CX Demo

Author: Franz Malten Buemann

  • 7 of the Best Cities for Minority Entrepreneurs

    Welcome to Breaking the Blueprint — a blog series that dives into the unique business challenges and opportunities of underrepresented business owners and entrepreneurs. Learn how they’ve grown or scaled their businesses, explored entrepreneurial ventures within their companies, or created side hustles, and how their stories can inspire and inform your own success.
    Innovation and creativity are driving the new workforce, and many underrepresented professionals are making career pivots to monetize their talents through entrepreneurship. The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship report more than four million minority-owned companies in the United States today.
    Despite these numbers, minority business owners still face systemic barriers to accessing capital, resources, and support. These barriers prove why choosing where to start or scale a business is essential.
    Read ahead to learn about some of the best cities supporting underrepresented founders in elevating their businesses.

    1. Houston, TX
    Houston, Texas, is one of the top cities that offers ample economic opportunities for minority entrepreneurs. As one of the most diverse cities in the nation, minorities make up 30.45% of the 5,600 startups in Houston’s metro region, according to JobSage.
    Although people of color make up 64% of the area’s population, they still face inequities that continue to take place in the rest of the country. As a result, officials, community members, and organizations offer substantial support for minority entrepreneurs. For example, The Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc, The Greater Houston Black Chamber, the Business Ecosystem Alliance for Minorities & Women, and Great Houston LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce are a few resources business owners can utilize.
    2. Atlanta, GA
    Atlanta is the prime hub for development and culture in the South. From tech startups to restaurants, minorities own a diverse range of businesses.
    As the capital of Georgia, Atlanta is an ideal location to start a business. It offers numerous resources for people of color to access funding and network. On top of that, startup costs are low.
    Atlanta is especially a hot spot for Black-owned businesses. Lending Tree reports that Atlanta has the country’s highest rate of Black-owned businesses, proving why it’s known as the “Black Mecca.”
    Entrepreneurs can take advantage of programs, initiatives, and organizations like:

    University of Georgia’s Office of Minority Business Development
    Startup Runway
    Ascend Atlanta
    Atlanta Black Chambers
    Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council
    OUT Georgia Business Alliance

    3. Charlotte, NC
    The “Queen City” made it to the list because studies have crowned it as a place that offers many opportunities for minority entrepreneurs.
    Not only are minority-owned and diverse small companies growing in Charlotte, but the cost of living is 4% below the national average. Both serve as benefits for startup companies.
    Like Atlanta, Charlotte is a good place for Black entrepreneurs. The city offers many opportunities for business owners to connect and attract customers. Founders can connect through organizations like Charlotte Business INClusion and Black Business Owners of Charlotte.
    4. Washington, D.C.
    The nation’s capital is a physical representation of why the country is known as a “melting pot.” The city’s rich, diverse culture is home to many minority founders.
    D.C. has a total of 4,599 minority startups. They bring in over $2.4 billion in annual sales across industries such as tech, hospitality, and cybersecurity, according to JobSage.
    Business owners have access to a plethora of resources for networking and venture capital investments. They can receive support from organizations like:

    Latino Economic Development Center
    National Association of Asian American Professionals
    Greater Washington DC Black Chamber of Commerce
    Green Book DC

    D.C.’s proximity to other states like New York, Maryland, and Virginia can offer founders access to a broader network to help them grow.
    5. San Antonio, TX
    Houston isn’t the only location in the Lone Star State where minority entrepreneurs can scale and succeed. San Antonio is a major metropolitan city in Texas that has proven to be a great location for companies. It has a diverse economy of advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and information technology. Still, the most active industry for minority entrepreneurs is retail.
    San Antonio raked in over $1 billion in annual sales from minority-owned startups. That platform expects the number to grow as Black and Hispanic people continue to move there.
    Organizations like the San Antonio MBDA Business Center, the Business Empowerment Program, and the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are a few organizations that support minority entrepreneurs in the area.
    6. Memphis, TN
    Memphis is another Southern city known for its rich culture and talent. It has invested a lot of effort in supporting minority business owners’ entrepreneurial endeavors over the years.
    Memphis has attracted a lot of founders because of its low cost of living. We Are Memphis reports that the city’s cost of living is roughly 12% below the national average.
    The area stands out because of the community’s supportive atmosphere for entrepreneurs. Residents encourage creatives to follow their dreams through support and initiatives from organizations like:

    Black Business Association of Memphis
    EpiCenter
    Greater Memphis Chamber
    Choose901
    Memphis Moves

