<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Blog</title>
	<atom:link href="https://www.mothernode.com/category/blog/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://www.mothernode.com</link>
	<description>Business Management Software</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:11:05 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1</generator>

<image>
	<url>https://www.mothernode.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cropped-MOTHERNODE-BOX-WITH-TEXTLRG-32x32.jpg</url>
	<title>Blog</title>
	<link>https://www.mothernode.com</link>
	<width>32</width>
	<height>32</height>
</image> 
	<item>
		<title>10 Ways a CRM can benefit your business</title>
		<link>https://www.mothernode.com/10-ways-a-crm-can-benefit-your-business/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mothernode Author]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Oct 2023 00:01:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mothernode.com/?p=13467</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span>10 Ways a CRM can benefit your business In the dynamic landscape of modern business, effective customer relationship management (CRM) has become a cornerstone of success. As businesses strive to not only attract new customers but also retain and nurture their existing client base, CRM systems play a pivotal role in this endeavor. Beyond their...]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 2</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span><h4>10 Ways a CRM can benefit your business</h4>
<p>In the dynamic landscape of modern business, effective customer relationship management (CRM) has become a cornerstone of success. As businesses strive to not only attract new customers but also retain and nurture their existing client base, CRM systems play a pivotal role in this endeavor. Beyond their core functions of organizing customer data and streamlining communication, CRM systems offer a wealth of reporting and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) benefits. In this article, we will delve into the ten crucial ways in which CRM enhances reporting and empowers organizations to measure, analyze, and optimize their performance, ultimately driving growth and customer satisfaction. From lead conversion rates to customer lifetime value, these metrics provide the insights and tools necessary for businesses to make data-driven decisions and thrive in the highly competitive business landscape.</p>
<p>Using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software can provide numerous reporting and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) benefits for businesses. Here are ten of them:</p>
<p>1. <strong>Customer Segmentation</strong>: CRM systems allow businesses to segment their customer data, helping identify different customer groups based on demographics, behavior, or purchase history, enabling more targeted marketing efforts.</p>
<p>2. <strong>Lead Conversion Rate</strong>: Track how effectively leads are converted into customers. CRM systems can provide insights into the success of your sales and marketing strategies.</p>
<p>3. <strong>Sales Funnel Analysis</strong>: Monitor and report on the movement of leads and opportunities through the sales funnel, helping to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.</p>
<p>4. <strong>Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)</strong>: Calculate the cost of acquiring new customers. By tracking expenses and new customer acquisitions, you can optimize your marketing and sales efforts.</p>
<p>5. <strong>Customer Retention Rate</strong>: Measure how well your CRM system helps retain existing customers. A high customer retention rate is often indicative of a successful CRM strategy.</p>
<p>6. <strong>Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)</strong>: Estimate the potential revenue generated from a single customer over their entire relationship with your business, which can inform marketing and service strategies.</p>
<p>7.<strong> Response and Resolution Times</strong>: Track the time it takes to respond to customer inquiries and resolve issues, which is crucial for customer satisfaction and loyalty.</p>
<p>8. <strong>Sales Team Performance</strong>: Evaluate the performance of your sales team members individually and as a whole. You can measure metrics like deals closed, revenue generated, and average deal size.</p>
<p>9. <strong>Customer Feedback and Sentiment Analysis</strong>: Utilize CRM tools to collect and analyze customer feedback and sentiment. This can help you understand customer satisfaction and identify areas for improvement.</p>
<p>10. <strong>Forecasting and Predictive Analytics</strong>: CRM systems often include predictive analytics capabilities, which can help forecast sales, customer trends, and inventory needs, improving strategic decision-making.</p>
<p>These reporting and KPI benefits of CRM can empower businesses to make data-driven decisions, optimize their operations, enhance customer relationships, and ultimately drive growth and profitability.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Mothernode &#8211; The Perfect Alternative to KeyedIn</title>
		<link>https://www.mothernode.com/mothernode-crm-the-perfect-alternative-to-keyedin/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mothernode Author]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Sep 2022 22:50:39 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crm]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Email Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sales Automation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mothernode.com/?p=12500</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 7</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span>Why Mothernode is the ideal solution for companies dealing with inefficiencies in their current workflow processes If you&#8217;re looking for a software program that can help you with operations, sales management, estimating, production control, and other essential services, Mothernode might be exactly what you need and is a great alternative to programs like KeyedIn, sighting...]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 7</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span><h3><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Why Mothernode is the ideal solution for companies dealing with inefficiencies in their current workflow processes</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you&#8217;re looking for a software program that can help you with operations, sales management, estimating, production control, and other essential services, Mothernode might be exactly what you need and is a great alternative to programs like <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">KeyedIn</span>, sighting a much broader array of capabilities. Mothernode has all of the features that you would expect from a world-class business management platform, including the ability to create and synchronize your operations, sales, and business processes, which is where <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">KeyedIn</span> can fall short in some areas. In addition, Mothernode offers a number of specialized features that make it an attractive option for businesses such as integrations with Outlook, Quickbooks, and lead services, to name a few. Moreover, customers usually take note of the competitive price point Mothernode is positioned with in contrast to its competitors in the market, who in some cases, offer less. Because Mothernode includes everything you need to run your business, customers gain exceptional savings and value because they don&#8217;t need to rely on third-party companion software such as Salesforce, Zen Desk, or Quotient, just to name a few.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; color: #00ccff;">Here are a few notable advantages Mothernode has over KeyedIn when it comes to running your business.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Transactions are related to one another (Orders, POs, etc.)</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Having all of your transactions connected in Mothernode provides a level of convenience and ease of use that is unmatched by other software platforms like KeyedIn. Related records are automatically linked, so you can easily create Purchase Orders from Sales Orders and maintain that relationship throughout the life of the project and beyond. This saves time and ensures that all of your data is accurate and up-to-date. In addition, seeing the relationships between records makes it easy to track down information, improves job costing, and lets users find what they need quickly. Mothernode&#8217;s connected transactions are just one of the many ways that the platform sets itself apart from the competition.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-12519 size-full" src="https://www.mothernode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Related-POS-1.jpg" alt="Orders Related POs KeyedIn Alternative" width="1000" height="594" /></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Built-in Submittal Approval Process</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode&#8217;s built-in artwork submittal review process is a secure and easy way for clients to approve their designs online and lets project managers convert approved design schematics into production drawings for fabrication with the click of a button. The process includes collaboration features that let customers share their feedback, making it easy to get design approval. Mothernode simplifies the process by providing an easy-to-use interface that lets you manage your design approvals and collaborators all in one place. This makes the design approval process easier and more efficient, saving you time and money.</span></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-12520 size-large" src="https://www.mothernode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/submittal-1024x573.jpg" alt="Keyed-in Alternative Planning" width="1024" height="573" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Project Based Invoicing (Pay Apps)</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Progress invoicing is an essential tool for companies that need to invoice their customers based on contract payment schedules or pay apps. Mothernode&#8217;s progress invoicing feature lets companies invoice their customers based on a <em>dollar amount</em> instead of basing it on the total dollar amount of product shipped. This makes billing more flexible and efficient. As a result, businesses can avoid disruptions in their cash flow and better manage their finances. In addition, Mothernode&#8217;s progress invoicing feature can help businesses keep track of their spending and ensure that they are compliant with their contracts. Mothernode&#8217;s progress invoicing feature is a valuable tool for any business that wants to improve its financial management.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-12517 size-full" src="https://www.mothernode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/PI.jpg" alt="Progress Invoicing KeyedIn Alternative" width="1000" height="493" /></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>All-in-one Enterprise CRM</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">With Mothernode, you get an all-in-one platform that includes everything you would expect from enterprise software, including reporting and KPIs as well as integrated sales management. This makes it easy for sales managers and their teams alike to track their progress and ensure that they&#8217;re meeting their goals. The best part is that Mothernode is easy to use, so users won&#8217;t waste time trying to figure out how to get started with the program. With its customizable reporting features, you&#8217;ll be able to see how your business is performing at a glance, and with its integrated sales management capabilities, you&#8217;ll be able to keep track of all activities, synchronize follow-ups with your calendar, stay on top of your sales pipeline and close more deals.