-
Relationship Mapping Tools
What tools are folks using for building usable relationship maps? I’d like to mimic the example provided in the Ascender Account Planning training module (attached). Haven’t been able to find a good way to create in this format with color coding and key detail. Any thoughts and direction are greatly appreciated. Thank you.…
-
Value pyramid
I am looking for materials or examples regarding Value Pyramids. Can someone help or is something planned here within Ascender?
-
Attaching your solution to a business problem/initiative
What is the best approach to determine who to speak with that holds this information? We sell into construction, and our best initial point of contact isn't usually our champion (lacking influence at big companies). Lets say I've done a good discovery but they can only provide insights into their problems, not the…
-
Seller Hygiene: Strategies to Stay at the Top of Your Game
In a recent Audible Ready episode, I shared the importance of staying on top of your game by checking yourself as you prep for your upcoming sales calls, regardless of what stage you’re at as a seller in your career. As elite sellers, maintaining impeccable "seller hygiene" is essential for maximizing your success. For me,…
-
The Power of Presence: Embracing Mindfulness When You’re Constantly Busy
In a world that glorifies being busy, it's easy to fall into the trap of constant activity, leaving little room for presence and mindfulness. So much so, that becoming “addicted” to being busy without even realizing it has become the default. I recently came across an insightful article on Zen Habits about being present,…
-
Empathy in Sales: Embracing Your Customer’s Pain for Better Solutions
I recently talked about how crucial it is that sellers adopt the "coat of pain" to embrace an outside-in approach, centering on the customer's needs before discussing their solutions. By learning to prioritize their perspective, you shift the focus from your own agenda to truly understanding their pain points. Simply…
-
Prospects withholding details of pain
We have a new logo team of mostly young sellers. They are mostly new to Force Management and are improving. We are noticing a trend of prospects withholding hard numbers. An AE had a call yesterday with a COO of a small company (under 200 employees). The first TED question around the pain was answered a bit vaguely as…
-
Overcoming being single threaded...
In my opportunities, I often find myself in a situation where there's a central point of contact managing a particular project. When I reach out to others involved in the project, I worry that I might upset this person. Another common scenario is when I ask the point of contact who else I should be talking to, and they…
-
Boosting B2B Sales with Effective AI Prompts
This blog post from Force Management on writing effective AI prompts for B2B sales offers insightful strategies to enhance engagement and efficiency in the sales process. I appreciated how it emphasizes the importance of clarity and specificity in AI prompts to yield actionable and relevant responses. By leveraging these…
-
Be Bold During Discovery
Force Management's article, "Asking Bold Discovery Questions," underscores the importance of pushing boundaries during discovery. As a seasoned sales professional, I've found that bold questions are vital for uncovering deeper customer insights and building stronger relationships. Bold questions help us understand clients'…
-
Command of the Message
Hello, I'm looking for trainings, modules, or podcasts that deal with command of the message. I can't seem to find anything on the search in "Explore", "Enroll", or "Engage". Is there another search term I should be using? Thanks!
-
Transforming Sales Pitches
Reading this article on articulating differentiation was a game-changer for me. It emphasized aligning my product's unique features with my prospects' specific needs. By focusing on what's truly important to them, I've been able to craft more compelling pitches and close deals more effectively. This approach has not only…
-
Unlocking Success: The Power of Confidence and Conviction in Sales
As sellers, confidence and conviction are powerful tools. When we wholeheartedly believe in the value of our offerings, it resonates with our customers. Remember, what you do matters. Aligning confidence with our products or services isn’t just about sales—it’s about genuinely understanding that we positively impact our…
-
What do you want from your manager?
What are the top traits that you look for in a sales leader? We're hosting an event on "How to get the most out of your manager" on June 7th, and we'd love to hear from you before we go live. You can also check out this article from Ascender on some of the most commonly sought after traits.
-
The 4-Day Work Week Debate
This blog covers the idea of a 4-day work week and takes us on a thought-provoking dive into a workplace trend that promises increases in productivity and employee well-being. The pandemic and the past few years have brought many new shifts in attitudes about the integration between work-life and home-life. It’s important…
-
Customer Dragging Out a Deal?
If you've been in sales long enough, you’ll encounter situations where a customer drags their feet on making a decision. Once follow-up messages start to go unanswered, it's probably time to take a step back and think critically about where the deal may be stuck and how to get it moving forward. This article will help you…
-
Leading Vs. Convincing: The Art of Questioning
It is crucial to guide a business conversation with insightful questions, as this enables prospective clients to identify their own needs rather than being told what their problems might be. The key here is to lead rather than convince. This approach leads to more productive discussions than merely pushing solutions on…
-
Unlocking Sales Success: The Art of Solving Business Challenges Through Strategic Questioning
As a successful seller, understanding that the key to effective sales is solving a significant business issue for your potential customer. This blog post reaffirms this notion, highlighting the importance of pinpointing a major business challenge to create urgency and secure funding in deals. John Kaplan's timeless advice…
-
Follow up to questions from our January Webinar!
Hey Ascenders! I’ve gone through each and every question that was asked during our January Ascender Insights webinar (replay linked here), and wow! There were some great ones in here! I’ve listed the questions with my answers below and hope you take the time to read them and process them. It’s really powerful stuff you…
-
Focusing on truly being "in the Field" in 2024 - would love your feedback
One of the big things I have been prioritizing early this year is being in person, in the field. Over the last 2 months I have spent around 50% of my time in the field, live with prospects, customers and partners. I have made it a non-negotiable to show up in person regardless of the title of the persona. Looking back on…
-
How would you recommend to continue a conversation if the potential client doesn't seem interested?
-
Take it to the next level.......
My name is Herb, and I'm delighted to join Ascender. I'm a strategic sales executive ay Hyland Software and I'm a passionate individual that loves working with and learning from customers. I'm looking forward to connecting and learning from like-minded individuals, share knowledge, and engage in meaningful discussions.
-
Customer Success and Sales Teams
Customer Success Managers have improving NRR via up-sell/cross-sell as a responsibility and key performance metric. I'm eager to work collaboratively with Sales Teams to achieve these goals and excited for the empowerment this training will bring. I've been in the SaaS industry for the last 7 years - previously at Oracle,…
-
Gaining Commitments
Since we need to earn the right to continue the conversation, what are some of the safe questions that help establish ourselves as salesmen that we deserve to be in this conversation?
-
What can I do if a prospects says “I now someone that has a better product”
-
What’s the best attitude after an objection?
-
Objection Handling
What’s the best rebuttal for “ we heard about your company and we aren’t impressed. Our friend said she used you and she wasn’t happy with the process but she enjoys the process.”
-
Pre-call planning not going as planned
Effective pre-call planning is crucial in sales, but what happens when the plan doesn't go as designed? What are the correct steps to take when you find yourself deviating from your initial pre-call plan? Share your experiences and strategies for adapting to unexpected situations in sales calls.
-
What could I do if lose the commitment at the end of the conversation?
-
Leveraging Multiple Offers to Build Partnerships
I am working a deal with more than 5 locations currently. Based on their previous experience with other providers and some tech challenges they face due to location, we would be a huge advantage to them. We can try to win the deal on $ value, but that seems like small potatoes for us on the value side and doesn't send the…