The Sales Evangelist

You try to do everything you can to keep a prospect happy. By doing so, you believe it will prevent potential buyers from saying no to your services. However, avoiding tension within the sales process is a huge mistake.  In this episode of The Sales Evangelist Podcast, host Donald Kelly will discuss why sales reps need to create tension. He will also share different ways to create healthy tension that’ll help you close deals. Why Do You Need Tension? One problem Donald is seeing is that buyers are taking more time to decide what they should spend their money on. Because of this, sales reps need to ensure their deals, products, or services are good. Buyers' longer decision-making process also makes sales reps more fearful of creating tension. Even when they know their deals are good, sales reps are afraid to upset buyers. Sales representatives must remember that tension isn’t bad.  It’s essential to have tension to help move along the sales process. Why Do You Need Tension? Don’t hold on to the fear of being declined: Donald discusses that many sales reps don’t push back when a prospect says they’re working with someone else. You can ask the potential buyer who the other vendor they’re working with, so don’t be afraid to do it. If the prospect becomes uncomfortable sharing the information, then it may be a red flag. Go deeper into the follow-up questions: If a prospect says they’re looking for a solution to a problem, then you should ask more questions to discover on the problem is affecting them.  Look at tension as a good thing: Donald compares tension within the sales process to when a person starts working out more. When you first start exercising, your body hurts because you’re building muscles. Seeing it from this perspective should show you that when you create tension, it will provide benefits in the future.  Prospect gives an objection: Most sellers try to jump in and offer deals when a potential buyer objects to their services. Instead, dive deeper and figure out why the prospect is objecting. Always remember that tension isn’t a bad thing. When you ask questions about a problem a prospect is having, you come across as an expert. Look for ways to have healthy tension in the sales process to help you progress the deal.  Lastly, don’t end the conversation without having a clear next step. Be sure to set up an appointment with the prospective client to ensure they’re on board with you.  “Sometimes sales are uncomfortable, and change is not always easy. So if a buyer is changing, there’s going to be a need for tension.” - Donald Kelly Resource Donald C Kelly 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. 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. This episode is brought to you in part by Calendly. Calendly is the leading meeting scheduling software that automates your scheduling, speeds up your sales cycle, and closes more deals. Get started for free or learn more at calendly.com 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 Sales Evangelist.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

Are you sending hundreds of emails, and no one is responding? You must listen to this week’s episode of The Sales Evangelist Podcast to help you discover new outreach methods.  Your host, Donald Kelly, speaks with Tom Slocum on the state of sales outreach. Listen to their advice on emailing, so potential customers will be more willing to work with you. Trends in Email Outreach During a conference, Tom discovered that many sales reps don’t follow up on emails. If you notice potential customers haven’t replied, try doing a follow-up email. When writing emails, it’s best to be creative to help make the message more personalized. You can do this by adding visualizations to bring a human effort into play. Consider including a video or voice memos to help make emails more engaging and personal. When sales reps take the extra step within their emails, it creates personalization. By taking the extra step, you make potential clients feel as though you care about their problems.  You don’t have to be super personal in every email you send. Tom discusses the importance of bucketing and prioritizing when sending emails. Personalization Is Not Personalization Personalization is not bringing up random topics and hoping a prospective client will start conversing with you.  You need to really pay attention to how they’re a good fit for the product you’re selling. Once you discover this, you can send an email discussing your services and how you can potentially help them. Remember clients want to feel as though you actually care about them and their problems. Advice For Management  It can be hard to test new methods when you’re leading a team that’s sending 5,000 emails every day. Tom discusses why sales managers should create microenvironments, where certain teams test new methods. When the whole team tests a new method it can become scary. Either you or a specific group of people should test new methods to prevent everyone from worrying if it will work or not. Microenvironments also allow managers to evaluate theories effectively. After testing your methods on 100 accounts, ask for feedback to see if there was an improvement in the email outreach strategy. Using AI Tools for Email Outreach Tom shares how to use AI tools for creativity when sending emails to potential clients.  He provides an example of how to research clients with AI tools and make personalized emails. The key is to use AI to help you work smarter, not harder. After listening to this episode, take some time to reflect on these methods and apply them to your outreach strategy. Don’t forget to find Donald on LinkedIn and let him know if these methods worked for you.  “Everybody is going left, then you should go right. Try to be different to strike something within the person you’re emailing to help you stand out.” - Tom Slocum Resources Donald Kelly LinkedIn Tom Slocum 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. 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. This episode is brought to you in part by Calendly. Calendly is the leading meeting scheduling software that automates your scheduling, speeds up your sales cycle, and closes more deals. Get started for free or learn more at calendly.com 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 Sales Evangelist.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

