you’re a small business looking for a cost-effective solution or an enterprise that balances the enterprise value of Salesforce with the cost of Sales Cloud Professional Edition, SharePoint offers a scalable and versatile platform In this guide we’ll walk you through your steps step in process to create a new site collection, yours With business needs in mind Let us help enhance the SharePoint experience.

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Understanding Site Collections in SharePoint Online
A SharePoint site collection is a hierarchy of sites that share common administrative settings. Each site collection includes a top-level site and can have multiple subsites below it. Businesses, from startups with concerns about Salesforce costs for small business to large enterprises evaluating Salesforce enterprise pricing, can leverage SharePoint site collections for departmental sites, project collaboration, or document management.
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Step 1: Access the SharePoint Admin Center
1. Log in to Microsoft 365:
Start by logging into your Microsoft 365 account with administrative credentials.
2. Navigate to the Admin Center:
Once logged in, access the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and select SharePoint under the Admin Centers section.
3. Open Active Sites:
In the SharePoint Admin Center, click on Active Sites to view existing site collections and begin the process of creating a new one.
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Step 2: Initiate Site Collection Creation
1. Click on "Create" Button:
On the Active Sites page, you’ll find a Create button at the top. Click on it to open the site creation wizard.
2. Select a Site Type:
SharePoint Online offers different site types:
o Team Sites: Ideal for collaborative projects and teams.
o Communication Sites: Perfect for broadcasting information across the organization.
Choose the site type that aligns with your business needs. For instance, small businesses aiming to optimize Salesforce costs might benefit from a Team Site for centralized collaboration.
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Step 3: Configure Site Settings
1. Enter Site Name and Address:
o Provide a unique and descriptive name for your site collection.
o Customize the URL to reflect your business branding or project name.
2. Choose a Default Language:
Select the primary language for the site to ensure it caters to your team’s linguistic preferences.
3. Assign Owners and Permissions:
Assign at least one owner who will manage site settings and permissions. For enterprises using Salesforce enterprise pricing models, consider assigning team leads or department heads as owners.
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Step 4: Define Storage and Quotas
1. Allocate Storage Space:
SharePoint Online provides flexible storage options. Small businesses can start with minimal storage and scale up as needed, keeping their costs in check.
2. Set Quotas:
Define quotas to ensure fair usage across site collections. This step is particularly important for companies managing large volumes of data and balancing costs across platforms like Salesforce Sales Cloud Professional Edition and SharePoint.
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Step 5: Customize Site Features
1. Enable or Disable Features:
Activate features like version history, metadata navigation, or external sharing based on your organizational needs.
2. Integrate with Other Tools:
SharePoint seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft tools, making it a cost-effective alternative or supplement to Salesforce. For example:
o Use Power Automate for automated workflows.
o Leverage Teams for real-time collaboration.
3. Set Up Branding:
Customize the look and feel of your site by adding your company logo, colour schemes, and themes. This helps create a consistent brand identity, particularly for small businesses mindful of Salesforce costs.
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Step 6: Test Your Site Collection
1. Verify Navigation and Permissions:
Ensure that navigation menus are clear, and webpage permissions are correctly assigned.
2. Upload Initial Content:
Test by uploading some files and creating sample lists or libraries to confirm that all features work as expected.
3. Conduct User Testing:
Invite a few team members to explore the site and provide feedback. This step ensures a smooth user experience, whether you’re a small business or an enterprise balancing Salesforce enterprise pricing with SharePoint’s functionality.
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Step 7: Monitor and Optimize Your Site
Perform Regular Audits
Auditing your SharePoint site collection helps identify areas of inefficiency, unused resources, and redundant content. A well-maintained site ensures better performance and reduces clutter, enhancing user experience and aligning with governance policies.
Key Steps for Regular Audits:
• Review Content Usage:
o Identify documents, lists, and libraries that are rarely accessed or no longer relevant.
o Archive or delete outdated files to free up storage and maintain a streamlined structure.
• Analyse Site Activity Logs:
o Use SharePoint’s built-in activity logs to track user actions and site performance.
o Look for trends in user engagement to understand how your team utilizes the site.
• Check Permissions:
o Ensure that permissions are updated regularly to align with changing team roles.
o Remove access for former employees or contractors to maintain data security.
Why Regular Audits Matter:
• Improved Efficiency:
Removing redundant content ensures faster navigation and search experiences for users.
• Cost Management:
For small businesses, reducing unused storage helps control costs, offering savings compared to upgrading Salesforce tiers or additional licensing costs.
• Enhanced Security:
Regularly auditing permissions and activity logs minimizes the risk of unauthorized access.
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2. Train Users
Empowering your team with the knowledge and skills to use SharePoint effectively is a game-changer. Training ensures that your team leverages the platform’s full potential, especially if your organization is transitioning from Salesforce to SharePoint to save costs or complement its capabilities.
How to Train Users:
• Initial Onboarding:
o Conduct onboarding sessions for new employees to familiarize them with SharePoint basics, such as document libraries, lists, and collaboration objects.
• Activity -Based Training:
o Customize training for various roles, such as site administrators, content producers, and general users.
o Ensure employees are familiar in managing permissions, workflows, and site settings.
• Workshops and Studies:
o Organize hands-on sessions to demonstrate advanced features like Power Automate, metadata management, and Microsoft Teams integration.
o Provide video tutorials or a knowledge base for self-paced learning.
Why Training Users Matters:
• Efficiency Gains:
Trained users can navigate the site more effectively, reducing time spent on basic tasks.
• Adoption and Engagement:
Well-informed users are more likely to adopt and engage with SharePoint, maximizing ROI.
• Cost-Effectiveness:
Training minimizes reliance on external support, a critical factor for small businesses managing Salesforce costs.
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3. Optimize for Growth
As your business grows, so does your SharePoint site collection. Ensuring your website is scalable and responsive to changing needs is essential to long-term success. The flexibility of SharePoint makes it an excellent choice for businesses looking for an alternative to the Salesforce tier or Sales Cloud Professional Edition price limits.

