The Center for Sales Strategy Blog

- WHAT'S MOTIVATING US THIS WEEK -

"TODAY IS ALWAYS THE MOST PRODUCTIVE DAY OF YOUR WEEK" 

-MARK HUNTER

- WHAT WE'VE BEEN READING THIS WEEK -

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Sales Engagement: The Intersection of Sales and Science — Sales Hacker

Sometimes, simple ideas can spark revolutions. When science and sales meet, sparks fly. Just as cell phones and emails revolutionized the way people live and do business, sales engagement upends the infrastructure inefficiency that prevents even excellent salespeople from performing at peak excellence.

This is the third post in a four-part series on how managers can set new hires up for success. You can click to view the previous posts on building relationships that will lead to stronger sales performance and maximizing strengths and working around weaknesses.

Giving your new hire detailed feedback on their talents is one of the best ways to set them up for success. This conversation can be very meaningful and will arm them with specific information about their potential and how they can maximize their strengths in their new role.

As a group of salespeople were gathered for their weekly sales meeting, their manager said he had an exercise on focus that they would complete first. The manager walked around the room and laid a sheet of paper, face-down in front of each salesperson. He then told them to all turn the handout over. On the sheet was a single black dot in the middle of each page.

- WHAT'S MOTIVATING US THIS WEEK -

"THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SUCCESSFUL PERSON AND OTHERS IS NOT A LACK OF STRENGTH, NOT A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, BUT RATHER A LACK OF WILL" 

-VINCE LOMBARDI

- WHAT WE'VE BEEN READING THIS WEEK -

<< If you only read one thing >>

10 TED Talks Every Sales Professional Should Watch in 2018 — Hubspot

Great sales departments motivate their employees with incentives, contests, and -- you guessed it -- pep talks. Viewed regularly by millions across the globe, TED Talks bring valuable new perspectives to the table. It's not always easy to stay motivated in the day-to-day grind of selling. TED Talks like these can give you just the jolt you need to remember why you love this job -- even during the longest sales days.

This is the second post in a four-part series on how managers can set new hires up for success. You can view the previous post on maximizing strengths and working around weaknesses here. 

The very best managers I work with understand the importance of growing solid, working relationships with their people, and they start working on those relationships even before their new hire’s first day on the job. Not all managers take this approach - many people feel their boss does not care about their success. According to a recent Monster poll, 72% of respondents said they do not feel like their manager or supervisor is interested in their job growth. Yet, caring about people and developing good working relationships with direct reports, is one of the best ways to boost sales performance.  

Some sellers wonder why they miss sales goals on a regular basis even though they are busy as a bee. Making “plenty” of face-to-face calls. Presenting and closing “plenty” of proposals. Conducting “plenty” of post-sale follow-up tasks. All of these activities usually equal another month short of exceeding their sales goals. 

- WHAT'S MOTIVATING US THIS WEEK -

""OUR GREATEST WEAKNESS LIES IN GIVING UP. THE MOST CERTAIN WAY TO

SUCCEED IS ALWAYS TO TRY JUST ONE MORE TIME." 

-THOMAS EDISON

- WHAT WE'VE BEEN READING THIS WEEK -

<< If you only read one thing >>

9 Secrets to Getting a Response From the CEO in 2018 — Hubspot

When a salesperson sends a message to a lower-level prospect, they can afford to try a stronger ask at first and then tweak it or scale back as necessary. But when you’re pitching to a CEO, you really only have one shot to engage them. Bungle the ask and you might miss the runway entirely.

This is the first post in a four-part series on how managers can set new hires up for success.

Onboarding new employees the right way is crucial in retaining them long-term.

According to an Aberdeen Group study, 86 percent of respondents felt that a new hire’s decision to stay with a company long-term is made within the first six months of employment. So you want to ensure you provide a challenging, but rewarding, experience that first six months and get it right immediately out of the gate! There are a few things you can do before and after your new hire’s first day to set them up for success and retain them.

From small businesses to international enterprises, most companies are dependent on effective sales to thrive. This is where sales integration tools come in. 

At the core of sales integration tools is the idea of sales intelligence. The goal of these tools is to improve the efficiency and quality of sales interactions for better conversion in the long run. Sales intelligence and management tools integrate with other software to make lead information as robust and accessible to sales reps as possible.

When used correctly, sales integration tools can not only improve the quality and efficiency of sales interactions but also lead to better customer relationships and increased sales.

Getting that first appointment with a new business prospect is difficult because most sellers do not take the time to establish trust and create value in the mind of the prospect.

Unknown salespeople do not have the best reputation in the minds of new business prospects because of the less than honest actions of some sellers. An essential element to overcoming this hurdle is establishing trust and creating value—one way to do this is to think like an owner. 

- WHAT'S MOTIVATING US THIS WEEK -

"IN ORDER TO GROW BETTER, YOU NEED A CULTURE

THAT PUTS THE CUSTOMER FIRST."

-DHARMESH SHAH 
At Hubspot's Annual Conference, #INBOUND18

- WHAT WE'VE BEEN READING THIS WEEK -

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How to Respond When Prospects Ask For Customer References: 12 Strategies — Hubspot

Customer references can make the difference between a closed sale or a lost one.
But there's a time and a place to introduce your prospects to your customers. It's not in the beginning of the sales process, when many prospects ask. It might not even be in the middle of your process if you haven’t already done a good job addressing their concerns.

Measuring the results of an ad campaign or a marketing push is important. How else will you know if the effort was a success, and if the investment produced a profitable return? In the past, it was often tough to measure, causing uncertainty and frustration among both buyers and sellers.

In the digital age, I could argue that it’s gotten too easy to report campaign metrics.

My family and I love to take advantage of a weekend getaway with a fun road trip, but that also means we need to be ready to pack up and leave when the moment presents itself! So, even though I "maintain" my car by manufacturer standards on a regular basis, I still take my car in for a thorough inspection before every road trip. 

Just like I have a trusted and experienced mechanic examine my car prior to road trips, the same type of detailed inspection should be performed on your sales department and its performance. 

What came first, the chicken or the egg?
No doubt you have heard this question. No doubt the debate continues.

Here’s is the chicken-and-egg version as it relates to sales:
What leads to more cash, more appointments, or more assignments from set appointments?