Trending Articles

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How to Use “Pull Through” to Sell More Through Distributors and Channel Partners (Ask Jeb)

Sales Gravy

Ross from Houston faces a common challenge in channel sales: how do you create brand preference for your product when youre selling through distributors who carry multiple competing lines and competitors who undercut your price? His company builds industrial dust-collection equipment and ducting, but they dont sell directmeaning they rely heavily on distributors, contractors, and engineers to choose their brand over cheaper alternatives.

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Customer Retention Strategies in a Challenging Sales Climate

Brooks Group

In todays increasingly complex business environment, customer retention has never been more challengingor more crucial. Global tensions, on-and-off tariffs, and geopolitical uncertainties have created a perfect storm that fundamentally alters the dynamics of customer relationships. Companies now face unprecedented supply chain disruptions, volatile pricing structures, and shifting regulatory landscapes.

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Shortcuts Salespeople Should Never Take, According to Experts

Hubspot Sales

Not all sales shortcuts are created equal. Some, like scheduling follow-up emails or creating a repeatable framework for researching prospects, streamline your day without harming the quality of your work. Others save you time but damage your results meaning youll ultimately be less productive for using them. As the expression goes, If you dont have time to do it right, you wont have time to do it again.

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Q1 Sales Performance Gut Check

Sales Gravy

This is a very important Monday because this is the first Monday of the second quarter and its time for a major gut check and assessment of where you are against your number, coming out of Q1 and what you need to adjust and think about as we move into Q2. Start with setting aside a dedicated, focused time block of one to two hours for reviewing your: Q1 Results Current state of your pipeline 2025 goals & Personal business plan Evaluate Your Q1 Performance Against Your Sales Goals Begin with an h

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State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

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Power Up Your Zoom Meetings With AI in Nutshell

Nutshell

Zoom meetings can be an essential part of any teams sales, customer onboarding or ongoing account management processes. By integrating Zoom with Nutshell , your team can log Zoom calls as activities for better tracking and reporting and save notes about each meeting to keep everyone in the loop and improve the customer journey. Now you can also leverage AI to quickly summarize and transcribe your Zoom calls, just as you can with click-to-call conversations using the AI-powered click-to-call feat

Meetings 103
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How to Write A Strategic Planning RFP - A step by step guide

Strategic Planning and Management Insights

What to consider doing before strategic planning (stakeholder engagement) If you need research & benchmarking, consider doing it first rather than within the same RFP/vendor (this is a very different area of expertise than strategic planning and facilitation) Things that arent essential within a strategic plan but that can be done before, alongside or afterwards (but will add to the time, budget, scope) such as scenario planning, competitive analysis/P5F, benchmarking, etc.

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HubSpot's 2025 State of Cold Calling Report [Data From 350+ Sales Professionals]

Hubspot Sales

Im not sure theres any activity more closely associated with sales than cold calling. It can be the trial by fire that preps SDRs for a career in the field, the day-to-day responsibility that keeps reps diligent and engaged, and the basis for a ton of sales org's prospecting infrastructures. Its been a staple of several salespeoples professional lives one that can be every bit as obnoxious as it is essential.

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Why the Basics Still Beat Fancy: The Unsexy Skills That Close Deals

Sales Gravy

Everybody wants the hacks. The quick fix. The shiny new tool. The LinkedIn post that magically draws leads like moths to a flame. But let me give it to you straight: Sales isnt won with hacks. Its won with habits. And the habits that win are the ones most reps abandon the minute things get uncomfortable or boring. If youre not hitting your number, its probably not because you need better leads, better tech, or better timing.

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Dive Into Email Engagement With the Link Report

Nutshell

Tracking engagement with your marketing emails is a critical part of determining whether your strategies are working. And measuring marketing effectiveness is more than just looking at metrics like email open, click, and unsubscribe ratesits also about seeing which recipients are clicking your high-priority calls to action (CTAs), so you can gauge your audiences interests and behavior.

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A Poor Pricing Strategy is Driving Your Customers Away

SBI Growth

If youre not pricing correctly, youre driving customers away. In an uncertain economy, your pricing strategy has a greater impact on revenue retention than traditional churn strategies. SaaS companies have started to take notice with 94% updating pricing every year and almost 40% tweaking pricing every quarter. In 2025, the real pricing opportunity is therefore not related to the frequency of pricing changes, but the pricing approach you employ.

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AI Strategies for Sales Managers: How to Cut Down on Tedious Admin Work

What if you could help your sellers stop wasting 72% of their day on non-selling activities and focus on bringing in revenue? Incorporating AI in your enablement workflows can help you cut down on busy work, get projects done faster, and let your team (and you!) focus on making a bigger impact. We put together this guide to show you how to use AI to cut time and costs for projects, including collateral creation, development of training videos, and automating tedious processes.

