Steli Efti

In this conversation, Steli Efti, co-founder of Close.com, shares insights from his impressive journey to achieving over $40 million in annual recurring revenue. He highlights the significance of strong co-founder relationships and emotional resilience in facing crises. Steli also discusses a recent pricing shift aimed at making their product more accessible, emphasizing the balance of hard work and smart strategies in the SaaS landscape. With over 12 years of experience, he reflects on lessons learned and the importance of consistently showing up.

Steli Efti, co-founder and CEO of Close, shares insights on his CRM platform designed to streamline sales processes and enhance human interactions. He discusses how Close’s focus on small to mid-sized businesses sets it apart from larger competitors. Steli emphasizes the importance of specializing in key features to improve client conversations while minimizing data entry. He reflects on the strategic shift to profitability and the crucial role of persistence in nurturing business relationships, highlighting how effective follow-ups can unlock new opportunities.

Steli Efti (@Steli) knows more about sales than anyone else I know. He's also the founder of Close.com, a profitable all-in-one CRM tool doing many millions in revenue, so he's the perfect person to answer the question: What should founders know about sales? So in this episode, my goal was to extract as many founder-specific sales tactics as I could from Steli. Whether you're growing a business now, or it's something you hope to do in the future, Steli's advice isn't something you can afford to miss.Transcript, speaker information, and more: https://www.indiehackers.com/podcast/119-steli-efti-of-close

Leaders in sales and marketing discuss the importance of understanding ideal customers and selling to them. They emphasize the need for defining ideal and non-ideal customers and prioritizing features based on target audience. They explore the elements of a compelling story, team alignment in selling a product, and importance of pipeline and collaboration between marketing and sales.

Steli Efti, co-founder of Close.com, shares his rollercoaster journey in startup sales. He candidly discusses the highs and lows of the past year, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices. Steli dives into building a sales playbook, contrasting inbound and outbound strategies, and highlights the significance of understanding customer needs. He also offers insights on designing effective sales compensation plans that prioritize long-term relationships over quick wins. Tune in for practical advice that can help shape your sales process!