Salesforce Canada

A few weeks ago, the Financial Post published a story that spoke directly to a potential threat facing many Canadian businesses. In “How to stay one step ahead of disruptors in the app economy,” the newspaper looked at how companies like Uber are competing with the taxi industry, and Airbnb is shaking up the hospitality sector. The Post suggested the stakes are high if Canadian firms don’t want to get left behind.

Amid the day-to-day challenges of running a company, like trying to grow sales and delivering customer service, it may be easy to forget how cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) can help contribute to key business outcomes. In that sense, there’s no time like now to look at what the business community has learned about CRM and cloud computing, and then apply it to your organization. Think of it as a grown up version of practicing your A, B, Cs.

The Internet is filled with advice on how to help parents and children adjust to the back-to-school transition. Some of these tips make just as much sense for those selling products and services as it does for those learning the fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic.

Three years ago, the federal government published a report called “The State of Entrepreneurship in Canada,” and while it showed a surge of people launching small businesses at the time, it also indirectly helped explain why customer relationship management (CRM) has become such a vital contributor to their success and survival in 2015.

There’s no question that Canada is producing a slew of startup success stories. Entrepreneurs here have created innovative products and services to revolutionize analytics, wearable computing and the way businesses use video, among many other examples. Yet there’s also no question that Canadian startups and entrepreneurs need to work to cultivate an environment for long-term growth.

Tweeting or sharing an update on LinkedIn may not seem as productive as cold-calling or attending customer events, but a recent podcast from the Canadian Marketing Association suggests more companies need to embrace “social selling” if they don’t want to miss out on many potential opportunities.

LinkedIn is an invaluable tool for job seekers and recruiters. But to get the most out of this professional social media platform, users should consider a few etiquette tips first.

When Heather Morgan arrived in Silicon Valley a few years ago, she knew hardly anyone. Then she got a business development role at a gaming startup, she knew she had to meet potential investors and partners fast, and she’s since turned the email techniques she developed into a business of her own.

In 2010, three friends and I founded TheRedPin.com. We recognized that the real estate industry is one of the few sectors not influenced by technology advancements and so our vision was to connect people, data and technology to create a completely new real estate experience for buyers and sellers. We combine easy-to-use, powerful technology with the savvy of full-time, local realtors who offer full-service real estate services. We can do all of this while saving money and eliminating the hassle for our clients.

With shortening attention spans, it's harder than ever to gain the attention of potential customers. These quotes and tips will help you close the sale with self-directed consumers.