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-12523 size-full" src="https://www.mothernode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/sales-management.jpg" alt="Sales Management KeyedIn Alternative" width="1000" height="575" /></span></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">CRM Mobile App </span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode&#8217;s mobile app helps users stay connected to customers, contacts, and sales activity while on-the-go. The app makes it easy to manage customer relationships and track sales progress, whether you&#8217;re at or away from the office. <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">KeyedIn</span> customers face the drawback of needing to include Salesforce or an additional subscription to add sales customer-focused mobile features.  With Mothernode&#8217;s mobile app, you can quickly add new contacts, view customer information, and log sales calls and meetings. The app also integrates with existing Outlook, Google and iCal calendars, letting you keep track of important dates and deadlines. Whether you&#8217;re a sales professional or customer service representative, Mothernode&#8217;s mobile app is a valuable tool for managing customer relationships and staying on top of your sales goals.</span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-11942 size-full" src="https://www.mothernode.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Contacts.jpg" alt="KeyedIn Alternative Mobile" width="250" height="541" /></span></strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Marketing Automation Built-In</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode&#8217;s built-in email marketing platforms offer a variety of features to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. Marketing automation capabilities allow businesses to send up to 25,000 emails per month, saving time and money on additional software subscriptions. Mothernode also offers campaigns and sequences for flexible email marketing needs. Campaigns can be used to track and manage communications for specific sales or marketing initiatives, while sequences allow businesses to automate email communications based on customer interactions. By eliminating the need for additional software subscriptions, Mothernode provides a cost-effective solution for all email marketing needs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-12524 size-full" src="https://www.mothernode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Marketing-1.jpg" alt="KeyedIn Alternative " width="1000" height="572" /></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Installation Work Orders</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode&#8217;s installation module gives users the added ability to schedule orders for installation and integrate with existing field service workflows. Using install schedules, businesses can plan and assign installations to both in-house installers as well as third-party installers. The install module also allows businesses to track each installation job from start to finish, providing visibility into the status of each install. Finally, customers can digitally sign-off on completed work orders, ensuring a smooth and efficient installation process. By utilizing the install module within Mothernode, businesses can streamline their field service operations and provide a better experience for their customers.</span></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-12521 size-full" src="https://www.mothernode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/worke-order.jpg" alt="KeyedIn Installed Schedule Alternative" width="1000" height="576" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Outlook Integration</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The Mothernode Add-in for Outlook 365 gives users quick and easy access to their Mothernode records from within Outlook. With full outlook integration on both Mac and Windows, users can synchronize their customer and contact records, archive emails, access group notes, and create new opportunities and cases all from within their outlook interface. This add-in provides a seamless way to integrate your CRM data with your customer service processes, saving time and increasing efficiency. Whether you&#8217;re managing customer records or communicating with clients, the Mothernode Add-in for Outlook 365 is the perfect solution.</span></p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-12516 size-full" src="https://www.mothernode.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/outlook.jpg" alt="Outlook 365 CRM" width="1000" height="520" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you&#8217;re evaluating a software system to run your business or looking for a cost-effective alternative to your existing platform, then Mothernode might just be what you&#8217;re looking for. Mothernode also serves as a viable alternative to KeyedIn that is both budget-friendly and feature-rich. It&#8217;s a business system that helps you manage operations, customer relationships, and marketing efforts. With Mothernode, you can automate many organizational processes, freeing up time to focus on other areas of your business. Additionally, the software provides a number of customizable reports and dashboards to help you track your progress and make informed decisions about your business. If you&#8217;re looking for a KeyedIn alternative that won&#8217;t break the bank, Mothernode is definitely worth considering.</span></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>ConstructConnect Insight Sync Services for your CRM</title>
		<link>https://www.mothernode.com/constructconnect-insight-sync-services-for-your-crm/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mothernode Author]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 13 Aug 2022 15:07:50 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mothernode.com/?p=12482</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 3</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span>For anyone looking for a cost-effective alternative to Salesforce when it comes to integrating their ConstructConnect Projects into their CRM. Summary Save over $15,000 on your Insight Sync integration with Mothernode CRM Mothernode&#8217;s Insight Sync integration is included at no additional cost with select Mothernode CRM Editions Mothernode CRM is a great alternative to Salesforce...]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 3</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">For anyone looking for a cost-effective alternative to Salesforce when it comes to integrating their ConstructConnect Projects into their CRM.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Summary</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Save over $15,000</strong> on your Insight Sync integration with Mothernode CRM</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode&#8217;s Insight Sync integration is <strong>included at no additional cost</strong> with select Mothernode CRM Editions</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode CRM is a <strong>great alternative to Salesforce</strong> when considering ConstructConnect Integrations</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Slash your CRM technology spending with Mothernode CRM</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Automatically receive your ConstructConnect projects and updates in your CRM, daily.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Signup for a <a href="https://www.mothernode.com/request-a-demo-north-america/">Live Mothernode CRM Demo</a></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode&#8217;s Insight Sync integration is a powerful tool that allows users to manage their sales process and connect with their prospects, contacts, and customers in the CRM account, without ever having to access their ConstructConnect account. This means that users can now save time and money by using Mothernode Insight Sync to manage their sales process, instead of subscribing to Salesforce and costly annual subscriptions for Salesforce&#8217;s Insight Sync integration. Mothernode&#8217;s Insight Sync integration offers users the ability to receive their ConstructConnect Projects and updated directly into their CRM account, so they can easily incorporate them into their sales processes and pipeline. Mothernode customers can start using Insight Sync today by contacting their ConstructConnect representative and activating their Insight Sync subscription. ConstructConnect customers can learn more about Insight Sync in this video.</span></p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wKYdpkfRUwE" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Save Big with Mothernode CRM</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode CRM&#8217;s Insight Sync service integration is available to its subscribers <strong>at no additional cost</strong>, compared to the <a href="https://appexchange.salesforce.com/appxListingDetail?listingId=a0N3A00000FAB8AUAX">Salesforce app</a> which <em>starts</em> at $15,000 per year, which is independent of your annual Salesforce subscription, which makes Mothernode CRM a great alternative to Salesforces when it comes to Insight sync integration. Mothernode&#8217;s Insight sync subscription saves customers over $15,000 per year in additional subscription fees. ConstructConnect customers can add the Insight Sync subscription to their existing ConstructConnect subscription, which adds automation features that save customers even more time and money. Mothernode CRM is a valuable tool for companies who want to save time and money. Contact your ConstructConnect representative for more information on how to activate your Insight Sync features.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>All your sales activities in one place</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode CRM users can now manage all of their sales activity—including their ConstructConnect opportunities—within Mothernode. The integration between Mothernode and ConstructConnect lets users create new opportunities in Mothernode and add the project contacts available in ConstructConnect. Additionally, users can view the contact interactions, project details, and project history for each opportunity. To get started, users simply need to connect their Mothernode and ConstructConnect accounts. Once connected, the Mothernode Insight Sync will automatically sync data between the two platforms. As a result, users will have a complete view of their sales pipeline—from initial contact to closed deal—all in one place.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Work in One System</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode users will find that connecting their accounts with ConstructConnect reduces prospecting time. This means that everything you need is in your Mothernode account, reducing the number of systems you need to access. The Mothernode + ConstructConnect integration gives you the ability to see your customer information, project leads, and projections in one place. You can also create and manage projects from start to finish within Mothernode. This includes the ability to track project milestones, create and assign tasks, add files and attachments, and view project financials. The Mothernode + ConstructConnect integration is a powerful tool that will save you time and increase your productivity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Data Analytics and Reporting</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode&#8217;s integration with ConstructConnect means that your project pipeline data is seamlessly connected and accessible within Mothernode CRM. This allows you to get valuable insights into your sales pipeline and performance, and also enables Mothernode&#8217;s advanced reporting features.  The Insight Sync Integration ensures that your Mothernode data is always up-to-date, accurate, and complete, so you can focus on running your business, not managing data.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">How to Get Started</span></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mothernode CRM&#8217;s Insight Sync app makes it easy to manage your sales activity, including your ConstructConnect opportunities. With Mothernode, you can view your entire sales pipeline in one place, so you never miss a beat. And with ConstructConnect&#8217;s Insight Sync integration, you can easily track your progress on each opportunity and ensure that all of your information is up-to-date. Mothernode makes it easy to close more deals and grow your business. <a href="https://www.mothernode.com/request-a-demo-north-america/">Try Mothernode CRM today.</a></span></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>7 Ways Small Businesses Can Reduce Overhead</title>
