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.

LinkedIn Sales Navigator is a powerful tool for growing your business and gaining clients. However, using the marketing tool can be a bit complicated. If you’re unsure how to use Sales Navigator, tune into this episode. I chat with Josh Shirley, a seasoned sales professional from Sandler, on the most effective ways to use the tool to help grow a sales pipeline.  Josh Shirley’s Background Josh Shirley is a representative of Sandler, a renowned sales training organization.  He highlights that his relevance arises when sales leaders seek an institutionalized system offering predictable outcomes based on set inputs.  Sandler’s methodical approach provides sales professionals with the structured support similar to those in other professions with established educational backgrounds, enabling them to perform effectively right from the start. Referrals: The Gold Standard of Leads Referrals are the golden component of receiving sales leads. Josh shares personal experiences about how structured approaches to request referrals can significantly enhance lead generation. The LinkedIn Rule of Seven Josh shares explains that for every seven LinkedIn connections, there's typically one person willing and able to refer you. He outlines three practical applications of this rule to improve your referral tactics. One to Many Referrals: This is suitable for territory managers who need leads from various potential clients. Many-to-One Referrals: Useful for targeting named accounts where multiple mutual connections might lead you to a high-value prospect. One-to-One Referrals: This involves asking one referrer about one specific prospect and repeating the process. Practical Execution with LinkedIn Sales Navigator Josh explains how LinkedIn Sales Navigator simplifies the process of finding mutual connections who can act as referrers.  He provides detailed steps on how to filter through profiles using Sales Navigator's advanced search functionalities to make this task more efficient. Overcoming Psychological Barriers One of the barriers salespeople face when asking for referrals is the fear of appearing needy or intrusive.  Josh advises on shifting this mindset and adopting the belief that people generally want to help you succeed. "It's not that you don't know how to ask for referrals. It's that there's something in you stopping you from asking because You’re afraid you’re going to come across as needy." - Josh Shirley. Resources Josh Shirley on LinkedIn  Sales Tales Podcast 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.

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 Podcast

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.

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.

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.

Lebron James is 39 years old and is still playing basketball as if he just got out of high school. Do you know why he’s still able to run up and down the court so smoothly while most of us can barely make it up a flight of stairs? It’s because he puts in the time and effort to keep his body in tip-top shape.  This example provides you with what to expect from my conversation with my guest, Kristi Jones. She shares what the top ten percent of sellers are doing outside of work that’s helping them close deals. Tune in and hear what separates top performers from the rest of the pack. Met Kristi Jones Kristi Jones is a seasoned sales professional with a wealth of experience in helping organizations improve their sales processes and achieve remarkable results.  She has worked extensively in the sales arena, collaborating with various companies to refine their strategies and elevate their performance.  Kristi is also an accomplished author, having written books that delve into sales and personal development.  Personal Sales Math Understanding your own sales metrics is crucial for success. Kristi emphasizes the need for sales professionals to know their average sales, sales cycles, and close rates. This allows individuals to tailor their pipelines and targets, making it easier to hit quotas consistently.  Top performers are those who understand their personal sales math and apply it diligently. Beyond the Surface Kristi explains that the habits of top 10% performers often go unseen. She draws parallels between sales professionals and athletes, emphasizing that peak performance is achieved through rigorous discipline both in and out of the workplace.  Activities like regular exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, having a spiritual practice, and ensuring enough sleep all contribute to sustaining high performance levels. The Power of Accountability Having an accountability partner can significantly boost your chances of achieving your goals. Kristi suggests partnering with someone who can hold you accountable for your actions, be it related to business or personal growth. This external accountability often makes it easier to stick to new habits and routines. "The work to get to the top doesn't actually happen at work. It happens after work." - Kristi Jones. Resources “Selling Your Way In,” by Kristi Jones Kristi Jones 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.

Cold calling is becoming increasingly difficult for sellers. The old methods aren't working, and you have no clue what the new cold outreach techniques are. Don't worry, I got you covered. In this episode, I'm joined by Armand Farrokh and Nick Cegelski, co-authors of the book "Cold Calling Sucks, That's Why It Works." Together, we discuss the challenges of cold calling and share proven strategies to improve success rates based on their extensive experience and data analysis. Data-Driven Strategies for Success Nick shares data on the success rates of different call openers. He recommends using well-researched and context-based openers to increase success.  My guests also discuss the effectiveness of describing a problem with dangerous specificity to establish credibility and capture the prospect's attention. The Power of Personalized Openers Armand and Nick emphasize the importance of using personalized, context-based openers to stand out from the typical cold caller approach.  You can establish a friendly rapport and credibility with prospects by conducting moderate research and focusing on relevance. Handling Objections with Empathy and Humor My guests stress the need for cold callers to recognize objections as interruptions and respond with understanding and humor, rather than being defensive.  They recommend isolating and practicing core talk tracks, such as openers and objections, to improve the overall sales conversation. Problem-Centric Approach and Storytelling Armand underscores the value of leading with a problem-centric approach.  By pinpointing a specific problem that resonates with the prospect, you can create a visceral reaction and position yourself as a strategic partner in solving their issues. Armand and Nick’s Book: Cold Calling Sucks, That’s Why It Works Armand and Nick challenge the common perception that cold calling is an ineffective sales strategy in their book.  Drawing from their extensive experience and data analysis of over 300 million cold calls, the authors present a compelling case for the power of cold calling when done correctly. The book offers practical strategies and insights for crafting personalized, context-based openers to set sellers apart from the typical cold caller approach.  “We recommend finding the top five triggers that would make you believe someone could be a good customer. When you're looking for those five triggers in order and find one, that's your reason for calling them. You don't need to keep researching, so you can start operationalizing this stuff and become far more efficient.” - Nick Cegelski.  “It should take 30 seconds to disqualify, 30 seconds to research. Find one thing. That's what you put in your opener.” - Armand Farrokh.  Resources order.30 mpc.com/book 30 Minutes to President’s Club 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.