The Sales Evangelist

In 2024, building a personal brand is essential for success. In this episode, I sit down with Ian Agard, a sales coach specializing in personal branding, to discuss how sales reps can strengthen their brand to enhance sales performance. Tune in to hear Ian's insights on leveraging your personal brand to close more deals. Meet Ian Agard Initially, Ian started his career as a marketer and eventually transitioned into becoming a proficient seller. His exceptional ability to connect with people, attributed to the strong personal brand he has built over time, sets him apart.  Ian has progressed through roles as a sales leader and a sales coach, where he now runs a sales coaching program called "Level Up."  His program is designed to help Business Development Representatives (BDRs), Sales Development Representatives (SDRs), and Account Executives (AEs) earn their next promotion within three to six months by focusing on mindset, habits, and mastering essential sales skills.  Why Personal Branding Matters A personal brand is what people think of when they see or hear your name. This is how you share your values, expertise, and journey, without having to explain it to every potential client. Ian shares how building a personal brand allows salespeople to create a strong connection with followers and better opportunities for sales growth.  Building Your Brand: A Step-by-Step Guide Ian shares how sales representative can start building their personal brand in three simple steps:  Vision and Values: Start by having a clear vision for your life and understanding your core values. Profile Setup: Ensure you have a professional photo and a value statement on your LinkedIn profile. Consistent Posting: At a minimum, post once a week sharing your journey, challenges, wins, and relevant industry insights. Ian also shares how niching down can help with finding your target audience. He shares his own experience of focusing on helping lawyers with digital marketing and the success that came from being a recognized expert in that niche. “Start today and build your brand. It's like farming. If you plant those seeds today, in 90 days, in 120 days, you're going to see some fruit and you'll be like, wow, why didn't I start this a year ago?” - Ian Agard. Resources Ian Agard on LinkedIn  Donald Kelly on LinkedIn https://thesalesevangelist.com/opener Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.Mentioned in this episode:HubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOSHubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOS hubpspot.com/marketers bluemangostudios.com

It’s no secret—a structured sales process can significantly boost your ability to close deals. Following a proven step-by-step method reduces the pressure and uncertainty when a potential buyer says "no." In this episode, I sit down with Gregg and Mike, co-authors of Sales Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To, to discuss the sales strategies that have fueled their success. Tune in to learn how you can apply their techniques to achieve the same results. The Genesis of "Sales Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To" Greg and Mike's Previous Roles: At their last company, Greg and Mike devised technological innovations that expedited onboarding and sales processes, helping the company grow faster than its competitors. Why Write the Book: After realizing that new sales representatives could improve by using these effective methods, they decided to create a book to outline their step-by-step process. Sales Methods for Leaders and Reps Rapport and Problem-Solving: Establishing rapport and understanding client problems are critical. Instead of a hard sell, frame conversations around problem-solving. Script and Process: Greg explains the importance of having a script and understanding the 'why' behind each part of the process. It's about helping customers make informed decisions rather than manipulating them. Role Playing and Real-Time Practice: To ensure that scripts are both practical and effective, frequent role-playing and real-time practice are crucial. This also helps identify and rectify any gaps in the process. Practical Application in Different Sales Scenarios Example Scenario – Selling HR Software: Greg provides a script for selling HR software, showing how framing the problem and solution sequentially helps in decision-making.  Leveraging Technology: Mike highlights how predictable behaviors in sales scenarios can be facilitated with technology, making the sales process more efficient and scalable. "It's really the ethical thing to do, to prepare and arm your salespeople to go in to perform in ways that better them." - Mike Latch. "You have a choice. Either make it the best, become the best in the company, or help the company get better, or go work for the best." - Gregg Murphy. Resources “Sales Sucks, But It Doesn’t Have To”  https://thesalesevangelist.com/opener Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.Mentioned in this episode:HubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOSHubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOS hubpspot.com/marketers bluemangostudios.com