The most powerful online tool for sales professionals is LinkedIn. You know the platform is a goldmine for finding prospects and connecting with others in the industry. Currently, you have 400 connections on LinkedIn. But, have you even said anything to them besides Happy Birthday? Most people don’t know how to use LinkedIn properly. You may not even know how to start a conversation to make someone say more than “thank you.” In this week’s episode of the Sales Evangelist Podcast, host Donald Kelly shares his hidden strategy for starting conversations on LinkedIn. Listen to Donald’s advice to make prospective buyers reply to your messages. Don’t Engage in LinkedIn Phishing Do you send hundreds of automated emails hoping someone will bite? You do know this is basically email spam on LinkedIn, right? Instead, pretend it’s the 1950s and start conversations like people used to do. Silver Bullet: LinkedIn shares other celebrations with you besides birthdays. Donald tells you why it’s vital to pay attention to these. Also, Donald shares a story of how he uses this LinkedIn feature uniquely. He discovered the key to making people respond to messages faster. Consider Sending a Video You may be nervous about getting on camera, but it could lead to more engagement on LinkedIn. It's worth you overcoming your fears and taking this risk. Donald discovered by sending a personal video that his LinkedIn connection was more willing to do business. Pay attention to birthdays, work anniversaries, and promotions. You can use these celebrations to start great conversations on LinkedIn. Are you struggling to create the perfect LinkedIn profile? Check out our 6-week LinkedIn Prospecting Course and start generating 3-5 appointments per week. Donald shares insightful advice within this week’s episode. Subscribe and listen to The Sales Evangelist Podcast for more LinkedIn strategies. Resources The Sales Evangelist LinkedIn Course 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. 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. This episode is brought to you in part by Calendly. Calendly is the leading meeting scheduling software that automates your scheduling, speeds up your sales cycle, and closes more deals. Get started for free or learn more at calendly.com 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 Sales Evangelist.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

Another economic crisis is happening, so what does this mean for the sales industry? In this episode of The Sales Evangelist Podcast, host Donald Kelly speaks with Jeffrey Hayzlett about what to do during these challenging times. Discover how to increase your sales when the economy faces a crisis in this episode. Jefferey Hayzlett Background Jefferey has years of experience working as a primetime TV and radio host. He is now the owner and chairman of the C-suite network. The network includes radio stations, television shows, and podcast shows. He shares his knowledge of success to help others achieve their success in life. After experiencing several financial crises, he learned to turn the negatives into positives during tough times. Within this episode, he will share this knowledge to help you conquer challenging situations as a sales representative. Past Downturns Jefferey explains past financial crises, returning to the economic crisis of 1907. However, despite these challenging times, they still had good aspects. For example, during the economic crisis of 1907, the birth of General Motors happened.  He is trying to point out that businesses can be created or bounced back even if a financial crisis is happening. How to Thrive During a Downturn Instead of focusing on the negatives, focus on the steps to make changes. Businesses have to adapt and be relentless during tough times. Jeffery shares a story of him working with a company during the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008. The company had to lay off 8500, and billions of dollars were affected during this time. However, the company was able to survive during this challenging period. There will always be bad times for a company, and there's no way to escape it. During these dire times, you must remember not to complain and take action.  Next, ensure every team member in your company is aligned with the mission. This means everyone knows where the company is going and how it will happen. Make sure you set the right mood for the company. If everyone believes their best days are behind them, then it is.  Lastly, remember to always communicate with your team. Let everyone know your plans and the steps or actions you need for them to take to make your goals happen.  During a downturn, it's essential for you to stop focusing on the negatives and develop a plan to make changes. With this week's episode, Jeffrey shares that it's all about mindset and your actions on how you can keep growing your business during tough times.  Also, host Donald and guest speaker Jeffrey share insight on what you should be doing with your LinkedIn connections. Subscribe and listen to the Sales Evangelist podcast to get real and actionable tips for the sales industry. "For all those sitting out there saying, hey, it's not possible, Oh, it's too tough. Start selling and start making some moves; find some whitespace. You know, 53% of your customers would do more business with you right now. If you ask." - Jeffrey Hayzlett Resources Jeffrey Hayzlett email: jeffrey.hayzlett@csuitenetwork.com hayzlett.com Jeffrey Hayzlett Twitter Jeffrey Hayzlett Instagram C Suite Network 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. 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. This episode is brought to you in part by Calendly. Calendly is the leading meeting scheduling software that automates your scheduling, speeds up your sales cycle, and closes more deals. Get started for free or learn more at calendly.com 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 Sales Evangelist.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

