The Sales Evangelist

Just because you’re talking to a customer doesn’t mean you’re the only one making an offer. So, how do you stand out in a niche-specific market when there are so many competitors vying for your buyers? In this episode, I sit down with Pinar Erzin, Co-founder of Most Sailing, to discuss how startup companies can differentiate themselves in niche markets. Meet Pinar Erzin Pinar is the co-founder of Most Sailing, a company specializing in the luxury yacht charter industry. Her role focuses on building meaningful relationships with clients and standing out in a competitive, relationship-driven market. In our conversation, Pinar shares the challenges and lessons she’s learned in creating a unique value proposition in such a specialized field. Together, we explore strategies for building lasting client relationships, standing out from the competition, and adding value beyond price to succeed in niche markets. The Power of Relationships Success in niche industries often hinges on trust and personal connections. Pinar shares that attending events like MMCAS Summit and the International Charter Expo helps build rapport with industry peers and clients. Differentiation Beyond Discounts While price often takes center stage, true differentiation comes from delivering consistent value and exceptional service. Pinar believes it’s better to invest in high-quality experiences and personalized communication to form long-term client partnerships. Creative Marketing Approaches Instead of overloading your prospects with generic sales emails, provide valuable content that addresses their challenges. This could be industry tips or case studies. Showcase your unique value through social media, virtual yacht tours, or spotlighting partnerships with booking agents. Acknowledge partners’ contributions through awards or personalized gestures like handwritten notes. “Forget about talking about yourself and start thinking about your clients. What can you do to make their life better?” – Pinar Erzin. Resources MostSailing Pinar Erzin on LinkedIn Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Trust is everything in the customer service industry. It’s not only essential for sellers to be trustworthy; businesses must also strive to build trust with their customers. If you’re unsure on how to create strong customer relationships, tune in to my guest, Martina Hršak, as she shares actionable insights on trust-building skills. Growing Up in Croatia and Entering the Yachting Industry During her youth in Croatia, Martina never imagined herself in the yacht business due to her tendency to get seasick. Yet today, she leads MMK Systems, a company that provides the Booking Manager System, the leading software for yacht charter businesses worldwide. The Importance of Trust in Sales To build a successful business relationship in B2B sales, customers must trust the companies they’re buying from. Martina shares how businesses trust MMK Systems with their critical data, such as personal information and finances. Key factors that can easily destroy trust in any industry include: Misleading statistics or facts Data misuse Conflicts of interest (e.g., mergers or acquisitions within the industry) Businesses that mishandle these factors and fail to build trust with their buyers are unlikely to succeed. Martina discusses how building trust and creating true partnerships can be simple. For example, her team attends 20 boat shows annually and regularly visits clients to foster strong, long-lasting relationships. Sales as Advising: Listening Over Selling Martina explains MMK Systems’ unique sales approach: they focus on advising rather than hard selling. Her team members are selected not for their sales experience but for their ability to listen, understand client needs, and offer meaningful solutions. She believes listening is a skill that cannot be easily taught and is crucial for building long-term relationships. “In any sales, trust is important because if clients don’t trust you, they more than likely won’t buy anything from you.” - Martina Hršak. Resources Connect with Martina on Website LinkedIn Email Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Your prospect has rejected the deal, and now you’re unsure whether to try another sales tactic to change their mind or simply move on. This final episode of the Back to Basics series will guide you in overcoming sales objections and keeping your pipeline moving forward. Slow Down It’s natural to do everything in your power to get a prospect to say yes. This can often lead to rushing the sales process in hopes of securing that long-awaited agreement. Instead of speeding up, take a moment to pause and breathe deeply. Begin addressing the objections raised by your prospect calmly and methodically. Taking the time to regroup prevents panic and helps you avoid costly mistakes. Express Appreciation Your prospect may have valid reasons for hesitating or declining to move forward in the sales process. Acknowledge this by expressing understanding and gratitude for their time. Next, use a softener to gain permission to dive deeper into their concerns. I explain how to do this in the episode, which will help you uncover the root cause of their objection. Don’t forget to use the “5 Whys” technique to get to the heart of the issue. Schedule the Next Meeting Once you’ve identified their real concern and explained how you can help solve the problem, schedule your next meeting. Also, consider creating a clear plan outlining the next steps, so the prospect knows what to expect moving forward. “To overcome objections, it comes down to having conversations, being human, and expressing your feelings. Once you’re vulnerable, the prospect will feel more comfortable sharing their problems.” – Donald Kelly. Resources The Sales Evangelist Sales Planner Cold Call Openers The Sales Evangelizers Facebook Group Sales Mastermind Group Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Before visiting Dubai, I did some research to determine if it was the right destination for a trip. If I hadn’t taken a few minutes to do so, I could have ended up having a horrible experience. This is why it’s important for you to conduct discovery calls—to ensure you and your prospect will have a pleasant experience working together. In this episode, I share the basics of a discovery call and how to set one up properly to ensure you land a deal with your prospect. The Purpose of Discovery Calls Discovery calls are meant to determine if you and the prospect are a good fit for each other. Too often, sales reps focus solely on their own goals instead of the prospect’s needs. If you’re only focused on reaching your quota, how can you be sure your product will actually solve the prospect’s problem? Steps to a Successful Discovery Call Confirm the Appointment: Before the day of the discovery call, confirm the meeting and ensure that the right individuals will be attending. Build Rapport: Start by asking probing questions to help the prospect feel comfortable and begin building a relationship. Provide an Agenda: Clearly outline the purpose of the discovery call. This conversation is your opportunity to understand what’s going on with them and explore how you can provide a solution to their problem. Pay Attention to Pain Points When the prospect begins sharing their challenges, listen with the intention of truly understanding their needs. One of my future guests shared an active listening technique to help improve this skill. Also, pay attention to what the prospect isn’t saying, as this can help you uncover problems they may not even realize they have. “To help the prospect, you must focus on them. This is how you know that you can provide a solution for them.” - Donald Kelly. Resources The Sales Evangelist Sales Planner Cold Call Openers The Sales Evangelizers Facebook Group Sales Mastermind Group Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

