What’s the worst slimy sales tactic you’ve run into? Was it an overly aggressive “Buy Now!” pop-up, or maybe a late night cold call that sent shivers down your spine? Sadly, I’m sure there’s been far more than any of us want to remember.
I’ve been outspoken about the ineffectiveness of slimy sales in the past. Look, I get it. I know 42% of sales reps admit to struggling with prospecting. And when 73% of executives say their top priority is to close deals, desperate times can call for desperate measures.
But while spamming your entire contacts list starts to look mighty tempting when the pressure’s on to hit your quota, it’s time we move forward. The sales process should feel like a service to the customer – one where going off-script and acting human is not only a good thing, it’s the right thing. Where context is king and a personalized approach is the new norm.
I was holding a team meeting recently to discuss this very topic. One of our team members was working remotely that day and would be calling in to join us. When the phone rang, I hit the pause button on the meeting, thinking our final team member was ready to enter the conversation. I answered the call, put him on speakerphone, and immediately regretted the decision. Out from the speakers poured the all too familiar, loud boat horn followed by “Congratulations, you’ve been selected for …”
Impossible! Slimy sales – in my own meeting about slimy sales, no less. I couldn’t believe my ears. Not only had the call somehow wormed its way into our meeting, but of all the meeting rooms at HubSpot, it found mine. Now it’s personal.
Enough is enough. It’s time we draw a line in the sand. Salespeople, marketers, customers, and readers: I’m calling upon you to join the People Against Slimy Sales Tactics (PASST). It’s time we put an end to legacy sales tactics that don’t work once and for all.
Sign our petition and together we’ll move PASST the slimy sales tactics of old and into a slime-free sales future. Be sure to bring your sunglasses, because the future is bright.
from HubSpot Marketing Blog http://bit.ly/1Ud9rK3
from Tumblr http://bit.ly/1MjYpei
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