30 tips to improve your sales process

30 Tips To Improve
Your Sales Process
Expert Advice from 6 HubSpot
Sales Professionals

Table of
Contents
Introduction
How to get started in a new sales role
How to create an opportunity from
cold outreach
How to run a great product demo
How to handle objections and
negotiate a better deal
How to set your new customer up for
success
How to share knowledge among
your team
Conclusion
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2
4
6
8
10
12
14

1
Introduction
When it comes to creating an effective sales process, everyone does
things a little differently. Great salespeople are a unique combination of
tips and tricks that they have picked up from others and have developed
on their own throughout their career.
There is no one-size-fits-all salesperson. People who work in sales come from a variety
of backgrounds and experiences that have shaped the way they approach sales.
That’s why we’ve turned to the experts to share 30 tips from six of HubSpot’s sales
professionals.
Inside this ebook, you’ll learn from Julianne Lyne, a Senior Account Executive, how
to succeed in a new sales position. Darragh O’Sullivan, a Principal Account Manager,
will teach you how to run an effective demo and share the tips he’s learned along his
journey at HubSpot. Plus, many other sales professionals share how they’ve succeeded
in sales and how you can too.
Ready to grow your career in sales? Keep reading to learn HubSpot’s tips to transforming
your sales process.

2
Julianne Lyne
Senior Account Executive
How to get started in a new sales role
Not all salespeople are alike. And getting started in a new sales role
can be intimidating. No one knows this better than HubSpot’s very own
Julianne Lyne.
Before Julianne joined HubSpot as a Senior Account Executive, she travelled the world
as a Jameson Whiskey Brand Ambassador. Fresh out of University, she packed her bags
and travelled all the way to Brazil, putting her language skills to use by sharing the
Jameson brand with the community.
Once she found her way back to Ireland, however, she struggled to identify in which
field to continue her career. After reflecting on the skillset that she’d developed abroad
and identifying her motivators, she found the perfect career for her in Sales.
Julianne found herself a career she loved at HubSpot. However, it took a lot of growing,
self-reflecting, and motivation to be successful.
Now, three years later, Julianne in an expert at getting started in sales. Here are her five
key tips to consider when joining a sales organisation:
1. Be motivated to succeed
The number-one quality needed to succeed in a sales position is motivation. Working
in sales can be both challenging and rewarding in equal measure. If you’re a natural
self-starter, or want to become one, you’ll find work as a salesperson rewarding.


3
2. Absorb as much information as possible
When you join a new team, position, or company, being successful in sales is depended
on how much knowledge you can absorb. Work hard to understand the company
and products, and lean on management and your team members to learn from their
successes and failures.
3. Know when to ask questions
Salespeople are busy. When you join your first sales position, you will need to optimise
your time in order to succeed in your role. While you should rely on your team to learn
as much as possible, also be aware of when to ask questions. Self-serve when you can,
but don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
4. Be self-aware
Personal growth comes from acknowledging your weaknesses and taking steps to
further develop your missing skills. Consider practising calls with your colleagues,
recording your own calls with prospects, and use this insight to identify your weak spots
and improve them.
5. Be fearless
Taking calls as a new salesperson can be daunting. The best way to overcome this?
Jump right into the deep end and start talking to prospects. Not every call will be
perfect, especially at the start. But over time, you’ll rapidly improve your performance
by learning from your own mistakes and will become comfortable in your new role.
Becoming a great salesperson all comes down to your drive and motivation to be
remarkable. Reflect on your progress, work to develop new skills, and in no time at all,
you will find your footing within your sales organisation and grow a career that you’re
passionate about.

