There is this weird perspective in sales that could very well derail your forecast. There is this belief that any sales conversation is better than no conversation. This means that someone on your team is meeting with a buyer who either does not fit your Ideal Customer Profile or has no intention of buying. [...]
Remember that strategic plan you set up? It was, and is, full of energy and inspiration. But there is a temptation to get distracted by everyday performance as you and your team look at more short-term goals. It is not unusual for CEOs and other senior executives to focus on what is happening now. [...]
In 1951, Jay Gould wrote in the Journal of Marketing that "a sales forecast need not be merely the product of informed guesswork or hunches, but that such problems lend themselves to a systematic, quantitative appraisal in which the margin of error can be greatly reduced." So, not exactly a new challenge for sales [...]
We have observed patterns in 2021 sales trends that demonstrate how much the events of 2020 have accelerated or completely altered B2B selling. There is a need for specific critical skills for organizations to compete and grow effectively in 2021 and beyond. Some companies had a banner year during 2020, but this will not insulate [...]
We follow several researchers for our work at The Nova Consulting Group, but one of our favorites is Dr. Willy Bolander. Dr. Bolander is the Carl DeSantis Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Florida, and it is worth your time looking at his research. He recently interviewed us about The Advanced Sales [...]
“They should know, shouldn’t they?” On one hand, this is a valid question. On the other hand, it may highlight a missed step in your communication with your sales team members. The baseline expectation is that they will sell the product or service your company offers to the best of their ability. But beyond [...]
Out of economic hardship can come change – we are cast unto our wits and our talents and our resources and our strengths as we lose all the choices we once had. ---Michael Leunig Michael Leunig, an artist and philosopher might have only talked about economic hardship when he first shared this idea. However, [...]
How do you define "crisis?" A turning point, a moment of danger, or a death knell? And what do you do when you define that there is a crisis? The way forward can be murky with events like COVID-19, industry disruptions, or economic downturns. You still have to meet your revenue goals, and the [...]
Imagine you are sitting with a buyer. Things seem to be going well. The buyer is speaking positively about completing the deal with you. Feels good, doesn’t it? Could you bottle that so that every time you interact with a buyer, it feels that way? That was not the answer you were looking for. [...]
