Sales 2.0: Taking sales to another level
Yes, the '2.0' hype is getting somehow out of hand and the moniker now comes to Sales … There’s been a lot of talk recently about 'Sales 2.0' and how companies can benefit from adopting Web 2.0 concepts and technologies in sales. The movement is under way to classify and clarify this latest version of sales-related technology. So before we dismiss Sales 2.0 as yet another buzz word, let's try and identify what 'Sales 2.0' really means for the sales and marketing disciplines.
It seems that Sales 2.0 truly merges sales and marketing into a seamless effort to target buyers more effectively using innovative and integrated tactics with an objective to bring in a lot more business at a lower cost. It is also about making anything and everything in the sales and marketing lifecycle measurable, so that you can take that information and resulting analysis to further optimise your sales process. More streamlined processes, together with the technologies to carry out smarter approaches, can immediately help organisations that are committed to moving their sales and marketing efforts to the next level of performance and dramatically accelerate their sales cycle.
More than a collection of technologies that help sales professionals personalize information for customers and interact with them rapidly, Sales 2.0 should be considered as the synthesis of new technologies, models, processes and mindsets.
The brand image - almost down to core values - which is carried out through all discrete interactions is also a major deciding factor for potential buyers scrolling through information and alternative choices. Potential buyers must feel at ease and secured at the minimum, inspired if possible.
Going forward, companies will have to engineer their sales process with a larger online component leveraging available technologies, and as importantly help their marketing and sales teams adjust to new roles and practices!
Kind regards, Christian
Posted by: Christian Bernard | January 03, 2008 at 10:37 AM
In this environment, client focus and communication are much more important components of sales than ever before. Everything is more measurable. Expectations are higher. Sales and Marketing professionals that are not able to completely define their clients' objectives will learn how measurable things have become the hard way. Those that are client focused, able to communicate effectively, and proficient in optimizing the technology will be the leaders of their industry.
Posted by: Jim Joly | December 21, 2007 at 06:20 PM