Rooted In Revenue
Revenue and sales are built on a solid operational foundation that allows marketing to thrive in an ever-changing environment with technology. Brought to you by speaker, branding strategist, producer Susan Finch, and Lany Sullivan, Fractional COO, and Strategic Consultant. This show is part of Funnel Media Group’s monthly line-up of podcasts.
Episodes
Wednesday Dec 28, 2022
Reducing the Perception of Risks with Prospects
Wednesday Dec 28, 2022
Wednesday Dec 28, 2022
We need our prospects to be so confident that they will get the return they expect. And so it's the ROI model, but also it's the level of confidence about the ability to achieve that. The fact that sometimes even what our customers tell us, they see value in our own solutions starts to change and evolve. Eric Whittlake of 6Sense joins Susan today. He says, "One of the things that you likely will see is they value the thing that's more immediate than the thing." That extends into the need for us to do things to reduce the perception of risk with prospects of choosing a, hopefully, our solutions. That has to do with our sales process, that has to do with our marketing, and establishing credibility. There's more that we have to do there because we have a higher bar. It's time to stir it up again. We have to recognize how much has potentially changed in our market, with our prospects, and how that is so much more important that we go do this work now to understand how we're going to prioritize. Listen to this episode, "Reducing the Perception of Risks with Prospects."
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
Are you good at generating sales opportunities?
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
Wednesday Dec 14, 2022
Steve Richard, SVP, Value Realization at Mediafly sits down with Susan to talk about sales and sales training in a recession. He says, "Really good demand gen marketers that are super targeted with what they do and have very little scrap rate have never been higher demand. That's one thing I'm definitely seeing that's critically important right now. And everyone's going outbound."
Key points in this episode:
SDRs, SBRs, are you in the top third, mid-range third, or bottom third?
Time to start self-sourcing opportunities
How many times do you need to repeat training materials, three, seven, 50, or 100 times?
The sins that steady renewals can cover.
Is this current market downturn isolated to tech to tech, or is it across the board?
Steve's advice to take from this episode:
"If you're good at generating opportunities, you're always going to be fine. That's it. It's simple. So learn how to generate opportunities no matter what customer-facing role you're in."
Wednesday Dec 07, 2022
Outcome-Based Budgets vs. Line Item Belt Tightening
Wednesday Dec 07, 2022
Wednesday Dec 07, 2022
It doesn't really matter whether you're a really large company or really small company, you have to continue to find, keep and grow the value of customers, which is the essence of marketing. You can't stop looking for customers and doing that work, but you also have to focus on keeping them. In this episode, Laura Patterson, President of VisionEdge Marketing gives suggestions for smaller to mid-size companies about building an advisory panel from your customers and why that continues to build loyalty, resources for valuable information, and your ability to better serve all of your customers. This fits into the topic of budgets and getting away from a line-items from the past, compared to outcome-based recommendations to nimbly move forward. You will pick up several tips you can implement at your own company - no matter the size - in this episode, "Outcome-Based Budgets vs. Line Item Belt Tightening."
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
The Importance of a Playbook and Just Sitting for 30 Days
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Too many times a new CMO or CRO takes a position in a company and immediately wants to make changes without really observing to see what has been working, experience the company culture and getting to know the team. Jeanne Hopkins has been a CMO or CRO for many notable companies, including HubSpot, Ipswitch, Continuum, and currently OneScreen.ai. She knows the people are the greatest asset a company. In this episode Jeanne talks with Susan about her playbook and how important it is for it to align with that of any company she works for. Sometimes adjustments need to be made. Sometimes the company she is joining doesn't have a playbook so they start a fresh one based on Jeanne's. It's a huge value she brings - the ability to observe and pull from the wide range of experiences and successes she's had in B2B tech. Join us for this episode of Rooted in Revenue, "The Importance of a Playbook and Just Sitting for 30 Days."
Wednesday Feb 02, 2022
Wednesday Feb 02, 2022
Sales Managers and Leaders - you need to get your sales teams up 3x. Susan Finch's guest is Todd Duncan. A great place to start is with his golden nugget of a tip. At the end of each hour at the 55-minute rule. In the last 5 minutes of every hour, review what you did in the last hour. What was productive? What worked? What didn't work? If you simply start with this ONE tip, you'll be on your way to working much smarter in the following hours. Waiting until the week's end, or the month's end is too late for this review to make adjustments and improve.
He'll also give his opinion as to why sales pros slip back into bad habits after having great coaching and training. One word - discipline.
And TRUST - the most important thing to earn and the easiest to lose. How do you get back on track?
