The Sales Evangelist

In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, our host Donald Kelly meets with Chris Beall to talk about the MOST important objection you’ll face as a seller and why sellers often can’t overcome it. Who is Chris Beall? Chris is the CEO of the software company ConnectAndSell and offers one INSANELY valuable tool to sellers: The ability to talk to as MANY people as you want at the push of a button. Throughout his career, however, he’s encountered one trend. The Number One Objection Sellers Face: In the COUNTLESS sales reps that Chris has worked with, the most common objection they face, and the hardest to overcome, is a simple phrase. That phrase is “I’m all set.”. What triggers this objection? Most people think that cold calls are mostly marketing. Marketing gets TOO involved within the process of the cold call, and going into a cold call with a marketing mindset is deadly. One of the most FREQUENTLY used tactics in marketing is establishing a niche. Define your niche or area of expertise and then do something to differentiate yourself from the competition. Although this is a useful avenue for marketing, it’s TERRIBLE during cold calls. The reason is simple: If you try to establish a category or niche during a cold call, you come off as condescending. Think about it: You’re effectively telling whoever you’re calling that THEY’RE incompetent and that YOU are better at whatever your specific niche is. Doing this within the first cold call, to a completely new buyer, is a surefire way to get the “we’re all set” objection. Why should the buyer go with your solution when they think their solution is already effective? So, how should sellers overcome this objection? You have to RELIVE the fear of whoever you’re calling. Virtually ALL cold callers assume the person they’re calling is angry or annoyed with them. In reality, though, this person is scared. You’re someone they do not know, and we’re naturally afraid of the unknown. To overcome this natural fear, empathize with them. View the world through THEIR eyes. They see YOU as a problem. Acknowledge that, and then offer a solution to that problem. This begins to build TRUST between you and the person you’re calling. If you want to learn more about Chris’s strategies, you can check out his podcast called Market Dominance Guys, or his company website at ConnectAndSell.com. You can talk to Donald and drop him a message on LinkedIn, Tik Tok, and Instagram at donaldckelly. You can also join TSE’s space on Circle to talk to Donald and other sellers looking to improve their craft. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This episode is brought to you in part by Scratchpad. Scratchpad is the first Revenue Team Workspace specifically designed to adapt to each salesperson’s workflow, so you don’t have to change your habits. Get Scratchpad free at Scratchpad.com.  This episode is brought to you in part by Calendly. The power of scheduling automation has never been more critical than it is today. Your sales team needs a solution to easily meet with prospects at the right time, every time. Finish the year strong and request a demo of Calendly today at Calendly.com/TSE.  Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify.  Audio is provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, our host Donald Kelly meets with Trent Anderson to discuss a unique strategy you, as a sales leader, could start utilizing to help your sales team. So what exactly is the first, last, best, worst strategy? Trent comes from a storytelling and sales background, and he noticed a theme with storytelling that he used to develop the first, last, best, worst strategy. The premise is simple: Make a chart with four columns. The first column will be labeled first, the second last, the third best, and the fourth worst.  In the rows, meanwhile, put in some of the activities you, as a seller, have to do. Trent uses the examples of cold calls, cold emails, sales won, and sales lost. After you have your chart made, you begin to fill it in. In the example Trent gives, you start out by listing what the first cold call you EVER made was and filling it in. Then the last cold call and email you made, and so on. The MAIN focus of this strategy, however, is the best and worst columns. Have your sales reps go over their best and worst sales, cold calls, emails, etc. and really study them. What were their similarities? What about their differences? What types of businesses did they close deals with? Why is this strategy effective? What exactly does it accomplish? The single BIGGEST thing that the FLBW strategy offers is: Insight and information. An issue that plenty of sales teams run into is having one incredible seller who doesn’t exactly know why they’re good. They can’t teach the specifics of their sales process to others on the team. With FLBW, however, you’re able to pick up on trends and other similarities between both the best and worst sales. You can take this information to avoid bad sales in the future, with the worst sales, and get more profitable ones, with the best sales. At the end of each quarter, why not meet with your team and try out FLBW? Take note of the trends and take advantage of all of your new insight. Your sales and profits will only increase!You can connect with Trent on LinkedIn under the name Trent Anderson as well as on Twitter. You can talk to Donald and drop him a message on LinkedIn, Tik Tok, and Instagram at donaldckelly. You can also join TSE’s space on Circle to talk to Donald and other sellers looking to improve their craft. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This episode is brought to you in part by Scratchpad. Scratchpad is the first Revenue Team Workspace specifically designed to adapt to each salesperson’s workflow, so you don’t have to change your habits. Get Scratchpad free at Scratchpad.com.  This episode is brought to you in part by Calendly. The power of scheduling automation has never been more critical than it is today. Your sales team needs a solution to easily meet with prospects at the right time, every time. Finish the year strong and request a demo of Calendly today at Calendly.com/TSE.  Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify.  Audio is provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

When it comes to improving sales, all it might take to reach your goals is a shift in mindset. In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, Donald is joined by Justin Cunningham to learn how any sales professional can stand out, transform, and optimize their mindset for better performance.  You won’t be able to sell until you believe you can sell. Adjust your beliefs. Try integrating a value-based reframe - People will form their beliefs after an experience. During your next relationship or interaction, you’ll subconsciously look for those same affirming beliefs to support your existing notion.  Decide that you want something better and find evidence to support that new belief. Set yourself apart to win larger-scale accounts: Learn what they’re passionate about and what drives their bottom line to integrate a plan framed directly to them. A gatekeeper will pass individualized materials and information to a decision-maker rather than a mass-sent supply of information. Don’t act like an employee; act like a business partner. When you focus on creating unique connections, relationships, and moments with others, you’ll realize you’re far more critical than a cog in the business machine. If you try something new, what’s the worst that can happen? Propose new growth ideas and ways to improve your organization; if that is considered negative, it likely isn’t the best environment for you. How leadership empowers their teams: Most people are completely underutilized. People are motivated by many different things, and determining your team’s perspectives and mindset can be a powerful way to unify positions toward a common goal. Ask yourself and your team if your current actions are contributing to the company goal. If not, change your behavior. Justin’s final takeaway?  