SBI Growth

OCTOBER 11, 2012

Sales teams are getting their 2013 numbers. For the Sales Leaders who learned how to set quotas at the SBI Make the Number tour ( register now! ), the results will be quite different. 2013 results will uncover some long-hidden flaws in the sales force. This blog is NOT about how to correctly set your sales quotas.

Quota 257

Quota Compensation Commission Margin 257

SBI Growth

SEPTEMBER 15, 2013

As a Sales Operations leader, you have 3 major challenges heading into 2014. Understanding how your customers are evolving and determining whether your sales team is keeping pace. This tool has been around for a few years now. To assist you further, sign-up for SBI’s Sales & Marketing Research Review here.

Tools 300

Tools Sales Tools Collateral Vendor 300

SBI Growth

AUGUST 15, 2012

“Freedom lies in being Bold” – Robert Frost Are you consistently bringing bold sales strategy ideas to the VP of Sales? To be a world class Sales Operations leader, pick up the pace. Quantifying the potential impact for their sales leader. Sales Operations Success = Insight + Execution.

Infusion 244

Infusion Data Ideal Customer Profile Strategy 244

SBI Growth

NOVEMBER 9, 2013

There is one factor that is extremely limiting to sales processes worldwide. A customized sales process is an excellent tool. These tools help to anticipate buyer trends and keep pace with the buyer. These tools help to anticipate buyer trends and keep pace with the buyer. Be helpful and not sales-y.

Buyer Persona 307

Buyer Persona Buyer Tools Trends 307

No More Cold Calling

APRIL 9, 2020

You’re the ultimate sales technology—and this is the ultimate sales conversations book. If there ever was a time for real, authentic sales conversations, it’s now. Do you know how to have that kind of sales conversations? I wrote my second book— Pick Up the Damn Phone!: PICK UP THE DAMN PHONE! Imagine that….

Conversion 305

Conversion Face-to-face Social Media Referrals 305

SBI

MAY 7, 2019

The Top Sales Tools of 2019 Guide. It was way back in 2010 when I published the first Guide to Sales Tools. The 100 page guide, the first exhaustive list of sales technologies to be published, included just 53 solutions. It’s got everything you could want in a Guide to Sales Technology.

Sales Tools 101

Sales Tools Top of Funnel Tools Funnel 101

SBI Growth

OCTOBER 25, 2012

42% is the average amount of time a sales person spends engaging with a customer. selling time) This equals only 17 hours per week. We all know improving selling time should increase sales. And what is the value I should receive by actually improving a sales person’s selling time in front of a customer?

Hiring 310

Hiring Travel Territories Face-to-face 310

No More Cold Calling

APRIL 26, 2021

I wrote that in 2013, back when virtual sales meetings weren’t the only option. We’ve had to make do with virtual sales meetings, and that has affected many B2B sales pros’ ability to access new customers and to make real-world connections. The Problem with Virtual Sales Meetings. But not referral sellers.

Sales Meeting 287

Sales Meeting Meeting Referrals Face-to-face 287

The Sales Hunter

APRIL 19, 2013

One item I enjoy about my job is sharing with college students and business people under the age of 25 who are looking to make their move up in the business world. I can’t be in a classroom without sharing with them my list of recommendations for sources to help someone become a sales leader. ” Sales Motivation Blog.

Sales Leadership 199

Sales Leadership Tools Journal Selling Skills 199

Fill the Funnel

DECEMBER 3, 2012

This years Top Sales Books to Read in 2013. They represent the freshest, most innovative thinking on sales currently on the market and take into consideration the changing sales climate and competitive realities every sales rep and sales leader is facing. LinkedIn has become a “cool” tool.

Face-to-face 132

Face-to-face Top of Funnel Call-back Sales 132

Your Sales Management Guru

AUGUST 5, 2013

Your Sales Management Guru Blog Author on “Top 50 Sales & Marketing Influencers” List . Speaker, consultant, and author Ken Thoreson’s updated Sales Manager’s Tool Kit now available . KNOXVILLE, Tenn., KNOXVILLE, Tenn., To request an advance copy, email ken@acumentmgmt.com. About Ken Thoreson.

Influencer 82

Influencer Marketing Face-to-face Retail 82

SBI

DECEMBER 18, 2013

Top Sales World just held their annual ceremony for the Top Sales and Marketing Awards. You can tell they truly enjoy the opportunity to recognize people, resources and tools that advance our industry in one way or another. It’s truly an exciting time for those in the marketing and sales profession.

Quota 135

Quota CRM SAP Forecasting 135

SBI Growth

AUGUST 23, 2012

Here it comes, the 2013 budgeting process. On top of finishing out 2012, you need to determine which Sales Strategy initiatives to prioritize in order to make the 2013 number. Compare this with world class performance of exceeding your Sales Strategy goals. 2013 Potential analysis for each initiative.