There's no denying how AI has changed the way we do business in the sales industry. In some areas, it’s better and in others, we’re still working out the kinks. But, has it improved the way we do cold calling? In this episode, I have an engaging conversation with Rabi Gupta, the CEO of Evabot, on how AI can bridge the gap between sellers and buyers. Learn how to use AI tools to improve your cold calling techniques.  Meet the CEO of Evabot Rabi Gupta is a co-founder and CEO of a startup company. His day-to-day responsibilities involve managing various aspects of the business.   He is passionate about identifying and solving problems that salespeople face by using innovative technology and artificial intelligence.  Rabi's leadership and expertise drives his company's mission to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of sales teams. Cold Calling 2.0 Defined Buyers are tired of hearing the same old tired pitches, making it harder for sellers to meet their quotas.  Cold Calling 2.0 uses AI technology to help sellers become more efficient in researching buyer’s potential pains and challenges. For example, a seller can use an AI tool to find a specific issue highlighted within a company’s quarterly report. The unique approach keeps sellers from using generic sales outreach techniques and makes cold calls more valuable to prospects.  AI’s Role in Sales Enhancements AI enables sales teams to automate routine tasks such as lead qualification, customer segmentation, and follow-ups. This allows sales reps to focus more on building genuine connections with prospects and close deals faster. With advanced data analytics, sellers can analyze vast amounts of customer data to identify patterns and predict future behavior.  Sales teams can tailor their approaches to individual customer needs more accurately.  Also, AI enhances cold outreach by providing relevant, precise, and timely information about prospects. This creates sales messages that are more personalized and impactful.  "What we have seen is if you start with the research part first versus any other greetings, it works really well because today everyone is like, hey, I'm this. I'm calling from this." - Rabi Gupta. Resources Evabot  https://thesalesevangelist.com/opener Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.Mentioned in this episode:HubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOSHubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOS hubpspot.com/marketers bluemangostudios.com

Josh Shirley, a skilled sales professional from Sandler, shares invaluable insights on leveraging LinkedIn Sales Navigator for lead generation. He emphasizes the power of referrals, sharing how structured approaches can enhance lead requests. Shirley introduces the 'Rule of Seven,' noting that for every seven connections, one is likely to refer you. He explains practical strategies to implement this rule, enriching your networking efforts and refining your sales tactics. Tune in for clever techniques to optimize your LinkedIn connections for maximum impact!

Donald Kelly, a sales expert renowned for his innovative cold calling techniques, reveals powerful strategies for engaging prospects. He discusses five effective cold call openers, starting with the curiosity opener that sparks interest using relevant insights. The referral opener leverages mutual connections to build trust, while the problem solver opener showcases understanding of industry challenges. Kelly emphasizes the importance of providing value and sharing industry insights to enhance the chance of meaningful conversations.

Moustafa Moursy, a seasoned sales professional and founder of Push Analytics, discusses building a personalized sales system to boost performance. He emphasizes the need for a structured workflow, especially in challenging industries. By prioritizing daily organization and healthy habits, Moursy advocates for a proactive approach to managing customer relationships. He also highlights the importance of continuous learning and collaboration, sharing insights from successful sales teams to inspire personal growth and productivity.

You’re using every sales tactic, method, and technique to get a potential buyer to close a deal. When you think they are going to say yes, they end up telling you I have to think about it some more. Within your mind, you think you did everything right. So why are they telling you no? In this episode, you’re going to find out the error you made. I chat with a special guest with a surprising background, Yano Anaya, who shares the number one mistake sellers make when closing a deal. Yano Anaya’s Background Do you remember the two sidekicks of the bully who got his tongue stuck on the pole? Well, one of them was Yano Anaya. After spending years as an actor, he decided to make a switch to entrepreneurship. His unique background helped him become a sales marketing expert.  Currently, he runs The Christmas Story Family, selling merchandise from the movie. Also, he is the host of a new podcast, “Talking a Christmas Story,” where you can hear behind-the-scenes stories and personal memories from the cast. Psychology Trick To Close More Deals As a seller, you kind of have to ask your potential customers for money. That’s the business of sales. Yano noticed how sellers often struggle with this challenge and are unable to close deals effectively. He shares that if you have a problem with asking then you may have a personality trait that makes you feel uncomfortable in the sales industry. To overcome this, you have to switch your way of thinking. Yano says that instead of feeling as though you’re asking, view it as if you’re giving them something that will better them. Breaking Through Your bias Thinking Digging deep within and asking yourself why you have a problem with asking for large amounts will help you shift through your objections.  Once you can create value within your biased thoughts, you’ll realize that you’re not hurting anybody by asking. It also depends on the type of service and product you’re offering. If you buy into what you’re providing and how it helps others, your negative feelings about asking for money may go away.  Remember building confidence takes time, if you struggle with this practice meditation, mindful techniques, or reach out to a sales coach. Authenticity Brings More Sales Yano shares how being a trustworthy person helps you close more deals. People want to feel a connection and know you’re a genuine person.  Even though some sellers may have a specific personality trait to help them display their real personality, a process may help you. “If you use your negative trait positively, then asking for 50K is the ripple effect of you helping an individual scale." - Yano Anaya. Resources A Christmas Story Family Facebook Group Talking A Christmas Story PodcastMentioned in this episode:HubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOSHubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOS hubpspot.com/marketers bluemangostudios.com

