Sales Enablement using Video


Sales enablement is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after capabilities for businesses looking to increase their revenue and sales productivity. Sales enablement is a comprehensive approach to helping sales teams succeed. It involves providing sales reps with the tools, resources, and training they need to effectively engage prospects and customers, close deals, and increase sales.

Sales enablement is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Different companies have different needs and objectives when it comes to sales. Companies must develop an effective sales enablement strategy that aligns with their overall business objectives and sales goals.

Sales enablement begins with a well-defined strategy that outlines the company’s sales goals and objectives. This strategy should be supported by an effective sales process that outlines the activities, resources, and tools needed to achieve those goals.

Once the strategy and process are in place, sales enablement teams can begin to develop the resources and tools needed to support the sales process. This includes content such as sales presentations, case studies, white papers, and more. It also includes training materials and tools to help sales reps stay up to date on the latest industry trends and best practices.

Sales enablement also includes a variety of technologies and solutions that can help sales teams maximize their productivity and effectiveness. Solutions such as customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, sales automation tools, and analytics solutions can all help sales teams streamline their processes, increase their efficiency, and drive more sales.

Finally, sales enablement should also include a focus on sales coaching and development. Sales reps need to be trained not only on the tools and resources available to them, but also on how to effectively use those tools and resources to engage prospects and close deals. Sales reps should also be coached on how to best manage their time and prioritize their activities.

What are some of the benefits of sales training for sales enablement managers?

1. Improved sales performance: Sales training helps sales enablement managers to understand how to effectively drive sales performance. By understanding the latest sales techniques, best practices and strategies, sales enablement managers can help their sales teams to close more deals and increase sales.

2. Improved customer satisfaction: Sales training helps sales enablement managers to understand how to build relationships with customers and develop trust. By understanding customer needs and providing solutions that meet their needs, sales enablement managers can help their sales teams to provide better customer service and build long-term customer relationships.

3. Increased sales team morale: Sales training provides sales enablement managers with the skills to motivate, inspire and support their sales teams. By providing ongoing training, sales enablement managers can help their sales teams to stay motivated and engaged in their work and increase their morale.

4. Increased sales team productivity: Sales training helps sales enablement managers to understand how to maximize the productivity of their sales teams. By understanding the latest technologies and processes, sales enablement managers can help their sales teams to quickly and accurately process orders and close deals more efficiently.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD can help support your training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.



6 Tips to Transform Performance & Boost ROI with Video


Video has become an essential part of digital marketing and is becoming increasingly popular with businesses of all sizes. It’s a powerful tool for improving performance and boosting ROI, but it can be difficult to get the most out of your video campaigns. Here are six tips to help you transform your performance and boost ROI with video marketing.

1. Focus on Quality. Quality is one of the most important factors when it comes to video production. Investing in quality equipment and production will ensure that your videos look professional and are engaging for viewers. Investing in quality video production will also help you to stand out from the competition.

2. Make Use of Analytics. Analytics are essential for measuring the success of your video campaigns. You can use analytics to track the performance of your videos and make sure that you are getting the most out of your campaigns.

3. Optimize for Search Engines. SEO is an important part of video marketing. Make sure that you are optimizing your videos for search engines, so that they can be easily found by potential customers.

4. Utilize Social Media. Social media is a great way to spread the word about your videos and increase engagement. Use social media to promote your videos, and encourage viewers to share them with their friends and followers.

5. Incorporate Video into Your Website. Video should be an integral part of your website. Embed videos into your website to engage visitors and increase conversions.

6. Invest in Professional Services. Investing in professional video production services will ensure that you are getting the most out of your video campaigns. Professional video production services can help you create high-quality videos that will engage viewers and improve your ROI.

These are just a few tips for transforming your performance and boosting ROI with video marketing. By following these tips, you can ensure that your video campaigns are successful and that you are getting the most out of your investment.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD can help support your training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.



Microsoft Stream Alternatives in 2023


Are you confused about Microsoft Stream? oh Microsoft Stream on SharePoint? So did we. As a competitor we keep an eye on competitor’s strategy often to get inspired from each other. So this is our journey.

Microsoft Stream is one of the most popular enterprise video platform as services on the market. It’s being force pushed to IT administrators, but it’s far from perfect. Here are a few reasons why you should reconsider your decision to use Microsoft Stream.

Let’s start with product strategy. In early 2017 Microsoft had a rebranded product called Office 365 video, it was a half baked solution. In 2021 Microsoft announced Stream would be replatformed onto SharePoint, why they were still transitioning from classic to something else. Here is a chronological timeline of the product. No, they are not just name changes (which we commonly see in the industry) they are completely different offerings.

