by admin | Feb 16, 2012 | B2B Sales
Welcome to SalesFish Brand Marketing & Sales, the most strategically biased B2B Telesales, B2B Telemarketing, B2B Inside Sales Agency, B2B Social Media Marketing and B2B Marketing Agency serving Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Pacific Northwest (Bend, Portland, Seattle) and all 50 United States. Fully integrated B2B Marketing Agency with vast strategic Telemarketing Services experience and track record.
B2B Social Media Marketing with B2B Lead Generation
This week’s entry on B2B social media marketing comes to us again from Lauren Carlson, a CRM analyst for the website Software Advice Ms. Carlson sheds light on how B2B marketers find their businesses on social media.
Check out this infographic from Nowsourcing.com. It illustrates the growth of social media usage in the B2B space. Though the data is, well, dated, it’s less about the numbers and more about the overall trend.
For a long time, social media was seen as B2C territory. However, more and more, we are seeing B2B buyers engage on social media networks. So, if social media is where B2B buyers are, then B2B sales professionals need to meet them there to start that engagement. But what does that B2B social media marketing engagement look like?
I have identified five strategies that B2B sales professionals can use social media channels to not only enhance customer engagement, but ultimately close more deals.
- Identify Problems You Can Solve – Social media is a great outlet for discussing issues or problems that you are encountering. Sales professionals can use this to their advantage by searching for “signal phrases,” or phrases that mention specific pain points that your company or product can address.
- Buyer Education – This one isn’t about educating your buyer about your company. Rather, it’s about educating you on the buyer. Smart B2B Sales professionals will go beyond the social media profile, looking at the entire gamut of the buyer’s online engagement. What are they interested in? What discussions are they contributing to? This helps paint a more clear picture of the buyer, which helps the sales person have more targeted conversations and, ultimately, win their business.
- Gauge Your Competition – Not only can you find out how your potential buyers are engaging online, but you can also see how your competition is engaging with those opportunities. Because social networks are fairly open forums, it’s difficult for anyone to hide their cards. Therefore, B2B sales professionals can easily see what tactics their competition are using, who they are targeting, what’s working and, more importantly, what’s not.
So far, we have discussed three of the five strategies for B2B sales professionals to effectively engage over social media. For the full list, head over to the Software Advice website and check out the original post. Click here to learn more about SalesFish’s strategic approach to B2B social media marketing.
Stay tuned for more relevant content on creating world-class B2B Telesales, B2B telemarketing and B2B Inside Sales strategies. We at SalesFish Brand Marketing & Sales thank you for joining us in our commitment to unwavering strategic planning, B2B brand marketing and B2B sales execution.Call today and our “high-touch” dedicated team will assist you in assessing your strategic sales goals to tailor our B2B Telesales, B2B Telemarketing and telemarketing services to your specific needs.
SalesFish Net of Sales Services:
- B2B Direct Sales, Channel Sales and Marketing Strategies
- On-Site B2B Presentation, Negotiation and Sales
- B2B Telemarketing and B2B Telesales Services
- Cold Calls and Appointment Setting
- B2B Social Media Marketing
- Online Presentations and Webinars
- Product Awareness and Announcement Calls
- Primary Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Surveys
- Experiential Event Marketing
- Pre and Post-Event Calls
- Audience Acquisition, Exhibit Sales and Sponsorship Sales
by admin | Jan 12, 2012 | B2B Sales
Welcome to SalesFish Brand Marketing & Sales, the most strategically biased B2B Telesales, B2B Telemarketing, B2B Inside Sales Agency and B2B Marketing Agency serving Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Pacific Northwest (Bend, Portland, Seattle) and all 50 United States. Partner with a client centric B2B Market Agency that puts skin in the game… from strategic Telemarketing Services to Experiential Event Marketing.
