Alfie Downing

Rules Every SDR Should Follow for Success Being an SDR isn’t just about hitting targets - it’s about following the right principles. Here are 4 rules every SDR should keep in mind: 🔳 Personalise everything. 🚀 No one likes generic outreach. Do your due diligence, make sure you know who and why you're calling. 🔳 Follow up & stay organised 📞 Keep track of everything & make sure you finish the day with no loose ends. 🔳 Listen more, talk less. 👂 The key to discovery? Asking and listening. You'd be surprised at the amount of SDR's that answer their own questions. 🔳 Learn from every “no.” ❌ Rejection isn't failure - it’s feedback. Try to adopt the mindset of 'what can I learn from this?' These are the foundations that can turn a good SDR into great one. Following these rules will help you build the skills that you need to progress.

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CS leaders ☝ What's stopping your teams from starting renewal conversations earlier? Something I’m hearing a lot recently from Customer Success leaders, is they are realising they need to be looking at renewals up to 6 months ahead if they want to make an impact on account health before it’s too late to save. Seems to be especially important right now as a high percentage of renewals tend to happen in Q4 as Sales love to get a last minute deal in! #customersuccess #csleaders #customersuccessleaders #csm

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I've spoken with clients recently that have struggled to secure talent for their SDR teams. Unnecessarily lengthy interview processes, amongst general market conditions seems to be the main culprit for this. With attrition rates as high as they are, striking the right balance of thoroughly evaluating suitability and maintaining momentum in the process can be a tough one. Here's how I would structure a succinct 3 stage interview process that should cover off both: Stage 1 - Behavioral Interview with Talent Team/Hiring Manager via teams - Assessing Cultural Alignment/Understanding of the company - Opportunity to get to know the candidate Stage 2 - In person Sales Focused Interview with 2 x roleplays - Sales related questions to assess general understanding/competency - Roleplay #1 to assess ability to think under pressure, rejection handling etc - Roleplay #2 to assess coachability and willingness to take on feedback Stage 3 - Meet The Team / Informal Offer Realistically these 3 stages could be completed in 10-14 days tops, but does require a commitment from all parties to keep things moving. What are your thoughts?

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Sales bods! Here's a banging prompt structure to help optimise your sales calls using NotebookLM: "As an experienced sales professional, analyse this sales conversation and provide insights in the following areas: 1. Key decision drivers and timeline indicators 2. Budget discussions and financial parameters 3. Technical requirements and integration needs 4. Competitive positioning and objections raised 5. Next steps and action items" ------------------------------ "Please identify: - Critical pain points mentioned by the prospect - Specific product features that resonated - Areas where the prospect showed heightened interest - Potential roadblocks in the decision process" ------------------------------ "Based on this conversation: - Highlight opportunities for value demonstration - Suggest personalised follow-up points - Identify areas requiring additional information - Outline potential closing strategies" ------------------------------ "Structure the analysis as: - Executive Summary - Key Discussion Points - Risk Assessment - Opportunity Analysis - Strategic Next Steps" ------------------------------ "Extract and analyse: - Mentioned competitor products - Current solution limitations - Competitive advantages discussed - Price sensitivity indicators" Using NotebookLM's audio overview feature can help you review and refine your sales approach by listening to AI-generated conversations based on your meeting notes, helping you identify areas for improvement in your pitch and presentation. #AIinSales #B2BSales #SalesTechnology #SalesEnablement #BusinessDevelopment #SalesTips #SalesTools #NotebookLM

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FANGIRLING 😅 Had the best day yesterday at the LinkedIn HQ in London Farringdon 💙 with Lauren Reeves, Olivia C. & Emily Young from the Swap team. We were lucky enough to be invited in for a LinkedIn Sales Navigator Masterclass by the experts themselves 👑 Enric Szymborski, Steve Carroll & John Keegan. Thank you to the wonderful Keith Belton & Liz Caughey for having us! Can't wait to put all of the new tips & tricks we learnt to good use 🤓💙 #SalesNavigator #LinkedInHQ #TechSales

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What a Year for the Simpro & Bright Business Partnership! 🎉 It’s been an incredible year of collaboration and growth for the Simpro Software and Bright Business Advice partnership, and I couldn’t be happier to celebrate the milestones we’ve achieved together! The partnership is all about supporting trade and service businesses by combining Simpro’s leading job management software with Bright Business’s expert advice and strategic growth planning. Together, we’re helping businesses streamline operations, increase profitability, and plan for long-term success. Here’s a quick snapshot of what we’ve accomplished this year: ✅ Simpro sponsored and attended 3 Bright Business Mastermind events, connecting with forward-thinking leaders across the trades. ✅ We hosted our first joint webinar, sharing valuable insights on how businesses can scale efficiently using the right tools and strategies. ✅ Bright Business was a main sponsor of Simprosium London 2024, showcasing their commitment to driving excellence in the trade and service industries. It’s been a year of shared successes, and we’re just getting started. A huge thank you to Emerson and the Bright Business Advice team for making this partnership so impactful. Here’s to an even bigger and better 2025! 🚀 P.S Massive shoutout to James Cannon Lindsey Traub, and Emily Connaker for your support throughout the year! #Partnership #TradeIndustry #Simpro #BrightBusiness #Collaboration #BusinessGrowth

