If you’ve ever fought with clunky exports or lost leads because your tools don’t talk to each other, this guide is for you. Maybe you’re a marketer who’s tired of manual CSV imports, or a sales manager who just wants leads to show up where they belong. Integrating Sendler with your CRM can save you a lot of headaches—but only if you set it up right. Here’s how to actually get it working, minus the fluff.
Step 1: Get Clear on What You Want to Sync
Before you touch any settings, nail down what you want to achieve. Most people skip this and end up with a mess of duplicate data or missing info.
Ask yourself:
- Do you want to sync all Sendler contacts to your CRM, or just the ones who take certain actions?
- Are you pushing data one way (Sendler → CRM) or need two-way sync?
- What fields are essential? (Name, email, tags, custom fields?)
Pro tip:
Write down your must-haves and nice-to-haves. It’ll keep you from overcomplicating things later.
Step 2: Check Your CRM’s Integration Options
Not all CRMs are created equal. Some have direct integrations with Sendler, some need a third-party tool, and a few will make you mess with APIs.
Here’s what to look for:
- Direct integration: Search for “Sendler” in your CRM’s app/integration marketplace.
- Connector apps: If your CRM isn’t supported natively, check tools like Zapier, Make (formerly Integromat), or Pabbly Connect.
- API access: For rare or custom CRMs, see if both platforms support APIs (and if you’re comfortable messing with them).
What works:
Direct integrations are usually less glitchy and easier to troubleshoot.
What to ignore:
Don’t waste time with a half-baked “sync” that only pushes basic contact info. If you need custom fields or more control, skip straight to a connector or API approach.
Step 3: Prep Your Data (Trust Me, This Matters)
Garbage in, garbage out. If your Sendler or CRM data is a mess, syncing just spreads the chaos.
- Clean up duplicate contacts before you start.
- Standardize field names (e.g., “First Name” vs. “Firstname” or “first_name”).
- Map out custom fields you use in both systems—like tags, source, or custom notes.
Reality check:
If you skip this step, you’ll end up with mismatched records and weird sync errors. Take an hour and do it right.
Step 4: Set Up the Integration
Now for the actual nuts and bolts. The details will depend on your CRM, but here’s the general process.
4.1 If You Have a Direct Integration
- Log into Sendler.
- Go to the Integrations or Settings section.
- Find your CRM in the list and click “Connect” or “Authorize.”
- Follow the prompts—usually you’ll log into your CRM and grant Sendler access.
- Choose what data to sync (contacts, custom fields, tags, etc.).
- Set your sync rules (e.g., only sync new leads, or update existing records).
What works:
Direct integrations are usually fast and don’t need much babysitting.
What to watch:
Some direct integrations have limits—like only syncing basic fields, or not supporting real-time updates. Read the fine print.
4.2 If You’re Using a Connector App (e.g. Zapier, Make)
- Create an account on the connector platform.
- Set up a new “Zap” (Zapier) or “Scenario” (Make).
- Choose Sendler as the trigger app.
- Pick your trigger event (e.g., “New Contact Added”).
- Choose your CRM as the action app.
- Set what happens next (e.g., “Create Contact” or “Update Lead”).
- Map fields from Sendler to your CRM fields. Double-check custom fields.
- Test the connection with sample data.
- Turn it on. Watch for errors in the first few days.
What works:
Connectors give you more control and can handle weird field mappings or custom workflows.
What doesn’t:
Free plans usually have limits (number of tasks, delays, etc.). If you’re syncing a lot, expect to pay.
4.3 If You’re Using APIs (Advanced Users Only)
- Read both platforms’ API docs.
- Generate API keys for both Sendler and your CRM.
- Write scripts (or use tools like Postman) to push/pull data.
- Schedule your syncs using cron jobs or automation tools.
What works:
Total control and flexibility.
What to know:
You’re on your own for support. If you’re not comfortable debugging code or handling webhooks, this isn’t the way.
Step 5: Map and Match Your Fields (Don’t Skip This)
This is where most syncs go sideways. Make sure every important field in Sendler matches up with the right spot in your CRM.
- Check for mismatches (e.g., “Phone” in Sendler goes to “Mobile” in CRM).
- Pay attention to dropdowns or picklists. These can break if values don’t match.
- Decide what happens with missing or duplicate data. Most tools let you pick “overwrite,” “ignore,” or “merge.”
Pro tip:
Do a small test sync with a handful of records first. Fix any weirdness before turning on full sync.
Step 6: Monitor and Troubleshoot
The first week is when you’ll catch most problems. Don’t just “set it and forget it.”
- Check your CRM for new/updated contacts.
- Watch for error logs or failed syncs.
- Ask your team for feedback—are leads showing up where they should?
What works:
Most decent integrations have logs or alerts. Use them.
What doesn’t:
Assuming it’ll all work perfectly forever. Updates to either platform can break your sync. Set a reminder to check things monthly.
Step 7: Automate, But Don’t Overdo It
Now that the basics are working, you can set up extra automations—like tagging leads from certain campaigns or triggering follow-up emails.
- Start simple. Only automate what saves you real time.
- Document your automations. Future you (or your teammates) will thank you.
- Avoid automation spaghetti. If you need a diagram to understand your setup, it’s too complex.
Step 8: Train Your Team and Get Feedback
Even the slickest integration is useless if nobody knows how it works.
- Show your team how new data flows in.
- Document what to do if something looks off.
- Get feedback—you’ll catch edge cases you missed.
A Few Honest Gotchas to Watch Out For
- Rate limits: Both Sendler and your CRM may limit how many API calls you can make per hour/day. If you sync a lot of data, plan accordingly.
- Data privacy: Make sure you’re not syncing sensitive info you shouldn’t be sharing.
- Partial syncs: Some integrations only sync new data, not updates. Read the docs.
- Contact ownership: If your CRM assigns leads to reps, double-check how new contacts get assigned.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Integrating Sendler with your CRM can cut out a ton of manual work and help your team move faster. But don’t try to automate everything at once. Start with the basics, see what actually helps, and tweak as you go. Most sync disasters come from trying to get too fancy too soon.
Set it up, keep an eye on it, and make changes as you learn. That’s all there is to it.