This week’s entry comes to us again from Lauren Carlson, a CRM analyst for the website Software Advice. Recently she chatted with an author about the rules of engagement in social media marketing:
Some people have gained so much notoriety in their respective fields that their names are almost synonymous with the field itself. When it comes to new media and social business, that person is Brian Solis. Principal of Altimeter Group, Solis has worked with many Fortune 500 companies and authored several books. I recently got a chance to sit down with him for the Software Advice website and talk social media and the evolving customer-vendor landscape.
image via flickr
We all know that social and mobile technologies have changed the way customers act and interact. This idea of customer centricity is not a new concept. However, Solis takes it a step further by calling this landscape or environment the “Egosystem.” The Egosystem is differentiated from traditional customer centricity in that the customer is at the center of, or owns, the experience. Yes, customers have always been the focus for companies, but it was the company that dictated the nature of the relationship and the rules of engagement, if you will. Thanks to social media and smartphones, the customer has immensely increased access to information outlets. They can ask product and service questions via multiple online and mobile channels without ever having to contact the actual vendor. They are in control. I think it is the shift of control that differentiates what Solis calls the “Egosystem” from tradional ideas of customer centricity.
But how do companies survive in the “Egosystem?” Customers do not want traditional communication and relationships. Instead they want engagement. Solis defined engagement by using six elements:
- Value
- Efficiency
- Trust
- Consistency
- Relevancy
- Control
I break down each of these individually in my original post.
Lauren Carlson, CRM Analyst
Stay tuned for more relevant content on creating world-class B2B Telesales, B2B telemarketing and B2B Inside Sales strategies. We at SalesFish Brand Marketing & Sales thank you for joining us in our commitment to unwavering strategic planning, B2B brand marketing and B2B sales execution.Call today and our “high-touch” dedicated team will assist you in assessing your strategic sales goals to tailor our B2B Telesales, B2B Telemarketing and Telemarketing Services to your specific needs.
SalesFish Net of Sales Services:
- B2B Direct Sales, Channel Sales and Marketing Strategies
- On-Site B2B Presentation, Negotiation and Sales
- B2B Telemarketing and B2B Telesales Services
- Cold Calls and Appointment Setting
- Online Presentations and Webinars
- Product Awareness and Announcement Calls
- Primary Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Surveys
- Experiential Event Marketing
- Pre and Post-Event Calls
- Audience Acquisition, Exhibit Sales and Sponsorship Sales
by admin | Jan 5, 2012 | B2B Sales
Welcome to SalesFish Brand Marketing & Sales, the most strategically biased B2B Telesales, B2B Telemarketing, B2B Inside Sales Agency and B2B Marketing Agency serving Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Pacific Northwest (Bend, Portland, Seattle) and all 50 United States. Partner with a client centric B2B Market Agency that puts skin in the game… from strategic Telemarketing Services to Experiential Event Marketing.
This week’s entry comes to us from Lauren Carlson, a CRM analyst of SoftwareAdvice.com. We agree with Ms. Carlson’s talking points because any par or superstar embraced the tools of SFA. If you were subpar or not doing your job then maybe the case was you didn’t want to use anything.
The rate of adoption of sales force automation (SFA) software by B2B sales professionals has been traditionally low. Many reps viewed it as a way for management to play “Big Brother” and keep a close eye on the team’s activities. Additionally, the original SFA systems were burdensome, with poor user interfaces and data entry prcesses.
However, much of that has changed in the past 15-20 years. Many of today’s SFA solutions have a much sleeker look, can be deployed over the cloud and are flexible enough to match the individual’s needs instead of the other way around. Now, instead of being a kludgy pain in the sales person’s neck, SFA has become one of their most powerful tools. Lauren Carlson, a writer for the Software Advice website recently wrote an article about this. Below are the four high-level trends she says have driven acceptance and adoption of SFA software.
1. SaaS technology improved implementation. Traditional client/server systems required long implementation times, as well as a large investment in internal IT. Today, most SFA systems are deployed over the web, removing the need for IT involvement and a drawn-out installation.
2. Cloud increases accessibility. Many sales professionals are not operating from a single location. They are out on the road, meeting with clients, closing deals and finding new ones. Cloud technology has made it possible for these remote reps to take the power of the SFA system with them, no matter where they go. This increased accessibility means no duplicate data entry and easy access to vital client information.
3. Advanced analytics increases SFA’s value. In the past, SFA served primarily as a contact manager. Today’s systems are equipped with sophisticated analytics and third-party integration capabilities, resulting in a much more powerful tool. Now, users can access valuable information on the pipeline, quotas and opportunities that weren’t available before.
4. Improved processes compressed the sales cycle. The key to sales force automation is that last word — automation. Newer systems have process mapping capabilities and built-in best practices to not only automate your existing processes, but enhance and improve upon them. This results in a reduced sales cycle and higher win rates.