		<link>https://www.mothernode.com/7-ways-small-businesses-can-reduce-overhead/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mothernode Author]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Aug 2022 14:53:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mothernode.com/?p=12469</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 4</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span>For any business, large or small, cutting costs is always a priority. This is especially true during tough economic times when every penny counts. There are several ways to cut costs without compromising on quality or service. One way to cut costs is to renegotiate contracts with suppliers. This can be done by threatening to...]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 4</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span><p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">For any business, large or small, cutting costs is always a priority. This is especially true during tough economic times when every penny counts. There are several ways to cut costs without compromising on quality or service. One way to cut costs is to renegotiate contracts with suppliers. This can be done by threatening to switch to a competitor, or simply by asking for a better deal. Another way to save money is to make use of technology. For example, many businesses now use video conferencing instead of expensive face-to-face meetings. Finally, you can also cut costs by streamlining your operations. This might involve outsourcing non-essential tasks or cutting back on staff hours. By following these tips, you can ensure that your business runs efficiently and remains profitable.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Go Paperless</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Running a small business is expensive, and every little bit counts when it comes to cutting costs. One way to save money is to go paperless as much as possible. Communicating electronically can help reduce your paper usage, as well as the associated costs of copiers and printers. Sending files via email or FTP is also a great way to reduce shipping costs. In today&#8217;s business world, there&#8217;s no need to rely on paper documents when you can go paperless and save time and money.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Use Technology</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Technology has revolutionized the way businesses operate. By investing in technology, businesses can boost efficiency and save time. Online ordering is an ideal way to cut sales costs. By allowing customers to order goods and services online, businesses can reduce the need for customer service staff. In addition, online ordering can help businesses to track customer orders and manage inventory more effectively. As a result, businesses can save money and increase efficiency. For small businesses, cutting costs is essential to remaining competitive. Technology can help small businesses to achieve more with less. By utilizing technology, businesses can increase productivity and accomplish more with fewer resources.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Digital Marketing</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In these tough economic times, cutting costs is a top priority for many businesses. One way to reduce expenses is to closely examine your marketing budget. Are you still using traditional methods like print ads and direct mail? If so, it&#8217;s time to consider switching to digital marketing. Digital marketing is more efficient and often more effective than traditional methods, and it&#8217;s also much cheaper. Banner ads for retargeting, email campaigns, and follow-up sequences are all excellent ways to reach your target audience without breaking the bank. So if you&#8217;re looking to slash your printing costs, consider making the switch to digital marketing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reduce or Renegotiate Your Rent</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">When it comes to cutting costs, one of the first places small business owners look is their office space. After all, office rent can be a significant expense, especially in larger cities. But before you start looking for a new office or trying to negotiate a lower rent, it&#8217;s important to consider how your business operates. If you have a company that can operate remotely or only a few departments need to be in the office, then cutting your office space may not be the best solution. However, if your business requires physical space, working with a broker to negotiate a better rate or finding a new office could be the answer you&#8217;re looking for. And, of course, buying an office space is always an option, although it may not be feasible for every business. Ultimately, the decision of whether to keep or eliminate your office space comes down to what&#8217;s best for your business. But by considering all your options, you can be sure you&#8217;re making the best decision for your company.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Evaluate Subscriptions and Leases</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">For small businesses, cutting costs can be the difference between profitability and failure. One area where costs can quickly add up is in business subscriptions and lease agreements. Phone service, shipping, and even office space can be expensive, but there are often alternatives that can provide significant savings. For example, VoIP services offer a cheaper alternative to traditional landlines, and many businesses are able to bundle their subscription services together for additional savings. By taking the time to evaluate all of your ongoing costs, you can make sure that your small business is as efficient and cost-effective as possible.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Buy Refurbished and Used Equipment</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Every business owner knows that cutting costs is essential to success. One way to do this is to buy refurbished equipment instead of brand new items. You can find great deals on second-hand office supplies and furniture at companies that are liquidating assets or used office furniture and equipment stores. Not only will you save money, but you&#8217;ll also be supporting small businesses. So next time you need to purchase</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Reduce Staff (Layoffs)</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Not the most pleasant but laying people off can be a necessary strategy to improve profitability. One area where you may be able to achieve both goals is by making layoffs. Although it may seem counterintuitive, eliminating underperforming employees and positions can actually help to improve your bottom line. By reallocating resources to service clients and streamlining departments, you can improve your company&#8217;s overall performance. In addition, cutting costs through layoffs can free up funds that can be used to invest in new products or services. While it may not be an easy decision, making layoffs can be a necessary evil when it comes to running a successful business office equipment, remember to check out the refurbished options first!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Evaluating and comparing the costs of various services is an important part of being a small business owner. Compromising value in order to save money is not wise, but being frugal and understanding when it’s worth spending more for better quality can help your bottom line. By following the tips we’ve outlined in this blog post, you should be able to make smarter decisions about where to allocate your hard-earned dollars. What cost-saving measures have you put into place as a small business owner?</span></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to be an effective Sales Manager</title>
		<link>https://www.mothernode.com/how-to-be-an-effective-sales-manager/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mothernode Author]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jul 2022 20:08:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mothernode.com/?p=12455</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span>Practical guidelines to becoming an effective Sales Manager Sales management is a process of leading and motivating a team of salespeople in order to achieve sales goals. As a sales manager, you are responsible for ensuring your team is productive and meeting quotas. This can be a daunting task, but there are some practical best...]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 5</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span><h1><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Practical guidelines to becoming an effective Sales Manager</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sales management is a process of leading and motivating a team of salespeople in order to achieve sales goals. As a sales manager, you are responsible for ensuring your team is productive and meeting quotas. This can be a daunting task, but there are some practical best practices that can help you succeed. First, it&#8217;s important to set clear goals and expectations for your team. Without this direction, it will be difficult to measure success. Second, create a sales plan outlining how you and your team will achieve these goals. This plan should detail specific activities, such as prospecting and cold-calling, as well as timelines and targets. Finally, continue to develop your sales skills and stay up-to-date on industry trends. By following these best practices, you can be an effective sales manager who helps drive revenue for your organization.