SumoLab Total Business Marketing

Author: Jerry Suhrstedt

  • Do I Need a Business Analyst?

    Do I Need a Business Analyst?

    Do I need a business analyst? Could your processes be slowing you down?

    Many a business owner have asked the question… “Do I need a business analyst“?

    As a business owner, you are constantly facing challenges and opportunities that can impact the success and growth of your company. From managing customer relationships and sales processes to analyzing market trends and identifying new business opportunities, there is a lot to consider when running a business.

     
    One of the key ways to ensure the success of your business is by hiring a business analyst. A business analyst is a professional who specializes in analyzing a company’s operations, processes, and data to identify areas for improvement and develop strategies for growth.
     
    Here are just a few reasons why a business owner would benefit from hiring a business analyst:
     

    Improved decision making

    A business analyst can help you make more informed decisions by providing you with data-driven insights and recommendations. They can help you identify trends and patterns in your company’s operations, sales, and customer data, and use this information to develop strategies that can drive business growth.
     
    For example, a business analyst may use data analysis tools to identify which products or services are selling the most, and provide recommendations for how to increase sales in those areas. They may also use customer feedback and surveys to identify customer pain points and develop strategies for improving customer satisfaction.
     
    In short, a business analyst can help you make more informed, data-driven decisions that can drive business growth and success.
     

    Streamlined operations

    A business analyst can help you identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks in your company’s operations, and develop strategies for improving them. They can use data analysis and process mapping tools to identify where time and resources are being wasted, and recommend changes that can streamline operations and increase productivity.
     
    For example, a business analyst may use data analysis to identify which parts of your sales process are taking the longest to complete, and recommend changes that can speed up the process. They may also use process mapping to identify bottlenecks in your supply chain, and recommend changes that can improve the flow of goods and services.
     
    In short, a business analyst can help you streamline your operations and increase productivity, which can lead to improved efficiency and cost savings.
     

    Increased profitability

    A business analyst can help you identify opportunities for increasing profitability and reducing costs. They can use data analysis and market research to identify areas where your company can increase sales, and develop strategies for tapping into these opportunities.
     
    For example, a business analyst may use market research to identify new customer segments or markets that are ripe for expansion, and develop strategies for reaching and engaging these customers. They may also use data analysis to identify opportunities for reducing costs, such as by identifying areas where your company is spending too much on supplies or overhead.
     
    In short, a business analyst can help you identify opportunities for increasing profitability and reducing costs, which can lead to improved financial performance and growth.
     

    Enhanced customer satisfaction

    A business analyst can help you improve customer satisfaction by identifying pain points and developing strategies for addressing them. They can use customer feedback and surveys to identify common issues and concerns, and develop strategies for improving the customer experience.
     
    For example, a business analyst may use customer feedback to identify common issues with your company’s products or services, and recommend changes that can improve quality and reliability. 

    They may also use customer surveys to identify areas where your company is falling short in terms of customer service, and develop strategies for improving responsiveness and support.
     
    In short, a business analyst can help you enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, which can lead to increased sales and long-term growth.
     
    In conclusion, hiring a business analyst can provide numerous benefits for a business owner. From improved decision making and streamlined operations to increased profitability and enhanced customer satisfaction, a business analyst can help you identify opportunities for growth.
  • Do I need a Salesforce Consultant?

    Do I need a Salesforce Consultant?

    Salesforce consulting partners: how do they work?

    With Salesforce consulting partners, you get help implementing projects, creating custom solutions, and scaling your platform. It’s cheaper to hire a contract or hourly admin than to hire a full-time employee. Your team will get the guidance and expertise they need from them because they’re confident in their role.

    A Salesforce partner is a certified administrator who can solve problems and come up with new solutions for your company. Salesforce doesn’t have them in-house, so you can let them interact with your team as much or as little as you want – depending on the project. They can also bring new perspectives and innovative ideas to help your business thrive.

    What makes a Salesforce consulting partner worth trusting?

    Applicants must meet specific criteria and provide Salesforce with the information they need to become Salesforce-certified partners. To join Salesforce Partner Community, they need to agree to the Salesforce Consulting Partner Program terms. Next, they have to go through the minimum requirements for acceptance. 

    If they prove they’re good at it, they become provisional partners. In order to become a non-provisional partner, they have to pay fees and get certifications. Once this is done, the partner is put into the official program at the “Base” level.

    Are there different levels of Salesforce consulting partners?

    Salesforce Consulting Partner Program tiers are based on something called a Trailblazer Score. This score measures innovation, growth, customer success, and impact (previously called “leads”). 

    These partners are passionate about sales and marketing growth, know how to think outside the box to solve challenging problems, and value diversity, inclusion, and community impact.

    There are four tiers to categorize consulting partners: Base, Ridge, Crest, and Summit. Each partner gets a score of 0-1,000 in the first month after a Salesforce fiscal quarter ends. In Salesforce, higher tiers get more resources to take their customers to the next level.

    Does Salesforce consulting make sense?

    In general, Salesforce (or CRM) consulting is needed by two groups: those considering Salesforce and those already using it.

    Businesses thinking about buying Salesforce

    Your business might need a consulting partner if you’re thinking about using Salesforce for customer relations (CRM). Salesforce consultants can help you figure out if and how Salesforce can help your company grow. They’ll help you figure out if it’s the right platform for you. 

    You can start brainstorming for your first consultation by answering these questions:

    • Salesforce can help your company reach its goals, right?

    • What are the top three things you can do to make your CRM investment successful?

    • How are your sales and revenue goals being hindered?

