Are you ready to unlock the secrets to successful sales strategies and go-to-market plans?

In this episode of “The Sales Evangelist Podcast,” host Donald Kelly speaks with Hannah Ajikawo, a seasoned sales professional with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Hannah shares invaluable insights into understanding the B2B buyer journey, setting up go-to-market infrastructure, and optimizing sales processes to drive higher deal value.

She also reveals the essential elements of a winning sales strategy plan and uncovers the secrets behind successful sales initiatives. Tune in now to discover proven strategies and insider tips that will propel your business to new heights!

Hannah's Professional Journey

• Hannah provides an overview of her rich professional background, emphasizing her extensive career in sales. 
• Her professional journey spans from prominent global corporations to disruptive startups. 
• Notably, she shares her experience of working with an AI company in 2011, showcasing her early engagement with groundbreaking technologies and go-to-market strategies.

The Evolution of AI Technology

• Drawing from her experience with an AI company, Hannah recounts her involvement in selling visionary AI solutions to leading B2B information providers. 
• She elaborates on the groundbreaking nature of their tool, highlighting its potential to automate data processes and generate substantial value for businesses, including a memorable interaction with Google.

Sales Strategy Planning

• Donald and Hannah discuss the importance of developing a strategic sales plan for the quarter, emphasizing the need for meticulous planning, especially for deals with substantial value. 
• Hannah provides actionable advice, stressing the significance of understanding prospects' budgeting cycles and planning interactions well in advance to align with their financial timelines.

Territory Management and Strategic Approach

• Hannah outlines the strategic approach required for sales territory management, encouraging sales professionals to adopt a CEO mindset when structuring their territories. 
• She emphasizes the importance of identifying white spaces, key customers, and optimal use cases to streamline the sales process and drive meaningful results.

Seasonal Budgeting Cycles

• Addressing the challenges of seasonal budgeting cycles, Hannah emphasizes the value of nurturing relationships and delving deeper into buyers' experiences within their organizations. 
• She shares insights into discovering discretionary budgets and leveraging CEO's wallets to drive successful deals, emphasizing the need to build rapport and acquire nuanced knowledge about buyers' capabilities.

Hannah Ajikawo shares valuable insights on developing a killer sales strategy plan to set you up for success in your sales endeavors. Her wealth of experience as a career salesperson and go-to-market consultant shines through as she shares practical tips and strategies for sales professionals and organizations alike.

If you're ready to revolutionize your sales approach and take your game to the next level, then this episode is a goldmine of actionable advice. Tune in now to gain valuable knowledge that can transform your sales approach and drive remarkable results.

“If you have a deal value of over 15 K, you must know your prospect's budgeting cycle period. No matter how strong your value proposition is, it doesn't matter how much they love you or how many of these panels and YouTube videos you watch, or whatever you watch. If they physically cannot get the budget because everything is clocked in, particularly above fifteen K and above, it will be so hard to try and sell to them in that quarter.” - Hannah Ajikawo.

Resources

Hannah Ajikawo on LinkedIn

Sponsorship Offers

1. This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot.

With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales.

2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn.

Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse.

3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation.

Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin.

Credits

As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We’d love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.