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The Center for Sales Strategy Blog

International Super Spy: Selling Techniques from a Veteran Salesperson

International Super Spy

If you have kids or watch a lot of Tik-Tok, you're familiar with the Backyardigans song 'International Super Spy'.

It's a catchy little tune that will not get out of your head. As silly as the song is, it reminds us that part of your job as a salesperson is to be a spy. No, not a real spy, but one that targets prospects and does some sleuthing to uncover inside information before your first Discover meeting.

The Discover meeting is the most important meeting you will ever have with any client, ever! If improving sales performance is important, read on!

Topics: Needs Analysis sales strategy Sales

Improving Employee Productivity In a Hybrid Workplace

Improving Employee Productivity In a Hybrid Workplace

One global pandemic, multiple lockdowns, and never-ending strains have reshaped the world the way we live, the way we socialize, and the way business is done. COVID-19 was indeed the biggest disruption to work as well as life in decades.

Productivity prior to the pandemic was a well-defined metric across companies. Some measured productivity by time, some by deliverables, some by revenue, and most by a combination of the three.

Topics: hybrid work sales productivity

Timely Questions That Will Improve Closing Ratios

Timely Questions That Will Improve Closing Ratios

The higher the close ratio of your sales team, the more sales you are making.

It can benefit your team and your company if you know what your close ratio is and how to increase it. Knowing where you stand and what your obstacles are is helpful when it comes to having a goal in mind.

Below are some questions that could help your team members (and you as manager) on the road to higher sales.

Topics: closing ratio closed deals

9 Killer Sales Recruitment Tactics

Recruitment Strategy

It looks like it’s shaping up to be another great year for job seekers and a tough year for employers struggling to find and keep their employees. The “war for talent” rages on.

Don’t let those negative headlines get you down, though. With a good recruitment process and retention plan in place, you will be able to build a thriving team.

Today we are going to focus on the 9-steps of strong recruitment and look at how you can consistently dedicate attention in a highly structured way to achieve big results.  

It starts with setting the stage for success.

Topics: hiring salespeople

Weekly Roundup: Considerations During Inflation, Sales Myths + More

Considerations During Inflation, Sales Myths

- MOTIVATION -

"Don't find fault. Find a remedy."

 

- AROUND THE WEB -

<< If you only read one thing >>

3 Things to Consider During Times of Inflation– The Great Game of Business

Prices are going up. We've all noticed it, and it's maybe even got us a little panicked. So, when can we expect to see inflation start slowing down?

Well, expert economists are expecting to enter a period of disinflation and slowed growth in 2022 and 2023. In this article, we have listed ways economists are saying inflation will impact spending and business growth — something all business leaders should take a look at. >>> READ MORE

Topics: Wrap-up

High-Performing Sales Teams Are Cultivated, Not Hired

cultivate a high-performing sales teamThis post was originally published on Business.com.

Top sales managers don't just look for candidates when they need them they keep in contact with potential team members to build an internal pipeline of interested and engaged salespeople.

The best products and services in the world don't hold up a company if no one buys them.

Most companies depend on salespeople to bridge the gap between production and purchase. When high-performing sellers leave, sales managers scramble to fill their roles. In the ensuing chaos, they usually hire the first competent person to walk through the door.

Topics: sales performance talent dashboard sales training

4 Reasons Accountability Is Missing in a Sales Team

Accountability

Every relationship has ups and downs, and that includes relationships between coworkers.

The members of your sales team might be going through problems at home that can cause problems at work.

There might be conflicts with other members of the sales team.

When problems exist in other areas of life, it can affect the accountability of the whole sales team or individual team members. Either way, it's possible to remedy the situation and make accountability a priority for your team.

Topics: sales performance

Don't Do It! Stop Pitching and Start Asking!

Stop Pitching and Start Asking

Don't do it. I know you want to do it, but you can't.

Seriously!  STOP IT!

"Do what" you innocently ask?

Pitching your product or service in your first meeting with a new client.

"But…but…but," I can already hear your excuses. 

"We are SALES people!  We are supposed to SELL!" 

Technically, yes, you are "supposed" to sell, but not yet! 

Be patient.  Follow the process.  Trust the process.  We have to slow down the sales process so that we can speed up the sale!

Topics: Needs Analysis sales process

How Does Social Selling Fit Into the Sales Process?

How Does Social Selling Fit Into the Sales Process

While the dreaded days of cold calling may be over in the marketing world, it could be said that it merely switched mediums from the telephone to chat apps. If your idea of 'B2B marketing' is sending unsolicited DMs, is that really any different from cold calling?

While cold outreach on social media is a popular technique in our modern world, it's not exactly the most productive, nor the most fruitful. As mentioned above, it's really just cold calling in a new medium, and while your salespeople don't have to deal with slammed phones, that doesn't make it any more viable as a sales technique.

Social selling is a modern approach to marketing that's built around existing relationships, and as such, it works much better. In this article, we’re going to explore the concept of social selling, how it fits into the sales process, and how you can leverage this sales technique to help your business thrive.

Topics: social selling

Weekly Roundup: Should Business Owners Be Raising Prices, Hiring Crisis + More

Should Business Owners Be Raising Prices

- MOTIVATION -

"I walk slowly, but I never walk backward."

 

- AROUND THE WEB -

<< If you only read one thing >>

Should Business Owners Be Raising Their Prices Right Now?– The Great Game of Business

We asked the President of The Great Game of Business, Darin Bridges if he thinks business owners should be raising their prices right now. His response was, "hell, yes."  

Protecting Margins Now, So You Can Fund Growth Tomorrow We've always had a saying at SRC. When the economy goes down — it's not the time to be asking for price increases. You've got to do it while the economy is going up. Everybody knows costs are going up right now — they're creeping up everywhere.

You've got to be able to protect your margins to continue to fund growth, fund your people, fund the retention, and all the things necessary to see success for your business. >>> READ MORE

Topics: Wrap-up