Jake Kim

“Lack of visibility is the enemy of revenue.” Joe Vitalone (Strategic Advisor, Extreme Networks) said this on a recent Clari webinar. And I couldn’t agree more. Without visibility, CROs and revenue leaders: - Miss critical deal insights that could help prevent slippage or loss. - Struggle to set accurate forecasts because they don’t have a full view of the pipeline. - Lose alignment as marketing, sales, and customer success aren’t operating from the same data. - Fail to spot revenue leaks early, allowing problems to grow unnoticed. Visibility isn’t optional for revenue professionals — it's a must-have.

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Everyone in your revenue org has a different view of what's going on. Learn how to leverage it: VPs: “We’re tracking behind on our Q3 revenue target. We need to increase our ACV by doubling down on Enterprise opportunities.” Sales Managers: “We’re tracking behind our Q3 revenue target. We don’t have enough opportunities to double down on. We need to increase our outbound activity to drive pipeline.” Account Executives: “I’m behind on my Q3 target. Building more pipeline isn’t going to help me this quarter. I need to close at least 50% of my open opportunities to get back on track (even though my average is 25%).” Same Problem. 3 Completely Different Approaches. If you work in revenue enablement, you have the unique opportunity to be a bridge between team members at every level. Here’s what that sounds like… To VP’s: “If we want to increase our team’s ACV by moving up market, we’ll need to audit how we qualify opportunities and make sure we’re getting the right stakeholders involved in discovery. Do you have time to collaborate on a new rubric for our SDR’s and AE’s to qualify champions? I’d expect this to take about 3 months before we start seeing consistent results. Is there any opportunity to focus on mid-market win rate in the meantime?” [Once approved, go to your sales managers] To Sales Managers: “I understand we need more activity, but until our reps are identifying the right people to get on a call, it’s going to be wasted effort. Leadership is working on a new qualification framework for next quarter, but in the meantime, you can still hit your target by focusing on moving more of your existing pipeline in S2 & S3 into later stages in the sales cycle. What are some high-value deals that you feel are stuck right now?” [Then, go to your reps] To Sellers: “Your managers have identified some deals that are stuck in the early stages of the sales cycle. In the past, I’ve noticed you tend to use discounts as a lever to push deals through faster. How would you go about advancing these deals if you weren’t able to discount them at all?” By taking the time to listen to different perspectives from across the org, Enablement becomes a force multiplier that get’s everyone moving towards the same goal.

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ZoomInfo Copilot is working 24/7 — surfacing important updates you should know about your top accounts.  With breaking alerts delivered via Slack, you'll never miss when a buying group shifts or a key account spikes on intent. 🔔 Have a question about one of your accounts? Ask Copilot's interactive, AI-powered chat and get answers in seconds.  Ready to give Copilot a try? Request a demo: bit.ly/3Kj4myP #ZoomInfoCopilot

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Are you building an SDR/BDR function? Stop what you are doing and read this. Megan Hardy is some you need to learn from - I’m stoke I get to learn from her EVERYDAY She’s really brilliant. She’s freaking cool. She’s got a fire to win like no other. She’s a builder. She’s a wife and mother with an awesomely cool family……..ask Chester Hardy….he’ll agree 😁 She cares about her people……..but doesn’t put up with nonsense. She done this multiple times….. She’s been an SDR (multiple times), AE (multiple times), run enablement (multiple times)…… Built a kickbutt SDR/BDR organization multiple times……… Read the dang thing….. She knows her stuff……. https://lnkd.in/gFG7qSem. #sdr #bdr #sales #saas #enablement #rockstar #leadership #restauranttech #wfm #leader

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Pipeline Heroes use scripts in cold calls. Scripts that induce: Curiosity Dont target the meeting as the only purpose of the call Scale follow-ups and next actions for those in ICP, but not in market Treat conversations as reconnaissance and a cornerstone of a relationship with a stranger PipelineHeroes use scripts because they are professionals and want to be Accountable Measurable Scientific

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At the Gainsight conference last week, I had several folks ask me some version of "everyone used to talk about adoption....now everyone says that it's just about outcomes and ROI. What's your take?" It is and has always been about both. Can you get ROI without adoption? No. Is adoption by itself sufficient to guarantee value realization? Also no. You have to have adoption of the right capabilities that tie to customer business priorities with attached measurable outcomes. That is and has always been the formula. This is easy to say, really hard to implement and manage at scale. Which is why very few companies do it.

