Ten ideas to help you develop a
successful Inside Sales plan for 2015
David Malone
Trainer| Speaker | Consultant
Co-Chapter President AA-ISP Ireland
www.evolve.ie
Happy new year!
But last year’s sales
figures are now
consigned to history –
the sales target clock
is reset back to
zero again!
But how can you
surpass last year’s
efforts?
…. Time to put
your thinking
hat on!
Possible Plan A!
I could wait for my existing clients
to reorder and bring in a large slice
of my annual sales target?
Hope is not a good sales strategy!
If you are
waiting for
existing
customers
to contact
you to
reorder,
don’t hold
your breath!
I could do an
e-mail campaign
to my target list
and wait for the
phone to ring?
I’m all for taking
proactive steps
but will the phone
ring often enough
with this approach?
…This idea might
never fly!
I could double
my efforts and
work harder and
faster than ever
before?
May be!
…
However, I
may run out
of energy!
Time for some fresh thinking?
Here are 10
ideas to help
you improve
your inside
sales
prospecting
strategies in
2015
Select sectors where you
already have credibility
• A proven track record
• More expertise of their world
• An extensive contact base
• People who can provide you with introductions
* Remember, your offering might not be a fit for every
sector regardless of whether they are on your target
list. So fish where you have caught fish in the past!
Prospect where the odds are in your favour
already. Pick sectors where you have …
Develop relationships with
representative organizations
in that sector
That could be
A Professional body
Or
A trade association
(Example: If you sell to HR Managers - Chartered Institute
of Personal Development –C.I.P.D.)
Consider ………
• Writing for their publication
• Giving speeches at their seminars
• Provide resources for their website
But do this
Leverage Client relationships – where
those clients are well networked
How can you find out how well
networked they are?
• Check their LinkedIn account for your
sales targets
• Ask them who they know!
• Remember, most of your clients (if they
rate you) will be delighted to introduce you
to their contacts – Just ask them!
How do I askforthe
introduction?
In 4 easy steps….. Ask your client …..
1.How well do they know your sales target.
2.Would they be comfortable introducing you.
3.To ask the sales target to accept a call from you.
4.‘To ‘cc’ an email to both the sales target
and yourself with contact details.
Target up to three individuals
within each prospect company
The more people you target in a company …
• The better the odds of making a connection with one of
them.
• The higher the chance of you finding a mutual contact
to introduce you.
Pick three different type of stakeholders
* For example
– User buyer
– Financial buyer
– Technical buyer
You can always
move laterally
towards the correct
buyer regardless of
which of the five
targets you initially
meet with!
Follow your targets / prospect
companies on Social MediaP
Follow their
• Comments
• Groups
• And watch out for mutual contacts
• Answering of questions
• Create your own visibility in their groups - post
resources ,articles and answer questions
Connect with
Complimentary Solution Providers
What is a
CSP?
A complimentary solution provider
Is a supplier who
 Targets the same people you do
Is not the competition
Compliments your offering
Is well networked
Will share information
Will swop introductions
CSP’s
For example:
if you sell CRM software to
contact centres to customer
service managers - a CSP might
be a contact centre specialised
recruitment agency
Target and attend two
networking events a month
…. Virtually or physically!
Strategic networkers
• Identify correct events
• Get attendance lists in advance
• Ask organisers for introductions
• Ask questions to understand
• Follow up sincerely
• Build trust with new contacts before
asking for help
Become a thought leader
for your target sector(s)
A thought leader is someone who
• Shares ideas
• Writes articles
• Answers questions
• Makes speeches
• Provides insight
• Anticipates new trends
Via Social & Other Media
Stay in touch with old
customers even when
they can’t buy from you
Stay in touch – long roads always
turn at some point!
• Be helpful
• Support behind the scenes
• Keep them on distribution lists
• Send free resources
• Be LinkedIn with them
• Things don’t stay the same for very
long!
Put targets and measure results for all your sales
related activities inclusive of everything we
mentioned in this presentation
“You become what
you do everyday”
www.evolve.ie
davemaloneinsidesalescoach

Ten ideas to help you develop a successful inside sales plan for 2015

  • 1.
    Ten ideas tohelp you develop a successful Inside Sales plan for 2015
  • 2.