4
How to create an opportunity from cold
outreach
Even at the most inbound of companies, outbound prospecting plays a
role in the typical sales process. Crafting a great outreach strategy that
actually prompts a reply is a challenge salespeople face on a daily basis.
This is certainly true for Marcus Phelan, an Inbound Growth Specialist here at HubSpot.
Before joining the team in Dublin, Marcus trained to become a solicitor. However, upon
entering the field, he saw the opportunity to take his skill set and apply it to the exciting
world of Sales in the tech industry.
He was motivated to join the team at HubSpot after reading an inspiring article on
LinkedIn written by one of HubSpot’s sales team managers. Shortly after reading, he
applied to an open BDR role. Now, Marcus has been with the company for almost 4
years and is a Team Lead.
Marcus understands the power of social media first-hand. Today, he uses LinkedIn as a
key part of his sales process. Here are his top tips for nailing your cold outreach:
1. Go straight to LinkedIn
Salespeople can often feel frustrated when using email and phone calls to reach out
to cold prospects. However, LinkedIn is the most effective way to identify and connect
with potential opportunities. Use LinkedIn as your go-to-platform for cold outreach.
Marcus Phelan
Inbound Growth Specialist


5
2. Build your network up with potential opportunities
Diversify your LinkedIn network by connecting with potential and existing opportunities.
It’s a great way to get you and your brand in front of people who may want to buy from
you. Search for connections that make sense for your industry, region, and segment.
Also, be sure to connect with your inbound opportunities to grow your network further.
3. Do your research
When preparing your direct message for cold outreach on LinkedIn, do your research
on the company to spark a meaningful conversation. Understand the company’s
challenges and opportunities, and connect this back to how what you’re selling can
help them improve.
4. Provide value
Throughout your message, be sure to add value to the prospect by giving them
resources and information that will be helpful to them. Send them a link to a blog post,
ebook, or other pieces of content that will help them understand your business and
what you can do for them.
5. Be direct
Use your research to craft a direct message that gets to the point. You don’t want to
write an overcomplicated and drawn-out message because it is unlikely that you’ll
receive a response. Tell them directly who you are, what your business can do for them,
and why they should care. Always end with an open-ended question that encourages
your prospect to reply.
By following these tips, you’ll see your outbound sales efforts improve significantly.
You’ll have better conversations with these prospects that ultimately lead to sales for
your business.

6
How to run a great product demo
Sometimes, seeing truly is believing. Demos are one of the most effective
ways to show your prospect what your product can do and teach them
how it will enhance their professional or personal life. Running a great
product demo, however, can be more difficult than it appears.
Meet Darragh O’Sullivan, a Principal Account Manager for HubSpot’s midsize business
in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Before joining the team, Darragh worked for five
years in recruitment where he learned valuable skills that have helped him excel in his
current position. As a recruiter, he learned how to empathise with his prospects and
successfully read situations.
However, once he joined HubSpot, he quickly learned that while related, working
in recruiting and working in sales at a software company were two very different
challenges. He found himself well suited for identifying promising leads and having
great conversations with his prospects. However, once it came time to deliver a product
demo, Darragh was outside of his comfort zone and his demo to close ratio was not
where he would have liked it.
With some time,patience,and training,however,Darragh has become one of HubSpot’s
top-performing reps and has cracked the code to delivering effective demos. Here are
his top five tips:
1. Provide a summary at the start of the demo
By providing the value of your demo upfront at the beginning of the conversation,
you will ensure that your prospect is on board and understands what will and won’t be
Darragh O’Sullivan
Principal Account Manager


7
included in the demo. This way, you can ensure that your demo runs smoothly and stays
on track.
2. Personalise each demo
Each demo you give should be unique to the prospect your delivering it to. Based on
previous conversations and what you know about your prospect, feature the products
and tools that will help them be most successful.
3. Speak your prospect’s language
Do some research and understand exactly who it is that you’re talking to. Are you
speaking to someone who will have their hands in the product on a daily basis? Or are
you delivering a demo to a high-level business leader who is more focused on how a
product will improve their bottom line? Be sure to change your language accordingly.
4. Understand your prospect’s questions
Questions can throw you off course when giving a product demo. Rather than
immediately getting into a different feature at the prospect’s request, take a moment to
understand what exactly it is that they’re asking. Ask your prospect additional questions
to better understand where they are coming from and use this information to adjust
your demo accordingly.
5. Ask about the next steps in the prospect’s internal process
Finally, end the demo by understanding what the next steps look like. In other words,
figure out what may be holding them back from buying. Are they evaluating other
products? Is this product simply not a fit? Is it cost-related? Knowing this information
will help you determine the proper next steps in the conversation.
Giving a great product demo takes time to perfect. But with these tips, you’ll be
prepared to provide the product’s value upfront, speak your prospect’s language, and
close more deals as a result.