Believe that your radical insights are worth sharing. Don’t be afraid to tell your ideas to those around you. Read Clicking by Faith Popcorn for more ideas about this topic, and visit ishiftresults.com to connect and interact with Justin. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This episode is brought to you in part by Scratchpad. Are you tired of a digital workspace cluttered with notes, folders, files, and half-filled spreadsheets? (Not that we’re speaking from personal experience.) Luckily, we’ve found the solution. Scratchpad is the first Revenue Team Workspace specifically designed to adapt to each salesperson’s workflow, so you don’t have to change your habits. Scratchpad creates a streamlined workflow that allows everyone to be a little more productive each day without the hassle of updating a database with whatever info you can find. Get Scratchpad free at Scratchpad.com.  This episode is brought to you in part by the Outbound 2022 Sales Conference. Are you looking to learn actionable and practical ways to improve your sales performance? Do you or your team want to experience a fantastic professional development opportunity full of expert and high-quality speakers ready to help you reach your sales quotas? Attend this year’s Outbound Conference! Visit outboundconference.com to learn more, and use code MANGO10 at checkout to take a portion of your final ticket price. As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

How can you interact with potential buyers (especially enterprise clients) that encourage a dialogue? After all, landing the sale isn’t the only part of the equation; you first have to get their attention! In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, Donald is joined by Dr. Stephen Timme and Melody Astley to discuss their recent book Insight-Led Selling, which details how to learn how buyers think. But first, why did they write a book? Ultimately, Stephen and Melody wanted to create a resource their clients and community could utilize. It’s harder than ever to sell to enterprise sellers (yes, people say that every year. But it’s true!) And COVID-aside, the subscription-based economy is growing. There are more stakeholders than ever before in traditional buying processes. At the same time, implementation costs for platforms are lower, making it easier to switch between service providers. They interviewed many executives to see how they felt about sales.  From AT&T, Coca-Cola, Proctor and Gamble, and even Honey-Baked Hams, Stephen and Melody interviewed executives to learn firsthand how they felt about salespeople. (If you were curious, Honey-Baked Hams didn’t even give them coupons. We’re just as disappointed as you are.) They asked one simple question: what could sellers do better? Below were the three overwhelming responses: First, tell me something I don’t know. Second, how does what you’re selling align with my goals and strategies. Third, make my life easy (and don’t give me a 30-page proposal.) Personalization is more than inserting the name of each person in an email blast.  It’s developing a point of view that is interesting to the person you’re talking to. Hold on, let’s say that again for those who missed it: spend a moment to develop a point of view interesting to the person you’re talking to. As a sales leader, we expect output from our BDRs. But we can’t do this and expect results from a spray-and-pray method. The game has changed. How can you implement these sales techniques? For publicly-traded companies, you have access to specific financial figures; use that to align your selling proposition with their capabilities.  Explain the “how” you can help them before you can get into the “how much.”  For sales leaders, equip your salespeople with the specialized knowledge they might need.  You can self-learn if you feel unsupported by your organization, or (and an even better strategy), ask your organization for support. Their final takeaway? Understanding the language of how a customer speaks (and relating that to financial objectives) is a skill that will last the rest of your career.  Insight-Led Selling is available for purchase on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. To contact Melody and Stephen, reach out at info@finlistics.com or connect on their business’s LinkedIn page. (Or connect directly with Stephen and Melody.) This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This course is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Certified Training Program, designed to help new and struggling sellers master sales fundamentals and close more deals. Help elevate your sales game and sign up now to get the first two modules free! You can visit www.thesalesevangelist.com/closemoredeals or call (561) 570-5077 for more information. We value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for each episode you listen to!  Read more about sales or listen to audiobooks on Audible and explore their huge online library. Register now to get a free book and a 30-day trial. Audio provided by Free SFX and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Gatekeepers: the infamous villains of the sales world. Regardless of industry, most high-level executives employ some type of executive assistant or secretary to serve as a gatekeeper. A necessary part of the professional world, these assistants act as a filter that forces salespeople to maintain high standards and thoughtful targeting to pass. In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, Donald interviews Natasha Bowles, founder of Natasha Bowles Professional Staffing Agency, to learn more about how salespeople should interact with gatekeepers for more successful results.  The main priority of an executive assistant: securing the executive’s time.  If Natasha didn’t protect her executive’s time, salespeople (among others) would occupy all their time. That doesn’t mean salespeople are bad. But it does mean she ensures the salespeople she lets pass are prepared and offer a product or service genuinely beneficial to her executive’s company. Executives receive 250-1000 emails every day. She is a necessary filter that helps executives find time to do their jobs.  Therefore, as salespeople, you must convince both the executive and the gatekeeper that you’re worthy of their time. Get past the virtual inbox - Natasha’s tips for email outreach: Natasha automatically discards anything that looks like an email blast- emails containing no information about the company and just discuss the sender’s product. To get to the executive, show initiative, research the target company and show how you can help solve a problem. It’s not just personalizing the email; it’s demonstrating understanding of the target and what you can offer them. It’s basic human decency, but still applicable: be respectful. Gatekeepers will notes a dismissive or demanding salesperson. And, if they need that product or service, the gatekeeper will look elsewhere. In 2018, Natasha was tasked with finding an alarm system, water cooler, and other aspects for a new building. The man she was looking to buy from refused to talk to her, insisting on interacting with her executive at every stage of the buying journey. Natasha ultimately ended the partnership with his company because he refused to work with her, and she found a different supplier. Salespeople have a long-standing perception that they need to speak with the decision-maker. But the decision-maker doesn’t necessarily mean the top-level executive. It’s whoever is in charge of the decision (I know, it’s shocking.) Develop (and maintain) a relationship with the gatekeeper to be effective. Find a balance between demonstrating product knowledge without going over people’s heads. Don’t explain hyper-specific nuances, but emphasize what sets your product apart from the competition. Maintaining a relationship is just as important as the initial sale. Remember, executives meet with 5-15 people each day. And executive assistants interact with dozens more. If you don’t interact with the gatekeeper until it’s time to upsell a year later, that gatekeeper will not remember you.  Maintain the relationship, stay in touch, and develop a personal connection to ensure the gatekeeper reaches out when the time comes. Connect with her on LinkedIn (at natashabeingww) to learn more about her experiences.  This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This course is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Certified Training Program, designed to help new and struggling sellers master sales fundamentals and close more deals. Help elevate your sales game and sign up now to get the first two modules free! You can visit www.thesalesevangelist.com/closemoredeals or call (561) 570-5077 for more information. We value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for each episode you listen to!  Read more about sales or listen to audiobooks on Audible and explore their huge online library. Register now to get a free book and a 30-day trial. Audio provided by Free SFX and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

