The Sales Evangelist

You want to move your deals through the pipeline, but you have no idea how to do it. In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Bob Spina, a successful sales expert known for building and advising high-performing sales teams, on deal acceleration. Join us to hear his strategies on how to slow down and achieve greater success. Meet Bob Spina Bob is well-known for working with Gong and scaled it from under 21 million in revenue to the empire they are today. His focus lies in enhancing revenue processes and strategies, offering his expertise across various companies to drive successful outcomes.  Currently, Bob is dedicated to advising company leaders, sharing his deep knowledge of accelerating deals and navigating multi-stakeholder environments. The Importance of Focusing and Understanding the Industry We discuss the necessity for sales reps to go beyond tool training and understand the industry trends and challenges faced by their target markets.  Having business acumen and understanding what's on the minds of C-level executives gives salespeople a consultative edge, establishing credibility and accelerating deals. The Power of Relevance and Relationship Building Understanding your customer's industry and delivering relevant information can set you apart from competitors who rely on generic, automated messages.  Authenticity and personal experiences, not just AI, should be at the forefront of sales interactions. Multi-Channel Communication Utilizing a multi-channel approach is key to accelerating deals.  Bob shares the importance of connecting with prospects through a combination of LinkedIn, phone calls, emails, and personalized video messages. This approach helps in nurturing leads through the pipeline effectively. Sales Advice From Bob Spina For Leaders: Measure teams on outcomes rather than just activities. Focus on quality connections and work backward to define key activities. For Reps: Be mindful of time and focus on high-impact activities. Do thorough research to ensure every action moves the needle forward. “When you study the industry and you study the people that are in that industry, you want to make sure that you're meeting them where they're going.” - Bob Spina.  Resources Bob Spina on LinkedIn  Email: bspina@gmail.com 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

Can you really score multiple appointments on LinkedIn in just one week? Discover how to effectively categorize your connections into potential and past customers. Learn the art of asking for quick meetings and leveraging past coworkers as appointment influencers. Find out how creating LinkedIn polls can spark meaningful conversations with prospects. It’s all about giving to others and building genuine relationships to unlock new opportunities!

Turning phone calls into appointments can be challenging, but the right offer is key. Craft your pitch with clarity to engage prospects better. Communication should be calm, allowing potential clients to grasp your offer’s value. Persistence matters—balance assertiveness with respect. Use tools like LinkedIn for research and approach conversations with permission-based questions. Lastly, articulate your value proposition swiftly to captivate your audience. These strategies can transform connections into fruitful meetings!

I’m being like Edgar Allan Poe in this episode and providing you guys with my top five sales predictions for 2025. Will there be an increased use of AI tools in the sales industry? Are consumers wanting more human connection? Tune in to find out! Sales Prediction 1: Increased AI Technology Use  Yes, it’s true. AI tools are not going anywhere, and more than likely, you’re going to use them more and more this year. You’ll probably even find yourself not even realizing that you’re using them.   The downside is that 55% of consumers don’t like for companies to rely so heavily on AI technology. They believe it lacks authenticity and transparency. So, keep this in mind when you’re sending your automated cold emails to prospective customers.   Sales Prediction 3: Old-School Networking Is Winning  I also share another statistic on how AI-generated content provides a negative brand image. What’s the point of using it if your audience is going to see it as a bad thing? This is when old-school sales methods come into play: networking.   Get your face out there and attend networking events. Those within the Boomers, Millennials, and Gen X can spot AI content from a mile away.   Humans want connection, and if you’re not providing that in some way, then you’re going to lose business.   What are my sales predictions 2, 4, and 5? I gave you a teaser of some of my predictions in these show notes. To learn the rest, you’re going to have to click the play button to find out.   “82% of attendees express a preference for attending an in-person event, underscoring the value of face-to-face interaction. That piece is showing us that AI will cause us to miss big opportunities.” - Donald Kelly.   Resources The Sales Evangelist Sales Planner Cold Call Openers The Sales Evangelizers Facebook Group Sales Mastermind Group 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 can you optimize your pipeline to ensure accurate forecasting and set your team up for success? Join me and my guest, Walter Crosby, as we explore how transforming ineffective habits can lead to better outcomes in your sales process. By the end of this episode, you’ll gain clarity on your pipeline and learn to identify which prospects are most likely to deliver the results you need. Meet Walter Crosby Walter Crosby is a seasoned sales expert and business consultant with decades of experience in helping organizations refine their sales processes and drive sustainable growth.  He specializes in developing tailored strategies that align sales pipelines with business goals.  His expertise lies in sales leadership, process optimization, and revenue forecasting. Accuracy in Sales Forecasting  Walter shares actionable tips for creating accurate sales forecasts.  The key takeaway? Quality over quantity.  Learn how to identify realistic opportunities and focus on meaningful data, ensuring your forecasts are reliable and actionable. Gatekeeping: Building the Right Pipeline  Your pipeline is only as good as what you let in.  Walter introduces the concept of a "gate" for qualifying potential leads before they enter your sales process. This ensures you’re targeting the right prospects, saving time, and increasing conversion rates. Planning for Contingencies  Unexpected challenges are inevitable, but how prepared are you?  Walter discusses how to incorporate contingency planning into your pipeline strategy to mitigate risks and keep deals moving forward. Mindfulness for Precise Sales Forecasting  Precision requires discipline. Walter explains how adopting a mindful approach to pipeline management and forecasting can lead to higher win rates and better decision-making at every stage of the sales process. "The pipeline is wrong because we’re not qualifying these people in advance. We are putting in too much junk. We don’t have, you know, St. Peter at the gate, right? Or a Doberman, something. We’re letting any and everybody come through." - Walter Crosby.  Resources Walter Crosby on LinkedIn  Scale Your Sales by Walter Crosby 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. CreditsAs 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

Kickoff the new year with key sales insights! Discover the importance of identifying your Ideal Customer Profile to focus your efforts effectively. Learn why cold calling remains a powerful tactic despite modern assumptions. Social media is crucial for sharing educational content and engaging with your audience. Streamlining sales tools can lead to better results, allowing for more personalized communication. Plus, in-person networking is making a comeback, enhancing connections and opportunities.