8
How to handle objections and
negotiate a better deal
Objections are a natural part of every sales process. From exploring
product features to negotiating price, navigating objections can be tricky.
It certainly was for Ben Kassiff, HubSpot’s Inbound Marketing Specialist for the Isreal
market. Prior to joining HubSpot, Ben studied psychology and always knew what he
wanted to work with people.
Ultimately, this led Ben to a career in sales. He’s worked in a number of different markets
for a variety of companies. However, all of his experiences share one common theme:
handling objections and negotiation is a crucial part of every sales process.
Ben has picked up many tips and tricks along the way that has helped him to become
one of HubSpot’s most successful salespeople. Here’s how he does it:
1. Isolate and address objections
It can be a common reaction to skim over a prospect’s objection. These are tough
conversations to have and it can be easier to simply move on from them. Don’t fall
for this trap. Make sure to isolate the root cause of you’re prospect’s objections and
address it head-on.
2. Objections are often a coverup for a different problem
Many prospects will use objections such as price restraints or timing issues to mask
the true reason they don’t want to buy what you are selling. Don’t simply accept these
Ben Kassiff
Inbound Marketing Specialist


9
surface-level objections and mark the opportunity as lost. Instead, ask for specific
feedback regarding your prospect’s experience. This will help you improve your sales
process going forward.
3. Sometimes, it simply isn’t the right time to buy
Not all objections can be turned around into a sale at that moment. Some objections
will be completely valid and a strong salesperson will be able to identify these moments
and keep track of these prospects for future opportunities. Set reminders for yourself
using a CRM or in your calendar to follow up with the prospect months in the future
when they might be ready to buy.
4. Always ask why
Objections and requests for discounts always have a reason behind them. If your
prospect is looking for a better deal than you’re offering,ask why they need this discount
in the first place. Use this intel to craft a strong business case to combat whatever may
be holding them back from purchasing.
5. You have to give in order to get
Once you have determined that your product is the right fit for your prospect, you and
your prospect are on the same side of the table. You both want the deal to go through,
so work together to make that happen. Find a middle ground that will be mutually
beneficial for both parties. For example, give the prospect the discount they want if
they’re able to agree to a longer contract.
These conversations are difficult to have. However, by identifying the root cause of your
prospect’s objections, objections and discounts will become easier to navigate as you
grow your career as a salesperson.

10
How to set your new customer up for
success
As a salesperson, it can be easy to worry only about the deal until it
closes and forget to set the foundation for a strong relationship with your
business throughout their onboarding process.
This is a challenge that Luke Curry, Team Lead for HubSpot’s Nordic regions, has
experienced himself.
Before joining HubSpot,Luke worked in investment banking.In this industry,he spent his
days finding good-fit opportunities to connect with their portfolio management team.
Much of his time was spent conducting outbound activities, and once he successfully
scheduled an exploratory meeting, he was on to the next call.
Once he joined HubSpot, however, he had to rethink his sales process strategy. The
technology industry demands a detailed onboarding experience after a sale is made.
Setting his new customers up for success was a new challenge for Luke.
But now, he is an expert at continuing a great sales experience even after the deal is
made. Here are his top tips for setting new customers up for success:
1. Manage expectations
Throughout the sales process, don’t oversell what your business can deliver. Be sure to
manage their expectations throughout the sales process. This will ensure that your new
customer has realistic expectations and has the greatest chance of having a positive
experience going forward.
Luke Curry
Team Lead


