In order to sell more when using marketing automation technology, we need to enter the buyer’s decision path far earlier. But because marketing automation uses the sales model as its core thinking, and concentrates on solution placement rather than helping buyers navigate their behind-the-scenes decision path (necessary before they purchase) it’s hard to know when/how/why buyers will close, regardless [...]

To get clients, you either reach out to them directly, or have them find you.

As a sales manager, do you forecast sales that will close when your sales folks tell you they’ll close?
As a sales professional, do you forecast which sales will close when your contact tells you they’ll be ready? Or when it seems to you they’ll be ready?
How accurate have you been with your predictions?
WHY DO WE THINK [...]

I recently contacted a man who runs a marketing automation company, thinking there might be areas of potential partnership…

When I hear sellers say that buyers have ‘pain’ I ask how long it would take them to get to the hospital with a broken arm. “Immediately.” Why? Because they’re in pain.

A recent client is an international B2B company with a very non-optimal – but not unusual – way of compensating their sales folks.
They split the sales team into an Inside Sales group that makes appointments, and Corporate and Field Sales teams to close them. The structure, as well as the compensation, promotes failure: Inside Sales is paid per appointment (with a tendency to [...]