A common problem for salespeople is interacting solely with just one stakeholder. But in reality, involving multiple people is the perfect strategy to help deals go through (and make more people excited about them.) In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, Donald is joined by Amy Hrehovcik to discuss her strategy to apply multi-threading throughout your sales process. Amy’s sales experience is extensive. After selling for nearly a decade, Amy finished at Thomson Reuters before transitioning to marketing consulting (eventually working in a startup as the Chief of Customer Value.) She later pivoted to sales enablement, realizing she had a passion for teaching sellers and empowering sales leaders. Amy now hosts the podcast Revenue Real Hotline, where she discusses uncomfortable conversations in sales. Why did she start the podcast? She wrote an article (Mental Health, The Greatest Competitive Advantage That You’ll Ever Know), and it was viewed by the great Andy Paul. He invited her onto his show, and participating in that made her realize the importance of podcasting in sales. (Check out Donald’s guest appearance on her show.) Today’s topic: Multi-threading Multi-threading describes liaising with multiple stakeholders and executive sponsors throughout an organization.  The average number of buyers involved in the buying motion was 6.7. Since that time, it has increased. Because her main selling vertical was big law, Amy realized the importance of proactively engaging with multiple stakeholders early on to minimize the objections buyers would have when moving the deal forward. Why should you consider this selling approach? Not to sound cliche (but we will anyway), it’s the same reason you don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Amy began to hold off on doing deep-dive demos until at least three executive sponsors were in the room because it diversified the risk for the individuals involved.  They were no longer the sole advocate for a product (assuming they like it), thus limiting the amount of blame and buyer’s remorse people might feel after implementation. Because the buying process is getting longer, executives will invariably drop out of the acquisition process. But when you have two or three other executives who want to see the deal move forward, it is much more likely to move through. How can you begin to develop this approach? Communicate with the original executive sponsor that you want to help them make the right decision, and you can do that by demonstrating the business case on your behalf.  Ask permission to have conversations with others or other departments to learn how others reach a particular goal. The Heath Brothers wrote in one of their books (Made to Stick) the idea of bright spots. Because of the relationships she developed throughout this discovery phase, she could return to her original executive sponsor and deliver a detailed report that helped both of their causes. One major takeaway from multithreading? Just do it. It’s like anything else- you might not be good at it at first. But with practice, you’ll begin to see success. To contact Amy, connect with her on LinkedIn to learn more about her process with multithreading. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This course is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Certified Training Program, designed to help new and struggling sellers master sales fundamentals and close more deals. Help elevate your sales game and sign up now to get the first two modules free! You can visit www.thesalesevangelist.com/closemoredeals or call (561) 570-5077 for more information. We value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for each episode you listen to!  Read more about sales or listen to audiobooks on Audible and explore their huge online library. Register now to get a free book and a 30-day trial. Audio provided by Free SFX and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

With every other major field in the business world, professionals undergo years of training and education to learn the standard practices, techniques, and skills to make them successful. But with sales, it’s the exact opposite. In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, Donald is joined by Paul Fifield, CEO, and co-founder of Sales Impact Academy, to learn why the education system has overlooked sales (and what we can do to fix it.) It’s okay to feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. Imposter syndrome is common in sales professionals because nobody is told what they should be doing. There is no structured learning or education in sales, which Paul deems “the greatest educational tragedy.” What if we applied a similar educational journey to finance? To reinforce the point, think about another important B2B profession: finance. What if the way you got into finance was to go get a degree in math and then just walk up and start working? It’s absurd, yet that’s exactly what happens in sales.  The core role of higher education is to equip people with the skills to contribute meaningfully to the economy. The pace of change for sales is too quick for it to be integrated easily into traditional education because traditional universities just can’t keep up with these shifts. The result? Everybody feels like an imposter, and nobody follows the best practices. And the wheel is being reinvented each and every day. Some quick facts: A search on LinkedIn reveals 60 million people are in sales.  There’s not even one book on revenue operations, yet over three million people hold revenue operations titles on LinkedIn. The GDP of B2B companies is roughly 43 trillion dollars, and that staggering amount of money is resting on the sales staffed by people who’ve never been educated on their positions. How can we make an impact and these changes to teach sales principles? Educate yourself. Learn the sales standards and educate around those standards.  That’s the platform Paul’s company solves by teaching these standards and best practices. Paul’s major takeaway? Get a subscription for the sales academy (yes, it’s a shameless plug. But it really will help!) To connect with Paul, connect with him on LinkedIn or reach out to him at paul@thesalesimpact.io or +44 075-988-3543. Visit The Sales Impact Academy to find courses and learnings that will help you in your sales career. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This course is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Certified Training Program, designed to help new and struggling sellers master sales fundamentals and close more deals. Help elevate your sales game and sign up now to get the first two modules free! You can visit www.thesalesevangelist.com/closemoredeals or call (561) 570-5077 for more information. We value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for each episode you listen to!  