You’re waiting for a client to respond to your offer, but it’s taking longer than expected. How can you get them to speed up their decision? Listen to my conversation with Cindy Allis, CEO and Co-founder of Floatist, where I show her how to create urgency and close deals faster. Meet Cindy Allis Cindy Allis is the CEO and Co-founder of Floatist, a B2B tech company in the yacht industry. Currently, her industry is facing seasonal challenges, making it harder for her sales team to navigate the B2B sales cycle. In our discussion, Cindy shares some of her team’s strategies, including offering incentives to help customers make quicker decisions. I also provide tailored sales advice to address the challenges her team faces during the Q4 period. Insights on Sales Seasonality Cindy highlights the impact of seasonality on their sales process, explaining how charter companies’ pricing strategies influence their business. She notes a recent extension in the peak season, driven by market trends and events like the Olympics. This shift complicates their sales outreach, requiring her team to adapt their strategies to keep up. Mutual Action Plans and Digital Sales Rooms I introduce the concept of mutual action plans and digital sales rooms as tools to guide prospects visually through the sales process. Given that 65% of people are visual learners, these tools prevent information overload and keep prospects engaged. I also mention an effective tool called Aligned, which helps sellers collaborate with prospects and accelerate the sales process. “It’s dangerous, I feel, but for the mutual action plan… I really believe that to be more effective in sales, you need to uncover the needs of your prospects.” - Cindy Allis. Resources Aligned Floatist Cindy Allis on LinkedIn Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn.

You know that selling to prospects requires understanding how they buy. But you may still be struggling to master this technique. Join me and my guests, Jorge Soto and Justin Dorfman, co-founders of Asset Mule, as they explain how to focus on the buyer’s perspective to build a successful sales pipeline. Meet the Guests: Jorge Soto and Justin Dorfman Jorge Soto and Justin Dorfman are the co-founders of Asset Mule, a company specializing in buyer enablement. They bring valuable insights on integrating human elements in sales and understanding the psychology and motivations of buyers throughout the process. Instead of relying solely on CRM systems to close deals, they emphasize that understanding each stage of the buyer’s psychological journey accelerates the sales process. Focus on the Buyer’s Journey, Not Just Sales Techniques If you’re still using traditional sales scripts, it’s time to shift your approach. By understanding the buyer’s psychology and putting yourself in their shoes, you can better guide them through the journey. Awareness Stage: How will this product help solve my problem? Consideration Stage: Are there other products like this? Who else is using it? Decision Stage: Will this fit my budget? Will I have support if needed? Today’s buyers are more informed and considerate at each stage. Jorge and Justin explain how to use psychology to build trust and enhance the customer experience. Qualifying Leads with a Human Touch Early qualification calls help sales reps understand a buyer’s motivations. Jorge explains that asking direct questions can uncover issues that might otherwise be overlooked due to an over-reliance on tools and processes. These questions also help map out sales assets to use at each stage of the buyer’s journey. “Building rapport and trust by going the extra mile early in the process makes a real difference in the experience,” - Jorge Soto. “Every deal and every buying process is unique. Eventually, your goal is to turn the prospect into a champion. Once you establish that relationship, you can leverage their insights into their organization and its stakeholders, allowing you to map the buyer’s journey together and identify which assets to use at each stage,” - Justin Dorfman. Resources AssetMule Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Sometimes, getting a prospect to say “yes” requires the right personality. But what if your personality doesn’t quite match theirs? How can you prevent them from hanging up the phone? My guest, James Buckley—the self-proclaimed phone expert and co-host of the Sell Better Podcast—is here to share the communication style you need to instantly increase your cold-call success rate. Click play and learn how to align your sales style with your prospect’s personality. Meet James Buckley After meeting James Buckley, it’s clear why he’s known as “the phone guy.” His communication style evokes emotions far more swiftly and effectively than email ever could. James personalizes his sales approach by being authentic, intuitively connecting with prospective customers in a way that builds rapport and trust. Thanks to his unique methods, James has become a valuable resource for both new and seasoned sales professionals. Be sure to check out Sell Better, where he shares daily and weekly sales tips. Have the Right Personality The wrong approach could be keeping you from closing deals. James explains how to tailor your communication based on personality cues you can often pick up from LinkedIn profiles. For example, if someone appears friendly in their profile, adopt a jovial tone; but if a prospect’s profile has a more serious vibe, use a tone that matches. Think Smaller with Emails James says, don’t write a novel when emailing prospects! Decision-makers often read emails on mobile devices, so the shorter, the better. His advice? Make your emails concise and to the point by removing unnecessary words. Here are three ways ChatGPT prompts to improve your emails: Rewrite the email to make it shorter. Make it more about the prospect, less about yourself. Ensure it’s easy to read on a phone. Subject Line Tips Your subject line matters more than the email’s body. James shares that specific words can boost your open rates. For example, use “Thanks” for an ego appeal, rather than the neutral “Quick question.” Also, a meaningful preview text can also capture the prospect’s attention, increasing response rates. “Folks, I’m going to give you four words that will change everything about your emails in 2025: The shorter, the better.” — James Buckley. Resources The Daily Sales Show Sellbetter.xyz Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