What can you expect regarding AI technology and the sales industry? Is it going to replace sales representatives? How can you coach your sales reps with the use of AI? In this episode of The Sales Evangelist Podcast, host Donald Kelly speaks with John Barrow on the future of AI and the sales industry. Discover how leaders can leverage AI tools within the sales profession. John Barrows Background John Barrow owns the JB sales company, offering sales training to tech companies. He started his career when the internet was still in its fancy and saw the changes it made within the sales industry during this time. Now, he is seeing the industry change once again due to the development of artificial intelligence tools, such as Chat GPT. John knows with the changes made by AI technology, the sales industry will have to evolve with the tools to be successful. Teaching People to Be Robots Learning the sales process is becoming more difficult because leaders teach representatives how to use AI tools rather than the fundamentals. The sales reps have nothing to fall back on and are getting replaced by robots. Currently, he is working with AI tools for learning language models. It’s helping him gather a large pool of data and use only the information he approves in the LLM system. The AI tools help cut back research time for him and his team. John believes using AI technology will help coach sales reps more effectively. If a person cannot receive coaching from their boss, they can rely on the coaching from an AI tool. The Problem With Coaching in the Sales Industry While listening to a 45-minute sales call with a representative, it can be challenging for a coach to pull out every context of the call during a conversation. AI can transcribe the call and allow a coach to pinpoint a specific point where a sales rep needs improvement. Another area for improvement with LLM is teaching the sales reps how to sell a product correctly. Using an AI bot can help coach sales reps to sell products. John provides an example of using Salesforce and coaching sales reps. Do You Want to Be a Part of the Solution? AI is an evolution, like the Industrial Revolution, where companies need to think about how to use humans to operate AI. Learn how to leverage AI tools to stay afloat within the industry. Sales reps need to meet the customers where they are in support needs and educate them on how to use products. It will require sales reps to go further than full-cycle sales and know the product well. What Should Sales Leaders Do Right Now? John recommends that sales leaders turn their sales order into a sales lab, identify a component of the sales process, and do a sales hackathon. Listen to the podcast on how a sales leader can do this with the help of AI technology.  Understand the importance of using AI within the sales industry. It increases employee satisfaction and engagement and reduces tech stack and spending. There will be a rebirth of everything in two to five years, and it could go really good or bad. John provides insight into using AI technology within the sales industry. Subscribe to the Sales Evangelist podcast and listen to how to use AI tools to help coach your team of sales representatives.  “And I think what happened with Chad GPT and those tools that came out earlier this year is a fundamental shift. We are at Pandora's box right now. And it got opened, and we're not going back.” - John Barrows Resources www.jbarrows.com John Barrows LinkedIn John Barrows Instagram JB Make It Happen Mondays Podcast 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. 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. This episode is brought to you in part by Calendly. Calendly is the leading meeting scheduling software that automates your scheduling, speeds up your sales cycle, and closes more deals. Get started for free or learn more at calendly.com 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 Sales Evangelist.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

Are you scared to make that cold call? Your heart is pounding fast, and your hands shake as you pick up the phone to call a random stranger. Are they going to take the time to listen to you? Will you be able to make a sale? Or are they going to say something rude and hang up the phone? If you’re nervous about making the phone call, you must listen to this week’s episode of the Sales Evangelist Podcast. Host Donald Kelly speaks with Larry Long Jr. on how sales representatives can overcome their fears of making the call. Listen for insightful tips on overcoming your fears of cold calling. Who Is Larry Long Jr.? ●    Larry Long Jr. is a keynote speaker and MC coach with years of experience in the sales profession. ●    He helps other sales representatives with performance coaching, sales, entrepreneurship, business, and training. ●    He now hosts The Cold Calling Podcast, where he coaches sales representatives in making cold calls. How Do You Overcome the Fear of Failure? ●    Larry shares a story of him making a cold call, and the person told him to jump off a bridge. Unsure what to say next, he told the person to have a blessed day and hung up the phone. ●    How did he overcome this rejection? He kept going and continued to make phone calls and didn't let one objection hold him back from making sales. ●    For you to overcome the fear of failure, give yourself grace. Yes, you will make mistakes, and potential clients will object to the sale you're offering, but you must keep going. Changing Your Mindset ●    Larry shares a story of him playing baseball in college, and he was at the point where he wanted to give up. His dad told him not to give up and to have a positive attitude. He noticed a change in his