Read more about sales or listen to audiobooks on Audible and explore their huge online library. Register now to get a free book and a 30-day trial. Audio provided by Free SFX and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Because of the hustle and bustle salespeople experience each day, it can be challenging to be our most focused and productive selves. So what steps can we take to be more productive throughout the day? Today, Donald is joined by Janice B. Gordon to learn her tips for staying focused and energized throughout the day. Always listen to your body: Janice does yoga and meditation, which she’s been doing for nearly forty years. .If you enjoy what you do, that makes all the difference. She chooses to focus on energy management because many people, especially after the pandemic, feel low energy and motivation. People think pulling a 10, 12 or 15 hour day is productive. But you are far less effective pulling these days than focusing your time and energy for shorter lengths of time. Symptoms arise if you don’t address your personal energy needs. You just feel negative. And instead of having a bad moment, you turn that moment into a bad day.  When you feel you’re having a bad day, you are less productive and less likely to make the most of the time you have available. The four dimensions of energy: Physical energy - All the nutrients going into your body. Exercise and recovery time can bring up your physical energy. Emotional energy is the interconnectedness between people and is the energy that suffered because of the pandemic. There is less interaction with others, be it in the office, at a restaurant, or even around the neighborhood. Mental energy is associated with thinking and problem-solving. As sales professionals, we use this form of energy all the time. For this energy type, practicing drastically helps cultivate this energy. However, ensure you take mental breaks. Spiritual energy - This is your purpose and mission. Spiritual energy influences your character, your personality, and your choices. This is the overarching concept that connects your different energies. If your spiritual energy is low, your motivation will suffer. To solve this, take a mindful walk. Notice and observe what’s around you and empty your brain. Then, when you go back to the office, you’ll be incredibly focused and productive. Listen to your body and give it what it needs.  Always have water at your desk, and drink it constantly. To get more content from Janice, check out her podcast, the Scale Your Sales Podcast (and check out episode 95 to listen to Donald’s guest appearance!) You can also connect with Janice on LinkedIn. Join Donald’s Facebook group, The Sales Evangelizers, to find a community of people to share, reflect, and grow with on your sales journey. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This course is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Certified Training Program, designed to help new and struggling sellers master sales fundamentals and close more deals. Help elevate your sales game and sign up now to get the first two modules free! You can visit www.thesalesevangelist.com/closemoredeals or call (561) 570-5077 for more information. We value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for each episode you listen to!  Read more about sales or listen to audiobooks on Audible and explore their huge online library. Register now to get a free book and a 30-day trial. Audio provided by Free SFX and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Email, cold calls, and LinkedIn messages are all great avenues to connect with your prospect.  But perhaps the most underutilized component of the sales process is (spoiler alert) the proposal itself. Whether you’re a newly established business or one of international renown, an enticing proposal dramatically helps your business efforts. And today, Donald is joined by co-founder and CEO of Proposify, Kyle Racki, to learn how sales leaders and teams can understand the power of the proposal. Your proposal is a unique space to differentiate yourself from the competition. When a prospect asks for more information, typically a salesperson sends a google doc with raw numbers, small print, and terms and conditions. In other words, you’re missing a critical marketing touchpoint where you can tell your story. The result? Your proposal will be dumped in the (virtual or physical) trash. Create a proposal that isn’t just a series of words. You’re pitching to a person, not a machine. There’s a thought process behind it that can lead to a better and more personal proposal. Proposals that include images close at a higher rate. Nobody will read a 10-20 page document, but people will skim a proposal for the highlights. Framing your text with images will make it far easier to read. Including images and video makes for a more engaging and interactive experience that communicates the experience of actually working with the company. Other overlooked proposal elements:  Sometimes people will accept the first proposal they get, regardless of pricing or offerings. And even if there are discrepancies, there is a positive correlation between the speed of proposal delivery and closing rates. If you make a prospect wait two weeks for a proposal, they’ll have already solved the problem or found a different solution. 16% of proposals are won within 5 minutes of it being sent, and 42% within 24 hours. If your prospect opens it twice, they’re interested. But if they open it four or more times, the chance to close goes down. The great thing about the proposal file is that you can see proposal open rates and how many times people click through it. Proposal reviews, whether over-the-phone or in-person, with the prospect, lead to better closing rates because you can clarify points and directly address potential objections. Kyle’s major takeaway? If you put more effort into sending a fast proposal (and still put effort into it) you’ll edge out most of the competition. Check out proposify.com to check out the platform and their blog, which contains helpful sales and proposal information. You can also connect with Kyle directly on LinkedIn. Join Donald’s Facebook group, The Sales Evangelizers, to find a community of people to share, reflect, and grow with on your sales journey. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This course is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Certified Training Program, designed to help new and struggling sellers master sales fundamentals and close more deals. Help elevate your sales game and sign up now to get the first two modules free! You can visit www.thesalesevangelist.com/closemoredeals or call (561) 570-5077 for more information. We value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for each episode you listen to!  Read more about sales or listen to audiobooks on Audible and explore their huge online library. Register now to get a free book and a 30-day trial. Audio provided by Free SFX and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

