How to Bootstrap Sales Enablement for a Small Business
Sales enablement is a crucial aspect of any business. It is the process of providing your sales team with the necessary resources, tools, and information they need to close more deals effectively. However, when you're running a small business, you may not have the budget or resources to invest in an expensive sales enablement program. Fortunately, there are several ways to bootstrap sales enablement for a small business. In this blog, we'll discuss some practical tips/steps to help you get started.
Identify Areas of Opportunity
Small business sales teams often have to operate on a tight budget, which can make it challenging to grow and succeed in a competitive market. However, when it comes to enabling your team, there are several cost-saving strategies that small business sales teams can implement to increase their profitability.
One way is to get a CMS (Content Management system). Firstly, a CMS can provide a centralized platform for organizing and managing sales collateral, such as product descriptions, pricing sheets, and best practices, making it easier for sales teams to access the information they need to close deals. Secondly, a CMS can streamline the sales process by automating tasks such as lead generation, lead nurturing, and pipeline management, freeing up time for sales teams to focus on building relationships with prospects and customers. Additionally, a CMS can integrate with other sales tools, such as customer relationship management (CRM) software, sales engagement platforms, and analytics tools, providing a comprehensive suite of sales and marketing functionalities.
There are a ton of CMS tools that small teams can use such as Google Drive, Flockjay, Showpad, and Notion. By implementing a CMS as their sales enablement platform, small businesses can improve their sales efficiency, increase revenue, and compete with larger organizations without breaking their budget.
Bootstrap-Integrated Learning Management Systems
A small business that is bootstrapped often has to make tough decisions when it comes to allocating resources toward employee training and development. However, investing in employee learning is essential for the growth and success of any business. A Learning Management System (LMS) can be an invaluable tool for small businesses on a budget, enabling them to provide affordable and effective training to their employees. With an LMS, small businesses can identify the specific training needs of their team, and customize learning programs to fit their unique requirements. By utilizing assessments and quizzes within the LMS, businesses can measure employee knowledge and skills, and provide targeted training to improve performance gaps. An LMS also allows for tracking and reporting on employee progress and completion rates, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of the training program. Furthermore, an LMS offers a consistent, standardized training experience to all employees, regardless of their location or schedule.
To access a good LMS while on a budget one route you can take is Google Forms. Google Forms allows users to create online quizzes, surveys, and assessments, which can be used for testing employee knowledge or gathering feedback. With its easy-to-use interface and integration with other Google applications like Google Sheets, Forms can provide a simple solution for managing employee training and progress tracking. Another route you can take is purchasing s LMS system such as RISE, Lessonly, Flockjay or Mindtickle.
By implementing an LMS, small businesses can invest in their employees' growth and development, while staying within their budget and maximizing their resources, leading to improved productivity, employee satisfaction, and overall business success.
Peer-to-Peer Learning and Creating Training Materials
Small businesses looking to use sales enablement tools may find it challenging to implement costly training programs for their sales teams. However, effective sales enablement requires continuous learning and development to improve sales skills, product knowledge, and customer engagement. Peer-to-peer learning can provide an affordable solution to this challenge. By leveraging the knowledge and experience of top-performing sales reps within the organization, less experienced reps can learn best practices, overcome challenges, and hone their sales skills.
Peer-to-peer learning can be structured through regular coaching sessions, team meetings, and role-playing exercises. In addition, creating training materials, such as sales playbooks, case studies, and pitch decks, can be a cost-effective way to support peer-to-peer learning and provide employees with resources to support their development. Small businesses can create these materials in-house using free tools like Google Docs or Notion, or invest in more advanced authoring software for a more polished output. Additionally, Youtube and podcasts can be a great resource for sales knowledge to include in your content.
While peer-to-peer learning and creating training materials can be a cost-effective way to invest in sales enablement, there are also paid options that small businesses can consider. Many paid training platforms offer a wide variety of training resources and content libraries on a subscription basis, providing a cost-effective way for businesses to provide formal training to their sales teams. Some of the top paid software to use to create training material is Burrows and Richardson. These platforms often offer a wide range of topics for the real world, allowing businesses to customize training plans to fit their unique needs.
Conclusion
Implementing sales enablement for a small business can be a challenge, especially when operating on a limited budget. However, with the right approach and tools, it is possible to bootstrap sales enablement and drive success for the business. The key is to focus on identifying the specific needs of the sales team, creating a sales strategy that aligns with those needs, and utilizing cost-effective methods, such as peer-to-peer learning and creating training materials. Additionally, leveraging free or affordable sales LMS and CMS tools, such as Flockjay, can provide small businesses with the necessary capabilities to improve sales efficiency, productivity, and revenue.
As a small business, it is important to invest in the right tools and strategies to enable sales success. Flockjay offers a unified sales enablement platform designed specifically for small businesses, providing the necessary capabilities to manage sales content, track sales activity, and coach sales reps, all within a user-friendly and affordable platform. To learn more about how Flockjay can help you bootstrap sales enablement for your small business, sign up for a free demo today. With Flockjay, you can empower your sales team to achieve success and drive growth for your business.