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When it comes to new business leads, we know speed matters, but if you’re not truly optimizing the hand off between your SDRs and AEs, you might be missing a huge opportunity. And not just where you think. At ZoomInfo, we’ve spent years developing and refining our model for this function. We have a 5-level scoring system that takes into account everything from inbound channel, to job title and firmographics. We’re not just solving for the highest possible win rates and ASP. We’re actively matching the inbounding prospect with the rep who is the most equipped to provide the best possible customer experience at that precise moment – down to the minute. And here’s the kicker – this isn’t just great for our customers. It’s great for our reps. With this process, we can balance lead flow across AEs to give everyone an equal opportunity to hit their number. We can also track rep's performance against the expected outcomes of the leads they receive, enabling coaching and segment adjustments. The goal is to optimize not just "speed to lead to close," but overall efficiency and outcomes, matching the right leads to the right reps at the right time. Check out Brian Vital's Speed to Lead insights from the SDR perspective here 👉  https://lnkd.in/gW3s7ccS   

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David’s S&M as a % of net new ARR is basically the same thing as net new CAC ratio and at 2.3x it’s running high. Even if you back out stock-based compensation (SBC) it’s still running above 2.0x. And these are best-in-class public companies. But despite historical comparisons is 2.0x too much to pay for a $1 of new ARR? It depends, mostly on expansion potential and stickiness. If paired with a high NRR, it works. If paired wtih a low GRR or a short CLT then it might well not. But, more than anything, make sure you look at it both ways — relative to past norms and relative to future value.

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Public SaaS sales efficiency metrics continued to UNINSPIRE in Q1 Our focal point as always: How much Sales & Marketing dollars are spent to acquire $1 of Net New ARR This figure has exploded from ~$1.50 two years ago… to ~$2.30 last year. As for Q1?  More of the same!  Barely moved.. (The chart also shows the same metric removing Stock-Based Compensation from S&M – a better benchmark for privates, since SBC is ~0 for them.) Stay tuned for more Q1 benchmarks and a tally of winners and losers. #SaaS #Metrics #Benchmarks #GTM

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The path to $10MM ARR is about finding your repeatable, scalable sales motion. The formula is simple, but not easy. It looks like this: Effort + Enthusiasm + Messaging + Lead Quality = Results When you are scaling a sales team, your job is to manage the inputs. Those are the things on the left side of this equation. If you can reduce the variability of the inputs, you will have more consistent results. Put another way. Consistent inputs leads to consistent outputs. Let's break it down... 1. Effort is the driver for your sales performance. You cannot scale without consistent effort. Effort includes the velocity of sales activity (phone calls, emails, meetings, etc.). Effort also includes the way that you execute your sales activity. This is your sales process and sales playbook. You can improve the quality of your effort with learning and development. 2. Enthusiasm is an amplifier for your effort. You have to act like you want to earn the business. A little enthusiasm goes a long way in closing more business. I've found that you can't teach enthusiasm. You must hire for it. 3. Messaging is how you get prospects to believe what you believe. Your messaging is your value prop. It's how you approach your ICP. It's the way that you convince customers that their current version of the world is no longer acceptable and they must make a chance. The best messaging illustrates the consequences of inaction. 4. Lead quality drives your conversion rate You have to stay focused on your ICP. The more variable your lead quality, the more inconsistent your sales results. The best effort, enthusiasm, and messaging are helpless if you are focused on the wrong accounts. This is the formula for predictable, repeatable, scalable sales. Manage the consistency of your inputs and you will have consistent outputs. What about you? What's your formula for repeatable results?