What is your WHY? What is your deep motivation? How does an action allow you to achieve something that is really emotionally important to you? You will want to listen to this more than once to fully absorb these huge tips you can start today.
And when you're done listening, go over to ToddDuncan.com and sign up for everything he offers. Follow him on all social channels. As Corey Frank from the Market Dominance Guys says, "Invest ONE hour per day on LEARNING and IMPROVING yourself." This is a great place to start. Everything can improve - you need to accept that and be willing to do the work to improve - every day.
Get his book - High Trust Selling on Amazon
About Todd Duncan:
Todd Duncan built a successful real estate and mortgage business before committing his life to help others do the same. At a young age, he learned the importance of building relationships, and that transactions will make you a living, but relationships will make you a fortune. That life lesson has carried him through his career and helped him become the #1 salesperson nationally at just 23 years old, write 17 books, start his own podcast, and make a transformational impact on the hearts and souls of business professionals.
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Transactional vs. Lifetime Customers - which do you cultivate?
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
If you are in sales, you'd better know if you are transactional-focused or lifetime-focused when it comes to how you approach prospects and customers. There is no wrong version, but you need to know which you are. Your sales manager needs to know which you are too. That deep honesty will allow you to play to your strengths. The theme of this episode is two-fold - being in awe of the fantastic things people you encounter do and who they are, and knowing yourself to the core. If you don't like it, change it. There is also homework at the end from both of us.
A favorite quote from The Big Kahuna is, "It doesn't matter whether you're selling Jesus or Buddha or civil rights or 'How to Make Money in Real Estate With No Money Down'. That doesn't make you a human being; it makes you a marketing rep. If you want to talk to somebody honestly, as a human being, ask him about his kids. Find out what his dreams are - just to find out, for no other...”
Jason Beck, this list of movies for sales professionals is for you. You can listen to our commentary in this episode. Check them out - some are not available on Amazon or Netflix at this time - but check back. The more extensive commentary is on Salesman.org - sign up for their newsletter, too.
Used Cars with Kurt RussellJerry MaguireThe Wolf of Wall Street (duh)Death of a Salesman 1985 - or see it on stage - so powerfulMoneyballSeize the Day - Robin WilliamsIn Pursuit of HappynessTin MenGlengarry Glen RossTommy BoyDiamond MenLord of WarLove and Other drugsThe Big Kahuna - a sleeper and feel-good movie about salesThe Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
Jason Beck is Vice President of Sales at Enerex, retail energy's trusted data platform, providing secure connectivity to the entire value chain — brokers, suppliers, agents, customers, and utilities — to drive efficient transactions. Their flagship service, Sparkplug, is the #1 retail energy sales platform in the world, powering over 10% of US commercial and industrial (C&I) transactions. He's also been a wonderful guest on Market Dominance Guys. Connect with Jason on LinkedIn.
Tuesday Oct 12, 2021
Kindness in Your Culture for Reputation, Recruitment, and Retention
Tuesday Oct 12, 2021
Tuesday Oct 12, 2021
It’s been proven that kindness in the workplace has a stunning ROI. Kindness decreases stress, reduces employee burnout, and builds increasing levels of happiness and satisfaction in the workplace. Susan's guest is author Linda Cohen. They visit about the simplicity of transforming your business to incorporate kindness as a method of recruitment, retention, reputation without spending a lot of money. Her ideas are so simple you can start them today.
Imagine a company culture where employees feel valued, recognized, and empowered enough to go the extra mile for customers and colleagues; where the leadership is able to be authentic, transparent, and connected to their team. The Economy of Kindness: How Kindness Transforms Your Bottom Line provides real-life examples of companies that have employed kindness as their secret weapon to build and maintain their organizations.
Join Susan and Linda for this 20-minute discussion about The Economy of Kindness: How Kindness Transforms Your Bottom Line .
Wednesday Sep 22, 2021
The Role of the Conductor in B2B Leadership
Wednesday Sep 22, 2021
Wednesday Sep 22, 2021
Christopher Lochhead wrote a book called Play Bigger. He was the CMO of Mercury Interactive and a couple of other real high-flying Silicon Valley startups and just an awesome guy. But he has a saying. He likes to say, "Thinking about thinking is the most important thinking you do. A lot of what we're talking about is stepping back because it's so easy to default to, Hey, I just raised my Series A; I'm in MarTech, let's go get somebody out of drift or let's go get a sale.
