Salesfounders - Startup Sales Strategy, Venture Capital, Entrepreneur, And Sales Development

Efficient and scalable sales growth is the common goal of every startup. My guest, Trish Bertuzzi, is the best-selling author of the Sales Development Playbook and President of The Bridge Group. Trish joins us this week to discuss account-based marketing, outbound strategy, and how to survive the early stages of sales development.  Visit salesfounders.com for show notes and additional information. 

There is more to a viral marketing strategy than a great product or a clever tag line. With so much noise in market, it has become increasingly difficult to connect your message with your target audience. My guest, Jace Vernon has the solution to this problem. Jace is the founder of both YDraw and MarketingHy.  YDraw is a white board video and animation company helps companies find a better way to tell the story behind their product or service. MarketingHy is a full-service digital marketing agency which helps companies deliver that story to their target audience. On this episode, we explore the challenges that most startups face when it comes to telling their story and engaging their customers. We’ll talk about the 5 steps of a viral marketing strategy, effective content and email copy, a system for finding your customers, and a simpler way for startups to approach the daunting task of marketing. Your story is the bridge across the sales gap so buckle up as we take a dive into the the world of story-telling

LinkedIn has become a powerful platform for entrepreneurship. Whether your objective is exposure or lead generation, LinkedIn should be a key ingredient of your sales growth strategy. My guest this week is nationally recognized linked in expert Yakov Savitskiy. Yakov is the founder of Linked Lead enteprises and joins me to explore 10 ways you can leverage linkedin to develop or accelerate sales growth. We talk about things like the 3 P’s of a great profile, 8 Publisher best practices, how to be more visible to your target audience, and how to use Linkedin in your sales funnel.

A deep dive into the apparel industry to talk about the massive disruption that is changing the way we interact with brands and apparel. My guest Matt Falcinelli, is the founder of TheDrop.com. Matt has leveraged more than 20 years of industry experience to prepare for what will be the iTunes of the apparel industry. On this episode we talk about the 5 ingredients of his go to market strategy. Social Influencers, Conversion funnel story telling, leveraging data, drawing on past domain experience, and learning from the customer.  There is a reason TheDrop has oversubscribed their first round and how they plan to revolutionize the apparel industry is worth a listen. 

These 4 traits are consistent among top performing sales executives and entrepreneurs. A segment taken from a keynote at Armor Pest Defense.

Luis Congdon went from sleeping on couches to making a six figure income through podcasting. This week on SalesFounders, we talk about why podcasting is such a powerful medium to establish authority and trust. We talk about how to leverage podcasting to find and qualify customers and how guest appearances can help you sell product and establish market presence. Luis is a podcast and social-selling guru and I am honored that he took time to let us in to his secrets to driving sales growth through podcasting.  For more information, visit www.salesfounders.com/blog  

An accomplished sales executive understands that “closing” starts before the sale begins. Persuasive closing tactics will have little impact if they lack the core tenants of effective communication and rapport. In fact, your level of confidence, product knowledge, and persistence will have more of an impact on performance than the most eloquent closing scripts. Selling is a number game and your goal should be finding the most efficient way to close sales. Here are 6 keys to get your started:  6 Keys to Close More Sales Confidence:  Believe in yourself, your product, and your customer. Selling can be intimidating. Focus on the outcome and where you already have confidence.  Assumptive:  You’re always closing –  success starts with the belief that you have already won.  Preparation:  Know your value, rebuttals to customer objections, and integrate several closes into your sales flow.  Initiative:  Be proactive, work hard, and ask for your customers’ business. Selling is a numbers game.  Persistence:  You’ve go

The most expensive capital a founder will ever raise is the first round of equity. An early equity round can be a harsh reality check for a founder considering whether to bootstrap or face dilution. The good news is there are other options to consider. In fact, there are ways for early stage startups to obtain funding without having to sacrafice equity. One approach is called Revenue Based Financing (RBF), and happens to be the  specialty of my guest, Chris Russell.  Chris has extensive experience as both an operator and investor; having been involved with dozens of startups. Chris founded GSD Capital in 2010 to invest in early-stage Mountain West startups. He was also the founder of WestHost where he grew the company to 80,000 clients in over 130 countries by the time it was sold to the UK2Group in 2008.  On this episode we explore the concept Revenue Based Financing. How does it work? Who is it for? And why is it such an appealing alternative to early-stage debt financing or venture capital? We also explo

As a follow-up to the 4 Pillars of Online Marketing, this week's Mastery episode focuses on how to pick the right marketing and SEO firm for you business, as well as what you should expect for results and costs. Without a background in web development and SEO, it is extremely difficult for entrepreneurs to create a competitive online presence. At some point, you will need to enlist some professional help to build a powerful lead-generating engine. As you consider your options, here are a few expectations and warnings signs to guide you in your decision.   For more information, visit www.salesfounders.com  

Online marketing is one of the most cost effective strategies to attract leads and drive revenue. The challenge is that most entrepreneurs get it wrong as they attempt to develop it themselves. This week, Voxxy Marketing founders, Michael Clark and Justin Taylor join me to explore the 4 key components to your online presence: your website, content, SEO, and paid strategies. We walk through the steps to leverage each component into a cohesive strategy that will have a magnetic impact on your target audience.   

When it comes to lead strategy, efficiency is the key to success. On this episode of mastery, we explore the reasons most startups struggle with lead strategy, the key components of a winning lead strategy, and a few cautions and best practices to you develop or refine yours.     

