The Pipeline

DECEMBER 13, 2021

Subscribe today , and take the Breakfast on the go! John Smibert is an Australian who invested 38 years as a successful sales leader in four USA and Japanese IT corporations – IBM, NCR, Unisys and Fujitsu. Since 2004 he has assisted B2B selling organisations to transform the way they sell. John is passionate about enhancing professionalism in sales.

Software 173

Software Software B2B Prospecting 173

The Pipeline

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. While the exact number may vary, people in sales continue to accept the false assertion of an 80/20 world. Keeps the 80% out of the way, allowing the 20% to do their thing. This piece does not set out to change the concept, life will do that, but to explore the 20%. They not only do things differently and better, but start with a different vision, view if you will.

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Buyer Demographics Video Territories 345

The Pipeline

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021

Subscribe today , and take the Breakfast on the go! Jay McBain is one of the most visible and respected thought leaders in the global channel. Named 2021 Channel Influencer of the Year by Channel Partners Magazine, Top 40 Under Forty by the Business Review, as well as numerous channel magazines top influencer lists, he is often sought out for industry guidance and future trends.

AutoTask 173

AutoTask Channels Influencer Trends 173

The Pipeline

AUGUST 31, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. While the calendar may not agree, Labor Day, from a sales standpoint, is the end of Summer. Vacations over, back to work, finishing the year and setting the table for next year. While this year is no different, there is greater anticipation in light of vaccine and people’s back to work attitude. Much more than in other years, it is important to get ahead of things, and take steps to prepare for the post Labor Day sprint.

Harvest 360

Harvest Referrals Call-back Video 360

The Pipeline

AUGUST 30, 2021

Subscribe today, and take the Breakfast on the go! Scott Leese is one of the top startup sales leaders in the country. Through domestic and international consulting, he has trained an army of salespeople thousands strong. Leese puts his nearly two decades of sales and leadership experience to use as the CEO & Founder of both Scott Leese Consulting, LLC; and SurfandSales.com.

Scale 294

Scale Training Sales Prospecting 294

The Pipeline

AUGUST 10, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. Questions are the weapon of choice for consistently successful salespeople, so listen up the half that aren’t making quota. But most sales professionals don’t approach question in a strategic fashion, meaning going beyond the obvious. But done right, there are dimensions to questions that can help in prospecting and lead to a more meaningful Discovery.

Fashion 329

Fashion Campaigns Outbound Education 329

The Pipeline

JULY 20, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. One of the reasons I like sales is you don’t need an MBA to succeed. It helps, no doubt, but a lot of MBAs fail at sales. Mostly because it is about what you do, not about what you think or believe. Which is why it is a surprise that many who avoided academic endeavours in the past, want to do so much research. Ask most sellers their view on research, most will respond without a thought, “it is an absolute must.

Research 386

Research Call-back Lead Rank Lead Scoring 386

The Pipeline

JUNE 29, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. I have always said that ‘demo’ is a four-letter word, as bad as any. Not the act of doing ‘a demo’, but more about timing and the purpose for one. All the people that came before you have taught buyers some bad habits. As always, you have a choice. You can cop out, and do the demo you think they want, or deliver a demo that moves deals?

Harvest 352

Harvest ACT Buyer Objections 352

The Pipeline

MAY 25, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. Almost like clockwork, someone pronounces the death of cold calling. It is one of the most popular and repeated Zombie plotlines. The Modern Wave proves they have a better mouse trap, deems cold calling to be dead, only to have us return. They may relabel things, like outbound, but it always involves picking up the phone. Which if we’re honest, is the problem to begin with.

Cold Calling 253

Cold Calling Outbound Pipeline Conversion 253

The Pipeline

MAY 18, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. It’s not news that the buy side has more stakeholders involved , representing the varied interests of a modern enterprise. Depending on who you follow, the number of stakeholders in a B2B decision continues to grow, over 10 by some accounts. This requires the ability to juggle a number of things all at once; more specifically communicating value to all.

