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Trade shows and exhibitions tend to be one of the most expensive forms of marketing. And because of the costs incurred, many businesses are deterred from exploring the opportunities they present in any real seriousness. This could be a mistake. That’s because with the right approach and strategy, trade shows and exhibitions can become lucrative ...

The fine blending of skill and automation can be illustrated with drivers and automobiles. In the early part of the twentieth century, for example, “automation” was crude: many cars had to be started by cranking them from the front. Once started, the driver had to know where the gears were, how to operate a clutch, ...

For over twenty years now, CRM solutions have been a bone of contention between company executives and the sales force. The executives want something that coordinates customer activities between various departments including sales, and allows them to monitor sales and make sure salespeople are selling. On the other hand sales reps, sick to death of ...

Twenty years ago if you’d polled a sales force on the future of sales automation, you probably would have been met with rather frightened stone silence. Salespeople saw their jobs completely disappearing, replaced with computerized selling and purchasing systems that required no human intervention whatsoever. And it was certainly imagined and even tried by some: ...

Traditionally CRM solutions are sold to company management, with promised benefits such as: improved productivity, ability to make more with less, shortened sales cycles, increased close ratios, eliminated competition, and improved margins. Obviously CRM benefits should be demonstrated to management—in the end it will be management that will cut the check for CRM purchase. But ...

It used to be that a sales rep making halfway decent numbers had a future. But in today’s highly competitive marketplaces and internet-assisted buying, it takes more than just numbers for a salesperson to truly survive. A topflight sales force must be composed of experts in every area of their craft. Here is the recommended ...

In some companies it’s obvious, in others it’s more subdued. But it’s normally a constant situation: marketing and sales just can’t see eye-to-eye. They snipe at each other, each criticizes the other to management, and in some measure, each is deemed responsible for the other’s perceived shortcomings. “Marketing isn’t giving us enough leads!” cries the ...

In this age of inbound marketing where quality content is said to be king, it’s logical to think that cold-calling is dead. In fact, this is a widespread myth that’s penetrating sales at every level. But is it really true? Well, it depends on your tactics. You see savvy businesses and sales teams are reaping ...