Let's go find someone in Salesforce marketing. Let's go get a director from Salesforce to run our marketing. Oh, they'll crush it for us. And it's a natural default, right? And then a person comes in and because they weren't clear... And usually that person, they don't know how to vet. So, they're told this and they're super excited. Oh, wow. This is my chance. Put a stamp on it, but they forget that I'm not going to be in Salesforce anymore. Meaning, I'm not going to have, first of all, the Salesforce brand and just all the power of that. I'm not going to have all the resources.
Wednesday Sep 15, 2021
The Two-Way Interview with Mark Donnigan
Wednesday Sep 15, 2021
Wednesday Sep 15, 2021
Mark Donnigan from Growth Stage Marketing says, "It's important that a professional team work together and all the executives should be rowing in the same direction and all these kind of truisms, which are all true but there are some very profound implications to how we market and how we sell, which gets wrapped up in go to market as a result of the fragmented buyer's journey that we are in today." He also reminds us, "think about how you talk about yourself, how you talk about what you do. And even as a full-time employee, in fact, I could argue that as a full-time employee, it matters as much or even more because it's so amazing when you hear one person who just describes themselves in kind of the HR job description. What do you do?" Listen to the first half of this interview to walk away walking a little bit taller, and able to go into interviews with more confidence.
Thursday Sep 02, 2021
Training for and Playing to Our Strengths to Plow by the Competition
Thursday Sep 02, 2021
Thursday Sep 02, 2021
We're continuing our insightful conversation with Laura Patterson from VisionEdge Marketing. If you missed the first part, I encourage you to go back and listen - but don't worry, we'll catch you up quickly.
In this episode, we dive deeper into the four patterns Laura identified for supporting growth and improving performance in business. Here are some key points we'll explore:
The importance of considering "what if" scenarios in business planning
How data analysis can reveal hidden patterns and opportunities
The value of continuous training and practice, even in areas where you excel
Why surrounding yourself with ambitious, growth-minded individuals is crucial
Laura and I also discuss real-world examples of companies that have succeeded (and failed) by adapting to changing market conditions. We discuss the importance of objective data analysis and why partnering with external experts can provide fresh perspectives.
Whether you're a seasoned business leader or just starting your career, this conversation offers valuable insights on how to stay proactive, plan strategically, and continuously improve your skills. So let's jump back in with Laura Patterson as we explore these critical patterns for business success.
Part 1 is here.
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
Changing patterns vs habits, and flipping the script because we can
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
Welcome to Rooted in Revenue! I'm your host, Susan Finch, and today we're bringing you a blast from the past that's still incredibly relevant. Back in 2021, I had the pleasure of speaking with Laura Patterson from VisionEdge Marketing on my former show, SLMA Radio. Laura, a dear friend and frequent guest, recently reached out about revisiting this conversation - and I couldn't agree more that the insights are worth sharing again.
In this episode, we dive into some powerful ideas around business growth and performance improvement. Here are some key points we'll explore:
The importance of being proactive in shaping your business outcomes
Why planning to win is crucial, even if you encounter setbacks along the way
The value of analyzing patterns in your business and personal life
How taking ownership and initiative can lead to positive change
Laura and I also touch on our similar upbringings and the life lessons that have shaped our approaches to business. It's a candid, insightful conversation that I think you'll find both relatable and actionable.
So settle in as we revisit this gem from the archives. Laura Patterson's expertise in marketing and business strategy is always worth a listen, and I'm thrilled to share it with you today on Rooted in Revenue.
Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
Correcting the Disconnect in Your Customer Service
Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
If someone is completing a form, you never want your customer to take any action that they don't know what's next for them. They need to know what's next and how long it will take. This is just one tip from Sonia Portwood and Virginia Robbins from PCBB. Customer service can make or break your business. Look at everything that you do from the point of view of your customers and you can't go wrong. Virginia reminds us to be brave when a customer leaves. Pick up the phone and ask what happened and how you could improve. It will only make you more successful. We made so many sudden changes last year and now it's time to review, adjust and make sure we are truly listening to our customers and incorporating their problems, hiccups, and complaints to be better at serving them to hopefully avoid repeating the mistakes.
About Your Hosts, Susan Finch & Lany Sullivan
Susan's goal is to bring guests that can bring value, guides, inspiration to those of you struggling to expand the revenue of your company through online marketing, events, training, and honest-to-goodness connections through real conversations.
Susan is the President of Funnel Media Group, as well as Susan Finch Solutions. Her non-profit, Binky Patrol has her heart.
Lany Sullivan, with over 20 years of experience in Corporate America and Business Ownership, helps clients find more adventure, joy, and freedom through efficient business operations. Her wealth of lessons and depth of experience enable her to identify challenges and develop custom-tailored strategies to meet your unique needs and goals.