Sales Articles & Whitepapers
View Additional Sales Articles & Whitepapers
Competitive Sales Strategy: Influencing the Decision to Win the Sale
How does a done deal come undone? Your rep had a good relationship with a great contact, the right solution to meet the customer's needs, and strong buying signals right up to the last. Then came the dreaded call: "Thank you for the proposal, but we've decided to go with someone else." So, what happened? Could this loss have been prevented? learn more
Competitive Superiority: Execute Competitive Moves and Countermoves to Win the Business
One of the top challenges of sales leaders is the "inability to communicate value differentiation." To find out what really matters, salespeople need to acquire the perspective of multiple stakeholders, not just make one or two calls. Read this article to learn how to identify the customer's idea of value and the competitive landscape in order to build your sales strategy and position yourself to win. learn more
Consultative Selling: Is Your Sales Team Creating Real Differentiation?
To avoid the pitfalls of competing on price, salespeople are often told they need to "sell the value." Another strategy is to "value-add," by offering the customer extra services or product features without charge. While these strategies can be effective short-term, neither of these approaches produces a sustainable advantage. learn more
Creating an Effective Digital Sales Development Strategy (e-Book)
When remote work shifted from a temporary to a long-term solution, many organizations realized they could not continue to delay their sales capability training efforts. While the challenges of the salesforce remained the same, the approach has changed radically. Through our work, we’ve discovered four keys to designing transformative digital sales development that delivers proven results. learn more
Customer Experience Is the New Black: The Key to Revenue Generation in the 21st Century
Customer experience will overtake price and product as the key brand differentiator. Learn how to build a branded customer experience that enhances the customer's perception of value. learn more
Debunking a Few Myths About Virtual Selling
While selling virtually may be different, introducing all new core selling skills to your sales professionals may not be the answer. Here are three common myths debunked to show why it's important to take a half step back from launching a new virtual selling program in order to reinforce and carry forward the best of what you already have in place. learn more
Don't be Blindsided by the Competition: Know What the Customer Really Values
The salesperson in this example was sure he knew what the printing manager was looking for—she frequently told him how much she prized his company's quality, reliability and service. What he didn't know was that the buying committee included several finance people and a key user who were very concerned about price, rather than all the extra service the salesperson emphasized in his proposal. learn more
Don't Leave Good Business on the Table: 5 Negotiation Strategies for Win-Win Sales
Everyone wants to make the sale in this challenging economy, and it's hard to resist the temptation to cut the margin, reduce the price, or give away "value adds" the customer really should pay for. Of course, everyone is being squeezed. Customers are pressured to control costs and limit spending, and salespeople feel they are forced to compete on price. learn more
Earning Trusted Advisor Status—and Benefits
A trusted advisor is a coveted position that provides greater business value to customers and to selling organizations. Achieving it means going beyond what is necessary and expected and taking the time to ensure you are advancing the customer’s business, every time. In this article, we'll explore the three key principles that point the way to becoming a trusted advisor. learn more
Executive Calling: The Wisdom Behind Calling Higher
94% of executives say that it is important that salespeople engage executives in a business impact discussion. Yet, only 19% of them say that salespeople do that effectively. Gain insights to help your salespeople engage decision makers more credibly. learn more