each prospect.
  • No more double data entry or “Did I send the latest version?” panic.

But, there are caveats. Not every CRM plays nice with Showell out of the box, and some “integrations” are just fancy ways to say, “Here’s a link, good luck.” Let’s get into what actually works.

Step 1: Check what level of integration you can actually get

Before you dive in, figure out what’s possible with your CRM. Showell offers a few integration options, but the details depend on the CRM you use.

  • Popular CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot: Showell has native integrations for these, but “native” doesn’t mean “automatic.” You’ll need to set up connectors, deal with permissions, and possibly pay extra.
  • Other CRMs (Microsoft Dynamics, Pipedrive, Zoho, etc.): You might be relying on third-party tools, APIs, or just embedding Showell links.
  • Homegrown or niche CRMs: You’ll probably need to use Showell’s API or zap something together with a tool like Zapier.

Pro tip: Don’t trust the marketing one-pagers. Check Showell’s documentation and your CRM’s integration marketplace for real, up-to-date info.

Step 2: Map out what you want to achieve

Jumping in without a plan is a great way to end up frustrated. Figure out what “seamless” actually means for your team. Some things to decide:

  • Do you want sales reps to access Showell content from within the CRM?
  • Should sharing activity (e.g., “sent client X this brochure”) sync back to the CRM record?
  • Do you need analytics on what content gets used or viewed, tied to deals or contacts?
  • Who manages permissions—Showell, CRM, or both?

Write down your must-haves and your nice-to-haves. This makes it easier to spot gaps in the integration later.

Step 3: Set up the integration

Now for the hands-on part. The exact steps depend on your CRM, but here’s the general approach.

3.1 Salesforce Integration

If you’re on Salesforce, Showell offers an official connector (usually via AppExchange).

How to set it up: - Install the Showell app from Salesforce AppExchange. - Follow Showell’s setup wizard to connect your Showell and Salesforce accounts. - Decide which Salesforce objects (Leads, Opportunities, Accounts) should link to Showell content. - Set permissions so only the right users can access Showell from inside Salesforce. - Test by sending content from a sample record and checking if the activity logs correctly.

What to watch for: - Permissions can get weird. If you’re not seeing Showell buttons or links, double-check your user roles. - Sometimes, custom objects or fields in Salesforce aren’t supported out of the box.

3.2 HubSpot Integration

HubSpot users get a similar, though sometimes less robust, experience.

How to set it up: - In Showell, open integrations and choose HubSpot. - Authorize the connection by logging in to your HubSpot account. - Map which HubSpot records should connect to Showell content. - Test by sharing a document from a contact or deal record.

What to watch for: - HubSpot’s API limits can cause sync delays—don’t expect instant updates if you’re on a free plan. - Activity logging might not be as detailed as you’d like.

3.3 Other CRMs

For everyone else, you’re probably looking at:

  • Zapier: Use triggers like “New file shared in Showell” → “Create note in CRM.”
  • Manual embedding: Add Showell share links or iFrames to your CRM records.
  • Custom API work: If you’ve got dev resources, use Showell’s API to push/pull info as needed.

What to watch for: - Zapier is easy, but limited. It’s fine for basic “log this activity” use cases, but don’t expect deep integration. - Custom API work is powerful, but only do it if you have actual developer time and a real need.

Step 4: Train your team (and set expectations)

Don’t assume your sales team will magically adopt the new workflow. If you want the integration to stick:

  • Run a quick walkthrough on how to access Showell from the CRM, and vice versa.
  • Show them how content sharing gets logged (or doesn’t—be honest if tracking is limited).
  • Make it clear what’s changing, and what’s staying the same.
  • Set up a feedback loop so you can fix pain points early.

Pro tip: If something takes more clicks than before, your team will revert to old habits. Watch for this and simplify where you can.

Step 5: Monitor, tweak, and don’t get fancy (yet)

Integration isn’t a “set it and forget it” thing. Give it a couple weeks and see:

  • Are sales calls smoother, or is everyone still hunting for files?
  • Is the activity log in CRM actually getting filled out?
  • Are you seeing fewer mistakes or “wrong file sent” incidents?

If things aren’t working, don’t be afraid to scale back. Sometimes a simple “shared links + manual note” workflow is better than a buggy half-integration.

What to skip:
Don’t waste time on advanced features (like AI-driven content recommendations) until the basics—sharing, logging, and access—are rock solid.

Honest takes: What works, what doesn’t, and what to ignore

  • Works:
  • Direct links to Showell content from CRM records.
  • Automated logging of sharing activity (when supported).

  • Basic analytics on content usage.

  • Doesn’t always work:

  • Deep, bi-directional syncing (e.g., updating both systems perfectly in real-time).

  • Handling custom fields or objects without custom development.

  • Ignore for now:

  • Fancy dashboards or “AI insights” until you’ve nailed the basics.
  • Overly complex permission schemes—keep it simple at first.

Wrapping up: Keep it simple, and iterate

Integrating Showell with your CRM can seriously cut down on busywork—if you keep your setup realistic. Start with basic sharing and logging, focus on what your team will actually use, and don’t chase every shiny feature. Tweak as you go. If something’s not working, simplify rather than stacking on more tech.

Your sales team (and your sanity) will thank you.