Hiring 305

Hiring Cold Calling Enterprise Enterprise 305

The Pipeline

MARCH 30, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. I used to work with a fellow who insisted that I could reduce my frustration levels by reducing expectation. If I could accept to expect much less from people like him, I could avoid the disappointment of missed expectations. Probably true but there must be a more practical way to avoid disappointment. Here is a radical thought, people setting expectation should live up to them or learn to set more realistic or honest expectations.

Vendor 210

Vendor Objections Buyer Direct Response 210

The Pipeline

MARCH 12, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. The key difference between a tribe and a herd is that the former walk on two legs. Herd mentality persists in both. Sales like most tribes being a bit more civil than antelopes, prefers the 80/20 rule, over herd mentality. I have always been fascinated by how willing sales types are to accept the 80/20. Some years ago, I wrote a piece suggesting that we should elevate the tribe and go for 70/30.

Data 386

Data Sales Leadership Quota Sports 386

The Pipeline

MARCH 9, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. It has been said that a manager should know how their year will go by the end of Q1. Well, Q1 is almost over, how is it going? Part of your answer may come down to your role, but for the most part it will come down to how well you prospect in Q1 and year-round. This is a great time to take inventory and focus on some fundamentals as a means of accelerating or igniting your prospecting and quota efforts.

How To 293

How To Face-to-face Maximizer ACT 293

The Pipeline

FEBRUARY 16, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. The main reason salespeople hate telephone prospecting is rejection , anything else can immediately be drawn back to rejection. And while there is no avoiding rejection in prospecting, there are things you can do to turn things your way. BTW, if you’re wondering why you can’t avoid objections, it is because we are interrupting. Nothing wrong with that, but it is a fact, a fact that is central to cold calling success.

Cold Calling 241

Cold Calling Call-back Objections Webinar Metrics 241

The Pipeline

JANUARY 26, 2021

By Tibor Shanto. The familiar expression “measure twice, cut once”, has validity in B2B sales as well. Specifically, churn , lost revenue that must be made up for in addition to new revenue goals. Churn is not a negative or a fault, but a factor. Companies close, get acquired, and a range of reasons beyond fault. But it is still a sum that has to be recovered before we start retiring quota.

Churn 310

Churn Quota Margin Exercises 310

The Pipeline

DECEMBER 1, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. A lot of people in sales ask questions for entirely the wrong reason. Not to be flippant but gathering information for yourself is not the primary purpose. No, the goal is to help the prospect think things through as they respond to your questions. Questions get people to think, but what you want them to think about are their objectives, not your product.

Objections 262

Objections Buyer Leads Marketing Qualified Lead 262

The Pipeline

OCTOBER 27, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. Helping people to reconnect with things they have moved on from can be an effective way to start conversations. In all group decisions we do things for the greater whole, but that does not mean we have completely abandoned the idea or desire for it. If you are willing to do the work, and reviewed wins, losses, and draws in greater detail, you could learn to deal with objections differently.

Objections 250

Objections Groups Prospecting Conversion 250

The Pipeline

OCTOBER 20, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. You know just because you can throw a football does not mean you can tackle the opponent’s linebacker. Sure both the lineman and quarterbacks are on the same team, with two completely different skill sets. No one would expect one to play like the other, or have a similar attitude to the other. Yet in sales, we want to pretend that we can in fact do that.

Prospecting 298

Prospecting Survey Video Sales 298

The Pipeline

OCTOBER 19, 2020

Sales Scrum Episode #22 – Guest Jeff Goldstein. Jeff Goldstein (P. Eng) – Founder, SalesLeadersOnly.com , and joins us for a timely discussion on selling high-value solutions at a time when everything seems to have changed or has been put on hold. Jeff is an engineer by training, he has spent his entire career grinding out a sales number as VP and GM of the Canadian subsidiaries of Data General/EMC, NetApp and Veeam Software.