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Schedule Weekly Sales Meetings</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Being a sales manager comes with a lot of responsibility. Not only are you responsible for your own sales goals, but you&#8217;re also responsible for managing and developing a sales team. A critical component of being a successful sales manager always includes routine weekly sales meetings. These sales meetings serve as a way to stay focused and never lose sight of what your sales team is doing. It&#8217;s your job as the sales manager to set the expectations and make sure the actionable items are being followed up on and that the results you expect are being delivered. When problems arise in the sales process, such as you&#8217;re not seeing the momentum you want or you start to suspect performance issues, holding weekly sales meetings will help you spot these problems early and give you the opportunity to respond accordingly. It&#8217;s essential that sales managers have a spine and are willing to manage a variety of personalities; if not, they&#8217;ll have a hard time being an effective sales manager. Ultimately, being a sales manager requires focus, dedication, and routine check-ins with your team in order to be successful.</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Review weekly progress reports</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Experienced sales managers are always looking for an edge to help them improve their forecasting accuracy and increase their close ratios. One of the most important tools at their disposal is a CRM system. A good CRM will not only provide them with valuable customer data, but will also allow them to generate reports that can help them identify trends and optimize their sales process. Dashboards are a great way to get a high-level overview of your sales numbers, but reports can provide you with more detailed information that can be critical for forecasting and troubleshooting. That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s important to run reports regularly and if your CRM system supports it, have them run automatically and distributed to your team. By taking advantage of all the features that a CRM system has to offer, sales managers can gain a deeper understanding of their business and make better decisions that lead to increased sales and profitability.</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">1. Forecasting is one of the more popular reports, because, when the right parameters are used, it can provide you with a current picture of what the next few months look like. Forecasting the near future for 30, 60, and 90 days is the most important, but 6 months of forecasting is something sales managers need to stay on top of.<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>To do this, estimated close dates are critical and should be adjusted throughout the sales process. Probability scoring is also critical in order to successfully prioritize which prospects to pursue. By understanding these concepts and utilizing them correctly, sales managers can ensure that their team is always focused on the right prospects and that they have a good idea of what the future looks like.</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">2. Close ratios are a key metric for any sales team, and understanding how they fluctuate throughout the year can help you better manage expectations. In normal times, earnings are typically consistent for each quarter. However, benching reps against one another can reveal who your under-performers are. Additionally, understanding Close ratios by month and reviewing your historical sales can help you identify slow seasons. This information can be used to make quota adjustments for your more busy months. Sales trends may be different for different markets, but spotting these trends can help you Shift focus throughout the year. Ultimately, Close ratios and data comparisons are essential tools for any sales manager. By monitoring these metrics, you can more effectively manage your team and ensure that they meet their quotas.</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">3. When measuring a sales rep&#8217;s performance, it&#8217;s important to look at their sales pipeline and their booked business. The sales pipeline can give you an idea of what deals are in progress, but it&#8217;s important to look for substance and momentum as well. Closed business tells the real story of a sales rep&#8217;s performance, so be sure to look at trends in addition to individual deals. Close ratios and order bookings are good indicators of a sales rep&#8217;s success. By looking at both the sales pipeline and closed business, you can get a complete picture of a sales rep&#8217;s performance and activity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Sales management can be a tricky business. Close ratios and other sales reports can give you a good idea of how your team is performing, but there&#8217;s always the possibility that reps are not being entirely truthful about their results. However, numbers don&#8217;t lie. By carefully reviewing sales trends and looking at past performance, you can get a good idea of what to expect from your team in the future. Closely monitoring sales numbers can help you weed out any reps who are not meeting their quotas, and it can also give you an early warning of any potential problems with your sales process. In short, numbers may not always tell the whole story, but they&#8217;re still the best tool we have for understanding sales performance.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Building and sustaining the right sales team is essential for any business, but it can be a challenge. One of the most important things to remember is to hire slow and fire fast. Sales managers need to have a good relationship with their sales reps, but they should avoid being too buddy-buddy. Never hire anyone you might not have the courage to fire. As much as you may want to help out a family member or friend who is actively looking for a job, avoid hiring people you wouldn&#8217;t want to ruin a relationship with. Go with your gut instinct. If something doesn&#8217;t feel right, it probably isn&#8217;t. Reports will often validate what you already know. By taking the time to carefully vet each candidate and trust your instincts, you&#8217;ll be much more likely to build the right team for your business.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">As the sales manager, it is your responsibility to lead your team and generate revenue for the company. You need to be firm, fair, and honest with your team in order to set an example for them to follow. It is also important to offer help when needed and discipline when necessary. If you stay connected with your team&#8217;s activity, you will be one step closer to achieving your goals. Remember, everyone in the company is relying on you to be successful.</span></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to create a successful annual company sales meeting</title>
		<link>https://www.mothernode.com/how-to-create-a-successful-company-sales-meeting/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mothernode Author]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2022 21:47:33 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mothernode.com/?p=12440</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 8</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span>Needing to plan your next company sales meeting? Here are some sound tips to consider that can benefit your team and bottom line. Annual sales meetings are an important part of any thriving business. They provide an opportunity for sales managers to update their team on new products, strategies, and goals. But if they&#8217;re not...]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 8</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span><h3>Needing to plan your next company sales meeting? Here are some sound tips to consider that can benefit your team and bottom line.</h3>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Annual sales meetings are an important part of any thriving business. They provide an opportunity for sales managers to update their team on new products, strategies, and goals. But if they&#8217;re not done well, sales meetings can actually be a waste of time. In this blog post, we&#8217;ll share some tips for creating successful company sales meetings. By following these tips, you can help your team stay on track and achieve their goals.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Every business needs sales to be successful, and sales meetings are key to making sure your company is on track. At a sales meeting, representatives from each sales team meet to discuss goal progress, revenue targets, and sales strategies. This is an important time for sales training and development, as well as for networking and sharing best practices. Semi-annual sales meetings help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards common goals. They also provide an opportunity for representatives from different sales teams to share ideas and learn from one another. As a result, sales meetings are critical to insuring your company&#8217;s success. There&#8217;s simply no way to overstate the importance of bringing everyone together regularly to make sure that everyone is aligned and working towards the same objectives.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sales meetings should be taken seriously but in a casual manner. This is because sales training aims to improve revenue and sales success by sharing ideas and learning from one another. However, sales meetings should also motivate teams and individuals to meet their targets. In order to do this, sales meetings should offer recognition and praise for good sales performance. Additionally, sales meetings should provide opportunities for salespeople to share their best sales practices with the rest of the team. By taking a serious but casual approach to sales meetings, companies can help their sales teams improve their performance and reach their sales goals.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review your sales goals and projections</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of every sales quarter, it&#8217;s important to review your current sales goals and compare them to your performance and sales pipeline. This will give you a good indication of whether you are on track to meet your targets. If you find that you are falling short of your expectations, there are a few things you can do to catch up. First, consider sales training. There are many sales success strategies that you can learn that could help you close more deals. Second, take a look at your sales pipeline and see if there are any opportunities that you can push forward. Finally, don&#8217;t be afraid to ask for help from your manager or colleagues. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh perspective to get back on track.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Take a look at your current sales goals and compare them to what was discussed in the previous sales meeting. Are you on track? If not, view predictions based on your performance and pipeline. If you&#8217;re falling short of your expectations, what can you do to catch up? Perhaps additional sales training would help. Alternatively, take a look at your sales strategy and see if there are any areas you can improve. Remember, even small changes can make a big difference when it comes to sales success. So don&#8217;t be afraid to experiment until you find what works best for you. With a little hard work and dedication, you&#8217;ll be back on track in no time.