If you don’t build trust with your customers, you’ll never close a deal—there’s no way around it! You’ve already heard how companies can build customer trust, but how can an individual seller do this? Join me and my guest, Liesl Nel, in this live coaching session as we share strategies to help your prospects feel safe and confident in doing business with you.   Meet Liesl Nel  Liesl Nel is a seasoned sales professional in the yachting industry, specializing in working with charter agencies, particularly in the Mediterranean region.  Her expertise lies in navigating the complexities of B2B sales and addressing the unique challenges within this niche market.   Building Open Relationships Liesl emphasizes the importance of maintaining open and frequent communication with agencies.  This helps address challenges proactively and assures agencies that customer data will enhance rather than compromise the customer experience. She also shares how face-to-face interactions are better for building trust instead of email marketing.  Storytelling and Customer Reviews  Using stories and customer reviews to demonstrate repeat business and successful partnerships can significantly build trust.  Liesl suggests leveraging third-party success stories to reassure new prospects. Authenticity and Honesty Liesl advises sales leaders to coach their teams on being authentic and transparent. Acknowledging and addressing problems openly fosters a collaborative and trustworthy environment. "I always tell my sales agents to be authentic. Don't hide any problems. If we're having a problem, admit to our B2B customers we're having this problem. We're going to solve it for you. We're going to work together on it versus there is no problem. Be open, honest, and vulnerable. People understand that things do go wrong, but we are going to fix it and we want to continue our relationship." - Liesl Nel.  Resources Liesl Nel on LinkedIn Moorings.com  Sunsail.com  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 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

Gail Kasper, a Master Sales Trainer and author, knows how to make sales easier and more personal. She discusses the art of connecting with clients, even suggesting creative gestures like sending an apple pie to win them over. Gail emphasizes the importance of networking and genuine human connections in sales, encouraging professionals to adapt their approaches with empathy. She also shares her unique 'Cockatoo Selling' method, which highlights body language and rapport as key to building relationships and closing deals effectively.

Just because you’re talking to a customer doesn’t mean you’re the only one making an offer. So, how do you stand out in a niche-specific market when there are so many competitors vying for your buyers? In this episode, I sit down with Pinar Erzin, Co-founder of Most Sailing, to discuss how startup companies can differentiate themselves in niche markets.   Meet Pinar Erzin Pinar is the co-founder of Most Sailing, a company specializing in the luxury yacht charter industry. Her role focuses on building meaningful relationships with clients and standing out in a competitive, relationship-driven market.   In our conversation, Pinar shares the challenges and lessons she’s learned in creating a unique value proposition in such a specialized field.  Together, we explore strategies for building lasting client relationships, standing out from the competition, and adding value beyond price to succeed in niche markets.   The Power of Relationships Success in niche industries often hinges on trust and personal connections. Pinar shares that attending events like MMCAS Summit and the International Charter Expo helps build rapport with industry peers and clients. Differentiation Beyond Discounts While price often takes center stage, true differentiation comes from delivering consistent value and exceptional service. Pinar believes it’s better to invest in  high-quality experiences and personalized communication to form long-term client partnerships. Creative Marketing Approaches Instead of overloading your prospects with generic sales emails, provide valuable content that addresses their challenges. This could be industry tips or case studies. Showcase your unique value through social media, virtual yacht tours, or spotlighting partnerships with booking agents. Acknowledge partners’ contributions through awards or personalized gestures like handwritten notes. “Forget about talking about yourself and start thinking about your clients. What can you do to make their life better?” – Pinar Erzin. Resources MostSailing Pinar Erzin 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

Trust is everything in the customer service industry. It’s not only essential for sellers to be trustworthy; businesses must also strive to build trust with their customers. If you’re unsure on how to create strong customer relationships, tune in to my guest, Martina Hršak, as she shares actionable insights on trust-building skills. Growing Up in Croatia and Entering the Yachting Industry During her youth in Croatia, Martina never imagined herself in the yacht business due to her tendency to get seasick. Yet today, she leads MMK Systems, a company that provides the Booking Manager System, the leading software for yacht charter businesses worldwide. The Importance of Trust in Sales   To build a successful business relationship in B2B sales, customers must trust the companies they’re buying from. Martina shares how businesses trust MMK Systems with their critical data, such as personal information and finances.   Key factors that can easily destroy trust in any industry include:   Misleading statistics or facts   Data misuse   Conflicts of interest (e.g., mergers or acquisitions within the industry)   Businesses that mishandle these factors and fail to build trust with their buyers are unlikely to succeed.  Martina discusses how building trust and creating true partnerships can be simple. For example, her team attends 20 boat shows annually and regularly visits clients to foster strong, long-lasting relationships.  Sales as Advising: Listening Over Selling Martina explains MMK Systems’ unique sales approach: they focus on advising rather than hard selling.  Her team members are selected not for their sales experience but for their ability to listen, understand client needs, and offer meaningful solutions. She believes listening is a skill that cannot be easily taught and is crucial for building long-term relationships. “In any sales, trust is important because if clients don’t trust you, they more than likely won’t buy anything from you.” - Martina Hršak.  Resources Connect with Martina on Website LinkedIn Email 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