Strategy 293

Strategy Analysis Quota Resources 293

HeavyHitter Sales

FEBRUARY 23, 2013

I’ve had the privilege to work with and study hundreds of companies and their sales organizations. Based upon my experience, here’s my list of the best companies to sell for in 2013. While it includes companies than range from start-ups to billions in sales, all of these businesses share three common qualities.

Company 152

Company Analytics Enterprise Enterprise 152

Fill the Funnel

JULY 2, 2013

Small business owners have learned the power of web tools. Sales and marketing leaders should open a line of communication with these small businesses to learn what is working to help them grow their revenue and customer base. 1 Biggest change in how you do business today – use, or use more, online marketing tools.

Small Business 124

Small Business Small Business Tools Social Media 124

Understanding the Sales Force

SEPTEMBER 9, 2013

Understanding the Sales Force by Dave Kurlan There are more sales experts, self-professed and otherwise, than ever before. There is more free content on sales and selling than anyone could have imagined. There are categories of sales tools and CRM applications where none existed a few years ago.

Sales Management 288

Sales Management Hiring Compensation Trends 288

SBI Growth

JANUARY 2, 2013

Another year has gone by, and you fell short on your sales number. But you can excel in 2013 because of your shortcomings in 2012. And with these answers come chances for improvement in 2013. Talent Assessment of Sales Leadership and Sales Reps. Talent Assessment of Sales Leadership and Sales Reps.

Lead Rank 267

Lead Rank Lead Scoring Sales Qualified Lead Lead Gen 267

SBI Growth

SEPTEMBER 17, 2013

2013 is the year Social Selling became Mission Critical. Social Selling is a proven method of securing the first appointment with buyers inside of target accounts. There’s a lot written these days on Social Selling. At its core, Social Selling is a modern prospecting methodology that fills the funnel with opportunities.

Social Selling 321

Social Selling Top of Funnel Marketing Ideal Customer Profile 321

Understanding the Sales Force

DECEMBER 18, 2013

Understanding the Sales Force by Dave Kurlan My vision, of how the future of selling is shaping up, appears in today''s (the December 18, 2013) issue of Top Sales Magazine. This issue also features the 2013 Award Winners of the Top Sales & Marketing Awards in 18 Categories.

Sales Talent 237

Sales Talent Video Course Up-Sell 237

SBI Growth

SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

Truly, the competition will be waking up soon to try and close the year strong. Your efforts this month and next will help to solidify your sales success. Recently we trained a team of 50+ sales reps from a B2B enterprise company. 80% of them started to pull up reports and tried to get answers. Why is this?

Pipeline 306

Pipeline ACT Competition Top of Funnel 306

Score More Sales

AUGUST 28, 2013

When you look at how selling has changed over the last 5, 6, or 10 years, there is not doubt that technology tools and a scientific approach to selling has become prevalent in the B2B sales world. I know people in selling are scrambling. There are nuances that technology have not been able to pick up on as of yet.

Webinar Metrics 212

Webinar Metrics Lead Rank Lead Scoring Outbound 212

Sales and Marketing Management

MARCH 29, 2019

Author: Paula Sanders There’s a lot of hype around artificial intelligence, but the reality of its impact to sales and marketing strategies promises to be positive. However, just as technology has evolved, so has the customer’s sales approach. That’s a significant opportunity. Artificial Intelligence Is Here – Embrace It.

Marketing 209

Marketing Webinar Metrics Software Software 209

The Pipeline

DECEMBER 22, 2014

Sales is right in there like a, a, a, “wanna go play outside?” So what does 2015 hold for sales? Apps for sales and sellers will continue to grow, as will the confusion around them. According to a recent press release from Accenture titled: Mediocre Performance by a Majority of Sales Representatives Cost Companies 3.2

Data 275

Data Cold Calling Revenue Social Selling 275

The ROI Guy

OCTOBER 29, 2012

As a solution provider, the lengthening decision cycle can be frustrating and costly to you, as deals stall and critical sales revenue is delayed. This despite many of the participants now selling solutions that are easier to purchase and deliver, particularly Software as a Service and Cloud Computing solutions. You Decide.

Sales Cycle 72

Sales Cycle Decision Maker Proposal Buying Cycle 72

Score More Sales

JULY 11, 2013

He was my sales colleague. We both were account managers selling millions of dollars worth of technology to a major aircraft company. Between us, we sold more than $30M a year of items selling for $20 or $100 or $5000 each. It can take weeks or months for some in sales to truly qualify a sales opportunity.

