SalesFuel’s 7^th annual “State of Media Sales™” survey exposes contradictions in a transforming industry

 The latest release of the study shows while media sales/​executive managers are optimistic about big sales growth this year, the pressures of churn and corporate goals for 2016 are placing maximum stress on sales teams.

These are just some of the findings in SalesFuel’s “State of Media Sales” survey. SalesFuel, a leading firm of sales, marketing and management strategists, surveyed more than 1,000 sales professionals in the 7^th year of this survey. Here are some of the explosive findings:

• Even excluding political sales in this hot election year, 84% forecast some revenue growth in 2016,, with 43% expecting 6%+ growth.
• 54% of reps and 58% of mangers say it’s becoming harder to meet corporate expectations.
• The ramped up pressure is taking its toll on both management and their employees. 41% of media sales managers say it is getting harder to motive their sales staff. Likewise, 3 in 10 media sales reps ALSO say it’s getting harder for them to get/​stay motivated.
• Respondents expect digital revenue to account for an average of nearly 23% of total sales revenue by the end of 2016. Newspaper sales managers forecast the highest digital share at 33%.

SalesFuel CEO C. Lee Smith recommends that “All new hires should be technically proficient and very comfortable with search engines, social networks and mobile apps. Legacy reps who stay on board must receive extensive retraining on digital and be given specific sales quotas on your digital products. Traditional media pays the bills today. Digital revenue is your company’s future (or lack thereof).” — See more at: http://​mediasalestoday​.com/​s​t​a​t​e​-​m​e​d​i​a​-​s​a​l​e​s​-​2​0​1​6​-​r​e​v​e​n​u​e​s​-​i​n​c​r​e​a​s​e​-​d​i​g​i​t​a​l​-​e​x​p​e​c​t​a​t​i​o​n​s​-​h​i​g​h​/​#​s​t​h​a​s​h​.​H​1​2​z​P​p​8​v​.​d​puf

The “TEN Ways Media Sales Managers Are PREVENTING Sales” white paper includes much more valuable data about what’s happening in real time in this space. The final report, which you can download HERE, offers practical solutions from SalesFuel regarding the following challenges:

• Use of data in deal-​specific coaching techniques
• Sales staff churn
• Management serving only as coach and not another player
• Vetting and assessing candidates (professional and sales acumen)
• Account retention emphasis and strategy
• Better compensation programs to aid staff satisfaction and retention