Where does the state of sales stand today, and what should you prioritize to strengthen your pipeline? In this episode, I explore the Salesforce 2024 State of Sales Report to provide answers. Join me as I uncover the top three insights from the report. Partnerships In the Salesforce report, I came across a compelling statistic: 89% of teams currently leverage partnerships, and 50% expect to do so within the next year.  As reaching prospects becomes increasingly challenging, partnerships offer a powerful solution by providing direct introductions within organizations.  I share an example of why partner deals are so effective and why this approach is set to become a major trend in the sales industry. Recurring Sales Revenue More companies are shifting towards recurring revenue models instead of relying solely on one-off sales.  Recurring revenue provides a more stable and predictable income stream, which is crucial in today’s fluctuating market.  This approach is important because it enhances financial stability and drives long-term business growth. Importance of Personalization According to the Sales report, 86% of buyers are more inclined to make a purchase when their goals are understood.  Yet 59% of buyers feel that sales reps fail to take the time to understand them. Personalization involves taking the time to understand their problems and offering tailored solutions. “If you’re going to be more effective at personalization, look for ways you can personalize around the challenges people are facing.” - Donald Kelly.  Resources Salesforce 2024 Report TSE Sales Mastermind Class TSE studios Donald C. Kelly on LinkedIn Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.Mentioned in this episode:HubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOSHubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOS hubpspot.com/marketers bluemangostudios.com

In the world of sales, the relationship between sales teams and their CRM tools can often be strained. But what if I told you that the problem doesn't lie with the CRM itself, but in how it's being used?  Imagine having a toolkit that can drive your business to the next level when configured and utilized correctly. This is where the expertise of Moustafa Moursy, the insightful founder of Push Analytics, comes into play. Listen to our conversation to discover how to make your CRM work for you and not against you. Guest Introduction Moustafa Moursy runs Push Analytics, a full-service digital agency.  His team specializes in various areas, including CRM implementation and consulting, helping businesses elevate their operations to the next level.  With experience across numerous industries, Push Analytics is a top-tier HubSpot partner and offers tailored solutions for complex business needs. Common Misconceptions About CRMs We dive into the common pitfalls organizations face regarding CRM expectations.  A prevalent issue is the assumption that simply having a CRM will automatically boost sales.  Moustafa clarifies that a CRM is merely a tool. To make the CRM effective you have to properly set it up and strategically plan on how to use it for your business.  Choosing the Right CRM Moustafa explains the importance of selecting a CRM that aligns with your business needs.  He points out that while HubSpot is versatile and user-friendly, other CRMs like Salesforce might be suitable for highly customized or niche requirements.  Setting Up for Success Moustafa suggests an initial assessment of current workflows before configuring a CRM.  Understanding the specific needs of your sales and marketing processes ensures that the CRM enhances productivity rather than becoming a cumbersome add-on. "Really understanding the business needs and the resources available allows you to overlay what you can puzzle together to make things work." - Moustafa Moursy. Resources Reach out to Moustafa: hello@pushanalytics.com and use TSE" in the subject line for a consultation. Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.Mentioned in this episode:HubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOSHubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOS hubpspot.com/marketers bluemangostudios.com

How many times do you follow-up with a potential customer? Is it just one time? This may be the reason why you’re not meeting your sales quotas. In this episode, I chat with Guitze Messina, the Director of Latin America for HARDI, on the importance of following up. Listen and learn essential follow-up techniques to help you close more deals. Guest Introduction Guitze Messina brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as the Director of Latin America for HARDI.  The organization groups together distributors and manufacturers of HVAC equipment across North and South America.  Guitze has a strong background in sales and recurrent sales strategies, which he shares in this episode. Importance of Follow-Up Starting off, I share how follow-up is a known driver of sales success and most reps fail to execute it effectively. Guitze supports this by sharing startling statistics: 44% of salespeople follow up only once, and a whopping 56% don't follow up at all.  Moreover, 88% of business is closed after five follow-ups, underscoring the necessity of persistent follow-up. Strategies for Effective Follow-Up Guitze shares practical strategies for making follow-up less daunting and more effective: Get Permission: Always ask for a follow-up time when sending a quote. This ensures that the customer expects your call and doesn't view it as an intrusion. Set Reminders: If you don't reach the customer at the agreed-upon time, leave a message indicating when you'll follow up next. This shows professionalism and persistence. Reduce Unproductive Quoting: Sales managers should guide their teams to focus on productive activities and better target customers likely to convert. The Role of Sales Managers Sales managers play a crucial role in instilling good practices. Guitze outlines three critical responsibilities for sales managers: Guidance Through Data: Use data to identify real customers and focus efforts. Activity Monitoring: Ensure salespeople are engaging in productive sales activities, not just quoting endlessly. Effective Coaching: Use questions, not directives, to coach salespeople. This approach has been proven to be more effective. “What is the number one sales activity that any salesman should be doing? Calling.” - Guitze Messina.  Resources MONEYCALL: A Proactive Sales Method for Recurring Sales with Less Prospecting Guitze Messina on LinkedIn Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.Mentioned in this episode:HubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOSHubSpot and bluëmago | STUDIOS hubpspot.com/marketers bluemangostudios.com