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Continuing education for (new) products and services</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Any sales rep worth their salt knows that sales education and continuing education is critical to future success. By staying up-to-date on new products, sales reps can identify new opportunities and craft sales pitches that target their customer&#8217;s specific pain points. In addition, sales training helps sales reps to learn about enhancements to existing products, which can lead to increased revenue. Moreover, sales success is often tied to meeting targets, and sales reps who are properly educated are more likely to hit their targets. Therefore, it is clear that sales education and continuing education are essential for sales reps who want to stay ahead of the curve and be successful in their field.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Economic and industry review</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As a sales manager, it&#8217;s important to keep a close eye on market conditions and be prepared to adapt your sales strategy to take advantage of new opportunities or respond to emerging threats. The current economic conditions can have both positive and negative impacts on your business, so it&#8217;s important to be aware of how these shifts might affect your sales. For example, if you&#8217;re selling products that are seen as luxury items, you may see a decrease in sales as consumers tighten their budgets. However, if you&#8217;re selling essential goods or services, you may find that your sales targets are more achievable than ever. Identifying new areas to sell in a shifting economy is essential for sales success. By keeping abreast of current trends and being willing to adapt your sales strategy, you can ensure that your business remains successful no matter what the circumstances.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Competitor analysis; how are you positioned in the marketplace?</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As a business owner, it&#8217;s important to keep a close eye on your top competitors. What are they doing in the market? What sales training are they providing their employees? What are their revenue targets? Are they struggling or growing their business? Knowing the answers to these questions can help you maintain a competitive edge.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">It&#8217;s also important to know your own strengths and weaknesses when competing for a sale. What are your advantages and disadvantages over your competition? Where is your business positioned in your marketplace? Knowing the answers to these questions can help you fine-tune your sales strategy.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, don&#8217;t forget to keep an eye on sales success. Know who your top 5 competitors are and how you compare to them in the marketplace. What sets you apart from them? By tracking these metrics, you can ensure that your business is on track for sales success.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Review current processes and strategies. Are adjustments required?</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">As the sales landscape continues to evolve, it&#8217;s more important than ever to regularly review and update your sales strategies and processes. By staying current with the latest sales tools and methods, you can help ensure that your team is able to achieve its revenue goals. In addition, sales training can be an important part of ensuring sales success. By investing in regular sales training, you can help your team to stay sharp and focused on meeting their targets. Finally, don&#8217;t be afraid to reinvent your sales process as needed. By constantly striving to improve your sales process, you can help ensure that your business remains competitive in today&#8217;s marketplace.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sales success doesn&#8217;t happen by accident. It takes a well-thought-out sales strategy and continual sales process improvement to stay ahead of the competition. By regularly reviewing your core sales strategies and processes, you can identify new ways to improve them and ensure they are aligned with current market trends. For example, you may want to consider online approaches to more traditional offline sales models. Or, you may find new sales tools that can shorten sales cycles or eliminate administrative work. What role might your CRM play that it isn&#8217;t doing for you already? By continually reinventing your sales process, you can keep your revenue targets within reach and maintain a competitive edge.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Invite key vendors to your meetings</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Any sales professional will tell you that knowledge is power, and that goes double for sales reps. The more they know about the products they&#8217;re selling, the better they&#8217;ll be able to close deals and hit their targets. That&#8217;s why inviting vendors to your sales meetings can be such a valuable strategy. Not only will reps get first-hand experience with the products, but they&#8217;ll also learn about how the products fit into the market, what value-added features are available, and any upcoming changes or new product releases. For software vendors in particular, this can also be an opportunity to provide demos or tutorials that reveal new features that could be game-changers in the sales process. All of this information can help sales reps close more deals, which translates into increased revenue for your company. So if you&#8217;re looking for a sales success strategy, inviting vendors to your sales meetings is a great place to start.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In order to be successful, you need to be constantly learning and expanding your skillset. However, it can be difficult to find the time and resources to attend sales training seminars and workshops. One way to provide sales training for your team is to host breakout sessions at larger meetings. These sessions can be led by vendors, who can provide education on their products, or by keynote speakers who can motivate and inspire sales reps. Additionally, these sessions can teach sales reps how to close more businesses and hit their targets. By hosting breakout sessions at larger meetings, you can ensure that your sales team has the skills and knowledge they need to be successful.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Include team-building activities</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Team-building is critical to every organization. sales training It&#8217;s important to make sure everyone feels as if they are part of a team and pulling their weight. Tight teams work together and can provide assistance to one another when help is needed. Team-building can also build trust and friendship. It also gives sales managers an opportunity to see who may not be a good fit for the team. By working together, teams can achieve sales success and reach their revenue targets. The motivation and strategy that come from team building are essential to sales success. When everyone on a team is working together towards a common goal, great things can happen. That&#8217;s why team building is such an important part of any organization.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Schedule One-on-One time with your sales team </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">While most annual and semi-annual sales meetings generally focus on a larger audience, be sure to take the opportunity to spend time with each of your reps one-on-one†. This gives you the opportunity to review their sales activity and performance, provide feedback, and set expectations for the next quarter. This is also an important sales training opportunity, as you can share your insights and strategies with your reps and help them better understand what it takes to be successful. By taking the time to meet with each of your reps individually, you can help ensure that they are on track to meeting their sales targets and contribute to overall sales success.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>On the final day, before adjuring the meeting</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">After a sales training meeting, it&#8217;s essential to end on a high note and ensure that all sales reps understand their next steps. Review the most important topics covered and make sure everyone is clear on the takeaways. Set short-term goals, announce any upcoming news or events and remind everyone of any important follow-up steps. This will help keep everyone motivated and focused on achieving sales success. By clearly communicating expectations and setting achievable targets, you&#8217;ll create a sales strategy that is sure to help your team reach its revenue goals.</span></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to run effective weekly sales meetings</title>
		<link>https://www.mothernode.com/how-to-run-effective-weekly-sales-meetings/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mothernode Author]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2022 00:30:02 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mothernode.com/?p=12431</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 7</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span>Learn the secrets to running successful and effective sales meetings with your team. These tips will help you get the most out of your time together! Every organization depends on sales to stay afloat, which is why sales meetings are critical. They provide sales managers with the opportunity to make sure their sales teams are...]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 7</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span><h3>Learn the secrets to running successful and effective sales meetings with your team. These tips will help you get the most out of your time together!</h3>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Every organization depends on sales to stay afloat, which is why sales meetings are critical. They provide sales managers with the opportunity to make sure their sales teams are on track and identify potential problems that could jeopardize meeting revenue goals. By going over sales figures and performance, sales managers can identify areas where their team may be falling behind and take steps to correct the issue. Additionally, sales meetings give managers the chance to motivate their team and keep them focused on achieving the organization&#8217;s sales goals. By ensuring that sales meetings are held on a regular basis, organizations can keep their sales teams on track and avoid costly mistakes.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sales management is the process of developing and overseeing a sales force. The sales manager is responsible for setting sales goals, designing training programs, and evaluating sales performance. An effective sales manager will also provide support and guidance to sales reps, helping them to overcome challenges and close deals. While it doesn&#8217;t take much to stay on top of sales reps, it does take discipline to make sure that meetings are consistent, conversations are relevant, and goals are being met. By staying focused and organized, sales managers can ensure that their sales teams are successful.