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Graduates, are you securing SDR interviews but struggling to land a great role? Here are 3 reasons why your interview technique isn’t working and what you can do to fix it ✅ 1️⃣You’re not being authentic! One of the best ways to stand out from other inexperienced candidates is to show off your personality & energy💥 Avoid reading from a script and let the interviewer get to know you as a person whilst showing off your skill set for the role 💪 2️⃣Failing to successfully link your experience and skill set back to the role at hand. Always try to bring everything back to why you’re now sat interviewing for SDR position 💫 3️⃣Not asking the right questions. You want to make the interviewer feel inspired by the questions you ask! So instead of focusing on culture and office hours, think commercially 🤯 Find out what you would need to know in order to be successful in the role 🚀 Any more advice for budding SDRs, I’d love to hear it in the comments! make the interviewer feel inspired by the questions you ask! So instead of focusing on culture and office hours, think commercially 🤯 Find out what you would need to know in order to be successful in the role 🚀

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As a BDR at Provident CRM, I see firsthand how important it is for businesses to have tools that are intuitive and easy to use. That’s why I’m excited to share SugarCRM’s Next-Gen UI update. This release is all about you, the user – with a sleek, unified design, colour-coded navigation to keep things simple, and a polished Dark Mode for an accessible, modern experience. It’s everything you need to work smarter, not harder. If you’re looking for a CRM that truly puts user needs first, let’s chat! #SugarCRM #UIUpdate #ProvidentCRM #CRMSolutions #UserExperience

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SPICE for Cold Calling pt. 3 🌶️ Following last weeks post on 'Situation' & 'Pain' - next I wanted to share the importance of IMPACT & urgency in discovery 🥊 Understanding the situation and pain is a start... but unless we uncover the IMPACT of the pain OR the IMPACT of not solving the pain, then where is the willingness for our prospects to change NOW? ⏱️ Impact can be broken down into two areas, both equally beneficial to learn: - Impact - Metric - Impact - Level Metrics are key to quantify the pain: "How much is this costing you?" 💸 "How long is this taking you?" 🕓 Levels are key to understanding who, and how, each person in the business is impacted: "How is this impacting YOU?" 🧍🏻‍♀️ "How is this impacting the TEAM?" 👫 "How is this impacting the BUSINESS?" 🏢 (Arguably the most important) If we can dig deep into our Impacts, and tie these to a 'Critical Event' in the business, we will build urgency and prioritisation from our Prospects 🏎️ 💨 And talking about Critical Events, let's dig into this next week! 👀 What other Impact questions are people asking? 🤔 #salesenablement #coldcalling

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💡TOP TIP TUESDAY💡 Considering here at Amberes we currently have 28 live SDR positions, I thought I'd share a few tips for individuals looking to kick-start their Sales career. Here are some tips to help you stand out in the competitive job market: 📝Polish Your Profile: First impressions matter! Ensure there are no spelling mistakes on your LinkedIn profile or CV. A flawless profile reflects attention to detail, a crucial trait for any sales role. 🤝Transferable Experience: Highlight experiences that showcase your transferable skills for sales. Whether it's customer service, leadership roles in student organisations, or even retail experience, emphasize how these roles have honed your communication and persuasion skills. 🥇Show Your Competitive Edge: Employers love candidates who thrive on competition. Don't overlook your hobbies and extracurricular activities that demonstrate your competitive spirit. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, a chess player, or a trivia night champion, these experiences showcase your drive to win – a quality valued in sales. 🏆Demonstrate Achievement: Showcase your track record of success. Whether it's exceeding sales targets in a part-time job or achieving academic excellence, highlight instances where you've gone above and beyond. Employers want to see evidence of your ability to deliver results. 😁Let Your Personality Shine: Beyond your professional achievements, let recruiters get to know the person behind the CV. Share a bit about yourself – your passions, interests, and what motivates you. A personable profile helps recruiters connect with you on a deeper level. #Sales #SDR #CareerAdvice #RecentGraduates