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The Comfort Trap: Why Playing It Safe is Costing You

Whetstone

While being comfortable feels good, in strategic account management, its a silent killer. It lulls teams into predictable routines, fosters complacency in long-term relationships, and creates a false sense of security. In an era where artificial intelligence, shifting buyer behaviors, economic uncertainty, and rapid digital transformation are reshaping industries, it is a trap that stalls growth and erodes competitive advantage.

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How Coaching Transforms Sales Performance and Culture (Ask Jeb)

Sales Gravy

Dennis from Chesterfield, Missouri, wants to know if sales coaching truly moves the performance needle, especially when shifting from transactional approaches to more consultative selling. Below are the key insights from our conversation on why coaching matters, how it boosts sales and culture, and what leaders should do right now to make it happen.

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Engage With Prospects Across Facebook and Instagram From Inside Nutshell 

Nutshell

New leads for your business can be anywhere, and being prepared to meet them on multiple platforms is key to filling your sales pipeline. Nutshell is helping your team have those pivotal conversations with potential leads wherever they may be, through tools like Nutshell SMS and Web chat available in Nutshell Engagement. And now, two new channels have been added to your Nutshell Engagement inbox: Facebook and Instagram.

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How Women in Leadership Are Mastering Influence, Credibility, and Tough Conversations

SBI Growth

The path to leadership is more than climbing the corporate ladder. True leadership comes with overcoming obstacles, creating space for others, and mastering the art of negotiation and influence. This theme was reflected in the March 2025 Womens Growth Forum , where a group of female executives came together for a candid conversation on navigating leadership challenges.

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2024, The Year of the Customer

2023's struggles fueled a shift: companies are ditching wasteful strategies in favor of data and AI-powered growth. Enter 2024, the year GTC takes center stage. Discover 5 ways a customer-centric approach unlocks new revenue and delivers lasting success.

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The 6 Most Effective Teamwork Self-Assessment Phrases

CMOE

Effective teamwork is the foundation of highly successful organizations. However, fully leveraging the power of teamwork requires regular self-reflection followed by appropriate action on the part of each team member. According to Gallup, simply knowing your own and your peers strengths and opportunities for improvement leads to increased engagement and performance.

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How FedEx Combines the Power of VSM and OKRs to Accelerate Delivery Speed

Planview

At the inaugural Project to Product (P2P) Summit in 2024, Greschen Powell, a seasoned leader with over 26 years at FedEx, delivered an insightful presentation on how organizations can accelerate value delivery using Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and Value Stream Management (VSM). Powells talk provides a clear roadmap for boosting speed-to-market while staying aligned with strategic goals.

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What Consultative Selling Really Means and Why It Matters More Than Ever (Ask Jeb)

Sales Gravy

Steve from Portland, Oregon, faces and an all-too-common consultative selling dilemma: how to sell to prospects who claim they already know everything, have already done the research and question what value he can bring. In this Ask Jeb episode we break down what true consultative selling entails, how to detach from always be closing, and why being a genuine expert is more vital now than ever.

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How to scale a business: Strategies for growing your SMB effectively

ACT

Jawbone, Sprig, WeWorkwhat do these businesses have in common? Each company reached impressive heights of success before crashing down and becoming a cautionary tale for new startups. Aggressive growth, exacerbated operating costs, and intense competitionthese are just a few factors responsible for the downfall of these companies. However, that doesnt mean small business owners should focus on stability and shy away from growth.

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1st, 2nd, and 3rd Party Intent Data: Which Is Right for You?

How do 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party intent data compare? 1st, 2nd, and 3rd party data each have specific advantages and disadvantages. It comes down to four factors: accuracy, cost, control and quantity. This infographic explains the pros and cons of each and helps you understand which one is best for meeting your business objectives. Intent data can be a great way to fill your pipeline and close more deals.

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Before You Invest in a New Sales Tool, Ask Yourself These Questions

SBI Growth

Sales enablement has boomed. The State of Sales Enablement Report for 2023 found that the number of businesses with a dedicated sales enablement team has grown to 90%, up from 75% in 2022. The Growing Role of Sales Enablement Sales enablement is a catch-all term applied to any practice that attempts to increase sales productivity. Its not uncommon to find sales enablement departments responsible for a plethora of disciplines such as strategy, sales processes, analytics and reporting, lead genera

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Seamlessly Manage Contacts With Smart Lists

Nutshell

Lists and audiences have always been a sneaky powerful part of Nutshellthey let you seamlessly filter and sort all of your companys contacts and leads so you can send the right message to exactly the right people. Now when creating a list of your contacts, you can easily choose whether its a smart list or a fixed audienceso you pick whether it updates dynamically or includes a set group of your customers.

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Eye on Innovation: Staying Adaptable in Economic Uncertainty 

Planview

I’m excited to launch Eye on Innovation, a brand-new series on the Planview Blog. With these reports, well connect you with what were doing at Planview and the market at large, echoing our conversations with highly effective teams and leaders at companies around the world. Beyond that, well review whats new and notable across Planviews solutions and how these capabilities enable you to reach your most critical objectives.