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With quota attainment at 42.7% in Q2-24 (RepVue data), your comp plans matter more than ever. We hosted Gabe Rothman on #RevOps Lab to chat about about comp planning for complex scenarios. CONTEXT Background on Rescale: - Consumption pricing - Margin on deals fluctuate - Customer buy credits over time - Spend fluctuate The context above can create very complicated comp plans. Instead, Gabe and his team choose to what he refers to 1st principles: - Limit complexity - Be outcome oriented - Don’t overcommit - Bend reality to your will The outcome 1. Comp on bookings (new logo, expansion, renewals) - Easy to understand - Transparent 2. Hedge P&L risk for company - Compensation isn't a contract - Opt-out clause for deals where margin creates business risks 3. Excellence in Ops & Finance - Finance & Ops predict margin via Deal Desk - Commission is based on key business fundamentals - Reduces complexity for AEs Any tips on comp plans worth sharing? Comment 👇 -- 🔊 Listen to the full episode - link to RevOps Lab in my profile ♻ Share with your friends Thanks for sharing those invaluable lessons w/ our audience, Gabe! #revops #saas

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While ATO attacks vary depending on time of year, ATO never goes away. There are a lot of fascinating new attack types that Forter's Doriel Abrahams is watching, from the use of generative AI to the new sophistication and use of deep fakes. Fraudsters are interested in new technologies and experimenting with ways they can be used to make theft easier, faster and more lucrative. At the same time, fraud fighters can’t afford to take their eye off the ATO ball. Fraudsters aren’t slacking off on the tried and true attack methods, and as long as they still work, they probably never will. Get the full scoop on ATO via Forter's latest blog. 👇

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Great conversation with Joey Brodsky! Definitely one of the sharpest guys I know. I love his passion, drive and unique perspectives. I have followed his podcast for a long time and was super happy to be able to be a guest. I will share more insights from our time together but wanted to post a quick thank you to Joey and share the episode. #NextGenSales

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I was fortunate to spend a year in Dan Fougere's sales org at Medallia and learned at a rate I've never experienced at any other point in my career. Some of my key takeaways, which he also shares in this conversation. ➡️ A repeatable sales process/playbook is the foundation for scaling an Enterprise business. ➡️ The best Enterprise reps hone and maintain maniacal discipline around PG. They never let it fall off their calendar. ➡️ The most effective frontline managers spend more time coaching and supporting their team early in the sales process (i.e. Discovery & Evaluation) than they do in the later stages (i.e. Negotiation/Closing). Without explicit guidance from 2nd and 3rd line leaders, most tend to get this balance wrong. ➡️ Sales leaders (at all levels) have to be 'in it' with their teams i.e., involved in outbound prospecting, regularly speaking with customers, playing an active role in deals, being audible ready etc.. ➡️ One of your core responsibilities as a sales leader is to create a high performance environment where people feel like they are challenged, constantly learning, and being supported to achieve things they didn't think were possible (securing C-Level meetings via outbound PG, winning 8 figure deals, earning international career opportunities etc). If you work in sales, this Podcast is well worth an hour of your time. #sales #salesenablement #coaching #salesleadership

