How do you know if your strategic account management is healthy? Too often, we fail to measure the critical success factors.
Expanding existing satisfied accounts is much easier than selling to new customers who don’t know us. It is vital that we optimize strategic account management. Successful account managers contribute to revenue in three primary ways:
Is your sales team the “real” sellers of your product or service? We are habituated to having a group we call our sales team. We hold them accountable for revenue, give them a quota, and provide them with a target account list. However, depending on the requirements of your sale, the sales salesperson may only have modest influence and control of the sale. Members of the consulting team or content experts may be the “real salesperson(s)”. This issue is common in complex, high-consideration, and consultative sales. It is vital to align the sales roles in consultative and complex sales.
In my four decades in sales leadership at both large enterprises and early-stage growth companies, and in my subsequent consulting & sales advisory practice, I have witnessed and resolved many poor sales practices. If sales leaders do not diagnose and correct these Deadly Sins of Selling, then accelerated and predictable sales outcomes will be in jeopardy. I recount these sins with amusement since they also tell us something about human nature and how that factors into successful selling practices. Individual sellers, their sales managers, sales trainers, and sales coaches can all benefit from being on alert to these common sins.
Services and Solution selling is a customer-centric approach that focuses on building relationships, understanding customer needs, and delivering tailored solutions. By mastering the key practices of solution selling, you can enhance your sales effectiveness and drive revenue growth.