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">For sales managers, sales meetings are a crucial way to stay in touch with their sales teams and ensure that everyone is on the same page. In today&#8217;s business world, more and more companies are adopting remote work models, which can make it difficult to keep tabs on sales reps who may be spread out across the country (or even the globe). That&#8217;s why sales meetings are particularly important for remote teams &#8211; they provide a regular opportunity for managers to check in with their reps and see how they are performing. By staying in close communication, sales managers can help their reps stay focused and motivated, and ultimately boost sales figures.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As anyone in sales management knows, quality data is essential. It&#8217;s important that sales teams understand the importance of maintaining accurate and up-to-date data in their CRM so that reports are always accurate. The data in your CRM is critical for informing the topics of each meeting. If data is outdated or inaccurate, sales managers will be less likely to make decisions that lead to success. Inaccurate data can also lead to sales teams missing out on opportunities. By ensuring that your sales team maintains accurate data in their CRM, you can help them be more successful and avoid potential problems down the road.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Run your meetings first thing Monday morning</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Whether you manage a sales team or are part of one, sales meetings are an important part of staying on target and achieving success. And while there&#8217;s no magic formula for the perfect sales meeting, there are a few best practices you can follow to ensure that your meeting is as productive as possible. One of the most important factors to consider is timing. For sales meetings that include attendees from multiple time zones, it&#8217;s important to choose a time that benefits the majority. Monday mornings tend to be the most convenient time for most people, so that&#8217;s often the best option. If you&#8217;re holding a meeting via video conference, make sure to start on time and end on time to respect everyone&#8217;s schedule. Lastly, it&#8217;s important to have a clear purpose for your meeting. Whether you&#8217;re brainstorming ideas, presenting new products, or reviewing sales numbers, make sure everyone knows what the goal of the meeting is beforehand. By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your sales team is always operating at its best.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Everyone needs to attend</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sales management teams overseeing sales teams should always make sure to attend all sales meetings. Time is valuable and the purpose is important. If a sales representative books another appointment during that time, it takes away from the meeting&#8217;s purpose and affects the transactions that could have taken place. sales representatives should be told not to book any other appointments during that time so that they can be available for the meeting and learn what they need to know. Attendance is crucial in sales management in order to ensure that everyone is on the same page and knows what their goals are.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Make a consistent agenda</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">One of the most important things an effective sales manager can do is to have a clear and consistent agenda for their sales team calls. This ensures that everyone knows what to expect and what the objectives are for each call. It also helps to avoid chit-chat and keep the focus on the task at hand. Start with any important announcements, review the objectives set in the previous call, and be sure to set expectations at the end of each call. This will help your sales team stay on track and be more productive.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Review your CRM Sales Data</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As a sales manager, one of your key responsibilities is to ensure that your sales reps are consistently updating their sales activity in your CRM. This is important for several reasons. First, it helps you to stay on top of what your sales reps are doing and how they are performing. Second, it allows you to identify any sales trends that may be emerging. Finally, it gives you the data you need to effectively manage your sales teams.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Of course, simply setting the expectation that sales reps should update their sales activity in the CRM is not enough. You also need to make sure that they understand why it is important and that they have the tools and training they need to do so. Fortunately, there are a number of sales management software solutions available, such as Mothernode CRM, that can help you with this. By investing in one of these solutions, you can make sure that your sales reps are always up-to-date on their sales activity and that your CRM is always current.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Review your team&#8217;s progress towards their goals</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">One of the most important things you can do is review reports with your sales team. This not only gives you a chance to go over each sales rep&#8217;s activity, but it also allows the team to hear each other&#8217;s questions and suggestions. By doing this, you can help to identify any problems that may be occurring and address them before they become too big. Additionally, this gives sales reps a chance to learn from their peers and see how they can improve their own sales techniques. Ultimately, regular sales reports and meetings are essential for keeping your sales team on track and helping them to reach their full potential.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It&#8217;s important for sales managers to keep a close eye on their sales reports to ensure that their reps are making progress. By comparing sales reports from the past two weeks, you can get a clear picture of which reps are stagnating and need to be reprioritized. This will help you to better manage your sales teams and keep them on track. Additionally, by monitoring sales reports closely, you can spot any potential problems early on and take corrective action before it&#8217;s too late. By staying on top of your sales reports, you can ensure that your reps are meeting their targets and that your sales team is performing at its best.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Set realistic and practical sales goals</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In order for sales management to be able to accurately forecast, sales reps need to be keeping their opportunity probability rating and expected close dates up to date. This means sales managers need to ensure that expectations and milestones are realistic so that sales reps are able to hit them. If sales managers want to increase the accuracy of their sales forecasting, they need to make sure sales reps are routinely adjusting the probability rating of their opportunity and expected close dates. By doing this, sales teams will be able to provide more accurate information which will, in turn, lead to more accurate sales forecasts.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Stay true to your goals</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It&#8217;s important to keep sales meetings on track and focused. This can be a challenge with sales teams, as there may be many different personalities and agendas in the room. However, there are a few things you can do to help avoid distractions and keep the meeting on track. First, schedule additional time or separate meetings for topics that may require more discussion. This will ensure that there is time to address all of the issues without rushing through them. Secondly, try to avoid distractions by keeping the meeting focused on the agenda. If necessary, ask team members to leave the room (or call) if they are not able to stay on task. By following these tips, you can help sales meetings stay on track and productive.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Close your meetings with clear instructions and &#8216;next steps&#8217;</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As a sales manager, it&#8217;s important to ensure that each meeting ends with actionable items for the most relevant activity. This will ensure that your sales team is focused and productive. Additionally, make sure each sales rep has the resources and support they need to win their upcoming sales opportunities. This will build confidence and help them close deals. Finally, set expectations for the next meetings and remind your reps of the importance of their contribution. Always try to generate a positive and enthusiastic atmosphere, as this will motivate your team to do their best. By following these tips, you&#8217;ll be on your way to success!</span></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>5 Simple tips for running an effective sales meeting</title>
		<link>https://www.mothernode.com/5-simple-tips-for-running-an-effective-sales-meeting/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mothernode Author]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 24 Jul 2022 16:35:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crm]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sales Automation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mothernode.com/?p=12421</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> &#60; 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span>Sales meetings are key to keeping your sales team on track and focused on closing business. But how do you hold an effective sales meeting? Here are some tips: 1. Use your CRM sales reports to help guide the meeting. 2. Keep it focused. Make sure your agenda is clear and that everyone understands the...]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> &lt; 1</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute</span></span><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sales meetings are key to keeping your sales team on track and focused on closing business. But how do you hold an effective sales meeting? Here are some tips:</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Use your CRM sales reports to help guide the meeting.</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Keep it focused. Make sure your agenda is clear and that everyone understands the purpose of the meeting.</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Encourage participation. Ask for input from everyone in the room and make sure everyone feels like their voice is heard.</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Make it interactive. Use activities or exercises to keep everyone engaged.</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Follow up after the meeting. Send out action items or next steps so everyone knows what they need to do after the meeting is over.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">By following these tips, you can ensure that your sales meetings are productive and helpful for your sales team.</span></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Winning strategies to manage employees working remotely</title>