Steps to Optimize for Growth:
• Scalable Storage:
o Monitor storage usage regularly and plan for upgrades as needed.
o SharePoint Online scalable storage options let you expand without incurring substantial upfront costs, unlike Salesforce enterprise pricing.
• Dynamic Site Structures:
o Regularly review the site hierarchy and reorganize it to accommodate new projects, teams, or departments.
o Use hubs to link related site collections for improved navigation and consistency.
• Automate Common Tasks:
o Use Power Automate to create workflows for routine processes, such as document approvals and reporting. Automation reduces manual effort, freeing up resources for strategic initiatives.
• Leverage Analytics:
o Use SharePoint’s analytics tools to monitor usage and identify areas for improvement.
o Data-driven insights help make informed decisions about site design, content, and usability.






Why Optimizing for Growth Matters:
• Futureproofing:
A well-optimized site ensures your platform remains relevant and functional as your business expands.
• Cost Efficiency:
Small businesses can avoid unnecessary upgrades by making the most of SharePoint’s scalability, offering savings compared to Salesforce tiers.
• Improved Collaboration:
A well-organized and growth-oriented site fosters better collaboration, productivity, and employee satisfaction.________________________________________
How SharePoint Site Collections Complement Salesforce
For businesses considering Salesforce costs for small business or looking into Sales Cloud Professional Edition, SharePoint can serve as a complementary or alternative platform. Here’s how:
1. Cost Savings:
o SharePoint is included in most Microsoft 365 plans, offering significant savings compared to standalone Salesforce enterprise pricing.
2. Enhanced Collaboration:
o While Salesforce is focused on CRM, SharePoint excels at document management, teamwork, and internal communications.
3. Integration Capabilities:
o Use Power Automate to create a workflow that integrates SharePoint and Salesforce while bridging the gap between CRM and collaboration tools.
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Conclusion
Consolidating SharePoint sites on SharePoint Online is a simple process that can dramatically increase your organization’s productivity and productivity. SharePoint offers a flexible and cost-effective solution for businesses considering the enterprise value of Salesforce or looking to reduce the costs associated with Salesforce Sales Cloud Professional Edition.
By following this step-by-step guide, you can set up a robust SharePoint site collection tailored to your business needs. Whether you’re a small business concerned about Salesforce or an enterprise looking to optimize, SharePoint capabilities can help strike a balance between productivity and budget.