Here’s a shocking fact, reps don’t have to be nice in order to make a deal. Unconsciously, your need to be liked is turning you into a pushy salesperson. Listen to this episode with my guest Chris Caldwell to help you stop making this sales mistake. Chris Caldwell’s Background Chris Caldwell is a sales trainer and expert who runs “Sell As You Are,” a company that helps sales professionals succeed by embracing their authentic selves. With experience coaching youth soccer and leading sales retreats, Chris has deep insights into human behavior and the psychological needs that drive success. He focuses on aligning beliefs and behaviors with genuine intent, offering practical strategies to foster personal power, authenticity, and commitment in sales teams. Unmet Needs in Sales How do sales reps manifest their unmet needs in sales contexts? Chris provides an analogy of parents at a youth soccer game, demonstrating how people often project their unfulfilled emotional needs onto external situations or people. This behavior negatively impacts sales performance and client relationships. The Power of Setting the Frame To set clear expectations and agendas with prospects, try using Chris’s framework for sales conversations. His framework allows you to stay confidently in control throughout the sales process. The Importance of Getting to the Truth The primary objective of every first discovery call should be to uncover the truth of the prospect’s needs and situation. Chris stresses the significance of ensuring honest exchanges to facilitate genuine progress and decision-making. “It is in the nature of executives to get distracted because they have a hundred things they’re responsible for, and the problem you’re solving is likely one of fifty they’re trying to address. At the same time, if you do not keep them on the leash, if you do not keep them on your calendar, it is in their nature to deprioritize you. And you cannot blame them; you can only blame yourself.” - Chris Caldwell. Resources Chris Caldwell on LinkedIn sellasyouare.com Email: chris@sellasyouare.com LinkedIn Prospecting Course Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

LinkedIn Ads are a great way to help sales teams reach their target audience with less stress. But to make them work, you’ll need the right LinkedIn Ad strategies. In this episode, I’m joined by AJ Wilcox, host of the LinkedIn Ads Show podcast. Discover his three tactics that will have prospects running to your inbox. Meet AJ Wilcox AJ Wilcox is a seasoned expert in LinkedIn advertising. He runs a podcast dedicated to LinkedIn Ads and manages a successful LinkedIn Ads agency. Initially an SEO and Google Ads specialist, AJ transitioned into LinkedIn advertising while working for a SaaS company. His expertise quickly grew, leading him to manage LinkedIn’s largest spending ads account worldwide. Why Should Sales Teams Use LinkedIn Ads? Most people avoid using LinkedIn Ads for two reasons: 1. They’re expensive 2. They believe they don’t work If you’re one of those who think Meta Ads are better than LinkedIn Ads, AJ is here to prove you wrong. He explains that LinkedIn targets a company’s audience with ease, and the return on investment is 2x higher with LinkedIn Ads. Three LinkedIn Ads Strategies for Sales Teams AJ shares these LinkedIn strategies for sales teams: Thought Leadership: Posts that feature a human face receive more reactions on LinkedIn. Instead of sharing company content, showcase an employee or CEO offering advice. AJ tested this method and saw a 5 to 16 percent increase in click-through rates. ABM Strategies: LinkedIn is the top social media platform for ABM (Account-Based Marketing) strategies. Having a list of leads that haven’t signed up yet at your fingertips makes it much easier to reach companies’ buying committees. This helps increase brand recognition on LinkedIn and improves sales teams’ deal closure rates. Engaging Leads in the Sales Pipeline: Sales reps can collaborate with the marketing team to create personalized campaigns for the company’s leads list. This ensures ongoing engagement with leads and keeps them moving through the pipeline. “When we show these sales reps, as opposed to their company posts, they’re getting on average more than one extra second of dwell time.” - AJ Wilcox. Resources Connect with AJ Wilcox on LinkedIn Hear more LinkedIn Strategies on the LinkedIn Ads Show podcast Learn more about AJ Wilcox at b2linked.com LinkedIn Prospecting Course Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