    David Malone Trainer| Speaker| Consultant Co-Chapter President AA-ISP Ireland www.evolve.ie
  • 3.
    Happy new year! Butlast year’s sales figures are now consigned to history – the sales target clock is reset back to zero again!
  • 4.
    But how canyou surpass last year’s efforts? …. Time to put your thinking hat on!
  • 5.
    Possible Plan A! Icould wait for my existing clients to reorder and bring in a large slice of my annual sales target?
  • 6.
    Hope is nota good sales strategy! If you are waiting for existing customers to contact you to reorder, don’t hold your breath!
  • 7.
    I could doan e-mail campaign to my target list and wait for the phone to ring?
  • 8.
    I’m all fortaking proactive steps but will the phone ring often enough with this approach? …This idea might never fly!
  • 9.
    I could double myefforts and work harder and faster than ever before?
  • 10.
    May be! … However, I mayrun out of energy!
  • 11.
    Time for somefresh thinking?
  • 12.
    Here are 10 ideasto help you improve your inside sales prospecting strategies in 2015
  • 13.
    Select sectors whereyou already have credibility
  • 14.
    • A proventrack record • More expertise of their world • An extensive contact base • People who can provide you with introductions * Remember, your offering might not be a fit for every sector regardless of whether they are on your target list. So fish where you have caught fish in the past! Prospect where the odds are in your favour already. Pick sectors where you have …
  • 15.
    Develop relationships with representativeorganizations in that sector
  • 16.
    That could be AProfessional body Or A trade association (Example: If you sell to HR Managers - Chartered Institute of Personal Development –C.I.P.D.)
  • 17.
    Consider ……… • Writingfor their publication • Giving speeches at their seminars • Provide resources for their website But do this
  • 18.
    Leverage Client relationships– where those clients are well networked
  • 19.
    How can youfind out how well networked they are? • Check their LinkedIn account for your sales targets • Ask them who they know! • Remember, most of your clients (if they rate you) will be delighted to introduce you to their contacts – Just ask them!
  • 20.
    How do Iaskforthe introduction? In 4 easy steps….. Ask your client ….. 1.How well do they know your sales target. 2.Would they be comfortable introducing you. 3.To ask the sales target to accept a call from you. 4.‘To ‘cc’ an email to both the sales target and yourself with contact details.
  • 21.
    Target up tothree individuals within each prospect company
  • 22.
    The more peopleyou target in a company … • The better the odds of making a connection with one of them. • The higher the chance of you finding a mutual contact to introduce you. Pick three different type of stakeholders * For example – User buyer – Financial buyer – Technical buyer
  • 23.
    You can always movelaterally towards the correct buyer regardless of which of the five targets you initially meet with!
  • 24.
    Follow your targets/ prospect companies on Social MediaP
  • 25.
    Follow their • Comments •Groups • And watch out for mutual contacts • Answering of questions • Create your own visibility in their groups - post resources ,articles and answer questions
  • 26.
  • 27.
  • 28.
    A complimentary solutionprovider Is a supplier who  Targets the same people you do Is not the competition Compliments your offering Is well networked Will share information Will swop introductions
  • 29.
    CSP’s For example: if yousell CRM software to contact centres to customer service managers - a CSP might be a contact centre specialised recruitment agency
  • 30.
    Target and attendtwo networking events a month …. Virtually or physically!
  • 31.
    Strategic networkers • Identifycorrect events • Get attendance lists in advance • Ask organisers for introductions • Ask questions to understand • Follow up sincerely • Build trust with new contacts before asking for help
  • 32.
    Become a thoughtleader for your target sector(s)
  • 33.
    A thought leaderis someone who • Shares ideas • Writes articles • Answers questions • Makes speeches • Provides insight • Anticipates new trends Via Social & Other Media
  • 34.
    Stay in touchwith old customers even when they can’t buy from you
  • 35.
    Stay in touch– long roads always turn at some point! • Be helpful • Support behind the scenes • Keep them on distribution lists • Send free resources • Be LinkedIn with them • Things don’t stay the same for very long!
  • 36.
    Put targets andmeasure results for all your sales related activities inclusive of everything we mentioned in this presentation
  • 37.
    “You become what youdo everyday”
  • 38.