Sales Qualified Lead 309

Sales Qualified Lead Opportunity Lead Rank Lead Scoring 309

Score More Sales

AUGUST 26, 2013

Last week at Inbound 2013 I had the pleasure to meet up with Kyle Porter, CEO and Founder of SalesLoft. What I love about SalesLoft is that they are solely focused on helping those of us on the front line of sales prospecting. Feedback on tools (as a comment on the blog) is extremely helpful to others.

Inside Sales 217

Inside Sales Lead Rank Lead Scoring Leads 217

Score More Sales

OCTOBER 18, 2013

If you could wave a magic wand and make improvements for keeping track of your business contacts, their social activity, and your current and past sales opportunities, what would you change or fix? In other words, does your contact management tool bring in the social profile and activity on social for each of your contacts?

CRM 193

CRM Ideal Customer Profile Top of Funnel Lead Rank 193

No More Cold Calling

APRIL 30, 2020

I recounted that story in my recent presentation—“ Sales Experts Channel: How to Recession Proof Your Sales in 9 Killer Steps ”—because it perfectly illustrates a key business insight. Plus, check out what you might have missed from No More Cold Calling this month: Pick Up the Damn Phone and Have Sales Conversations.

Referrals 279

Referrals Cold Calling Lead Generation Webinar Metrics 279

Understanding the Sales Force

JANUARY 27, 2014

Understanding the Sales Force by Dave Kurlan This kind of story doesn''t happen every day. They were assessed with OMG''s tools, and assembled into 5 teams, all selling the exact same product. They had to go door-to-door, sell an overpriced luxury item, in the same market, over a 3-day period.

Case Study 289

Case Study Study Lead Rank Lead Scoring 289

The Sales Hunter

AUGUST 22, 2013

Email is neither the primary way to make sales nor the best way. Treat email as one of the tools you have to communicate with a prospect/customer. Too many salespeople think they can use email exclusively to generate sales. Don’t use it as a data dump that winds up doing nothing but turning off the prospect.

Motivation 206

Motivation Selling Skills Customer Service Follow-up 206

SBI Growth

DECEMBER 10, 2013

At this point, your 2013 sales number is essentially decided. I speak with many VP Sales who say the same thing every year: “We have some underperformers that are killing us.” It’s foolish to spend additional money on someone who will end up missing quota yet again in 2014. Assessing Your Sales Team.

Territories 300

Territories Scale Guidelines Groups 300

SBI Growth

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

This blog is for Sales Leaders running rapidly growing sales forces. You are preparing for 2013. Will you have any chance of hitting the number in 2013? It is dividing up the total sale target between reps. Typically sales leaders also add 5-10% to the number as cushion. You are hiring new reps.

Territories 275

Territories Quota Hiring Maximizer 275

Understanding the Sales Force

AUGUST 18, 2015

Sales Process isn't even the only thing that inbound marketers say is dead. They'll have you believing that salespeople are no longer needed, selling is dead, and a consultative approach is dead too. Let's start with my recent Google search for "Sales Process is Dead." But the key word here is tools. April 29 2013.

Inbound 120

Inbound Inside Sales Sales Process Top of Funnel 120

Score More Sales

DECEMBER 2, 2013

Sometimes in sales you just need to start over with your messaging. Even the craftiest sellers must re-word and re-tool their messaging as time goes on. The most successful people in your company and industry are doing and saying things that are creating sales opportunities. Top Ten Tips for Voicemail Success in Sales.

Inside Sales 230

Inside Sales Lead Rank Lead Scoring Call-back 230

Understanding the Sales Force

JUNE 4, 2014

Understanding the Sales Force by Dave Kurlan The Selling Power Blog published a new article of mine, The Top 10 Steps Salespeople Can Take to Improve. I thought it would be helpful to expand on item #5, Persistence, because selling requires more persistence than ever before. c) Copyright 2013 Dave Kurlan'

Territories 268

Territories Exercises Video ACT 268

The Sales Hunter

AUGUST 27, 2013

Short-questions are truly an amazing tool most salespeople never seem to grasp. Problem is that questions of that type do little to help the sales process. In fact, I’ll contend many times that they wind up harming the sales process. The sales process is about getting the customer talking. We’re not.

Sales Process 250

Sales Process Cold Calling Consultative Selling Selling Skills 250

Score More Sales

AUGUST 12, 2013

The three other customers in the aviation space using the tools your company sells and why they won’t ever give them up. Subscribe to the award-winning blog and the “Sales Ideas In A Minute ” newsletter for sales strategies, tactics, and tips in selling. We are human and we like stories.

Inside Sales 213

Inside Sales Lead Rank Lead Scoring Cold Calling 213