These are just a few high-level trends that have shaped adoption of SFA software. You can read about them in more depth on the Software Advice blog, SFA 15 Years Later Now Every Rep’s Best Friend.
by Lauren Carlson, CRM Analyst
Stay tuned for more relevant content on creating world-class B2B Telesales, B2B telemarketing and B2B Inside Sales strategies. We at SalesFish Brand Marketing & Sales thank you for joining us in our commitment to unwavering strategic planning, B2B brand marketing and B2B sales execution. Call today and our “high-touch” dedicated team will assist you in assessing your strategic sales goals to tailor our B2B Telesales, B2B Telemarketing and Telemarketing Services to your specific needs.
SalesFish Net of Sales Services:
- B2B Direct Sales, Channel Sales and Marketing Strategies
- On-Site B2B Presentation, Negotiation and Sales
- B2B Telemarketing and B2B Telesales Services
- Cold Calls and Appointment Setting
- Online Presentations and Webinars
- Product Awareness and Announcement Calls
- Primary Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Surveys
- Experiential Event Marketing
- Pre and Post-Event Calls
- Audience Acquisition, Exhibit Sales and Sponsorship Sales
by admin | Dec 6, 2011 | B2B Sales
Welcome to SalesFish Brand Marketing & Sales, the most strategically biased B2B Telesales, B2B Telemarketing, B2B Inside Sales Agency and B2B Marketing Agency serving Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Pacific Northwest (Bend, Portland, Seattle) and all 50 United States. Partner with a client centric B2B Market Agency that puts skin in the game… from strategic Telemarketing Services to Experiential Event Marketing.
This week’s entry comes to us from Art Sobczak, author of www.telesalesblog.com. Mr. Sobczak warns us not to succumb to the robotic delivery of telesales calls:
By Art Sobczak on Sep 8, 2011 in Preparation
Just wondering …… why in the world do some salespeople feel like they must sound like a salesperson when they get someone on the phone?
What is it about presenting … whether it be selling by phone or speaking before a group that causes some people to cinch up and sound like the synthesized voice that gives the phone number on directory assistance?
I spend a lot of time on airplanes, and can’t tell you the last time I actually listened to the flight attendant giving the speech about the flat end going into the buckle. Oh yes I can, I flew Southwest a couple of weeks ago and, as many of their attendants do, this one delivered the announcement like they were actually talking to a person, and with humor and enthusiasm. That got my attention.
The bottom line is that on the phone, sounding canned, like you’re reading something, or like you’ve just been awakened at 3:00 a.m. is detrimental to your success.
But, many people sound that way. And many of those don’t realize it. Here are a couple of points to keep in mind.
We tune out–and are often annoyed by–unemotional, canned messages. Think about the sales calls you have received at home … the ones that follow the couple of seconds of dead air after you pick up the phone and say “Hello … hello …?”
You first hear the din of what sounds like a noisy restaurant, and the monotone voice greets you with,
“Hello, can I speak with (bad mispronunciation of your name)?”
Then they begin reading a script.
Likewise, think about some really bad acting you’ve seen in a play or movie. It looks and sounds stilted … unnatural, like it’s being read. It has the same turn-off effect.
People will speak with those who sound conversational.
What more can I add?
But please don’t misunderstand me on one key point:
Preparing what you’ll say and scripting your opening is still the best way to approach a call. But never, ever, SOUND like you’re working from an aid.
As I always say, the worst time to think of what you’ll say is as it’s coming from your mouth.
Exercises
So, what to do? Easy. The better prepared you are, the more natural you will sound. “Humanize” your calls. Remember, you’re talking to another person, not at a phone instrument. Listen to your calls on tape, and ask yourself, “Would I talk to a friend like this? Does this sound natural?”
Prepare your openings and recite–not read–them into a tape player. Pretend you are talking to a good friend in a social setting.
The less you sound like a salesperson, the more you’ll sell.
By Art Sobczak on Sep 8, 2011
Stay tuned for more relevant content on creating world-class B2B Telesales, B2B telemarketing and B2B Inside Sales strategies. We at SalesFish Brand Marketing & Sales thank you for joining us in our commitment to unwavering strategic planning,
B2B brand marketing and B2B sales execution.
Call today and our “high-touch” dedicated team will assist you in assessing your strategic sales goals to tailor our B2B Telesales, B2B Telemarketing and Telemarketing Services to your specific needs.
