The GTM Podcast cover image

The GTM Podcast

GTM 128: The Death of Demos and Selling What Customers Actually Need with Fred Viet

Jan 7, 2025
Fred Viet, Chief Sales Officer at Aircall, has a rich background in scaling sales at AWS, Microsoft, and Lenovo. He discusses the dynamic differences in selling between APAC and North America, emphasizing market fit and structured approaches. Fred highlights the shift from demo-driven selling to value-based conversations, the role of AI in enhancing sales processes, and effective annual revenue planning strategies. He also advocates for deep skill development over job-hopping and shares insights on aligning sales and marketing teams for success.
49:37

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Shifting from demo-centric selling to value-based conversations allows sales representatives to better engage customers by addressing their specific pain points.
  • Understanding the customer's technology ecosystem enhances partnerships, driving revenue growth through strategic alignment with the right technology partners.

Deep dives

The Value of New Sales Reps

New sales representatives often excel in their roles because of their fresh perspectives and lack of preconceived notions about products. They focus on asking essential questions rather than merely demonstrating the product features, allowing them to uncover customer pain points more effectively. This basic yet crucial approach results in greater engagement and impact on customers compared to seasoned reps who may rely too heavily on product demos. The emphasis on understanding customer needs over showcasing technical capabilities can lead to a more personalized sales experience.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode