Using a Trifecta Strategy in 2024

Trifecta x2 - Soft Skills + Hard Skills represents a holistic approach to achieving success by combining essential elements from both the human and technical aspects of a given endeavor. This strategy involves a dual focus on People, Process, and Technology, coupled with Leadership, Strategy, and Execution.

People: Emphasizing the human element, this aspect underscores the significance of soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence. It recognizes that a skilled and motivated workforce is critical for overall success.

Process: Efficiency and effectiveness are addressed through the emphasis on well-defined processes. This includes streamlining workflows, optimizing procedures, and ensuring that the journey from initiation to completion is well-structured and coherent.

Technology: The technological dimension involves leveraging tools, innovations, and systems to enhance productivity and capabilities. This includes staying updated with the latest technologies, implementing automation where appropriate, and utilizing digital solutions to improve overall performance.

Leadership: Effective leadership is integral to the success of any initiative. Leaders are expected to provide direction, inspire their teams, and make strategic decisions that align with organizational goals. Leadership involves setting a vision and creating an environment conducive to success.

Strategy: Strategic thinking involves long-term planning, setting objectives, and identifying the best course of action to achieve them. It requires a comprehensive understanding of the external environment, market dynamics, and internal capabilities to formulate a roadmap for success.

Execution: Execution is the tangible implementation of plans. It involves translating strategy into action, ensuring that processes are followed, and milestones are achieved. Effective execution requires coordination, monitoring, and adaptability to overcome challenges.

By combining the human-centric elements (People, Process) with the technological components (Technology) and integrating them with the leadership aspects (Leadership, Strategy, Execution), the "Trifecta x2" approach aims to create a well-rounded and synergistic framework for success in various domains. This dual emphasis on soft skills and hard skills ensures a comprehensive and balanced approach to addressing the complexities of modern challenges.

At Biz Esteem our approach sets us apart in the competitive landscape of consulting services. What makes us truly distinctive is our unwavering commitment to a comprehensive model that seamlessly integrates People, Process, and Technology with Leadership, Strategy, and Execution. While many consulting firms focus solely on either the human element or technological advancements, we understand the power of a holistic approach. Our philosophy revolves around the belief that success is not derived from isolated strategies but from the symbiotic relationship between skilled individuals, well-defined processes, cutting-edge technology, visionary leadership, strategic foresight, and meticulous execution. At Biz Esteem, we don't just offer solutions; we provide a transformative experience that harmonizes the intricate dance between the human touch and technological innovation, all under the guiding principles of effective leadership, strategic thinking, and flawless execution. Discover the difference with Biz Esteem, where excellence is not an option but a fundamental aspect of our consulting DNA. Get Started here…https://bizesteem.com/hire-us

What you can do now to improve your Sales & Marketing Efforts!

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern business, the significance of marketing and sales strategies cannot be overstated. These strategies play a pivotal role in either propelling a company towards growth and success or leaving it trailing behind in the competitive race. At Biz Esteem, we adhere to a straightforward equation: Strategy + Technological Processes + Resources = Growth. Our approach revolves around helping our clients pinpoint their target audience, comprehend their needs, and develop products and services that cater to those very needs. We firmly believe that even with limited resources, there are cost-effective steps that can be taken to make a substantial impact on your business without straining your budget. Given the current state of our business world, taking action promptly is crucial.

So, what can you do right now?

• Amplify Brand Awareness and Foster Customer Loyalty through Social Media Strategies: In the digital age, social media serves as a potent tool for enhancing brand visibility and cultivating customer loyalty.

• Revamp Your Database for Untapped Opportunities: Review your existing database to uncover hidden gems, such as creating new leads from valuable contacts who have moved on to new companies.

• Identify Emerging Markets and Customer Trends: Analyze customer purchasing patterns to uncover emerging markets and evolving customer preferences.

