Friday, March 16, 2007

2007 Sales Effectiveness Study


After four straight years of economic expansion, companies are now developing and implementing plans to capitalize on changes in their competitive markets. The “Sales Effectiveness” study, fielded in Q4 2006 by MarketBridge in partnership with Sales & Marketing Management magazine, identifies the most effective sales strategies for maximum growth, while revealing major sales challenges going forward.

The insights of nearly 200 sales and marketing executives and managers generated some provocative findings, among them:
  • More than half of respondents said their sales forces spend 50 percent or less of its time actually selling. Furthermore nearly three-fourths said their sales forces spent 50 percent or less of its time in direct contact with customers.
  • Top three strategies for growth: Introducing new products or product extensions (45 percent); reorganizing the sales organization (39 percent); changing the focus on customer or market segments (35 percent). That said, exactly one-third said they had “high confidence” in their companies reaching their growth goals in 2007.
  • Greatest customer demands: Companies are strained to offer “new products at reduced prices,” and to follow up on those offerings with “better service.” Further, more than a third (34.7 percent) said they were just “somewhat prepared” to deliver on those customer demands.

The findings of the study will be highlighted in the May edition of Sales & Marketing Management magazine. For more informatin on the survey results please contact Mark Donnolo at MarketBridge mdonnolo@market-bridge.com.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Telecom Sales Effectiveness Study


Here's an upcoming Webinar you may be interested in joining

Telecom Marketing & Sales Outlook

Join industry experts for 30-minutes of informative discussion and audience interaction on marketing and sales challenges, strategies, trends and best practices in the telecommunications space.

What: Complimentary “Driving Telecom Marketing And Sales Effectiveness,” Webinar, presented by MarketBridge, Telephony Magazine and the Kellogg School of Management.

When: Tuesday, April 19, 2007, 1:00-1:30 p.m. (EST)

Who: Mark Donnolo, Senior Vice President of MarketBridge head of our Telecommunications Practice, Estelle Conover, VP Alliance Channels, AT&T Southeast, and moderator Dan O’Shea, editor-in-chief of Telephony Magazine

Why: This event is based on the first annual “Driving Telecom Marketing & Sales Effectiveness Survey,” which gathered insights from 350 marketing and sales executives and managers from 160 leading Telecom Carriers, Wireless Providers, Cable Companies and Equipment Manufacturers.

Topics to be discussed:

  • Focus on Enterprise, SMB, Consumer

  • Growth Strategies

  • Focus on Customers and Prospects

  • Key Challenges

How: To register (complimentary) click here

The “Driving Telecom Marketing & Sales Effectiveness” final report will be available for download on the day of the webinar. For a brief overview and interpretation of the key findings, listen to the podcast with MarketBridge’s Mark Donnolo and Telephony’s Dan O’Shea. We hope you will join us for what promises to be an informative event!