What in the world is the status quo? How is it able to keep you from closing deals? My guest, Will Barron, founder of Selling Made Simple and the Salesman Podcast, is here to reveal the number one deal killer. Tune in to learn more about the status quo, Will’s experience with it, and how he was able to overcome this sales challenge. Introducing Will Barron Will Barron, the mastermind behind Selling Made Simple and the Salesman Podcast, brings a wealth of experience and expertise in B2B sales. He specializes in helping salespeople close more deals in a simplified manner. Will’s strategies revolve around understanding the root causes of sales stagnation and turning them into actionable steps. What is the Status Quo? You know that feeling where you won’t do anything unless there’s a massive reward at the end? It kind of stalls your motivation to get things done. This feeling illustrates the concept of the status quo. Many salespeople face situations where deals stall and ultimately fall off the pipeline, not due to competition or pricing, but simply because of inertia. There are psychological and business factors contributing to the status quo. Often, it’s not about the product or the competitor, but more about the inherent resistance to change. Engaging with Decision Makers Often, you may find yourself speaking to individuals who lack the authority to move deals forward. You want to communicate with the decision-makers to close deals. Will provides practical advice on identifying and engaging those with the actual power to affect change. DIY Objection & Simplification Without realizing it, you may be oversimplifying or overcomplicating the sales process, making prospects believe they don’t need external help. Will explains the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) objection, where prospects feel they can implement solutions on their own. He also shares how to keep prospects in the “Goldilocks zone,” where they see the value in seeking professional help for their problem. “If you’re selling complex products to sophisticated buyers, where there are real financial concerns and businesses on the line, you need to guide them through their buying journey. You need to help them make decisions and move forward.” - Will Barron. Resources www.salesman.com The Salesman Podcast LinkedIn Prospecting Course Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

In the early days of my career, I had the chance to go through Sandler Sales Training. While there, I met my two wonderful guests for this episode, Emily Davidson and Mike Montague. The principles they taught in that course provide excellent strategies that you can use during this year’s Q4 to help prepare for Q1 next year. Take notes and listen to their game plan, which will surely help you close more deals before the new year. Common BDR Challenges During Q4 You may wonder how to make the most of the remaining months of the year. Which deals should you focus on? Should you let any clients go if you know they won’t make a decision before the end of the year? These challenges can cause a lot of anxiety, but with a strategic plan, you can overcome them. Mike suggests continuing to prospect during this time. You don’t want to start the new year trying to rebuild your sales pipeline. Don’t start fresh in 2025 and bring Q4 clients along. Prioritizing Deals You may find yourself with deals that are moving very slowly through the pipeline or with nothing at all. What actions should you prioritize to help close deals? Follow the Sandler Sales Training Care Plan, where you assess your accounts and prioritize which ones to keep. Mike and Emily provide examples of the Care Plan to help you understand how to apply it to your situation. Sales leaders may need to help team members prioritize their deals. Sometimes an outside perspective can help a sales rep view their accounts objectively. Be Creative with Your Prospecting During this time of year, most sales reps are out enjoying the holiday festivities like everyone else. You may be tempted to do the same, but if you want to close deals, you’ll have to put in some work. The good news is, if you get creative with your approach, you can still have fun while doing it. Attend the Christmas parties, but use the opportunity to talk to decision-makers. Don’t take a vacation during this time—use it to cold-call CEOs and presidents. The key is to work smarter, not harder, during this season. “Our job is to create an atmosphere and environment that allows the customer to buy while the salesperson stays out of the way.” - Mike Montague. “Looking at your accounts through the lens of the Care Plan will help you break down those targets into categories. You can focus on which ones are a priority to keep.” - Emily Davidson. Resources “The 12 Week Year,” by Brian P. Morgan and Michael Lennington www.sandler.com How To Succeed Podcast LinkedIn Prospecting Course Cold Call Openers Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.