Microsoft Stream was that it was included in Microsoft 365 and offered features such as the ability to upload and share videos, live streaming capabilities, and integration with other Microsoft tools like Office 365 and SharePoint.

  1. 2015 – Microsoft Office 365 video
  2. 2017 – Microsoft Stream
  3. 2019 – Microsoft Steam Classic and Microsoft Stream 365
  4. 2021 – Microsoft Stream (on SharePoint) 
  5. 2023 – (just kidding) Stream Enterprise on SharePoint that runs on Azure 

It’s clear, the product lacked direction, commitment and investment. Therefore suffered a loss of functionalities over time that businesses see as a lost opportunity for them by investing in it. Let’s focus on the use cases.

As pandemic hit, the need for remote collaboration skyrocketed. Zoom meetings 

The main use case for video in enterprises for employees is typically for internal communication and collaboration. Enterprise video platforms are often used to share information and updates from leadership, deliver training and onboarding content, and facilitate team meetings and presentations. Microsoft Stream had some exciting features such as automatic closed captioning aka ML based transcription that was powered by Azure

Video content can also be used to capture knowledge and expertise from subject matter experts, and make it accessible to a wider audience. This can be particularly useful for organizations with a decentralized workforce or those with employees who work remotely.

Additionally, video can also be used to create a sense of connection and community among employees, especially in times when remote work is more prevalent. This can include things like virtual town hall meetings or employee-generated content.

Another use case of video in enterprise is for e-learning and training of employees, video can be used to create engaging and interactive learning experiences, which can improve retention and understanding of the material. Additionally, video can also be used for performance evaluations, providing visual evidence of an employee’s work and progress.

Microsoft Stream is a well-marketed enterprise video platform that is included in Microsoft 365 and offers a range of features for managing, sharing, and tracking videos within an organization. However, like any software, it also has some limitations and potential downsides. Some of the demerits of Microsoft Stream include:

  1. Limited Customization: Some users have reported that the platform’s customization options are limited, making it difficult to fully brand and tailor the platform to their organization’s specific needs.
  2. Limited Integration: Microsoft Stream is integrated with other Microsoft products, like Office 365 and SharePoint, but it may not integrate as seamlessly with non-Microsoft tools and systems.
  3. Limited Analytics: While Microsoft Stream does offer analytics on how videos are being used and viewed, the data is not as robust as other enterprise video platforms, which may make it difficult to fully understand viewer engagement and make data-driven decisions.
  4. Limited scalability: for large enterprises with a huge number of employees, videos and content, it may be difficult for the platform to scale to meet the needs of the organization.
  5. Limited support: some users have reported that the support options for Microsoft Stream are limited, and that getting help with the platform can be difficult.

However, other enterprise video platforms such as CircleHD, Kaltura, Brightcove, and Vimeo Enterprise, also offer similar features and benefits, and may be a better fit for certain organizations depending on their specific needs and requirements. If you are evaluating different platforms, we have put together a checklist and RFP template you can use to see which one fits your needs.

CircleHD is a full featured enterprise video platform, it’s important to evaluate all options and choose a solution that best fits the specific needs and goals of your organization. Factors such as scalability, security, integration, and cost should all be taken into account when making a decision.

1. CircleHD offers a better video quality. Microsoft Stream’s streaming quality is often subpar, resulting in choppy, pixelated videos. CircleHD, on the other hand, offers smooth, high-quality streaming that users can rely on.

2. CircleHD is more user-friendly. Microsoft Stream can be difficult to navigate, with a clunky interface and inconsistent user experience. CircleHD, however, is intuitive and easy to use, making it much more enjoyable for users.

3. CircleHD offers a better learning experience.

4. CircleHD is more affordable. Microsoft Stream can be expensive, with its subscription plans ranging from $5 to $15 per user per month. CircleHD, on the other hand, is much more affordable for scaling and growing enterprises.

CircleHD is fully integrated with your single sign on solution such Azure Active Directory, Okta or OneLogin. 

An enterprise video platform is a software solution that allows businesses to manage, distribute, and monitor video content within the organization. These platforms typically offer a wide range of features, including the ability to upload, organize, and share videos, as well as the ability to track viewer engagement and analyze data on how videos are being used within the organization.

When it comes to choosing an enterprise video platform, there are several factors to consider. Some important considerations include the platform’s scalability and security, as well as its ability to integrate with other tools and systems within the organization. Additionally, it’s important to consider the cost and support options available for the platform.

Overall, CircleHD is a much better option than Microsoft Stream.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD can help support your training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.