Same Side Selling Podcast

Same Side Selling Podcast

B2B selling expert, Ian Altman hosts the Same Side Selling podcast. Organizations rely on Ian to modernize their sales approach to achieve business growth. Ian draws on his experience as a former CEO of two decades to help people and organizations dramatically grow revenue. The Same Side Selling podcast features sales and business topics, as well as insight from industry leaders with proven success. Ian interviews some of the brightest minds who share proven methods to help YOU achieve success and grow revenue with integrity. Tune-in for inspiration, entertainment, and especially actionable takeaway messages that can drive remarkable results. Discover more at http://www.IanAltman.com

  1. 19 AOÛT

    Biggest Sales Mistakes in Long-Term Engagements.

    Ian Altman discusses common mistakes in long-term sales engagements, emphasizing that sellers often focus on price concessions rather than mutual benefits. He highlights that longer engagements can attract more stable, permanent talent, benefiting both parties. Altman suggests presenting long-term deals as mutually beneficial, incorporating flexibility with rolling termination clauses. He shares a client success story where 90% of short-term clients eventually extended engagements. Altman advises sellers to align with clients' interests, reduce administrative burdens, and lock in pricing to ensure better outcomes and less hassle. Biggest MistakesOffering price discounts for longer-term deals.Assuming that only the seller benefits from long-term agreements.Not recognizing that long-term agreements can be mutually beneficial.Proposing something that isn't in the client's best interest. Best PracticesConsider how the long-term engagement benefits the client.Incorporate flexibility into long-term agreements, such as rolling termination clauses.Lock in rates for longer periods to provide stability and avoid frequent renegotiations.Discuss how to measure success together with the client.Share data on how longer-term engagements have benefited other clients.Focus on why longer-term agreements are beneficial to the customer, not just the seller.Build in comfort for the customer to address their concerns about longer-term commitments.

    7 min
  2. 18 MARS

    Real vs. Wishful Sales Forecasts

    Ian Altman discusses strategies for expanding existing accounts without appearing pushy. He criticizes common sales tactics like offering capabilities briefings, which customers often find unappealing. Altman introduces the concept of the "client vision pyramid," which categorizes client needs into effective, enhanced, and engaged levels. He advises salespeople to highlight unique services they offer to their best clients and to take responsibility for not discussing these before. This approach can lead to more effective sales, larger deal sizes, and stronger client relationships. Altman also mentions research indicating that many clients believe their current vendor can provide additional services but are unaware of them. Biggest MistakesIan Altman introduces the topic of expanding existing accounts without pushing, a common challenge faced by many organizations.He criticizes typical sales approaches that sound pushy and unappealing to customers, such as offering briefings on new capabilities or producIan emphasizes the need for a better approach that piques the customer's interest by highlighting unique value propositions.He introduces the concept of "Access displacement disorder," where salespeople mistakenly believe the world revolves around them. Best PracticesIan Altman suggests framing the conversation around the client's problems and how the salesperson's additional services can solve them.He recommends not fishing for business but rather offering to discuss additional services if they are relevant to the client's needs.Ian highlights the importance of showing up as someone who solves problems, not just someone trying to sell.He shares research indicating that many clients believe their existing vendor can deliver additional services but are unaware of them.

    6 min
  3. 8 MARS

    Real vs. Wishful Sales Forecasts

    Ian Altman discusses the difference between real and wishful sales forecasts on the Same Side Selling podcast. He emphasizes that salespeople are optimistic by nature and often provide unrealistic forecasts, especially when deals are forecasted to close at the end of the month, which frequently get pushed to the next month. Altman advises sales managers to ask more probing questions to uncover the true status of deals, such as understanding the client's motivations and alternatives. By focusing on meaningful questions, managers can identify real deals faster and improve sales accuracy. Biggest MistakesIan elaborates on the issue of salespeople providing optimistic forecasts, often citing vague dates like the end of the month, which are more hopeful than realistic.He points out that salespeople may delay providing specific dates to maximize the time available to close a deal, which can lead to unrealistic expectations.Ian advises sales managers to question the rationale behind forecasted dates, especially if they are the last day of the month, to uncover whether the date is truly constrained by the client's schedule or merely a hopeful estimate.He suggests that managers should probe deeper into the reasons behind the client's decision-making process to understand their motivations and alternatives, which can help in distinguishing between real and wishful forecasts. Best PracticesIan recommends asking more meaningful questions during sales meetings to uncover the true status and likelihood of deals, such as what would happen if the client did not choose the salesperson's company, and why the client might choose an alternative.He emphasizes the importance of understanding the client's motivations and the significance of specific dates, as this can provide insights into the client's decision-making process and the likelihood of closing the deal.Ian advises sales managers to encourage their teams to think from the client's perspective, focusing on what the client needs to believe in order to make a decision, rather than just relying on optimistic forecasts.He suggests that by consistently asking these types of questions, salespeople will be better prepared and more likely to identify and pursue real deals, leading to faster and more successful outcomes.

    7 min
  4. 10 FÉVR.

    The good bad and ugly of AI in sales

    Ian Altman discusses the pros and cons of using AI in sales. He emphasizes that AI should be used as a tool to assist, not replace human efforts. Poor use includes AI-generated emails sent without editing, which often fail to engage customers. Effective use includes leveraging AI for drafting and summarizing tasks, such as using Otter.ai for meeting transcriptions and show notes. Altman advises against using AI for outreach or intake, citing examples of AI mishandling scheduling. He concludes that AI, when used intelligently, can enhance engagement, efficiency, and client connection, ultimately improving sales outcomes. Biggest MistakesIan discusses common mistakes people make when using AI to create emails or letters for prospects.He explains that while AI can draft messages, they often fail to resonate with the customer's perspective.Ian shares an example of an AI-generated email that passed the "smell test" but would not have been effective.He emphasizes the need to put oneself in the customer's shoes to ensure the message is genuinely engaging. Best PracticesIan shares how his team uses Otter.ai to record and summarize meetings, saving time on transcription and note-taking.He explains that Otter.ai's AI tool generates show notes with minimal editing required, enhancing efficiency.Ian mentions that AI tools like Otter.ai can help in analyzing speech and summarizing conversations accurately.He discusses the potential of AI to improve over time, such as using it for role-playing to better engage with customers.

    7 min
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71 notes

À propos

B2B selling expert, Ian Altman hosts the Same Side Selling podcast. Organizations rely on Ian to modernize their sales approach to achieve business growth. Ian draws on his experience as a former CEO of two decades to help people and organizations dramatically grow revenue. The Same Side Selling podcast features sales and business topics, as well as insight from industry leaders with proven success. Ian interviews some of the brightest minds who share proven methods to help YOU achieve success and grow revenue with integrity. Tune-in for inspiration, entertainment, and especially actionable takeaway messages that can drive remarkable results. Discover more at http://www.IanAltman.com

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