Sales Qualified Lead 220

Sales Qualified Lead Engineering Survey Lead Rank 220

The Pipeline

OCTOBER 3, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. While selling has always been personal, it is that much more so since the arrival of COVID 19. More than ever to succeed we need to think Human-to-Human is you are in B2B. This requires you to rethink your message as much as the delivery. Contact with colleagues, friends, and family is impacting how we do everything including buying and selling.

Distribution 385

Distribution Webinar Metrics Video B2B 385

The Pipeline

SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. Most of the pushback against telephone prospecting is most a product of fear and ignorance. The fuel that drives many things these days. But when you step back, look at some of the real data about people’s use of the phone, a different picture emerges. Couple that with some skills, process, and discipline, and you could be on your way.

Video 241

Video Prospecting Data Opportunity 241

The Pipeline

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. I always say that time is fixed and the only nonrenewable resource, but with skill and will you can bend it a little. In the video below I share how to help patterns in activities to help the prospect ignore their own objection. Unless you are selling a pure commodity, this will help you get more prospects now, and buyers later. [link].

Objections 383

Objections Video Resources Buyer 383

The Pipeline

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. Big day today, thanks to our new virtual comfort, I am presenting at two different events, sharing best practices. From Sales Science to Sales 3.0, come along. One at noon Eastern, the second at 2:20 ET, all you need is to grab your coffee and notebook and may a sandwich between the two. Follow The Science. Starting off with my friend Bob Howard, founder and CEO at Contact Science.

Webinar Metrics 250

Webinar Metrics Conference Objections Follow-up 250

The Pipeline

JULY 7, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. Sales pundits love to talk about change, and there is no shortage of opportunity brought about by the changes we face today. But having been at the game for a while the one thing that never changes is the view and approach to incentive or commissions. I am not talking about superficial changes or updates in packaging, but real substantive change, the kind you only get when you change behaviors.

Incentives 430

Incentives Incentive Commission Sales Qualified Lead 430

The Pipeline

JULY 3, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. Being approachable and easy to deal with is key to helping prospects open up and share their real objective. We are social creatures, so video seems like a natural. But it may not be when it comes to prospecting. While in other parts of the sales cycle video may add to the experience, but it can also limit impact. When it comes to buyers, seeing doesn’t always lead to believing, For real impact, ask yourself “do I want to be seen or heard?

Sales Cycle 289

Sales Cycle Video Objections Prospecting 289

The Pipeline

JUNE 15, 2020

Sales Scrum Podcast Episode #13 – Guest George Brontén. Lucky 13, I am speaking of my guest on Sales Scrum, George Brontén. As the founder & CEO of Membrain.com, the B2B Sales Enablement CRM, George Brontén is passionate about the art and science of sales. In this episode, George and I explore some of the faulty assumptions people make in sales, the selection of CRMs, and other areas of selling.

Sales Enablement 289

Sales Enablement CRM B2B Relationals 289

The Pipeline

MAY 28, 2020

Thursday, May 28, 2020, 7:30 AM – LinkedIn Live. Jeff Bajorek. ‘Rethink The Way You Sell?’ Thinking through each step of your process might seem as if it can slow you down, but checking out and mindlessly disregarding steps does not mean that things will move faster. HOW TO VIEW. To get in on the Breakfast For Champions you don’t need a reservation, all are welcome, simply go to John Moore’s – The Collaborator LinkedIn profile – [link] 7:30 AM ETOR -Follow John Moor

LinkedIn 322

LinkedIn How To Objections 322

The Pipeline

MAY 25, 2020

Sales Scrum Podcast Episode #11 – Guest Steve Gielda. Steve Gielda , is the co-founder and CEO of Ignite Selling, and someone I have been looking forward to having on the podcast. Most salespeople do not know why they win or lose deals. If they win it is their charm, personality, and relationship. If they lose, it is price features. If you don’t know why things turned out the way they did, then you’re bound to do it the same again and again.