baseball career once he changed his mindset and kept practicing. ●    Larry and Donald share the importance of working with a company that strives to improve their employees. It’s also a good idea to seek advice from co-workers on how to do better. Winners Focus on Winning and Losers Focus on Winners ●    Don't focus on another person's chapter in their career. You have no clue how hard things were for them in the beginning. ●    Instead, focus on yourself and seek to improve from the day before. ●    Have a purpose for why you must work hard and stick to it. Also, know everything will be okay when you focus on yourself instead of others. The Moral Obligation to Make the Cold Call ●    Larry shares an inspiring quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "Life's most persistent urge and urgent question is, what are you doing to help someone else?" ●    Apply this quote to how you handle cold calls, and don't think about your needs. The sales industry is about solving problems and helping people. ●    Listen to the Cold Calling podcast if you need help handling cold calls better. It'll help you leave your comfort zone and start putting yourself out there. This episode should motivate you to pick up the phone and make that cold call. Get out of your head and start making those cold calls today! Subscribe to the Sales Evangelist Podcast to become a better sales representative. Your host, Donald Kelly, is always here to help you achieve greatness and win big in the sales industry. “Sales is about service. It's about helping other people solve their problems. And just being empathetic, which sounds good. But it's amazing when you put it into practice.” - Larry Long Jr. Resources Larry Long Jr. LinkedIn Larry Long Jr.'s website Jolt - Larry Long Jr.’s book Cold Calling Podcast Sell It Like A Mango - Donald C. Kelly’s book 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. 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. This episode is brought to you in part by Calendly. Calendly is the leading meeting scheduling software that automates your scheduling, speeds up your sales cycle, and closes more deals. Get started for free or learn more at calendly.com 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 Sales Evangelist.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

Why having a sales trainer is a good idea? In this episode of the Sales Evangelist podcast, host Donald Kelly will provide four benefits to having one. If you’re ready to save time and elevate your game, listen to why you need a sales trainer to help you achieve greatness! Why Listen to Donald on Sales Training? He has years of experience as a sales representative, sales leader, and individual contributor. Based on his three levels of experience within the sales industry, he will share the difference between those who do and don’t receive sales training.  Donald shares his experience working with two companies that didn’t provide sales training. He had to figure out how to make sales independently and often struggled to close deals. When he started working with a company that provided sales training, he received a $30,000 deal within his first three months of working with them. Thanks to the third company investing in a sales training program, they were able to help their representatives improve their process. Sales Training Brings New Ideas A great sales trainer will bring fresh concepts to improve sales. Donald noticed after receiving sales training, he started to come up with different ideas on how he could improve his techniques. Companies can work with other organizations to understand what works and is not working within the industry. The ideas they receive help them create a sales process to win over potential customers. However, you must work with a sales trainer who is up-to-date with today’s methods and can provide fresh ideas. The new ideas give sales representatives the confidence to apply different techniques.  A Sales Trainer Helps Improve Your Process Remember, sales fundamentals don’t change, but the process will!  Don’t make the mistake of working with someone using an outdated sales process. Once again, you need someone skilled in using today's digital methods. 50% of potential customers are millennials, so it’s essential to have a sales process that will connect with them. Sales Trainers Can Help You Save Time As a leader, you can’t do everything on your own. You want your sales team to have the proper training, but you can’t provide one-on-one care to them.  A sales trainer will help you save time and provide the proper training to your representatives. Listen to Donald explain how a sales trainer can effectively organize and guide your team. Generate ROI With Sales Training A good sales trainer will be able to provide examples of how they have helped other companies. Look at their case studies to see how they improved the sales process for others. Find a sales trainer that is actually selling! A proven track record will let you know the effectiveness of their work. These are the four benefits of working with a sales trainer. Donald Kelly still provides sales training and has a proven track record; visit the Sales Evangelist website to learn more. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the Sales Evangelist Podcast! Resources The Sales Evangelist Donald C Kelly LinkedIn Donald C Kelly Instagram Donald C kelly TikTok Sponsorship Offer This episode is brought to you in part by TSE Sales Foundation. I think we can all agree that sales should be fun. However, many times, we find ourselves in a quagmire where we’re not progressing and deals are not going the way that they should. This is why we created TSE Sales Foundation. It’s a program designed to help sales professionals just like you master the fundamentals of sales so they can radically improve their sales pipeline and close more deals. To find out more about TSE Sales Foundation and our next start date, simply go to thesalesevangelist.com/foundation. 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