When it comes to sales, standing out from the competition often comes down to how successfully you differentiate yourself from competitors. But how can we do that? Today on The Sales Evangelist,  Donald is joined by Mark Harari, author, podcaster, and VP of Remodelers Advantage, to discuss how you can position yourself to stand out in a crowded market.  The one thing you should do to differentiate yourself: The one thing Mark recommends (and he discusses further in his book) is to identify what makes you unique. You’re facing other people, products, and platforms just as good as you who do the same thing. So what sets you apart? What sets you apart and differentiates you can be what leads to a prospect selecting you over someone else. Differentiation is critical. If you don’t have that differentiating factor, the selection comes down to price, which isn’t good for anybody. Instead, make yourself the obvious choice. A common barrier to differentiation is targeting an entire area of people rather than focusing on a specific section of people you can connect and interact with. To find your ideal target group (if you’re an existing company), go back to your past client list and identify the best types of people you worked with.  For new businesses, there might be trial and error. But try to identify who you think would be the ideal fit for your company and adjust as you continue to grow and develop. The six parts of a successful positioning statement: Identify your target Identify their unmet need (which your service or product solves) Frame your competitors Find your point of difference: What makes you unique  Reasons to believe: Statements that empower and prove the point of difference. Brand personality Discovering that unmet need: There are two components to an unmet need: functional and emotional. People rarely have a personal functional need. That means capitalizing on your unique value to address the emotional need is where you can stand out.  Mark’s major takeaway? Identifying your unique selling proposition can be challenging. To find yours, try thinking backward. What goes wrong when a company works with a bad seller or product? How could you prevent those bad things from happening? That could help you identify where you differentiate in the process. Connect with Mark on LinkedIn, and check out his book at bethelobster.com or find it on Amazon. Then, join Donald’s Facebook group, The Sales Evangelizers, to find a community of people to share, reflect, and grow alongside! This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching out with phone calls or emails and not receiving a response is real. But all text messaging is not created equal. 85% of people prefer text over email and phone calls because they want to engage in a conversation, not listen to bots. Be more like people and start having conversations that end in the conversions you want. Try Skipio at www.Skipio.com. This course is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Certified Training Program, designed to help new and struggling sellers master sales fundamentals and close more deals. Help elevate your sales game and sign up now to get the first two modules free! You can visit www.thesalesevangelist.com/closemoredeals or call (561) 570-5077 for more information. We value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. You can also leave comments, suggestions, and ratings for each episode you listen to!  Read more about sales or listen to audiobooks on Audible and explore their huge online library. Register now to get a free book and a 30-day trial. Audio provided by Free SFX and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Every experienced sales rep knows they must use LinkedIn Sales Navigator to build an effective sales pipeline. But, do you know how to use it correctly? In this episode of "The Sales Evangelist Podcast," host Donald is joined by sales expert and coach Phil Gerbyshak to dive deep into the practical ways sales professionals can utilize LinkedIn Navigator to build a strong sales pipeline.  Phil shares his passion for the toolset and a refined process for leveraging the platform's capabilities. Click play to learn how to maximize LinkedIn Sales Navigator for effective sales outreach and networking. Getting to Know Phil Gerbyshak Phil Gerbyshak hosts the “Sales Leadership Podcast,” offering insights to sales leaders and those aspiring to lead sales teams.  His expertise spans mindset, skillset, and toolset in sales, and his coaching and training methods have helped many sales reps elevate their game.  To connect with Phil, visit philgerby.com and drop him a line. The Power of LinkedIn Sales Navigator Phil advocates for LinkedIn's Sales Navigator, touting its superiority to the free version of LinkedIn by providing a more robust set of tools tailored for sales professionals. He credits Sales Navigator with streamlining his outreach process and enhancing his ability to target the right connections. Building a Winning LinkedIn Profile Phil reminds us of the often-overlooked aspect of having a fully updated LinkedIn profile. He stresses the importance of a current headshot and a headline clearly outlining who and how you help. This complete profile strategy is vital when prospects compare your profile to others. Tips for a Stand-Out LinkedIn Profile Ensure your banner portrays a clear and relevant message. Update your featured section to break the scrolling pattern with rich media content. Share skills relevant to your position that your prospects and customers value. Are you ready to unlock the secrets of LinkedIn Sales Navigator and transform your sales game? Tune in to listen to the latest episode with Phil Gerbyshak and Donald Kelly.  Phil shares the secrets to building a winning sales pipeline. Subscribe today to learn how to leverage LinkedIn Sales Navigator for outreach! "Be more human. If you wouldn't do it to somebody sitting right next to you, why the heck are you doing it online? By using sales navigator, using some of the tactics we discussed today, you have fewer people, so it's easier to be more human." - Phil Gerbyshak. Resources philgerby.com Phil Gerbyshak on LinkedIn LinkedIn Sales Navigator Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.  

Are you tired of pouring your heart into sales deals only to watch them fizzle out at the eleventh hour? There's nothing more frustrating than a deal that stalls, especially when it is just within your grasp.  But what if you could pinpoint why your deals are stalling and prevent it before it happens?  In this episode of "The Sales Evangelist Podcast," host Donald Kelly shares a pivotal question that too many sales professionals overlook. Listen now to prevent your next sale from stalling and set yourself up for a cascade of successful closes! The Stall Deal Dilemma Donald shares his insight into a common pitfall where sales professionals are left in the dark, wondering what went wrong.  He unveils that critical question you might not be asking—one that can make the difference between a deal stalling or sailing smoothly through your pipeline. Mastering Communication: Asking the Right Question Donald emphasizes the importance of this essential yet often overlooked question: "What do you see that could prevent us from partnering together?"  Multiple variations of this question can be useful, but the core idea remains the same—identifying potential roadblocks early in the sales process.  By tackling these issues upfront, you can avoid stalled deals and foster better communication with your prospects. Why Don't Sellers Ask the Hard Questions? Many sellers hold back on asking probing questions due to a lack of confidence or fear of jeopardizing the deal.  Donald dispels these concerns, advocating for professionalism and assertiveness in sales interactions.  By asking tough questions, you become a knowledgeable advisor and not a pushy salesman.  Benefits of Uncovering Objections Early Donald discusses the advantages of early objection handling, which include:  Building trust and authenticity with your prospect. Demonstrating your experience and foresight as a sales professional. Enabling a clear path to address and mitigate potential obstacles. Suppose you've found yourself staring at your phone, wondering why a once-promising prospect has ghosted you or why a deal isn't advancing as planned. In that case, this episode of The Sales Evangelist podcast is a must-listen! Remember, this podcast is dedicated to guiding you toward dominating your deals. It's not about quick fixes but about sharpening your sales skills. Apply the insights from this episode to your sales strategies and watch your pipeline thrive! "The question is simply asking the prospect early on in the sales process, perhaps in your discovery, after they've explained their challenges and you talk to them about your solution, and they see that this could work." - Donald Kelly. Resources The Sales Evangelist Sales Mastermind LinkedIn Sales Navigator Donald C. Kelly on LinkedIn Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.  