Social Selling 391

Social Selling LinkedIn Energy Enterprise 391

The Pipeline

MAY 13, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. We are all familiar with the concept of buyer’s remorse. It is the feeling of regret after a purchase, which usually grows with the value and importance of the purchase. Usually, these fade as the solution is implemented and some of the expected changes and benefits present themselves. Some sellers cope with this challenge better than others, many are about to experience their own form of regrets, namely Sellers’ Remorse.

Outsourcing Services 279

Outsourcing Services Real Estate Ideal Customer Profile Objections 279

The Pipeline

MAY 6, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. Sometimes things fall into place even during a pandemic. This coming Monday, May 11, I have the pleasure of having Jeff Bajorek as my guest on the Sales Scrum podcast. It turns out that since that was recorded, he has written a new book you will want to grab. It’s called When It Goes Sideways , a book with swagger. Before we dig in, some of you will know Jeff, he is a consultant, author of The Five Forgotten Fundamentals of Prospecting, co-host of The Why and The Buy Podcast.

Construction 377

Construction Energy ACT Up-Sell 377

The Pipeline

APRIL 6, 2020

This Week’s Guest – Laurent Amar. We sat down with Laurent a little before the outbreak of COVID 19, but I think you’ll find his comments and insights useful in the current climate. Laurent Ama r is VP of Sales at CMiC, and a consummate solution seller and leader. Having led and lived through the migration to the cloud, Amar talks with host Tibor Shanto about the difference (and the similarities) of selling in the cloud.

Video 272

Video Sales Opportunity Prospecting 272

The Pipeline

MARCH 31, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. As I mentioned yesterday, I am going to point you to two great books coming just at a crucial time. Today, it’s by George Brontén , CEO of Membrain, and a long time sales friend. George shines a light on the assumptions that hold your sales organization back As soon as you see the title you know why it caught my eye. Given the shape of things to come, we are all going to have to be part of figuring it out, or we’ll need to move out of the way.

Call-back 279

Call-back ROI Sales Enablement Sales Coaching 279

The Pipeline

MARCH 30, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. If you have been following my daily Selling Through COVID 19 video series , you know that I suggested that one thing we can do in the current environment, is self-improvement. Some sales, some other life skills. For the sales side, I am going to point you to two great books coming just at a crucial time. My friend, Mark Hunter, who we all know as, “The Sales Hunter,” has a new book out today, March 31st!

Video 52

Video Coaching Sales Opportunity 52

The Pipeline

MARCH 3, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. Change is a constant , it’s all around us, and it’s hard; keeping up is a continual challenge. And while change does bring good, you know what they say about too much of a good thing? Yet we, pundits and leaders, ask people to take on more change every day. Salespeople are asked to change themselves, change how and who they deal with, change the focus of their conversations, and more.

Face-to-face 362

Face-to-face Pipeline ROI Training 362

The Pipeline

FEBRUARY 4, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. Last week I saw a piece on LinkedIn, that questioned the accuracy of predictions about the future of B2B sales and selling made in the past decade. The piece pointed to a prediction by Forrester around 2015 about the size and nature of B2B sales in 2020. It like others prophesied that the size of the B2B sales population in North America would shrink by 25%.

Revenue 370

Revenue Top of Funnel Sales Qualified Lead Lead Rank 370

The Pipeline

JANUARY 7, 2020

By Tibor Shanto. At first glance, good times are continuing for selling organizations; revenues are up and it looks like everybody is hiring. The economy seems to grow in line with the average sales, or is it the other way? And every app you add to the stack, claims to add 30% to your productivity and efficiency. Reminds one of the old joke about a salesman introducing technology to a VP of sales.

Face-to-face 257

Face-to-face Lead Gen Hiring Google 257

The Pipeline

DECEMBER 24, 2019

By Tibor Shanto. For many, Thursday will be Boxing Day , a good time for salespeople to think about how they will break out of their box next year? The New Year brings hope and new quotas, you know the drill, more expected in the same exact amount of time. Time won’t bend, you’ll have to, or something will break, probably you. So, no, it’s not just a turn of phrase, you need to break out of your box.

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Exercises Quota Exact Pipeline 194