For the last few years, you have relied heavily on SEO strategies to attract customers to your business. Of course, there's nothing wrong with this. But as your business grows, you may want to hire a seller to attract more leads and improve sales. But how do you know you have found the right person to improve your sales strategies? In this unique episode of the Sales Evangelist Podcast, host Donald Kelly does a live coaching session with Cat Hutchings to help her find the perfect seller for her new business. Whether you're a business owner, sales professional, or simply interested in improving your sales approach, this episode offers actionable tips and advice. Cat Hutchings Background Cat Hutchings is a successful entrepreneur and Etsy owner of Spotlight Jewelry. She also coaches other Etsy owners to become successful on the e-commerce website. Cat is in the works of launching another business, so she came to Donald asking questions on how to find the ideal salesperson to join her team.  Live Coaching Session: Hiring the Right Salespeople Many business owners ask themselves whether they should hire an individual or an agency when trying to get leads. Donald suggests using tools such as Apollo IO to attract leads. These tools allow you to view names, email addresses, and other contact information. If you decide to hire an individual, ensure they know how to handle the entire sales process and not just the end. Effective Outreach Strategies As a salesperson, you must research to target the right customers. Cat shares an example of a sales representative who researched her before reaching out. However, the sales representative did make a minor mistake, and Donald shared feedback on what he could’ve done better. Deep research and tools like CrunchBase can help identify relevant individuals. One can craft personalized and impactful outreach messages that resonate with potential customers by leveraging visible triggers or signals. B2B vs. B2C Companies and Marketing Collaboration Donald highlights the importance of collaboration between marketing and sales in B2B sales. While marketing lays the groundwork by running ads, email campaigns, blogs, and LinkedIn ads to attract the right audience, sales professionals take over to engage in one-on-one conversations and drive potential customers toward making a purchase. B2C sales typically have shorter cycles, often requiring a more transactional approach. However, certain products and services can be sold remotely and automatically through websites, reducing the need for active outbound efforts.  Donald also shares the difference between working with a startup and a well-established company.  Startups can attract individuals hungry for new challenges, those looking to add startup experience to their resumes, and professionals seeking to make a noticeable impact within smaller organizations.  While there is an inherent level of risk, social proof and a proven track record can significantly attract the right individuals.  Are Sales and Marketing the Same? You may think that marketing and sales are the same thing, but it’s not.  Marketing is attracting leads to your business and getting them to the checkout point. Sales is the process of payment transactions within the business.   Importance of Systems and Processes Donald emphasizes creating reliable systems and processes, particularly in sales.  Documenting procedures and creating playbooks can make transferring roles within a team easier and more efficient.  Strong systems and processes are vital in facilitating business growth and scalability. Host Donald Kelly shares insightful strategies for hiring the right people for your sales teams. He also advises attracting ideal customers, navigating B2B and B2C sales, and optimizing outreach efforts. Whether you're a business owner, sales professional, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge to help you succeed in the competitive sales world. "Finding the right people shouldn't be a challenge as individuals are willing to take the leap and join a startup." - Donald Kelly. Resources Cat Hutchings LinkedIn Cat Hutchings Instagram www.cathutchings.com SpotLightJewelry Apollo IO Crunchbase Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you struggling to close deals? Cold outreach wastes the buyer and seller's time at every stage, especially when sellers are using shallow and outdated data.  Your organization can overcome these challenges with technology that translates comprehensive, high-quality buyer data into real-time insights. These deeper insights empower sales reps and teams to adopt the habits of top performers, which leads to better outcomes - like more pipelines, higher win rates, and larger deals. We call this Deep Sales. And we’ve built the first deep sales platform with the next generation of LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Try LinkedIn Sales Navigator and get a sixty-day free trial at linkedin.com/tse. 2. This episode is brought to you in part by TSE Sales Foundation. I think we can all agree that sales should be fun. However, many times, we find ourselves in a quagmire where we’re not progressing and deals are not going the way that they should. This is why we created TSE Sales Foundation. It’s a program designed to help sales professionals just like you master the fundamentals of sales so they can radically improve their sales pipeline and close more deals. To find out more about TSE Sales Foundation and our next start date, simply go to thesalesevangelist.com/foundation. 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 this episode, Donald Kelly, a seasoned sales expert, shares valuable insights on how sales professionals can thrive by mastering communication skills and taking imperfect action. He discusses the key skills for effective sales communication and emphasizes the importance of finding people with problems and offering solutions. Kelly also talks about revolutionizing cold outreach with sales navigators and the significance of clear planning and a positive attitude in sales.