SalesFish Net of Sales Services:
- B2B Direct Sales, Channel Sales and Marketing Strategies
- On-Site B2B Presentation, Negotiation and Sales
- B2B Telemarketing and B2B Telesales Services
- Cold Calls and Appointment Setting
- Online Presentations and Webinars
- Product Awareness and Announcement Calls
- Primary Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Surveys
- Experiential Event Marketing
- Pre and Post-Event Calls
- Audience Acquisition, Exhibit Sales and Sponsorship Sales
by admin | Nov 21, 2011 | B2B Sales
Welcome to SalesFish Brand Marketing & Sales, the most strategically biased B2B Telesales, B2B Telemarketing, B2B Inside Sales Agency and B2B Marketing Agency serving Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Pacific Northwest (Bend, Portland, Seattle) and all 50 United States. Partner with a client centric B2B Market Agency that puts skin in the game… from strategic Telemarketing Services to Experiential Event Marketing.
This week’s entry comes to us from Susan A. Enns, B2B Sales Coach from B2B Sales Connections. Ms. Enns writes about the new business etiquette that salespeople must remember among the flurry of technology in today’s times:
Technology has changed our lives forever. We can now communicate with virtually anyone, anywhere at any time. However, technology has also created a new set of rules for what I consider acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Some believe this new business etiquette to be generational in nature; that since those who are younger grew up with technology, it is only them who make these faux pas. Since I have personally experienced people of all ages make these mistakes, I say age has nothing to do with it.
Let me give you some examples. I am in the process of making a major purchase. The product I will be buying is irrelevant, just suffice it to say it is a large ticket item and I will be comparing many competitive products and talking to many sales people before I finally make my purchase.
In one instance, the sales representative’s cell phone rang during our conversation. He took the call, and to my surprise, he chatted for several minutes while I waited. Not too long after that call was done and we started talking again, his cell phone rang again. When he answered a second call, I literally walked out of his office. Remember, one prospect face to face is worth two on the smart phone.
This was not a young rookie either. Although he told me on several occasions he had 30 years of experience, I kept thinking he had 1 year’s bad experience repeated 30 times!
Another sales representative kept saying he answers his cell phone 24/7, 365 days a year. Seriously? You will really take my call at 8:00 am Christmas morning? Not only did I not believe this, but I also started to question all the other claims he made about customer service during his sales presentation.
Just like your cell phone, texting during meetings is also inappropriate. It doesn’t work to hide your phone under the boardroom table either. Everyone in the meeting sees you looking down and it is very obvious that you have lost focus.
Web surfing while dining, be it with business associates or friends is also not acceptable. Besides, isn’t the whole point of social networking to connect with people? It’s more effective to connect with the person sitting across from you rather than tweeting about who you are with.
Some other business etiquette tips to remember are:
- When you are using a speaker phone or hosting a conference call, you should announce who else is in the room.
- When you meet someone, make eye contact, smile, and give them a firm hand shake. Gentlemen, don’t dislocated the person’s shoulder by shaking too hard. Ladies, the palm of your hand should be perpendicular to the ground, and your hand should not bend at the knuckles.
- When you are introduced to someone, always call them by the name you are given. Don’t assume that you can shorten Susan to Sue or Thomas to Tom.
Yes, technology has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for us. However, just because you can doesn’t mean you should!
Stay tuned for more relevant content on creating world-class B2B Telesales, B2B telemarketing and B2B Inside Sales strategies. We at SalesFish Brand Marketing & Sales thank you for joining us in our commitment to unwavering strategic planning, B2B brand marketing and B2B sales execution.
Call today and our “high-touch” dedicated team will assist you in assessing your strategic sales goals to tailor our B2B Telesales, B2B Telemarketing and Telemarketing Services to your specific needs.
SalesFish Net of Sales Services:
- B2B Direct Sales, Channel Sales and Marketing Strategies
- On-Site B2B Presentation, Negotiation and Sales
- B2B Telemarketing and B2B Telesales Services
- Cold Calls and Appointment Setting
- Online Presentations and Webinars
- Product Awareness and Announcement Calls
- Primary Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Surveys
- Experiential Event Marketing
- Pre and Post-Event Calls
- Audience Acquisition, Exhibit Sales and Sponsorship Sales
