An AI-Powered Approach to Modern Selling

Mar 19, 2024

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Have you ever heard these myths about AI in sales and marketing?

Myth 1: AI will replace sales professionals. Myth 2: AI is too complex and expensive for small businesses. Myth 3: AI can't personalize interactions like humans can.

We will share the truth about AI's impact on sales and marketing, so you won't want to miss it! Stay tuned.

In this episode of The Modern Selling Podcast, Mario Martinez Jr. engages in a dynamic discussion with guest Brian Bell, shedding light on the benefits of leveraging AI in sales and marketing. Brian Bell brings his extensive experience and insights into the challenges faced by sales professionals, emphasizing the importance of embracing innovative tools and techniques to stay ahead in the modern sales landscape.

As a seasoned expert in the field, Bell shares practical advice on the use of AI-driven features for personalized engagement, the significance of an omnichannel approach to prospecting, and the potential impact of using text expanders and personal writing assistants to enhance productivity and communication in sales. His valuable insights and real-world examples make this episode a must-listen for sales professionals seeking to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the ever-evolving landscape of sales and marketing.

AI Benefits in Sales The strategic utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the sales process can significantly boost productivity levels and enhance engagement rates. AI can assist in personalizing sales pitches, providing time-saving automation of routine tasks, and predicting customer behavior, which delivers a competitive edge. Not only does it improve efficiency, but it also refines accuracy, thereby transforming the way sales professionals interact with prospects and clients.

"A fool with a tool, is still a fool" - Mario Martinez Jr.

Today's conversation is shared with Brian Bell, a seasoned venture capitalist with a focus on pre-seed companies. His expertise lies in the integration of AI technology and the human-assisted AI concept, providing valuable insights into the realm of sales and marketing. With a strong entrepreneurial background, Brian offers practical advice on strategic marketing spend, resource allocation, and navigating technological challenges. Leveraging his extensive experience in sales, marketing, and executive leadership, Brian's contributions shed light on the tangible benefits of AI in enhancing selling efficiency and effectiveness.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Uncover the Surprising Benefits of AI in Sales and Marketing.
Learn the Secrets to Building a Successful SaaS Product.
Master Strategies for Effective Social Selling.
Unlock the Power of Personal Branding in Entrepreneurship.
Discover How to Leverage Podcasts for Business Growth.

The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:08 - Introduction to FlyMSG.io

00:00:48 - Twist in the Episode 00:02:13 - Mario's Background and Experience 00:04:17 - Journey to FlyMSG 00:06:46 - The Value of Education and Experience 00:13:46 - The Importance of Pre-Hello to Hello in Sales 00:14:52 - Revolutionizing Sales Prospecting 00:16:48 - Systematizing Sales Playbooks 00:22:56 - Enhancing Social Engagement 00:24:29 - The Modern Selling Podcast and Prospecting 00:27:00 - Leveraging Thought Leadership for Sales Success 00:27:42 - The Transformation to Modern Selling 00:29:35 - The Power of Podcasting in Business Development 00:34:42 - The Role of Sales and Marketing in Cutting Through the Noise 00:36:22 - Mistakes Early Stage Startups Make in Sales 00:41:02 - Importance of Owning Your Domain 00:42:44 - The Need for Technical and Sales/Marketing Co-Founders 00:46:20 - Doing It vs. Delegating It 00:50:25 - The Impact of AI on Sales and Marketing 00:53:21 - Where to Find Mario 00:53:59 - Introduction and Gratitude 00:00:00 - Harnessing the Power of Text Expansion 00:12:30 - Personal Writing Assistant Features 00:25:45 - Practical Applications in Sales 00:40:15 - Future of Text Expansion

Timestamped summary of this episode:

