Nailing the Product Discussion

Nailing the Product Discussion

Buyers tune out and lose interest when they hear a generic product discussion that is not aligned to their goal and priorities.   On the other hand, a product presentation can delight and engage buyers when it shows we listened and understood their goals. Rachael...
Never Product Pitch Again

Never Product Pitch Again

A product pitch is the single fastest way to alienate a buyer and kill deal momentum. Andy Raskin in a great post on The Shift In How CEOs Communicate Strategy shows how business strategy has shifted from “It’s About Us” to “It’s About You.” “It’s About Us” is...
“What is Your Success Rate Today?”

“What is Your Success Rate Today?”

One of the biggest gaps in buyer discovery is getting a buyer to co-own and co-develop the payoff that would get them really excited about working with a new vendor.   When they identify a specific desired gain, a buyer is acknowledging value and building a vision of...
Harnessing Buyer Outcomes to Drive Growth

Harnessing Buyer Outcomes to Drive Growth

The strongest growth trajectory comes not from marketing or sales but from customer success. Mark Roberge, HubSpot’s CRO during the company’s ride from $0 to $100M, put it this way: “We started with our ideal customer outcome in mind.” In a recent...
Turning Case Studies Into Success Stories

Turning Case Studies Into Success Stories

There is nothing that will grab a buyer’s attention quicker than telling them that you have been successful with a customer who is just like them.   However, for most companies, customer wins are captured in case studies that sit on a company website or live in highly...
The Power of Peer References

The Power of Peer References

The absolute #1 question in any buyer’s hierarchy of trust is this:  Has this company had success working with my peers? In a recent call with a hospital in the Northeast, I heard Randi-Sue Deckard at BESLER nail the call opening with this simple line:  “We are...