• Enhance Customer Engagement and Satisfaction: Show appreciation to your customers for their patronage and take the opportunity to inquire if there are additional needs you can address in the upcoming year.

• Boost Revenue and Profitability through High-Margin Products: Focus on promoting high-margin products to increase your revenue and profitability.

• Direct Leadership towards Profitable Partnerships and Channels: Allow your leadership team to concentrate on partnerships and channels that yield a steady stream of leads, as opposed to one-off opportunities.

In this dynamic business environment, consulting partners like Biz Esteem can play a pivotal role in facilitating day-to-day operations, thereby freeing up CEOs to explore avenues for growth and profitability. A PwC survey underscores the fact that 89% of CEOs are committed to pursuing growth as their foremost objective. These CEOs are leveraging marketing and sales strategies, underpinned by data-driven insights, to make informed decisions that drive their companies forward.

When it comes to the technological drivers of growth, there are two key areas that should command the focus of your sales and marketing teams:

Efficient and Functional CRM System: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology aids companies in managing their interactions with customers and prospects. It enables the storage of customer data, tracking of interactions, and management of sales and marketing activities. According to Gartner, the CRM market is poised to reach $80 billion by 2025, with a growth rate of 13.7%. However, it's worth noting that only a small percentage of businesses fully harness 50% of the system's capabilities.

Marketing Automation for Holistic Customer Engagement: Marketing Automation technology streamlines repetitive marketing tasks, such as email marketing, social media posting, and lead generation. This not only enhances efficiency but also ensures that prospects and customers are engaged at all stages of their journey.

At Biz Esteem, we recognize that marketing and sales strategies are indispensable for any company seeking to achieve growth and prosperity. Our clients' CEOs are unwavering in their commitment to prioritizing growth and are making strategic investments in CRM and Marketing Automation technologies to drive that growth. Our approach involves both the implementation and meticulous maintenance of these technologies, complemented by effective marketing and sales strategies, resulting in elevated revenue, profitability, and heightened customer satisfaction. Reach out to us today and let us know how we can assist you on your journey to success this year. Click here to get started, https://bizesteem.com/hire-us

Technology Management in Uncertain Times

As Seen on LinkedIn…April 15, 2020

There are many takeaways from managing technology in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. The high-paced demands placed on IT teams are not going away any time soon, and these demands are pushing leaders to expand their knowledge and capabilities very quickly.

There are some benefits to this forced learning though. Technology leaders are having to quickly adapt to managing the entire lifeline of the business by enabling employees to work from home, handling customer requests, managing partnerships and suppliers and most importantly streamlining work in an entirely new way during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The companies and technology leaders that are faring the best are those who foresaw the need for a cloud enabled workforce thus allowing remote work and collaboration. But nothing is perfect – and as we are seeing with the current epidemic that is causing a global crisis, as Mike Tyson so timely reminds us “everyone has a plan until you get punched in the mouth.”

It’s more important than ever for businesses to make thoughtful choices about their technology and innovation strategies in the face of uncertainty. The collaboration needed between teams to make this a reality and stay agile is no small task.

The Importance of Communication

In today’s uncertain time, amidst this COVID crisis, communication is the utmost importance. If business leaders are not communicating regularly to their employees, clients and most importantly their customer, they may be losing their own business as a whole. Now more than ever, crisis communications have become a necessity and a cornerstone for technology leaders and for successful business continuity. A strong contingency and continuity plan include design with multiple scenarios for system and resource hierarchies, and bench strength of staff so you have the right people on call to provide solutions to solve your needs. Communication of your plans is vital across all departments and resources so there are system and personnel backups in place.

Companies have also seen a greater need to have documentation and plans in place to disseminate resources throughout the organization. If you don’t have plans in place now, schedule time to evaluate and document for future use.

Legacy Phone Systems may also be holding you back with limited or no remote access. Although there is no quick fix for this problem, now is the time to review moving to the cloud through a hosted solution which provides greater flexibility and functionality.