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The software PE model of Vista, Thoma Bravo, etc. is fundamentally flawed. ​ Buying legacy market leaders in B2B SaaS categories, raising prices, offshoring a % of R&D, buying adjacent products you can cross-sell, etc. etc. - doesn't work that well anymore. ​ It might have worked from ~2000-2015. ​ But it doesn't work in the modern era of software and AI. Markets are too competitive and technology is changing too quickly. ​ --- ​ Vista founder Robert Smith's thesis- "Software contracts are better than first-lien debt. A company will not pay the interest on its first lien until after they pay its software maintenance or subscription fee. We get paid our money first. Who has the better credit?" ​ The problem with this premise is that software contracts have much shorter duration on average than debt. The typical loan duration in private credit is 5-7 years. ​ The avg. enterprise software contract is 1-3 years. But in SMB and mid-market, it's rare to see contracts much longer than one year. Many companies with month-to-month contracts. Not to mention usage based pricing. ​​ Additionally, there's a lot more liquidity in B2B software than their used to be. Software is easier to build. Markets are more competitive. Customers have more choices. And LLMs make migrations easier than they used to be. ​ The most under-discussed flaw in this thesis is that it treats the customer as a captive audience. Prisoners to your mission critical product that they can't live without. ​ Software companies usually win by building a great product that solves a meaningful problem. It's trite to say, but this only happens if you're customer obsessed. Once you lose that, you become extremely vulnerable to up-starts that will obsess over the customer. No one that views their customers as debtors is going to be customer obsessed. ​ This is less of an issue in commodity products / industries like CPG. Oreo's in 2024 are pretty damn similar to Oreos in 1987. But technology is constantly changing. State of the art software in 2010 is miles behind what people are doing in 2024. ​​ Distribution and brand moats can protect your legacy products for a while (esp in enterprise) but eventually you get lapped by competitors with better products, service, pricing, etc. ​ Buying other products doesn't fix this either. The answer to customer problems is not to buy other products and jam them together with your existing solution just so you can call yourself a platform company (rather than point solution). ​ Software is too competitive and changes too fast for this model to work in 2024. ​ Anyone competing with incumbents recently purchased by private equity (like we are) knows exactly what I'm talking about.

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Amplitude Announces Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results: - Second quarter revenue of $73.3 million, up 8% year over year - Annual Recurring Revenue of $290 million, up 8% year over year - Number of customers representing $100,000 or more of ARR in Q2 grew to 547, an increase of 10% year over year This quarter was all about meeting our customers where they are. In Q2 we took our Snowflake Native offering GA, doubled down on our open ecosystem, and unveiled a self-serve portal that makes it easier than ever to integrate with Amplitude. To our customers, partners, and Ampliteers, thank you! Your trust, partnership, and hard work is invaluable! #PLG #ProductLedGrowth #DigitalAnalytics #ProductAnalytics #Retention #Acquisition #Monetization

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Whew. The last few years in SaaS sales have been turbulent. Longer deal cycles, disappearing budgets, HUGE buying committees, and so much "consolidation." Strategic sell betweens and ROI proof are now critical to every deal, no matter the size. Two-thirds of sellers (67%) said a deal of theirs has suffered or been slowed down because they couldn’t produce relevant, specific customer evidence in a timely manner. I'm THRILLED to announce that UserEvidence has launched UserEvidence ROI Studies to help folks get quantifiable proof, backed by real customer outcomes and third-party verification, without the hefty analyst price tag or long wait. Details in comments below.

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Quick thoughts on AI in Sales... I'm here at a sales enablement conference where so many folks are talking about the power of AI to scale. I'm talking to vendors showcasing their tools. But as a Sales Leader - I see 2 massive holes leading to one conclusion. 1) Using AI to draft emails pulling from you content focuses every email about your product - NOT THE CUSTOMER. No connection to the persona, the customer market, the customer's objectives. Yes, it pulls from what works based upon data, but an email or message shouldn't work "at scale" - it should work once. 2) AI Call Coaching. A very slick demo of an AI bot pretending to be a customer. But fails the human connection. The responses are robotic, simplified, cold. The best reps intuitively MIRROR their customers. If we have a young sales person training with this program, we are training them to either a) mirror a robot, or b) training them to avoid mirroring. The conclusion - we are homogenizing our teams... It'll work for a while as the AI follows the data, but then customers will recognize it and reject it. Just like all the other automated emails inboxes everywere. But this time, the customer will see it in the calls, too. My two cents... Give me thoughts - does AI improve the craft? or are we turning sales reps into robots?

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Want to elevate your sales game and win over C-suite executives? 📈 Learn from the best with ZoomInfo's top sales tips, including insights from our CEO and Founder, Henry Schuck!  Discover the definitive guide to selling to the C-suite in 2024: bit.ly/4aSCL3i

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