I’ve always been fascinated by how some brands have become so iconic that their names replace generic terms. Band-Aid instead of bandage, Kleenex instead of tissue — it’s the ultimate example of successful branding. But how do you actually build a brand positioning strategy that sticks? I went straight to the experts to find out,…
My first job out of college was one I made up. People become entrepreneurs for lots of reasons, and for me (like most) it was the flexible hours. Armed with an English degree and a basic knowledge of marketing, I started a small agency creating written content for anyone who needed it. I built a…
You know what would have been great to have access to during my days as a teacher? An AI presentation maker. While today I present to clients instead of students, there’s even more at stake. Thankfully, AI presentation makers are becoming popular and accessible design tools. One of the biggest perks of AI for presentations…
Sales principles are the fundamental concepts that ring true in every sales process — aka the basics of selling that every salesperson should know. They’re based on customer psychology, marketing science, and human interaction studies. Mastering these principles isn’t just about closing deals (though that’s a nice win). It’s about earning trust and building real…
Developing a business development strategy? I’ve had a close-up view of how many different companies approach “biz dev” — and witnessed wildly different approaches. When I worked at a marketing agency, everyone played a role in business development and could bring in a new client. For many of the SaaS clients I support now, sales…
From what I can see, a sales career is fast-paced, relationship-driven, and even competitive at times. All of these qualities can make for an exciting job, but you have to take the right steps to get into sales before you can land your dream role. To learn more about what it takes to start and…
Understanding a prospect’s circumstances, preferences, and pain points enables you to craft a more thoughtfully tailored value proposition and dial in on a more personal appeal. That makes sound research pretty mission-critical, going into a sales engagement. In many cases, your ability to cater to a prospect only goes as far as your initial research…
My interest in the world of finance started during my tween years. My entrepreneurial family would tune into the closing stock report every weekday. Terms like fiscal quarters, dividends, and year-over-year growth were tossed around the dinner table in response to the news. Years later, I became a business reporter. Now, my life is structured…
The best salespeople listen way more than they talk.They understand that active listening in sales is a transformative skill. They tune into verbal cues and create meaningful connections that lead to the intended outcome. My personal experience in sales taught me how to tap into the power of understanding to build trust. Too often, salespeople…
Have you ever heard the phrase, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat”? It’s an old (and kind of gruesome) folksy saying that means there are always multiple solutions to a problem — and when it comes to sales, relationship selling is just one way to meet your goals. Sure, selling might be…