One of the most common mistakes people make when using LinkedIn is not taking the time to build authentic relationships.  Don’t go adding hundreds of connections to your LinkedIn profile. Instead, do this! Listen to this insightful episode of “The Sales Evangelist Podcast,” host Donald Kelly chats with guest Sabine Gedeon on the world of LinkedIn networking. Sabine shares her extensive experience and lays down a five-step process to leverage LinkedIn for effective relationship-building and networking.  Click play now! Meet Sabine Gedeon  Sabine is the CEO of Gedeon Enterprises. She is also a coach, consultant, speaker, and author.  Remember to connect with her on LinkedIn to learn about her. Evolution of LinkedIn  Sabine takes us through the history of LinkedIn, from its original use as a platform for recruiters to its transformation into a hub for marketing, networking, and community building.  She emphasizes the need for people, especially HR professionals, to engage more actively on the platform. The Five-Step LinkedIn Strategy  Sabine outlines her five-step approach to using LinkedIn effectively. 1. Connectors Mindset: Understanding your 'why' and what you offer.  2. Value Assessment: Identifying your strengths, expertise, and opportunities for growth.  3. Ecosystems: Recognizing your network's broad array of ecosystems, such as friends and family, and political connections.  4. Inventory List: Categorizing your contacts based on their ecosystems and closeness to you.  5. Success Circles: Establish three layers of contacts—Fab Five, Core Fifty, and Essential Hundred—and regularly engage with them. Systems and Consistency  Sabine uses systems like Streak to help maintain her networking strategy.  She also shares other methods to keep track of connections and ensure regular engagement with contacts. Importance of Human Connection  Donald and Sabine agree on the importance of the human touch in networking.  Sabine advises treating each online interaction as personal as meeting someone at a coffee shop.  Building genuine relationships on LinkedIn doesn't have to be as complicated as you make it. If you need help connecting with others on the platform, take the time to listen to Sabine Gedeon's strategies in this episode. Tune in now! "People are missing out on the opportunity to build and cultivate relationships before they need things. It's almost like that whole notion around making deposits before you can withdraw. People are missing out on the opportunity to create. Make deposits before they start to need the withdrawals." -Sabine Gedeon. Resources Sabine Gedeon on LinkedIn Gedeon Enterprises Bob Berg's book, "The Go-Giver." Streak Boomerang for Gmail LinkedIn Sales Navigator Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

You're about to send a LinkedIn connection request, and the platform allows you to create a personalized message. Do you take the time to do it? Yes or no? If you choose not to do it, you must tune into this episode of "The Sales Evangelist Podcast." Even if you said yes, still click play. Host Donald Kelly delves into the ongoing debate surrounding LinkedIn connection requests. Should sales professionals personalize them or keep them generic?  Discover the importance of personalized connection requests and learn how to create meaningful conversations that can lead to sales opportunities. The Great LinkedIn Debate Donald addresses a common question among sales professionals: the importance of personalizing LinkedIn connection requests.  He debunks myths, points out common mistakes, and emphasizes the potential impact of a well-crafted, personalized approach. Personalized vs. Generic Requests Donald discusses why generic messages are ineffective and often ignored.  He advocates for personalized messages, which he argues can significantly increase your chances of connecting and engaging with your targeted prospects. The LinkedIn Monetization Insight An interesting point Donald raises is LinkedIn's decision to charge for personalized connection requests.  He interprets this as evidence of their effectiveness and a tool that LinkedIn monetizes because it works, not because it doesn't. This key insight provides a unique perspective on the platform's internal data and user behavior. Donald's LinkedIn Connection Strategy Listen to Donald's own methodology for LinkedIn engagement.  His process involves Sales Navigator, account and lead list building, proactive engagement with recent posters, and meaningful follow-up through multiple communication channels.  Donald's tactic is all about grabbing attention, starting conversations, and fostering relationships that lead to sales opportunities. Engagement Leads to Opportunity Donald emphasizes that engagement is the key to unlocking potential business opportunities.  He shares personal anecdotes and client results to support his stance on using personalized connection requests to initiate conversations. Join Donald and his colleagues for a live discussion on LinkedIn, furthering the conversation on this topic. Connect with him on LinkedIn to learn more about it. “Do you feel that you're so unique that you are the only one asking them to connect because you have a mutual connection? That's so preposterous!” - Donald Kelly. Resources The Sales Evangelist Sales Mastermind LinkedIn Sales Navigator Donald C. Kelly on LinkedIn Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.  

Do you have full control over your sales meeting? Is it difficult getting your prospects to go in the direction you want them to go? You answer "no" to the first question and "yes" to the second question. Right? Well, you know what to do now! Tune into this episode of "The Sales Evangelist Podcast," where host Donald Kelly dives deep into mastering client interactions. Within this five-minute episode, you'll be ready to take control, establish authority, and confidently guide your prospects. Take advantage of these critical strategies that can accelerate your sales success! Taking Control of Your Sales Meetings The key to having a successful sales meeting is being in control of its direction.  Donald emphasizes that while catering to the prospect's requests is essential, offering them a meeting roadmap ensures they recognize you as an expert in your field.  The Agenda of A Guided Sales Session To lead your sales meeting, set a clear agenda. Address the prospect's hopes and set the stage for the main goal. It's to guide them through informed choices.  Donald suggests asking prospects what they want to learn. This is to consider the meeting effective.  Then, build the conversation around those objectives. Also, share your expertise and insights. Expert Advice on Pricing Queries One common challenge salespeople face is when a prospect jumps straight to pricing. Donald advises against catering to this demand blindly.  Instead, offer transparency about your pricing range while steering the conversation back to understanding their specific challenges and whether your service is a good fit. Maintaining Control with A Robust Conclusion Donald stresses that you should reserve the last five minutes to review the main points and schedule the next meeting.  This strategy helps maintain the sales process's momentum and positions you as a prepared and experienced professional. Join “The Sales Mastermind” for hands-on guidance and an interactive learning environment. It's an opportunity for you to practice, role-play, and get actionable tips to enhance your sales performance. Lastly, subscribe to keep up with the newest content to improve your sales game!  “The key is to get them to feel they're giving you all the stuff they need and want to give.” - Donald Kelly. Resources The Sales Evangelist Sales Mastermind LinkedIn Sales Navigator Donald C. Kelly on LinkedIn Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.  