		<link>https://www.mothernode.com/winning-strategies-to-manage-employees-working-remotely/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mothernode Author]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2020 13:50:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mothernode.com/?p=12057</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 9</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span>Develop a plan for ensuring success when transitioning employees to a work-from-home environment.  &#8216;Work-from-home&#8217;, for the time-being, is the new norm for many companies and employees across the country due to restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. The capability of working remotely, of course, has been available and utilized for many years, so with a...]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 9</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Develop a plan for ensuring success when transitioning employees to a work-from-home environment. </span></p>
<p>&#8216;Work-from-home&#8217;, for the time-being, is the new norm for many companies and employees across the country due to restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. The capability of working remotely, of course, has been available and utilized for many years, so with a good internet connection and access to cloud-based programs including email, CRM/ERP services (ex. Mothernode CRM), and other company-specific business applications, businesses are tapping into this capability on a broader scale when working from an office is simply not an option.</p>
<p>If your business <em>is</em> in the cloud and you&#8217;ve leveraged technology to move your business to a work-from-home model, then you&#8217;ve won a large part of the battle. But how does this model look and operate with each team member working individually from home, and how do you ensure that work gets done and that your team is achieving maximum results?</p>
<p>You may also be considering these questions:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>How and when will we conduct team meetings?</em></li>
<li><em>What&#8217;s the best way to communicate with individual team members throughout the day?</em></li>
<li><em>How can I ensure a sense of accountability throughout all of my staff given the home-based work environment?</em></li>
<li><em>What&#8217;s the best way to confirm that objectives and tasks are being worked-on and completed?</em></li>
</ul>
<p>Technology will undoubtedly play a crucial role in answering the above questions, but applying practical management methods to complement technology and make this an all-of-the-above approach is critical in maximizing productivity. This doesn&#8217;t mean that you have to completely change your management style, though now you will need to adjust to working around not being able to be &#8216;poke your head&#8217; into someone&#8217;s office or cube, meet face-to-face with individual employees, gather around the conference table as a team, or simply observe and interact with your team as they work through their schedule, objectives and assignments.</p>
<p>We&#8217;ve developed the following strategies to provide guidance on both technology-based and practical methods to consider as you manage your team in a completely different work environment during these challenging times:</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Blend Technology with Management Best Practices</strong></span></p>
<p>Technology will certainly help bridge the communication gap with the use of technology tools including teleconferencing, messaging/chat, and available tools within your existing cloud-based business programs including CRM. However, technology tools should only complement your management skills and strategies in a work-from-home model. How you plan and conduct your management activities with your team will ultimately determine success and best results, and technology is simply one type of tool to help you get there.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s take a closer look at specific best practices and technology tools that you can apply to them:</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Define a Meeting Schedule to Structure the Work Day and Week</strong></span></p>
<p>You probably have already maintained a meeting schedule with your team while working in a traditional office setting. However, now that employees are working from home, they have the challenge of having all of the comforts of home around them, <em>plus</em> the distractions that also go with the territory. Some of your staff may have limited experience working from home due to special circumstances, and others have little to no experience working from home, yet now they are expected to be productive away from their structured work environment and with the potential of personal distractions.</p>
<p>Setting the expectation of a structured team meeting schedule is a solid initial step in setting expectations and keeping your team completely focused. Before determining how the meetings will be conducted (i.e. video conferencing), develop a plan for when the meetings will take place:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Weekly Team Meetings</strong> &#8211; Typically held on Monday mornings, this is an opportunity to set the tone for the entire week, including objectives, tasks, team and individual assignments that need to be completed over the course of the week. Team members will also have a chance to discuss concerns and required resources needed to accomplish tasks. They probably had easier and more familiar access to resources while at the office, so this is a great opportunity to ensure that your team has everything they need to achieve a successful week.</li>
<li><strong>Daily Meetings</strong> &#8211; We don&#8217;t want to over-do-it on meetings; however, even with a thorough weekly meeting, team members may feel like they&#8217;re on an island on a daily basis, so consider adding some structure to the work day with a brief meeting at the start of each work day to set expectations for the day. Make it a point to keep the meetings brief, while ensuring that your staff understands what they need to accomplish that day. A brief meeting at the end of the day will also help you to understand what your employees have accomplished during the day and to better gauge progress toward your weekly objectives. It also creates greater sense of <strong>accountability</strong> for your team members, since knowing that they will need to summarize their activities for the day during the meeting will help ensure that they remain focused and motivated while working on their &#8216;island&#8217;.</li>
</ul>
<p>It&#8217;s understood that special project and company meetings may need to be scheduled as well, in addition to one-on-one meetings with individual team members. However, weekly and daily meetings with employees working from home will add the critical structure and accountability that they need to know what&#8217;s expected of them on both a weekly and daily basis.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Video Conferencing should be Easy and Accessible</strong></span></p>
<p>You may already have a standard video conferencing tool in place, and it&#8217;s simply a matter of using it more often as you apply it to the meeting format suggested above. Otherwise, if you are new to video conferencing, it&#8217;s a good idea to research and test video conferencing tools to ensure that they are cost-effective and easy for everyone on your team to access, join meetings, and make typical adjustments to audio and video settings. Here are some additional considerations:</p>
<ul>
<li>Video conferencing services should provide a phone dial-in option for team members that have computers with audio/microphone issues.</li>
<li>If you&#8217;d like to have a visual of all of your team members attending the meeting, then their computers will need to be equipped with a working built-in or external web-cam, and their internet connection will need to be strong enough to support both audio and video streaming.</li>
<li>If you are evaluating video conferencing services, they typically provide free or trial versions that allow you to &#8216;test the waters&#8217; to ensure that they provide easy setup of meetings, simple joining of meetings for all of your staff, quality audio and video connections, and easy in-meeting settings adjustments. Free and trial versions will have limitations that should subside when you decide to use a paid version of the service, but be sure that the paid plan that you join will provide the number of required connections, and no limitations on number of meetings, in other words give you the flexibility you need to conduct regular and special meetings as described above without limitations that could cut a meeting short or keep some team members from joining.</li>
<li>Some of the more popular services include <a href="https://www.gotomeeting.com/">GoToMeeting</a>, <a href="https://zoom.us/">Zoom</a>, <a href="https://www.webex.com/">Webex Meetings</a>, <a href="https://www.skype.com/en/">Skype</a>, <a href="https://www.join.me/">Join.Me</a>, and <a href="https://gsuite.google.com/products/meet/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=na-US-all-en-dr-bkws-all-all-trial-e-dr-1008072&amp;utm_content=text-ad-none-any-DEV_c-CRE_421690103164-ADGP_Hybrid%20%7C%20AW%20SEM%20%7C%20BKWS%20~%20EXA%20%2F%2F%20Hangouts%20%5B1:1%5D%20Google%20Hangouts-KWID_43700015211414153-kwd-362516399437&amp;utm_term=KW_google%20hangouts-ST_google%20hangouts&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4OHlyu7H6AIVDbbICh204wInEAAYASAAEgLw0vD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">Google Hangouts</a> (you may already have access to this if you&#8217;re a G Suite customer, but please note that Google plans to phase it out in 2020). The services we listed are just examples and not recommendations, as it&#8217;s important that you identify the service that meets your team&#8217;s specific needs.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Make Communication Between Meetings Simple and Efficient</span></strong></p>
<p>So the days of poking your head into someone&#8217;s office or cube are gone for the moment, but there&#8217;s no reason you can&#8217;t <em>virtually</em> stop by a team members&#8217; office or vice-versa as needed throughout the day. Phone, chat, text and email are all viable ways to bridge the communication gap between meetings, and provide a simple and easy way to address questions and requests between you and your team.</p>
<p>Regular communication throughout the day (as needed) helps to gauge progress on tasks and objectives, and it keeps team members focused and motivated, with a continued sense of accountability, knowing that they may need to update you on a task at any moment during the business day. Your team will also feel confident and reassured knowing that you will be available to communicate with them to answer questions, address concerns and provide important resources they need to meet their objectives.</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Rely on your CRM Tools to Help Gauge Productivity</span></strong></p>
<p>Given that your CRM is in the cloud, it&#8217;s likely that your team will be working heavily within your CRM to update Customer information, Sales Opportunities, Quotes, Orders, Purchase Orders and Invoices to help keep business moving forward. In addition to obtaining updates and statuses throughout the day, using the meeting and communication methods described above, your CRM should provide tools that enable you to gauge productivity of your staff with both on-screen and PDF reports.</p>
<p>For example, Mothernode CRM&#8217;s Session Activity log summarizes user login/logout activity in addition to a log of creation and updating of Quotes, Orders and Invoices. You can filter this data down to specific days and users to gain a better understanding of how team members were using the CRM on a given day.</p>