Lastly, bring teams together through productivity tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack and video conferencing solutions like Zoom, that can bring teams closer even if they cannot be in the same office.

Double Check your Security Policies

Regardless of where employees work the new normal comes with its own set of security challenges and it is imperative that security holes are closed before they can be exploited with your new remote workforce. First make sure proper security features are installed on any devices that are authorized to access your network. Ensure all necessary anti-virus is installed, firewalls, and device encryptions are in place and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) if it not already implemented to confirm identities. Finally, run a password audit to manage employee passcodes - especially for internal access.

The remote workforce is also more susceptible to phishing and downloads schemes. According to a new Reuters report, cyberattacks have doubled with the COVID-19 outbreak with attackers targeting people working from home with new phishing emails and malware. Making employees aware not to download random applications or software to avoid malware, viruses, or insecure protocols is imperative. In addition, verifying employees have updated their routers, computers and software with the latest versions and security patches.

If you’ve ordered new hardware, make sure these machines are locked down as they could provide a shortcut to accessing the network. All new machines need to be evaluated and monitored as soon as possible. In addition, putting together an asset inventory to determine an asset roster for quick audits is paramount to the distributed workforce.

Technology Contracts – What’s In Your Contract?

Every business has technology contracts – whether it is a SaaS or cloud service agreement, licensing, or consulting agreements with a technology vendor. Sometimes these agreements are signed quickly and lost in the shuffle of paperwork, but these agreements can include fine print that can impact your business negatively though they may appear to contain nothing but “boilerplate” provisions.

But these provisions could significantly affect your business and should not be overlooked. These agreements typically contain language concerning how your business’s most sensitive data will be handled, your ownership of certain intellectual property and importantly - your business’ potential exposure to liability.

Most importantly in today’s environment what happens when these services or the things outlined in these contracts cannot be performed? Do they allow you to cancel in the event of unanticipated or Force Majeure events such as acts of nature, strikes, or in this case a global pandemic?

The current climate demonstrates the importance of clauses that can often overlooked as “boiler plate” and the need to review carefully the circumstances which might permit a contract to be cancelled. It is not an exaggeration to say that thoughtful review and consideration of these issues might determine whether a business survives. Whether that means continued performance and enforcement of an agreement or taking the proper and appropriate steps to terminate.

Learning During this “New Normal”

Transforming current practices can be a challenge but ultimately, it’s worth it. Take this time to evaluate operations and create plans to make better decisions going forward for daily operations, your workforce, and your organization as a whole. 

While things have drastically changed over the last month, there is a lesson to be learned. We need to better prepare our teams and daily business operations for disruption. The consequences of this pandemic will continue to bring new realities, but by protecting assets and limiting potential liabilities, we can move on from this crisis and be stronger in the long term.

Written by: John Gaertner, Chief Revenue Officer

Content Marketing - Measuring is just as important as Creating

Content Marketing is a key component to company marketing plans. Creating content is often a top priority and many hours are devoted to creating, editing and maintaining it. But how do you measure the effectiveness of your content marketing?

There are many ways to track your key performance indicators (KPIs) as they relate to content marketing. Those high level metrics you have chosen to measure performance of your content (sales lifts, new subscribers, completed online forms, etc.) will only get you so far – you have to look at all aspects of your content marketing to determine what is working and what is not.

Tracking all of your content can be helpful to start. Creating a spreadsheet with each piece of content can help you decide what information you would like from each blog, tweet, video, or white paper. You can see which posts garnered the most responses, comments, or likes. Determining averages and creating a baseline for each piece is also important, such as how many new subscribers on average are collected from a blog or article. Tracking across months can also help to compare one quarter over another. When tracking month to month, make sure to give each piece a chance to gain traction before determining if it worked or not.

Making changes to your content marketing based on solid planning, metrics, and tracking will help you make improvements where needed, increase customer engagement in the right channels, and generate sales.