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SDR/BDRs are you looking for your next role but not progressing to interview? It’s a tough job market right now so here are a few tips on how to be seen and stand out from the crowd:   - Sales is all about numbers – Include your targets and what you achieved on your LinkedIn profile AND your CV. - Include awards that you’ve won on your LinkedIn and CV. - Cold-calling and cold outreach is an important daily activity as a S/BDR. Call or Email the Hiring Manager and let them know that you’ve applied and why you would be a good fit. Qualify the opportunity just like you would a prospect. - Your CV should be clean and concise. Remove irrelevant information and keep within 1-2 pages. Add your LinkedIn URL. - Reach out to Recruiters (like me🙋🏻‍♀️) who can get you in front of the hiring teams quicker.   What do you guys think? I’d love to hear more ideas from you on how to stand out ⬇

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🚀 Curious about how BPO automation is impacting your industry and what your competitors are doing? Take part in our quick 5-minute survey. Your feedback will contribute to an understanding of BPO automation across various sectors in the UK. By participating, you'll gain early access to valuable findings that can help you benchmark your business against others in your industry. Don’t miss out on this chance to stay informed and ahead of the curve! 👉 Start the survey here: https://lnkd.in/e_QE3qGK #BPO #Automation #BusinessProcessOutsourcing #Survey

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👴🏼 Over 2.5million UK companies are still using PTSN copper-cabled phone lines (not cool, right?) 🤖 These phone systems will switched off next year, but luckily Aircall as a VoIP provider won't be impacted (cool, right?) Our latest blog post contains all the need to know information about the upcoming transition to a fully digital network including: 📞 The benefits for customer facing teams moving to a VOIP system 📞 How your business can prepare 📞 FAQs on switching to a VOIP system Check it out here 🔗 https://aircall.la/4asND7i #PSTN #UKCommunicationEvolution

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I’ve been seeing a lot of SDR job adverts looking for previous SDR experience...   I get it - sales leaders want quick results without having to develop new starters.   However, having started my career with no sales experience, there are several reasons to also consider early-career talent: > Reduced risk: Experienced SDRs often come with a high price tag and may not deliver as expected, costing time and money. > Short ramp-up time: With the right training, SDRs can be fully ramped in up to 3 months, similar to those with experience. > No bad habits: It's easier to train new hires without preconceptions, shaping them to your selling style. > Motivation: Early-career talent brings fresh energy and enthusiasm, eager to prove themselves. > Longevity: With an average tenure of 12-18 months, top experienced SDRs have often already progressed. Furza’s model enables you to hire early-career talent and turn them into successful salespeople, without impacting your resources or management time. If you're interested in how we can support you in building a high-performing SDR team, drop me a message! P.s. If you're ONLY looking for experience you would have missed out on us!

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‼️Employer National Insurance Contributions Set to Rise‼️ The employer National Insurance rate will increase from 13.8% to 15%, and the threshold for payments will drop from £9,100 to £5,000. This change poses significant financial challenges for UK businesses, particularly SMEs. Potential impacts include: - Hiring freezes - Reduced employee benefits and pensions - Lower wages and starting salaries - Potential redundancies How Pareto can help: By leveraging Pareto’s government-funded hiring options, businesses can avoid National Insurance fees for anyone hired under 25. We can continue to find you top talent, while alleviating the burden of increased contributions. Drop me a line if you'd like to discuss further 😊

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Gusto Italian has cracked the code with a loyalty strategy that’s achieved 31% higher table spend and 62% higher visit frequency in record time! Their secret? Acteol CRM. With personalised guest engagement and targeted offers, Gusto Italian created a programme that drives real results for both guests and revenue. Curious to see how they did it? Read the full case study for insights that could transform your approach to loyalty: https://ow.ly/bZhH50U901q #FreedomToDoMore #CustomerStory #ServingHospitality #Hospitality

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"We don't have the budget" One of the most common reasons (seemingly) qualified late-stage deals drop out. How can sales teams avoid this? Top of funnel: Target growing businesses, with significant cash on their balance sheet. It is costly for businesses to hold cash - they only do so when they are looking to make careful investments to continue their growth trajectory. Some great accounts to start with hand-picked by the Beauhurst team:

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Did you know that the disconnect between desk-free workers and management costs the UK economy over £340bn annually? In our recent webinar we have tackled this staggering issue head-on. This blog summaries some of our key industry insights taken from leaders Anwen Robinson, Paul Ridings and Mark Reddy, to help you discover actionable strategies to improve communication and collaboration, ensuring every worker feels valued and recognised in your organisation.: Dive in and learn how to start transforming your workforce management today. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e-gmEMhv #WorkforceManagement #Deskfree #Frontlineworkers #IndustryInsights

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