No Champion, No Deal: How to Find and Develop Champions | Krysten Conner | Ep. 282 (Sell)
Jan 28, 2025
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Krysten Conner is the founder of KrystenConner.com and has extensive experience in enterprise sales with companies like UserGems and Tableau. She shares insights on aligning messaging to various roles in organizations, emphasizing the importance of simplifying communication for end users, managers, and executives. Krysten discusses the need to identify and nurture champions within the sales process and provides actionable strategies for effective follow-up and risk management, crucial for navigating complex sales cycles.
Understanding the urgency of prospects allows sales professionals to tailor their approach and prioritize genuinely motivated leads effectively.
Developing champions within organizations is essential for closing deals, focusing on individuals who are willing to advocate and provide insights.
Deep dives
Understanding Buyer Urgency
Recognizing the urgency of potential buyers is crucial in the sales process. Initially, sales professionals should determine whether a prospect is in education mode, has an urgent problem that needs solving, or is mildly interested with no immediate need. By asking questions to gauge their urgency level, salespeople can tailor their approach accordingly, ensuring they focus efforts only on those most likely to engage. This strategy prevents unnecessary chasing and helps prioritize leads that are genuinely motivated to make a purchase.
Implementing 'Sell Betweens'
Selling between meetings, or 'sell betweens', is an effective tactic for keeping prospective buyers engaged and interested. This involves sending tailored insights or materials to each member of the buying team that piques their curiosity without pushing for a meeting. An example includes sharing a relevant Gartner chart that emphasizes the need for timely decisions, which draws attention to urgency. This strategic communication keeps the seller top of mind without appearing overly aggressive, fostering a more organic conversation in future meetings.
Identifying and Developing Champions
Developing champions early in the sales cycle is key to successful deal closures. A champion is characterized by their willingness to act independently, advocate for the solution, and provide valuable insights about the buying process within their organization. Salespeople should evaluate a prospective champion's level of engagement by observing if they are willing to facilitate meetings and offer feedback on next steps. This proactive identification helps sales professionals avoid wastage on uncommitted contacts, ensuring efforts are directed toward individuals who can effectively advance the deal.
Tailoring Messaging for Different Levels
Effective sales communication requires understanding the different concerns of various stakeholders within an organization. End users typically focus on how a solution makes their job easier, while managers are concerned with metrics and team performance. Executives seek information that aligns with organizational goals and risk mitigation. Tailoring the messaging so that it resonates with each audience’s specific needs is vital for maintaining relevance and effectiveness throughout the sales process.
Align Messaging to Roles: End users want simplicity, managers focus on team metrics, and execs care about goals and risk. Match your message accordingly.
Use Credible Content: Share third-party sources like Gartner or HBR instead of only company case studies to build trust.
Amplify the Problem Early: Send data or insights highlighting the problem’s urgency in the early stages of the sales cycle.
Simplify Implementation Late: Provide resources like change management guides to ease rollout and reduce risk.