    7. Fresno, CA
    Fresno is a small city with a population of a little over a million. Still, it has generated over $678 million in annual sales from 754 minority-owned startups.
    These sales stem from the economic initiatives the city has placed to invest in “inclusive economic development,” The National League of Cities (NLC) reports. In addition, the NLC’s Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (EEMI) program has helped BIPOC businesses access to grants and receive hands-on assistance.
    Other organizations, such as SCORE Central Valley, the Asian Business Institute & Resource Center, and the Central California Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce, provide education, coaching, and other opportunities for entrepreneurs in the area.
    Embracing diversity lies at the forefront of economic success. Minority entrepreneurs have some of the most creative business ideas that continue to positively impact our country. These above cities serve as examples of why it’s essential to invest in their businesses.

  • Opening the pod bay door

    A brand new episode of Akimbo this week, all about artificial intelligence. Part one of of two on mediocrity and the choices we’re going to need to make.

    And, a while in the making, an experimental AI chat bot that has been trained on all 5,000,000 words of this blog. You can find it here. Yes, you can trick it, but you can also ask it questions about anything I’ve blogged and it may do a good job of answering.

    Dave Winer and I pursued the idea in parallel, and I expect he’ll have one soon. And then they’ll be everywhere.

  • Evolution of Marketing Technology From Traditional to Modern

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  • Create personalized talking avatars with big names

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  • The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Customer Experience Platform

    We gathered 6 Customer Experience platforms to consider in 2023 that will help you improve your customer engagement, streamline your operations, and ultimately drive business growth. But wait,☝️ there are also potential drawbacks, such as integration challenges, high costs, data privacy concerns, and dependence on third-party providers. 🙅👀 So, how can you choose the perfect CX platform when there are so many? 🤔 Well, there are a lot of things to consider here but for starters, look for one that tackles your business needs, evaluates features, offers customization options, and provides exceptional vendor support and expertise. What is a customer experience platform and how can it benefit businesses? A customer experience platform is a set of tools designed to help businesses manage and improve the customer experience they provide. These tools typically include features such as customer data management, analytics and reporting, automation, and personalization. The purpose of a CX platform is to create a big-picture, comprehensive view of the customer journey across all touchpoints and from every channel. Implementing a CX platform offers several benefits for businesses, including improved customer engagement, personalization and targeting capabilities, increased sales and revenue, streamlined customer journey mapping, and centralized data management. Improving the customer experience through a CX platform can result in better customer retention, increased lifetime value, and higher brand loyalty. However, there are potential drawbacks to consider such as integration challenges, high costs, dependence on third-party providers, and data privacy concerns. When choosing a CX platform, businesses should identify their specific needs, evaluate features, and consider customization options. submitted by /u/CXLumoa [link] [comments]

  • From Salesforce Business Analyst to CIO

    Salesforce is an amazing platform for all business processes, and the way that it’s set up means that those using it can develop unique traits and skills. Some of these are ideal for c-suite roles, with Trailblazers often rising through the ranks to achieve high-level… Read More

  • Lightning Web Components Enhancements

    As part of the Spring 23’ release, a lot of Lightning Web Component (LWC) features have been released. These features in enhance your productivity and help us to debug wired properties and synchronize data without having to do a page refresh. In this post, we… Read More

  • New AI tool for short-form video creators!!

    I posted recently about an AI tool that scores your IG Reels/TikTok/YT Shorts posts before you post them. It ranks your thumbnails and analyzes your caption using AI (two biggest engagement drivers for short-form video). It’s something my team at school have built. We’re close to being finished with the tool and we’d love to test it out on your upcoming IG Reels/TikTok/YT Shorts, for free! You can be an individual creator of any size and/or a content agency. This is launching soon as a paid tool, so if you’re interested, DM me asap and we can connect! 🙂 submitted by /u/dmalikmusic [link] [comments]

  • Sam Ovens Consulting Accelerator 2023 Course Review

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  • How to Become a Customer Experience Manager

    Customer experience managers in the contact center have never mattered more. Why? Because even though most businesses work hard to offer excellent service, today’s savvy customers notice so much more. They also share and compare their experiences with your business against the biggest brands in the world. Excellent customer experience is a must and should never be overlooked.  
    If you’re considering a career as a customer experience manager for a contact center, this blog post will guide you on how to get there. 
    Understanding the Role of a Customer Experience Manager  
    The first step in becoming a customer experience manager is understanding the job. The specifics of the role will vary from one contact center to another, but generally, a customer experience manager is responsible for overseeing the entire customer journey, from initial contact to post-sale support. Responsibilities can include:  
    Managing the overall customer experience: Customer experience managers are responsible for ensuring that all interactions with customers are positive and meet or exceed the customer’s expectations. 
    Developing customer service policies and procedures: The role involves creating and implementing policies and procedures that improve the customer experience, reduce customer complaints, and increase customer satisfaction. Implementing new technology may also be required.  
    Monitoring customer satisfaction levels: A customer experience manager will evaluate feedback and monitor trends. They’ll also track contact center metrics like net promoter score, customer satisfaction score, and customer effort score to understand customers’ needs and identify ways to improve CX.  
    Providing training and coaching: Training and coaching call center agents is an important part of the job. Managers must ensure their agents have the skills and knowledge to provide excellent customer service. 
    Managing customer complaints: Handling customer complaints can be a challenging part of any job. Customer experience managers may work across departments to resolve any issues that arise. 
    Regular quality assurance reviews: Conducting regular quality assurance reviews to ensure call center agents meet the company’s customer service standards is another essential part of the job. 

    FACT:
    88 percent of consumers say their experience with a company’s contact center is just as important as the quality of the product. CX matters! (Salesforce)

    How to Become a Customer Experience Manager 
    Step 1: Build your education  
    Formal education isn’t always required to become a customer experience manager, but having a degree in a related field like business administration, marketing, or communications can help. There are certification programs available and online training, too, that can give you the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this role. 
    Step 2: Gain relevant experience  
    To qualify for the job, you’ll need relevant experience in customer service and management. This could involve working as a customer service representative, a team leader, or a contact center manager. You’ll also need data analysis, project management, and customer feedback analysis skills.  
    Step 3: Develop your leadership skills  
    Strong leadership skills will be crucial to your success in this role. This involves motivating and inspiring your team, communicating effectively, and making strategic decisions that benefit both the company and the customer. Coursework and relevant on-the-job experience can help you hone your leadership skills.  
    Step 4: Stay up-to-date with industry trends  
    Managers should always be up-to-date with industry trends and best practices. Grow your knowledge by attending conferences and networking events, reading industry publications, and staying informed about emerging technologies and customer behaviors. 
    More than ever, contact centers offer solid career pathways! Salaries are good – customer service managers earn US$69K per year, on average – and today’s contact centers are growth centers and technical leaders.#CX #CustomerServiceManagersClick To Tweet
    How Much Money Does a Customer Experience Manager Make? 
    Data from Payscale says the average US contact center customer experience manager makes $69,000 annually. Salaries can range from $43,000 to $107,000 annually, depending on location, company size, industry, and experience level.   
    As CX becomes an increasingly important differentiator for businesses, customer experience management has become more crucial in contact centers and other industries. Companies are investing more resources in improving the customer experience, so the demand for skilled professionals in this area has increased. 

    How is this Position Different from a Customer Success Manager?   
    A customer experience manager and a customer success manager have different roles and responsibilities, although there may be some overlap depending on the company and industry. 
    Customer Experience Manager 
    A customer experience manager oversees the overall customer experience, ensuring customers have a positive and seamless experience when interacting with the company or organization. They may work to identify pain points in the customer journey and implement solutions to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. CEMs may also be responsible for developing customer experience strategies, managing customer service teams, and analyzing customer feedback and data to make informed decisions about improving the customer experience. 
    Customer Success Manager 
    On the other hand, a customer success manager is focused on helping customers achieve their goals using a particular product or service. They work closely with customers to understand their needs and ensure they get the most value from the product or service.  
    Customer success managers may provide customer training and support, identify opportunities for upselling or cross-selling, and work to resolve customer issues or complaints. Their goal is to ensure that customers successfully use the product or service. 
    Is a Customer Service Manager Different from a Call Center Manager?  
    While there may be some overlap in the tasks associated with these roles, a customer experience manager typically has a broader focus on the overall customer experience, while a call center manager may be more focused on the day-to-day operations of a specific team within the call center. 
    A customer experience manager may work with multiple teams within a company, including marketing, sales, product development, and customer service, to ensure that all customer interactions are aligned with the company’s overall brand and messaging. They may also be responsible for developing and implementing customer feedback programs, analyzing customer data, and making recommendations to improve the overall customer experience. 
    Are you all about the customer journey? If so, becoming a customer experience manager in the contact center may be the right path for you!  The post How to Become a Customer Experience Manager first appeared on Fonolo.