Because choosing a solution is the last thing a buyer does, the vendor isn’t an active partner at the point the most important decisions get made.  We  like to think that because we gather good data, deeply understand pain, and have a relevant solution, we’ll be considered an ‘active partner.’
SELLERS ENTER TOO EARLY
We fail to realize that we are [...]

Are your contact sheets giving you the sort of data that helps you discover – and close – the right leads? Are you depending on the data from your contact sheet/lead scoring to find your prospects?
I recently asked 15 colleagues to define what a good contact sheet should reveal. I got 15 different answers. So [...]

Recently, I asked 15 marketing automation leaders to define Lead Scoring for me. Every one gave me a different answer!

What does your pipeline consist of? How long have the ‘opportunities’ been in the pipeline? How accurate is your/your team’s forecasting?

A fast-moving marketing automation company recently hired me to train Buying Faciliation®. They were both thrilling and unnerving to work with: constant change and disruption, people changing jobs and decisions, different initiatives happening all at once, etc. left everyone breathless – with many incomplete, unmanageable, and unexamined issues left behind. Not to mention an atmosphere that was ruled by the loudest people [...]

Sales is a great model for understanding need, discovering problems, and introducing/placing solutions.
Buying Facilitation® is a great model for helping buyers navigate their behind-the-scenes political and relationship issues that must achieve buy-in before they get consensus to purchase a solution – you know, that mysterious stuff buyers go through privately while we sit and wait for them [...]