article thumbnail

How to Shorten Your Sales Cycle and Avoid Wasting Time

Both Sides of the Table

One of the questions I’m most often asked by CEOs is how to hire sales people. I’ve also written extensively on sales and on which sales execs to hire and how to think about the different kinds of sales leaders. We will have to build (or buy) technology in this area.” It’s too strategic.

Sales 375
article thumbnail

9 Messages From Sales Training May Save Your Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

Yet in this age when customers have a thousand alternatives, and are overwhelmed by a multitude of messages, sales efforts can make or break a business. In fact, I believe modern entrepreneurs need to be super sales people, in the most positive sense, to their team as well as customers. No pain usually means no sales.

Sales 139
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

8 Priorities When Offering A New Product Or Service

Startup Professionals Musings

Every one of you business owners I know periodically introduces new products and services to sustain growth, fight off competitors, or take advantage of new technologies. New offerings which build your brand will increase acceptance and sales of all solutions, not just the new one. Target audience may be limited or new due to price.

Product 141
article thumbnail

6 Ways To Improve Your Odds Of New Business Success

Startup Professionals Musings

Thus I was pleased to see my own insights covered in a new book, “ Why Startups Fail ,” by Tom Eisenmann, a Harvard Business School professor, who has mentored many more entrepreneurs, and authored more than a hundred HBS case studies from real-world startups. Gather your resources before scaling the business.

article thumbnail

8 Ways To Ensure Customer Interactions Are Memorable

Startup Professionals Musings

I find that many managers are expected to hire new team members primarily on the basis of technical qualifications and years of experience, rather communication ability, attitude, or previous customer reviews Remember that everyone will interact with customers, due to billing or delivery issues.

Customer 147
article thumbnail

7 Key Factors Obscure Your Customer Acquisition Costs

Startup Professionals Musings

Leaders and investors need to know if you have and are tapping into your key sources of relevant data, including web analytics, sales management data, and customer relationship management (CRM) software. Rarely is there alignment between sales and marketing. Long sales cycles obscure beginning and end of costs. Don’t forget it.

Customer 100
article thumbnail

9 Lessons For Entrepreneurs From A Sales Expert

Startup Professionals Musings

Yet in this age when customers have a thousand alternatives, and are overwhelmed by a multitude of messages, sales efforts can make or break a business. In fact, I believe modern entrepreneurs need to be super sales people, in the most positive sense, to their team as well as customers. No pain usually means no sales.

Sales 106