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Best Practices for Hiring and Retaining Millennials

Brooks Group

There are 56 million millennialsthose born between 1981 and 1996working in the U.S. today, representing 35% of the labor force. As a sales leader, youre likely managing a team that spans multiple generations. Currently, millennials are the largest working generation in the U.S., surpassing Gen X and baby boomers. But theyre not following in the footsteps of previous generations.

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How to Leverage Intent Data for Better Outcomes

Speaker: Susan Spencer, Principal of Spencer Communications

Intent signal data can go a long way toward shortening sales cycles and closing more deals. The challenge is deciding which is the best type of intent data to help your company meet its sales and marketing goals. In this webinar, Susan Spencer, fractional CMO and principal of Spencer Communications, will unpack the differences between contact-level and company-level intent signals.

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Selling to the Enterprise Customer vs. the SMB Market: 3 Key Skills

SBI Growth

One of the biggest challenges for a sales organization is moving upmarket. For example, if you target the small- and medium-sized business market (SMB) and now want to target enterprise customers thats where the money is you need to rethink how you sell. Enterprise and SMB selling are fundamentally different, and each requires its own sales process, metrics, and unique selling skills.

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Success Through Change: How to Stay Oriented During Transitions

MDI Training

Success Through Change: How to Stay Oriented During Transitions Do you prefer to listen to this article? Click below to access our AI-generated audio version: Success Through Change: How to Stay Oriented During Transitions Change processes often involve challenges. They not only require structural adjustments but also an emotional examination of the new.

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5 Effective Ways to Optimize Your Sales Account Strategy

Revegy

Every sales person knows that just because the initial deal has closed, that doesn’t mean the sales cycle has ended. In fact, many of your existing accounts still offer tons of untapped revenue potential. Forming a sales account strategy starts with identifying your most potent opportunities, and how you can foster a long-term relationship with […] The post 5 Effective Ways to Optimize Your Sales Account Strategy appeared first on Revegy.

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Selling Just Got Even Harder With Economic Uncertainty (Money Monday)

Sales Gravy

We are coming off of a week that can only be described as a stock market bloodbathamping up uncertainty and making selling even harder. As the new tariffs imposed by the US government were announced, kicking off what is expected to devolve into a global trade war, the Dow Jones plunged by over 2,200 points, the S&P 500 lost more than 10%, the Nasdaq entered into a bear market and more than $6.6 trillion dollars were wiped from the US stock market in two days.

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The GTM Intelligence Era: ZoomInfo 2025 Customer Impact Report

ZoomInfo customers aren’t just selling — they’re winning. Revenue teams using our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform grew pipeline by 32%, increased deal sizes by 40%, and booked 55% more meetings. Download this report to see what 11,000+ customers say about our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform and how it impacts their bottom line. The data speaks for itself!

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4 Tips for Maximizing the Sales Hiring Process

Brooks Group

Selecting the best people for your sales team is crucial to the success of your organizationthats a given. But its not easy to find the perfect candidate. The sales hiring process can be long and challenging. From reviewing resumes and online applications to conducting one-on-one interviews, hiring assessments , executive reviews, and reference checks, the process can span six or seven stepsor more.

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Breaking Free: Why Key Account Management Must Escape Your CRM’s Gravity

DemandFarm

For years, Key Account Management (KAM) has been confined within the walls of CRM systemsSalesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and HubSpot. The logic was straightforward: if customer data already lives inside a CRM, why manage key accounts elsewhere? But this assumption, simple as it is, hides a fundamental flaw. CRMs are systems of record. They track transactions, monitor pipelines, and organize data.

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Aligning Training Goals with Organizational Business Objectives

MDI Training

Aligning Training Goals with Organizational Business Objectives Do you prefer to listen to this article? Click below to access our AI-generated audio version! Aligning Training Goals with Organizational Business Objectives In my experience, aligning training with business objectives is one of the biggest challenges – it requires in-depth preparation for a training project, e.g. understanding the cultural aspects of the organization, the potential obstacles that stand in the way of implemen

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AI Agents: What They Are, How They Work, and Why You Should Probably Invest in Them (Especially If You’re An Enterprise-Level Business) [+ New Data]

Hubspot Sales

Before you start Googling: No, AI agents arent secret spies fueled by mysterious government schemes. The AI agents Im talking about actually serve an entirely different purpose. And I know youre probably like, Whats this lady even going on about? I know I sound cryptic AF, so allow me to explain further. Despite their misleading name, AI agents were designed to assist, enhance, and optimize the operations and workflows of various businesses, especially enterprise-level ones.

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How to Prove Marketing Value: Demonstrate Content ROI and Contribution to Sales

Every marketer knows how important it is to prove their efforts drive sales opportunities, but that’s easier said than done. When problems like sales and marketing misalignment, lack of data, and wasted efforts persist, marketers can’t measure, prove, or increase their impact on revenue at a time when demonstrating marketing value is critical. Using analyst and expert data, this guide to marketing impact and content attribution explains: How B2B buyers use content The most common types of conten