The Center for Sales Strategy Blog

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.

- MOTIVATION -

"Expect the best, prepare for the worst, capitalize on what comes."

- Zig Ziglar

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<< If you only read one thing >>

For most sales reps, the benefits of employing automation tools are manifest. Who wouldn’t want to hand over humdrum tasks to digital systems so they could spend more time on activities that are fulfilling. Studies have shown sales professionals typically spend only 11% of their time actively selling, which is doubtless something many workers in the profession would like to change.

However, many of these same salespeople live in fear that reliance on automation will damage their ability to build deep and meaningful relationships with their clients.

It makes sense because often times we associate the word “automated” with the impersonal. Although it may sound counterintuitive, many of the processes facilitated by sales automation software actually make it easier for sales reps to dedicate additional resources to enhancing client relationships.

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.

- MOTIVATION -

"The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them."."

- John Maxwell

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<< If you only read one thing >>

Case Studies and campaign recaps are powerful tools to help sell success. When managers share individual wins with their team, it boosts morale, sparks ideas, and motivates others to do similar work.

Salespeople value the real-life experience of their peers. After all, the best part of working in sales is celebrating your biggest wins after hours, weeks, maybe even months of hard work. Sales wins are a combination of strategies, tools, and content — doesn't other players on your team want to know what worked well for the salesperson who sealed the deal?

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.

About half of all sales reps don’t achieve their yearly quotas.

Reasons for not hitting quota vary from not having enough opportunities in the sales pipeline to not following a sales process. Additionally, sales quotas have risen, yet the percentage of reps making their quota has fallen.

If your salespeople aren't hitting quota, here are a few questions to ask yourself. Remember, a quota is only valid if it's aligned to your organization and employee success.