Everyone fears AI tools will steal jobs, especially in sales. However, this is far from the truth! These advanced chatbots are here to make our work easier and get things done more efficiently. You just have to learn to use the AI tools and ChatGPT to your advantage.  The host, Donald Kelly, and special guest, David Kreiger, founder of SalesRoads, explain how in this episode. They emphasize the importance of using AI to enhance the understanding of customers and prospects rather than merely automating processes. So, let's dive in and discover the power of composed audio and AI in sales. Utilizing Chat GPT for Role Playing and Coaching ●       Most people find it challenging to use Chat GPT and feel the tool doesn't create exactly what they want. ●       Kriger shares why you should give Chat GPT a persona when interacting with the tool and creating content. ●       He also provides an example of how sales representatives can role-play with the tool to create buyer personas. ●       You shouldn't rely solely on it to build customer profiles and buyer personas. Instead, view AI and Chat GPT as helpful tools within the sales process. Unveiling the Potential of AI in Marketing ●       Donald discusses the introduction of Facebook ads and discovering the impact of incorporating complexity and more details in their ad content. ●       They admit their early struggles with Facebook ads but highlight the pivotal role played by grasping the significance of feeding in detail. ●       They express gratitude for the eye-opening insights shared by their conversation partner, acknowledging the transformative power of AI tools in generating different iterations of an ideal customer profile. The Benefits of AI in Crafting Ideal Customer Profiles and Buyer Personas ●       The conversation delves into building ideal customer profiles and buyer personas using AI and chat GPT. ●       Kriger emphasizes the value of engaging in conversations with the target market to create accurate profiles. ●       He also highlights how AI tools can facilitate information generation and effortlessly interact with personas, providing insights that would be otherwise unattainable daily.  The Three Tactical Ways to Use Chat GPT ●       Tell Chat GPT who it is: It is still in its early stage, and you have to be as detailed as possible to get the desired results when using the tool. ●       Take advantage of Chat GPT: Remember, it's not here to take our jobs! People who know how to use AI tools effectively will be the ones to excel in the sales profession. So, take advantage of this accessible technology and learn how to use it properly. ●       Start using AI tools: If you want to create ICP, give it your marketing and buyer's persona information. You can only get good at using the tools by interacting with them and testing what does and doesn't work. "AI doesn't replace people; it gives you additional capabilities and superpowers." -David Kreiger Do you want to revolutionize sales performance and succeed in sales strategies? We know you do! So, be sure to follow the Sales Evangelist podcast to hear more from our wonderful guests! Resources David LinkedIn Sales Road website  Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you struggling to close deals? Cold outreach wastes the buyer and seller's time at every stage, especially when sellers are using shallow and outdated data. Your organization can overcome these challenges with technology that translates comprehensive, high-quality buyer data into real-time insights. These deeper insights empower sales reps and teams to adopt the habits of top performers, which leads to better outcomes - like more pipelines, higher win rates, and larger deals. We call this Deep Sales. And we’ve built the first deep sales platform with the next generation of LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Try LinkedIn Sales Navigator and get a sixty-day free trial at linkedin.com/tse. 2. This episode is brought to you in part by TSE Sales Foundation. I think we can all agree that sales should be fun. However, many times, we find ourselves in a quagmire where we’re not progressing and deals are not going the way that they should. This is why we created TSE Sales Foundation. It’s a program designed to help sales professionals just like you master the fundamentals of sales so they can radically improve their sales pipeline and close more deals. To find out more about TSE Sales Foundation and our next start date, simply go to thesalesevangelist.com/foundation.  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