    After you’ve answered these questions and shared them with your Salesforce consulting partner, they can help you decide if Salesforce is right for you. If it is, they can help you get started on the following:

    • Give executive leadership the tools they need to make smart, strategic decisions.

    • Improve your tech stack and save money with innovative recommendations. 

    • Put your company on the road to long-term success by laying a solid foundation.

    Customers using Salesforce

    Consider partnering with a consultant if you already use Salesforce but need expert help. A Salesforce partner can help you migrate and organize data, implement new technology, update old processes or systems, and find effective, innovative solutions to longstanding problems.

    If this is the case, your Salesforce consulting partner should help you with: 

    • Determine what’s holding you back from achieving your sales and revenue goals.

    • Make a roadmap that highlights the top three things you can do right now to make quick progress.

    • Ensure long-term success with an accelerated on-ramp for ongoing support.

    • Give your executive leadership the tools they need to make critical, strategic decisions.

    • Resolve bugs and defects preventing your team from leveraging Salesforce.

    • Optimize your tech stack and reduce costs with innovative recommendations.

    This will help you get the most out of your Salesforce investment by setting it up for maximum success.

    Salesforce Consulting Partner Expertise: How to Choose

    How well do they know your industry? How many years do they have worked with other businesses? How often do they learn to stay up to date with current trends and technology? Find out what past customers think about the company by asking for case studies and testimonials. You can find reviews on business websites and independent platforms like Google, Facebook, and G2.

    Experience with Salesforce

    Check out their Salesforce certifications and experience. What types of solutions do they suggest for your business? How will Salesforce help you reach your goals? Do they know everything your business needs to move forward?

    Ability to solve problems

    Can your potential partner come up with new ways to reach your goals? Can they tailor solutions to fit your company’s unique needs? Do they know what integrations and functionality to add to make your CRM system work?

    Methods that work

    What is your Salesforce consulting partner’s process for implementing the CRM and training your team to use it well? Are they great communicators and teachers? Are they friendly and helpful?

    Support over the long run

    Then what? If you don’t find a partner that offers ongoing support, you could have major problems after implementation. Salesforce should scale with your company. If your business and customer base grows, you’ll need more features, functionality, and integrations. 

    Salesforce partners that offer ongoing support can help you update, troubleshoot, and train on new tools and features. 

    What does it cost? 

    Do you know how much consulting costs? Choosing a consultant that offers fair pricing is important, but not hiring a consultant or internal admin can cost more. 70% of CRM projects that fail go to those who try to implement Salesforce on their own – or already have. 

    You’ll save a lot of time and money if your Salesforce implementation fails. Hiring a consultant can help you avoid common pitfalls underprepared companies face. Setting priorities, building a foundation for success, integrating technology correctly, and improving user experience can all be done with your partner.

    Weigh all the pros and cons when evaluating the value of your potential partner, including the size of the team you’re partnering with.

    Skills that complement each other

    Is the consulting partner able to lend other skills to your business besides Salesforce? Look for someone who has skills that complement Salesforce setup, training, and support. If you need help building a more holistic solution, a partner with experience in digital marketing and sales could help.

    Get Salesforce consulting from SumoLab.

    We’re proud to be a Salesforce Consulting Partner, and we’d love to help you! Just tell us what you’re working on and how we can help. 

    Let us help you set up a successful CRM or make your current Salesforce system work for you. If you already have a business website, we can connect it with Salesforce seamlessly.

  • Start Your Salesforce Career

    Start Your Salesforce Career

    Salesforce is the world’s #1 CRM platform. Over 150,000 companies worldwide use this CRM platform to manage sales teams, marketing processes, and to streamline business systems.

    Once you get your Salesforce Administrator Certification, coupled with your experience, you can garner around $70-$80,000 annual salary. There’s a huge demand for Salesforce Administrators with a Business Analyst, Developer, or Architect specialty. And it won’t take you 2 years to get this done… more like 4-6 months. Read everything… watch videos… take tests… and keep doing it.

    Note:  Even though I didn’t have certifications on board, I just jumped in the pool headfirst and started interviewing.  I’ve had 15 interviews over the past 2 months… really teaches you how to properly interview.  If you screw up an interview, don’t worry about it.  Just learn from it, jump back on the horse and do it again.

    Certifications

    Certifications are pretty much the foundation for any new person wanting to get in to Salesforce.  You should focus your energies on these two certifications first:

    • Salesforce Associate (easiest one to get)
    • Salesforce Administrator (a much harder cert, and really the underlying foundation for the entire Salesforce eco-system)
    • Phase I – Education Foundation
      • First Step
      • Trailhead
        • Get this going first thing as well… set up your free account on Salesforce Trailhead account: (free training program put out by SF).  
        • You’ll spend tons of time on this free gamified training site from Salesforce.  They even give you the ability to create free Salesforce Orgs so you can practice.
        • https://trailhead.salesforce.com/
        • You will want to get your 1) “Salesforce Associate” certification (easiest), then next you’ll need to get your 2) Salesforce Administrator certification.  They have over 30 certs, but those two are the foundations you need.  Then depending on which direction you go… developer, architect, marketing, or admin will dictate which order you’ll get subsequent certifications.
      • Udemy
        • Set up a free account with Udemy.  You’ll need to purchase multiple courses.  They are usually around $15 each.  The first course you’ll need to take is Mike Wheeler’s | The Complete Salesforce Certified Administrator Course.
        • https://www.udemy.com
      • LinkedIn
        • LinkedIn is the world’s largest hub of Salesforce recruiters, hiring managers, industry professionals, and where you get noticed. 
        • Look at my profile.  I get 5 recruitments just about every week.
        • https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerrysuhrstedt/
      • Other Sources
    • Phase II – Certifications