The Center for Sales Strategy Blog

Everyone agrees that referrals are an essential part of growing a business. Furthermore, it's the most cost-effective way to build customer relationships and win new customers. Despite the sundry benefits of a referral program, how to ask for referrals has never been easy.

Acquiring a referred customer will cost you almost nothing, and they have a high degree of loyalty and retention. In fact, a referred client has a twice lifetime value compared to a non-referred customer.

Let's face it: asking is the best way to get customer referrals. But breaking the ice and asking directly for referrals can feel awkward, right? It might sound like you are desperately trying to ask for a favor.

Being a sales manager has always been a difficult job. But we can all agree that over the last couple of years, it’s gotten a lot harder.

In this episode of the Sales Leadership Series, Mike Searson, Vice President, Local Revenue at Corus Entertainment discusses sales and executive leadership tips. He also addresses some of the top KPIs he looks at and what sales managers should be focused on in the upcoming years.

Tune in now or keep reading for a brief overview.

This past year has been full of changes due to the pandemic. More and more people prefer to shop and find their information online.

By now, you realize it's going to take more than just clever marketing and hard work to compete in this ever-changing landscape.

If you want to prepare for 2022, you must look at the pandemic’s impact and how the business landscape has changed. Otherwise, you’ll quickly fall behind. With so many shops competing for consumer attention, and 22% of businesses closing since the pandemic, the pressure is on.

Guests Jaleigh Long, VP/GM Atlanta and Athens Radio, Cox Media Group and Katie Reid, VP/GM Jacksonville, Cox Media Group, join the livecast to help wrap up season 5 of the Improving Sales Performance Series #WomeninSales.

As female thought leaders, experts, and industry gurus, both Jaleigh and Katie share their insight, tips, and knowledge on various topics that help companies improve sales performance.

Tune in now or keep reading for a brief overview.

Your answer to the classic 'sell me this pen' exercise shows whether you're trapped in a fixed mindset or excelling in a growth mindset. 

Everyone knows that you perform better after a year in sales than a day in sales. But, what about after five years? Do your skills keep leveling up, or do you slip into repetitive routines? 

Adopting the growth mindset in sales is the way to make sure every contact your team has is memorable, the orders start pouring in, and the customers keep coming back for more. If you want your team to exceed your highest targets in 2022, it's time to learn about the growth mindset now! 

Read on for true insight on how to crush your targets with a growth mindset.

Sales meetings have always been stressful. But with the recent shift to digital, many sales professionals have had to adapt to a whole new way of closing deals.

Naturally, as with anything new, mistakes are still being made. And since sales meeting blunders can cost you business, we've created a list of the five most common ones so you can avoid them in the future.

Continuing season 5 of the Improving Sales Performance Series, host Matt Sunshine and co-host Stephanie Downs, continue to focuses on celebrating #WomenInSales for the month of October.

Guests Lori Clark, Director of Local Sales at KHOU-TV; TEGNA - HOUSTON, and Dana Nagel, Director of Sales, TEGNA/WKYC Media join the show to share their insight, tips, and knowledge on various topics that help companies improve sales performance.

Tune in now or keep reading for a brief overview.

According to a LinkedIn report, women represent 39% of the workforce in sales – and only 21% of Vice Presidents in Sales are female.

The State of Women in Sales report shows that the sales industry has the second largest gender equity gap in America. Why aren’t more women in sales?

Aside from being a demanding career, sales professionals are up against a lot of biases accusations such as being “manipulative,” “pushy,” and “dishonest.” Women are often preconceived as being too emotional for a sales career. But we’re here to debunk that myth.

The new season of the Improving Sales Performance Series has a slight twist. 

Host Matt Sunshine is joined by co-hosted by Stephanie Downs to focus on celebrating, honoring, and recognizing #WomenInSales for the month of October.

To start the season, Nicki Harkrider-Probey (VP, Local Revenue Officer at TEGNA) and Jessica Hagan (President & General Manager at KTVB News Group) join the show to share their insight, tips, and knowledge on various topics that help companies improve sales performance.

Tune in now or keep reading for a brief overview.

Whether a sales reps is out in the field answering prospects' questions or within the office conversing about company initiatives, inefficient communication can take a significant toll on your company's success.

When communicating with prospects, quick access to the right information at the right time is essential for selling the product or service.

Having better communication skills will increase your chances of closing the deal. Here are a few simple steps for salespeople to help take their communication with prospects to the next level.