<p>Mothernode CRM also provides an Activity Feed, which drills-down even further to provide specific activity within Leads, Opportunities, Customers and Contacts, with types of activities including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Email correspondence</li>
<li>Phone call and meeting notes</li>
<li>Task assignments</li>
<li>Status and Selling Stage updates</li>
<li>Scheduled meetings and follow-ups</li>
<li>Posted comments</li>
</ul>
<p>Mothernode CRM&#8217;s Activity Feed Display (Filtering by team member):</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-12073" src="https://www.mothernode.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Activity-Feed.jpg" alt="" width="1912" height="871" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Reports are also a great tool to gauge productivity. In Mothernode CRM, for example, you can develop reports that summarize Quote, Opportunity, Order, and Invoice activity, and instruct the system to automatically generate and email the reports to you at intervals that you specify.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s always possible that on a given day, an employee is working on a task within a different business application, so naturally you may not see much activity from them within the CRM. So, the data may not always tell the complete story. However, by taking an all-of-the above approach using the communication methods described above, you may determine, using all your tools, that your employee accomplished a lot and met their objectives.</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Extraordinary Times Call for Outstanding Leadership</span></strong></p>
<p>Many of us have entered uncharted territory, with none of us knowing the timing of what lies ahead, but that things will indeed get better. In the interim, we&#8217;re all adjusting in some way, shape, or form, including how we work and do business. It&#8217;s a blessing to have our teams working and being productive during these challenging times, although the work environment has a different look these days.</p>
<p>In summary, consider the following as you leverage technology to complement your experience and management skills:</p>
<ul>
<li>Implement a structured meeting schedule to clearly assign objectives and obtain status and completion confirmation, which will maintain accountability despite the remote work environment.</li>
<li>Bridge the communication gap between meetings with a quick and easy way (phone, chat, text) to connect, keeping your team focused and on the same page.</li>
<li>Use a video conferencing service that&#8217;s easy to use for both you and your team, and select a plan that&#8217;s cost-effective but doesn&#8217;t limit your ability to connect with your team when needed.</li>
<li>Your CRM should provide tools to help you gauge activity, but consider that your employees may be working on tasks outside of the CRM at times as well.</li>
<li>Encourage your team to take regular breaks, take time to eat lunch, and get-up and stretch or go outside for some fresh air.</li>
</ul>
<p>Technology is undoubtedly critical in helping to bridge the gaps created by the transition to work-from-home, but your management skills and experience will be most important in providing structure and support, setting expectations, and maximizing productivity while leading your team during these challenging times.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>Guidelines and best practices for communicating Covid-19 updates</title>
		<link>https://www.mothernode.com/guidelines-and-best-practices-for-communicating-covid-19-updates/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Mothernode Author]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2020 21:54:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.mothernode.com/?p=12024</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 4</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span>Could your Covid-19 email updates cost you future business? The Covid-19 pandemic has had a widespread impact on businesses and industries around the globe. People are searching for answers and reassurance in uncertain times from our government officials, but additionally from our business partners and vendors. These are the people who fulfill our orders and...]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="span-reading-time rt-reading-time" style="display: block;"><span class="rt-label rt-prefix"><b></span> <span class="rt-time"> 4</span> <span class="rt-label rt-postfix">minute read</b></span></span><p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Could your Covid-19 email updates cost you future business?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Covid-19 pandemic has had a widespread impact on businesses and industries around the globe. People are searching for answers and reassurance in uncertain times from our government officials, but additionally from our business partners and vendors. These are the people who fulfill our orders and service our customers and our employees. Over the past week, we’ve all received emails from vendors and companies we work with providing their own updates, some including relevant information and some that do not. It’s those emails lacking relevance that has prompted this communication to our customers, because of the negative impact it could have on your future sales-related email campaigns.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mothernode customers have been no different when wanting to communicate with their customer base. Because Covid-19 communications from businesses to their customers are quite popular these days, many companies question whether they should be sending out Covid-19 emails to their customers, or more importantly are they doing something wrong if they don’t? The answer to that question is based on your industry and how you service your customers. Essentially, ask yourself this basic question, “does your email distribution list need to hear from you?” If your ability to service your customer base has been interfered with or changed in any way, then the answer is “yes”, and communication is necessary, and will be appreciated and better received. On the other hand, if it’s business as usual, then email blasting your 30,000 contacts in your contact list might not be a good idea, especially if you are depending on that list for future sales or more targeted email campaigns.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There’s no doubt that Covid-19 will have an impact on every business, some worse than others. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re encouraging Mothernode customers to evaluate the necessity of communication with their customers based on the services they provide. Tighter, more segmented distribution lists are also recommended when applicable. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the past week, we’ve seen heightened priority emails sent out from Mothernode CRM customers to their respective clients. An important observation that we wanted to share is the messages that had the least impact, or none at all, on the customer’s experience with their service were the messages that had the most complaints (tagged as spam by the recipient) and the highest unsubscribe rates. Complaints increase your spam score along with drops resulting from sending to a ‘dirty’ list filled with bad or outdated email addresses. This could have a short-term impact on your next email marketing campaigns to those who still want to hear from you because even the email recipients who are interested in hearing from you might not receive your next run. It’s possible that their email service provider has identified your email as spam based on the complaints made by others and/or drops from the previous email-send. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The long-term impact from those who have removed themselves from your email list via unsubscribe or tagging you as spam is that they will miss out on all the future communications that might be more relevant to their interests. Your email marketing efforts will no doubt play a critical role in the coming months to help generate more business opportunities. Therefore we’re encouraging email marketers to be mindful of doing what they can to prevent unsubscribes that will extinguish future sales opportunities that otherwise could have been ignited by quality, content-rich email marketing campaigns.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With this said, we’ve prepared a few alternatives, cost-effective communication strategies that can prevent you from losing future sales opportunities via email to complaints and spam:</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Add a Covid-19 Statement to your website</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the most practical solutions to update your customers (in real-time) on how your business will continue to minimize service interruption and address popular concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic is by preparing a statement on your website. This ideal solution lets you post the latest information, keeping your clients informed.</span></p>
<p><b><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-12021 alignnone" src="https://www.mothernode.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/fedex-300x220.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="440" /></b></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Modifications to your email signature</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In conjunction with your website notice consider an amendment to your signature to direct your readers to any information you want to share with them about the latest updates within your company. </span></p>
<p><b>Examples:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re committed to doing our part to stopping the spread of Covid-19. </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s how</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 120px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">or</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 40px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Covid-19 Updates: For the latest updates on our hours of operations </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Click here</span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Packaging your shipments</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A great way to reassure your customers that you’re committed to the health and safety of their employees is by adding additional information on their packaging. Add a personal touch by printing your own labels that communicate the extra care your shipping department takes when packaging items for customers. This may include sharing sanitizing practices such as routine hand sanitizing, and personnel wearing gloves and masks.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Packing Notices</b></span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alternatively, you may consider a friendly packing notice that accompanies your packing slips that communicates the aforementioned. </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These strategies provide effective and thoughtful alternatives when communicating with your customers, enabling you to ‘save’ your email campaign opportunities for specific, targeted and relevant communications. Employing the above guidance and techniques will help to minimize email complaints, spam-tagging and unsubscribes while keeping your customers and prospects informed today and eager to read about new and exciting, revenue-generating opportunities tomorrow.</span></p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