A crowdfunding campaign has become one of the most powerful, and competitive, platforms for entrepreneurs to introduce products to the market. The challenge is that less than 20% of campaigns succeed and most of those fall short of reaching their potential. This week, SalesFounders pulls the curtain on America’s leading crowdfunding marketing agency, funded.today. Co-founder Zach Smith joins us to talk about the secrets of crowdfunding and how his team has their clients raise more than $135 million in crowdfunding pledges. With hundreds of successful campaigns in their portfolio, funded.today knows exactly what it takes to create a successful launch strategy, get featured on trending lists, manage a mid-campaign pivot and the 7 p’s that will give your campaign the edge needed to stand out in the crowd.  For more information, visit www.salesfounders.com/blog

The mentor dynamic is a key component of success, especially when it comes to entrepreneurship. Too many entrepreneurs embrace the "lone-wolf" strategy with a fierce independence and desire to grind it out alone. The reality is that every entrepreneurial success story is built upon a network of relationships, advocates, mentors, and supporters.  "No individual has sufficient experience, education, native ability, and knowledge to ensure the accumulation of a great fortune without the cooperation of other people."-Napoleon Hill

Narrowing your startup into a specific niche might seem counter-intuitive in the early stages of development. "What if I get it wrong?" "How can I possibly say no to willing customers?" This is a narrative familiar to most founders, especially during the pivotal stages of validation. The truth is that finding a niche is the only way to differentiate yourself in today's noisy market. Playing it safe just doesn't work anymore, and my guest, Nick Wood shares how hard work, sales mastery, and a passion for entrepreneurship have evolved into a niche platform known as Kholo.  Talking Points  The value of hard work - Setting big goals and how to double down.  Making the transition from sales to entrepreneurship How to convert a customer pain into a viable startup Validating your solution through customers and channel partners Finding your niche - embracing feedback and being willing to pivot Knowing your strengths and how to leverage them How to create messaging that resonates with your customer Sales challenges

This might be the perfect case study on the topic of crowdfunding and the lean startup. My guest is Bryson Hill, co-founder and CEO of Daplie, a startup that offers the internet's first personal at-home cloud server that anyone can set up and use. Their mantra is to "Take back the internet" and Bryson joins us to share the exciting trajectory that is going to fundamentally change the internet.  Daplie is also the first company to launch simultaneous equity and reward crowdfunding campaigns. On this episode, we are going to dig into the founding story of Daplie in context of the lean startup method. We’ll talk about the pros and con’s of crowdfunding, and the secret sauce that has enabled Daplie to hit a grand slam in their first inning!

“More than 90% of startups fail, due primarily to self-destruction rather than competition. For the less than 10% of startups that do succeed, most encounter several near death experiences along the way.”  - Startup Genome This week, we take a closer look at the causes of startup failure. Considering that 70% of failures are attributed to premature scaling, it's imperative that entrepreneurs understand the startup framework as well as the red flags and warning signs of premature scaling.   For more information, visit www.salesfounders.com/blog

Episode Summary  Entrepreneurship seems to be commonly associated with stigma of crazy hours, high stress, and a constant need for multi-tasking. Ironically, these are three of the most devastating forces to your productivity and success. The reality is that most of us misuse the the most powerful asset we have - our brain! James Garrett is the creator of Brain by Design, a coaching and consulting company that translates what scientists know about the brain into practical tools that anyone can use to increase their creativity, decrease stress, and be more productive. James joins us this week to explore the brain-science of entrepreneurship and tackle 7 commonly adopted myths of entrepreneurship and explain how to leverage the power of your brain to boost productivity, creativity, and success. Talking Points On this episode we discuss: Why hard work is not always the best way to ensure productivity. Understanding the executive and creative modes of your brain. How your Brain reacts to Stress.  The power of

This week, we take a closer look at the stages of startup growth. Entrepreneurs who discipline themselves to follow proven methods of validation and growth can drastically reduce the threats of premature scaling. In episode 1, Paul Ahlstrom suggested that "premature scaling is often a result of doing many of the right things, in the wrong order." Join us as we explore the objectives and blindspots that face entrepreneurs in each stage, as well as the resources available to help you define your startup roadmap.    For more information, visit www.salesfounders.com    

One of the biggest hurdles facing entrepreneurs is raising capital! It's hard enough to decode the red tape and fine print of most investment vehicles, not to mention the unlikely chance you will find yourself in a position where the amount of equity or "skin" required justifies the capital offered. With over $531 billion dollars funding startups in the US each year, it's time we explore some strategies to give some leverage to entrepreneurs.     My guest this week, Leo Kanell, is the founder of Fundwise capital and author of the business funding formula. Leo is passionate about providing funding tools, startup education and growth solutions for entrepreneurs. Leo and his team have helped secure over $150 Million in funding for clients across the country. The best part, is his strategies are focused on helping entrepreneurs retain equity and control of their companies. On this episode, Leo walks through the common pitfalls of early stage funding and explains how he helps entrepreneurs gain the understanding a

Who you are is a direct result of the questions you ask! Asking is at the foundation of every great opportunity. The problem is that most people aren't thinking big enough. There is a limitless supply of success, fortune, abundance, and happiness all around you. The only way to get it, is to ask for it.  "Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers." –Tony Robbins For more information, visit us at www.salesfounders.com/blog