Today, we're going into the archive and bringing out an episode from the best sellers in history series. Let’s talk about Mary Kay Ash and how she built her empire from the strong skill sets she developed as a salesperson. Sales Spotlight - Mary Kay Ash Mary Kay Ash is world-renowned for being the makeup and skincare queen.  Her pink Cadillac has become iconic. How did this come from someone who kept getting passed over for promotion?  Because she is considered to be one of the best sellers in history. Here are five reasons why:  Had a purpose and a why Created a vision or a common cause Had a strong and impressive work ethic Had the desire to create and give rewards Willing to take action Mary Kay Ash was born on May 12, 1918, in Hotwells, Texas. For most of her childhood, she took care of her sick dad while her mother made the family's earnings. At 17 years old, Mary Kay married Ben Rogers and had three children with him before Ben went to war in WWII. Their marriage eventually ended, and Mary Kay was left with three children to care for.  She needed to make money to feed her children, so she started working for Stanley Home Products in 1939. She’d go into someone’s home and host parties to encourage people to buy household items. Mary Kay was great at her job, and she became a top seller. By 1952, Mary Kay was hired by World Gifts. After 10 years, however, she quit her job. At that time, the sales force was mostly made up of men, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get ahead because she was a woman. She saw the men she was training were getting promoted, going onto better jobs, and they were getting a much higher wage.  Had a purpose and a why With $5000, Mary Kay used the money to build her empire. Mary Kay had a purpose.  She was a mother who needed to take care of her kids and a woman who wanted to see other women succeed. Mary Kay also had a vision that helped her achieve her dreams. She had a why. As a salesperson, a vision and purpose can propel you beyond a bad sales day. For many people, a paycheck isn’t enough.  There has to be a deeper connection, something bigger. Having a purpose is the motivation that moves you to show up even when things get hard.  Have a purpose that pushes you to create an opportunity for the people you care about the most.  Mary Kay had a purpose that was even bigger than herself. While she wanted to care for her family, she also wanted to create something to help other women.  Created a vision and a common cause Every great salesperson in this series had a vision and created a common cause. Mary Kay recognized that women were undervalued in the sales industry and other workplaces. Women were not considered as capable as men.  This misconception prompted Mary Kay to build an empire that would give women the opportunity to succeed and do more. Her business opened doors for women to become six-figure earners and, as a result, became the breadwinners for their families, giving them a community where they were valued. The company grew, and by the end of its second year, it had made $1 million in product sales.  Salespeople can also achieve greater success if they communicate a common cause to their clients. Creating a brand message that solves problems and identifying a common struggle can create a unifying purpose.   Had a strong and impressive work ethic Mary Kay had an impressive work ethic and worked hard. She got up every day at 5:00 AM. She said, “If you get up at 5 o’clock three times a week, you’ll gain an extra day. You need to try it a few times because you realize a great feeling of satisfaction at 8:00 in the morning when you’ve already finished what would have taken you six hours to do after 8 o’clock because of the interruptions.”  Make it your goal to wake up early, put in the time, start working, and be productive without distractions. Allow yourself to practice and challenge yourself as Mary Kay did.  Had the desire to create and give rewards The Harvard Business Review laid out three reasons why people leave their jobs:  because they don’t like their boss they don’t see an opportunity for promotion or they were offered a better job. Mary Kay understood this and set up a system with four levels of promotion: Independent beauty consultant Red jacket beauty consultant Independent sales director National sales director  As salespeople hit their numbers, they were promoted to the next level and received different rewards. This motivated people and gave them room to grow. The system made them very successful. The ultimate success for any employee in Mary Kay is winning the pink Cadillac.  As a sales rep or sales leader with a small business, give your team a path and an opportunity to grow. Give them a goal, and offer a reward when they hit that mark. They will see that as an opportunity to earn and achieve. It helps your company because you’ll have an employee who works hard to earn the reward.  Willing to take action Mary Kay left her full-time job and decided to create her own company, but she didn’t have the capital. She borrowed $5,000 from her son and bought the rights for the makeup and skincare brand from a previous client. Mary Kay could have used the money to save up and pay the bills, but she didn’t. Instead, she saw an opportunity, and she grabbed it. She struck while the iron was hot.  Don’t talk yourself out of opportunities. Be brave and take calculated risks. Reach out and make something happen. Don’t miss an opportunity because you’re afraid. Notice when you’re in the right place at the right time and position yourself around people who can help you make things happen.  "Mary Kay knew how to create a vision and a common cause. #SalesWoman" Mary Kay Ash did five things right, making her a great businesswoman. She had a reason which enabled her to create a vision. Mary Kay adopted a strong work ethic and used the power of rewards to motivate people. Lastly, Mary Kay was willing to take advantage of the opportunities and struck while the iron was hot. Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio is provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Are you ready to uncover the secrets of successful sales strategies in a highly competitive landscape? In this episode of "The Sales Evangelist Podcast," host Donald Kelly chats with guest Claudio Meidler, an experienced sales professional working as an account executive for Google's German team in Dublin. Claudio shares his insights on navigating the competitive landscape and securing the share of the wallet when selling to enterprise or mid-level organizations. Tune in to this enriching episode and gain a fresh perspective on navigating the modern sales landscape with confidence and finesse. Building Credibility and Delivering Value Claudio emphasizes the importance of standing out in terms of service level and delivering value beyond the competition. He discusses the significance of conducting thorough research before approaching potential clients understanding their needs, pain points, and industry-specific knowledge. Claudio highlights the effectiveness of providing insights, market knowledge, predictions, case studies, and testimonials early in the conversation to build immediate credibility and trust. Unconventional Approaches to Success Donald and Claudio discuss breaking away from traditional sales tactics and how being direct and tactful can yield powerful results. Claudio discusses the importance of addressing unspoken concerns and objections, expressing understanding and empathy, and using direct language to navigate potential hesitations or objections from the buyer's side. The role-play between the two demonstrates how this approach can open up dialogues and lead to deeper, more fruitful conversations. Creating a Lasting Impact Claudio shares his perspective on delivering service without expecting an immediate return on investment, following up on bold questions, and continually striving to exceed the client's expectations. He emphasizes the value of constant learning and adaptability in the sales process, where leveraging unconventional techniques can create a lasting impact and differentiation in the market. Claudio Meidler shares invaluable insights and strategies for success in the competitive sales landscape. Learn how to stand out in a competitive environment, build trust with your prospects, and ultimately secure that coveted share of your wallet.  Take advantage of this opportunity to revolutionize your sales approach! Listen to the full episode now to discover how to enhance your sales strategies and achieve outstanding results. "Do your homework beforehand, deliver information and service without expecting an immediate return on investment, ask bold questions, and deliver testimonials or case studies to build credibility straight from the start." - Claudio Meidler. Resources SimilarWeb Claudio Meidler on LinkedIn Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Are you properly preparing for first-time meetings? Failing to do so can lead to missed opportunities and lost sales.  