How to Stack the 2017 'Building Blocks of Sales'

BY Jessica Helinski
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With a new year come new trends — especially in the world of selling. January is a good time to reflect on the state of your sales and examine emerging trends that may have an impact on future sales. Pipedrive blog recently gathered thoughts from eight industry professionals, and author A.J. O’Connell noted a common insight. “Despite the proliferation of technology aimed at helping salespeople do their jobs, more and more sales organizations are returning to the building blocks of sales.”

She notes that despite a return to sales basics, technology will still play a big role in sales. Many of the experts shared hopes for even more technology in sales in 2017, including emphasis on:

  • Social selling
  • Sales enablement
  • Artificial intelligence (AI)
  • SMS text messages

For example, Max Altschuler, CEO and Founder of Sales Hacker, Inc., believes that success in 2017 will require a marriage of traditional and “new” selling: “In 2017, I think we’ll see more adoption of technology in the sales process but also a full circle of sorts. More and more people will emphasize phone training and direct mail and other ways to set themselves apart from the rest of the sales reps…I especially like the role of texting in the sales process and am interested to see where that goes.”

Check out the entire article to read all of the professionals’ insights. Then, consider how these trends can fit into your strategy. Does your 2017 sales plan strike a balance between old-​school techniques and digital tools? Are there any predictions that you feel are off the mark? Taking notes from the past and looking ahead to emerging trends sets a solid foundation for success in 2017!


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