00:00:08 - Introduction to FlyMSG.io Mario Martinez introduces himself as the CEO and founder of Vengreso, the creators of FlyMSG.io. He explains that the podcast will feature sales leaders, practitioners, and influencers to help listeners grow their sales numbers at scale. 00:00:48 - Twist in the Episode Mario discusses the unique twist in this episode, where he will be speaking on Brian Bell's podcast, the Ignite Sales podcast. They will cover topics such as embracing technology with AI, entrepreneurial spirit, prudence in marketing spend, and challenges faced by FlyMSG. 00:02:13 - Mario's Background and Experience Brian introduces Mario as the CEO of FlyMSG and discusses their shared experiences as first-generation college students who almost dropped out due to successful sales careers. They explore the value of college degrees in today's world and the importance of experience in the workforce. 00:04:17 - Journey to Flymessage Mario shares his journey from corporate sales and executive leadership roles to starting his first company, Vengreso, as a digital sales training company. He explains the process of merging individual businesses to form Vengreso and the challenges faced during this transition. 00:06:46 - The Value of Education and Experience Mario and Brian discuss the value of education and experience in the sales industry. They debate whether a college degree is necessary and how it impacts career opportunities. Mario emphasizes the importance of experience and skills in addition to formal education. 00:13:46 - The Importance of Pre-Hello to Hello in Sales Discusses the lack of focus on the pre-hello to hello in sales training and the difficulty of the sales job in this phase. 00:14:52 - Revolutionizing Sales Prospecting Introduces the concept of FlyMSG as an auto text expander to streamline prospecting communication, leading to significant time savings for sellers. 00:16:48 - Systematizing Sales Playbooks Talks about how FlyMSG systematizes sales playbooks into a SaaS application, providing customizable implementation based on the company's sales process. 00:22:56 - Enhancing Social Engagement Explores how FlyMSG addresses the challenge of engaging on LinkedIn by enabling thoughtful and individual replies, improving the effectiveness of social engagement for sales reps. 00:24:29 - The Modern Selling Podcast and Prospecting Mario Martinez Jr. discusses his podcast and its focus on the omnichannel approach to prospecting, emphasizing the importance of opening up new channels for increased engagement rates. 00:27:00 - Leveraging Thought Leadership for Sales Success Brian Bell shares how inviting the chief commercial officer of HP to his podcast led to millions of dollars in closed deals. Thought leadership and niche-focused content were key to his success. 00:27:42 - The Transformation to Modern Selling Brian emphasizes the importance of using every weapon in the quiver for modern selling. From gift marketing to direct mail, text, and phone, the goal is to slice through the noise and engage with potential customers effectively. 00:29:35 - The Power of Podcasting in Business Development Both Mario and Brian highlight the effectiveness of using a podcast as a tool for business development. It's an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and build relationships that lead to closed deals and advisory board opportunities. 00:34:42 - The Role of Sales and Marketing in Cutting Through the Noise Brian stresses the importance of salespeople and marketers understanding each other's roles to create personalized, hyper-personalized engagement and outreach. This approach is crucial for standing above the noise in a crowded market. 00:36:22 - Mistakes Early Stage Startups Make in Sales Mario discusses the common mistakes early stage startups make in sales, including the misconception that hiring a salesperson will solve all problems. He emphasizes the importance of founders being able to articulate their vision and passion. 00:41:02 - Importance of Owning Your Domain Mario emphasizes the importance of owning your domain in sales and marketing. He advises founders to own their space and leverage it without spending big bucks. 00:42:44 - The Need for Technical and Sales/Marketing Co-Founders Mario discusses the importance of having a technical co-founder for product development and a sales/marketing counterpart for driving revenue. He highlights the challenges faced without these roles. 00:46:20 - Doing It vs. Delegating It Mario shares the importance of rolling up your sleeves and getting things done, even if it means learning new skills. He emphasizes the need to be hands-on in certain areas of the business for better understanding and improvement. 00:50:25 - The Impact of AI on Sales and Marketing Mario predicts that AI experience will become a crucial requirement for job seekers in the sales and marketing industry. He advises that individuals need to have AI experience to stay relevant in the industry. 00:53:21 - Where to Find Mario Mario shares that people can connect with him on LinkedIn and explore FlyMSG, for free access. He invites sales leaders and founders to utilize the platform for driving more conversations and creating more hellos. 00:53:59 - Introduction and Gratitude Mario Martinez Jr. expresses gratitude to the listeners for tuning in and introduces the episode's guest, Brian Bell. He concludes with a message of goodwill, "good selling." 00:00:00 - Harnessing the Power of Text Expansion Mario and Brian discuss the benefits of using a text expander as a personal writing assistant. They explore how this tool can improve productivity and efficiency in writing tasks. 00:12:30 - Personal Writing Assistant Features The conversation delves into the specific features of a text expander and how it can aid in streamlining writing processes. Brian shares insights on leveraging this technology for effective communication. 00:25:45 - Practical Applications in Sales Mario and Brian highlight real-life applications of text expansion in sales scenarios. They emphasize its role in enhancing customer communication, creating personalized outreach, and increasing sales efficiency. 00:40:15 - Future of Text Expansion The episode wraps up with a discussion on the future of text expansion and its potential impact on various industries. Mario and Brian explore the evolving landscape of writing assistance tools and their implications for businesses.

Effective Social Selling Strategies Harnessing the power of social media networks can revolutionize selling tactics. Effective social selling strategies focus on building reliable, long-term relationships with prospects rather than resorting to aggressive sales techniques. By strategically leveraging social networks, sales professionals can gain deep insights into potential clients' interests and behaviors, establish credibility, and effectively engage with their audience through personalized content.

Successful SaaS Secrets The key to a successful Software as a Service (SaaS) lies in understanding the customers' needs, focusing on building quality products that add real value to the user's experience, and effectively marketing these solutions. It's crucial to adapt to changes rapidly and proactively incorporate customer feedback into product development. The goal should always be to enhance customer satisfaction, predominantly by providing innovative solutions and excellent client service.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

Connect with Mario Martinez Jr. on LinkedIn and send a personalized connection request mentioning the Ignite podcast with Brian Bell.
Visit FlyMSG:io to sign up for a free trial, a text expander and personal writing assistant to save time and increase productivity.
Download FlyMSG to save 20 hours or more in a month and increase productivity.