But don't worry—in this episode of "The Sales Evangelist Podcast," host Donald Kelly will share valuable tips on effectively preparing prospects and ensuring a smoother, more productive interaction. Click play to hear what one of the industry's top sales leaders says about this essential step in the sales process. The Importance of Preparing Prospects Donald emphasizes the significance of prepping prospects before meeting with them.  In a world with automated scheduling tools, it's essential to go the extra mile to personalize and optimize the prospect's meeting experience. The Strategy Donald suggests a simple yet powerful strategy to prepare prospects effectively.  He recommends sending a quick video introduction to the prospect, providing a warm welcome, and addressing potential questions or concerns they might have.  Additionally, including specific details about the upcoming meeting and offering personal contact information can further enhance the prospect's preparedness and engagement. Enhancing Engagement and Courtesy By implementing this strategy, sales professionals can significantly enhance engagement and courtesy from prospects.  Providing personal contact information encourages prospects to connect and communicate, establishing a more respectful and engaged relationship from the outset. Overcoming Concerns Donald addresses common concerns associated with this strategy, such as the fear of potential cancellations.  He explains that having prospects inform you of a cancellation is more beneficial, demonstrating their courtesy and genuine interest, rather than dealing with unexplained no-shows. Recommended Tools Donald recommends executing this strategy using video platforms like Loom, Vidyard, or BombBomb.  Even for those uncomfortable with video, he encourages leveraging these tools to convey the preparatory message effectively. Ultimately, sales professionals gain a competitive edge by effectively preparing prospects and increasing their chances of closing deals. Join Donald Kelly as he continues to empower sales professionals to thrive and succeed in their endeavors. "I want you to thrive, succeed, and raise your level of thinking." Donald Kelly. Resources The Sales Evangelist Sales Mastermind LinkedIn Sales Navigator Donald C. Kelly on LinkedIn Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Are you ready to unlock the secrets to successful sales strategies and go-to-market plans? In this episode of “The Sales Evangelist Podcast,” host Donald Kelly speaks with Hannah Ajikawo, a seasoned sales professional with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Hannah shares invaluable insights into understanding the B2B buyer journey, setting up go-to-market infrastructure, and optimizing sales processes to drive higher deal value. She also reveals the essential elements of a winning sales strategy plan and uncovers the secrets behind successful sales initiatives. Tune in now to discover proven strategies and insider tips that will propel your business to new heights! Hannah's Professional Journey Hannah provides an overview of her rich professional background, emphasizing her extensive career in sales.  Her professional journey spans from prominent global corporations to disruptive startups.  Notably, she shares her experience of working with an AI company in 2011, showcasing her early engagement with groundbreaking technologies and go-to-market strategies. The Evolution of AI Technology Drawing from her experience with an AI company, Hannah recounts her involvement in selling visionary AI solutions to leading B2B information providers.  She elaborates on the groundbreaking nature of their tool, highlighting its potential to automate data processes and generate substantial value for businesses, including a memorable interaction with Google. Sales Strategy Planning Donald and Hannah discuss the importance of developing a strategic sales plan for the quarter, emphasizing the need for meticulous planning, especially for deals with substantial value.  Hannah provides actionable advice, stressing the significance of understanding prospects' budgeting cycles and planning interactions well in advance to align with their financial timelines. Territory Management and Strategic Approach Hannah outlines the strategic approach required for sales territory management, encouraging sales professionals to adopt a CEO mindset when structuring their territories.  She emphasizes the importance of identifying white spaces, key customers, and optimal use cases to streamline the sales process and drive meaningful results. Seasonal Budgeting Cycles Addressing the challenges of seasonal budgeting cycles, Hannah emphasizes the value of nurturing relationships and delving deeper into buyers' experiences within their organizations.  She shares insights into discovering discretionary budgets and leveraging CEO's wallets to drive successful deals, emphasizing the need to build rapport and acquire nuanced knowledge about buyers' capabilities. Hannah Ajikawo shares valuable insights on developing a killer sales strategy plan to set you up for success in your sales endeavors. Her wealth of experience as a career salesperson and go-to-market consultant shines through as she shares practical tips and strategies for sales professionals and organizations alike. If you're ready to revolutionize your sales approach and take your game to the next level, then this episode is a goldmine of actionable advice. Tune in now to gain valuable knowledge that can transform your sales approach and drive remarkable results. “If you have a deal value of over 15 K, you must know your prospect's budgeting cycle period. No matter how strong your value proposition is, it doesn't matter how much they love you or how many of these panels and YouTube videos you watch, or whatever you watch. If they physically cannot get the budget because everything is clocked in, particularly above fifteen K and above, it will be so hard to try and sell to them in that quarter.” - Hannah Ajikawo. Resources Hannah Ajikawo on LinkedIn Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Are you ready to transform your cold email outreach strategy for 2024? In this episode of "The Sales Evangelist Podcast," host Donald Kelly speaks with Vlad Oleksiienko, a growth leader with extensive experience in sales development and cold outreach at scale. Vlad shares valuable insights into the evolving landscape of cold emailing in 2024 and beyond.  He focuses on the challenges and effective strategies for sales reps to scale their outreach efforts. Prepare to revolutionize your approach to cold emailing and propel your sales growth to new heights. Tune in to learn from the expert himself! The Challenges of Cold Emailing at Scale Vlad delves into the challenges faced by sales reps in the realm of cold outreach.  He highlights the evolving nature of email inboxes, the impact of AI-generated emails, and the growing demand for personalized and relevant communication from buyers. Tailoring Cold Outreach for Different Markets Vlad emphasizes the importance of tailoring cold outreach strategies based on the market and company.  He distinguishes between high-volume, low-touch cold emails at scale for SMBs and mid-market companies without SDRs and the more targeted approach taken by enterprise SDRs. Intent-Based Cold Outreach Vlad introduces the concept of intent-based cold outreach, emphasizing the significance of leveraging specific signals or triggers to identify prospects likely to engage with the outreach on a deeper level.  He outlines various tools and methods for determining intent, including leveraging sales navigator, social listening, and technographics. Crafting Effective Cold Email Sequences Donald and Vlad delve into the practical implementation of intent-based outreach, focusing on the structure of email sequences and the need for conditional personalization based on the recipient's persona and industry.  Vlad provides insights into creating relevant and compelling email sequences while avoiding overcomplication and balancing personalization and scalability. Navigating Google and Yahoo Changes Vlad clarifies the implications of Google and Yahoo changes and offers practical tips to ensure compliance and maintain deliverability.  He advises against over-complicating the situation, emphasizing the need for relevancy, opt-out links, and technical considerations to address deliverability challenges. Discover practical strategies for implementing intent-based cold outreach and navigating the evolving email marketing landscape. Vlad shares valuable insights on leveraging intent signals, crafting highly relevant emails, and staying out of Google and Yahoo's spam radar. Tune in for actionable advice, real-world examples, and proven techniques to supercharge your cold email campaigns. "Cold outreach and outbound marketing are still effective channels, probably still one of the most effective ways to generate new revenue and keep your company growing." - Vlad Oleksiienko. Resources Vlad Oleksiienko on LinkedIn vlad@reply.io Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.