11
2. Communicate next steps clearly
Once a deal has been closed, it is important that you clearly communicate what they
can expect as the next steps. Explain to them who they will be in contact with, how they
will be contacted, onboarding timelines, and any other information that will help them
get started with their new product.
3. Know who will be impacted
The person that you sell to and the people who will be impacted by a purchase won’t
always be one-in-the-same. By understanding the organisational structure of your new
customer’s business, you’ll have the knowledge to identify who will need to be included
in the onboarding process.
4. Understand and influence the onboarding process
Know your onboarding process inside and out.This will not only help you communicate
next steps to your new customer, but it will help you to understand when to be involved
and send a check in to make sure everything is going smoothly. The success of the
customer’s onboarding reflects on your ability to find a good-fit company, so influence
how the onboarding process functions and get involved when needed.
5. Provide resources to the onboarding team
Lastly, keep detailed notes throughout the sales process that your onboarding and
customer success teams will find valuable. This is your opportunity to pull together
everything that you have done throughout the process and hand over this information to
the next team. By empowering the team with org structures, reasons the new customer
is a good-fit opportunity, and previous conversations, you’ll ensure that the other teams
in your company have everything they need to successfully care for your new customer.
The sales process doesn’t stop with a sale. Continue to maintain the relationship with
your new customer as needed to guarantee their success.

12
How to share knowledge among your
team
While sales can be a very competitive field, sales organisations should be
aligned around helping each other learn, grow, and succeed.
Learning from others and growing as a sales professional is something that has been
pivotal to Robert Jones’ success as an Inbound Growth Specialist here at HubSpot.
Before joining the team, Robert worked in a number of roles for a variety of companies
in countries all over the world. From recruiting to business development to sales, Robert
has done a lot in his career thus far.
Throughout his work experiences, Robert realised early on that learning from others
has been pivotal to his success.
Robert has never stopped learning. In his career at HubSpot, he has contributed greatly
to building a collaborative and supportive environment rooted in knowledge sharing.
Here are his tips on how to share knowledge among your team:
1. Start a film club
This isn’t your typical movie marathon. This is an opportunity for your team to come
together and share their successes and failures. Team members come prepared with a
short segment of a previous call they recorded, and the rest of the team will watch and
provide feedback. This is a great way to learn from other team member’s processes,
receive feedback on your own, and establish an open and collaborative environment.
Robert Jones
Inbound Growth Specialist


13
2. Write about your successes… and failures
You won’t be able to record every call you have. When you have something that you
want to share, good or bad, write about it. Detail what happened, what went right, what
went wrong, and learnings you have from this experience. Share it with your team to
receive their thoughts and feedback, and give them the opportunity to learn from what
you have done.
3. Engage with your team one-on-one
Sometimes, learning can happen in passive conversations with your team too. Make
an effort to connect one-on-one with members of your team, and other salespeople in
your organisation, to learn, develop, and grow.
4. Ask to listen in on calls
Being proactive in your learning and development is another great opportunity to
share knowledge. Hop on a call with one of your coworkers or invite a new salesperson
to listen in on yours.
5. Establish psychological safety
Psychological safety is defined as the shared belief held by members of a team that
the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking. Sharing successes and failures require
team members to feel comfortable doing so. Managers should educate their team on
psychological safety to allow salespeople to put themselves forward for critique and
use feedback to grow.
Being successful in a competitive sales environment is a huge feat. Empowering other
members of your team to perform their best is even more rewarding. With these tips,
individual members and teams will perform better, enhance their skills, and grow their
careers together.

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Conclusion
The world of sales is competitive by nature. This these 30 tips, you’ll be
equipped to improve your current sales process and close more deals as
a result.
Give cold outreach on LinkedIn a shot. Go the extra mile to ensure your new customer
is set up for success. Whatever strategies you choose to use, test them out, adapt them
to become your own, and share what you’ve learned with other members of your team.
Want to learn more about HubSpot’s sales products? HubSpot offers time-saving tools
that you can start using today for free. Automate your outreach, create and share email
templates, track your entire pipeline, and more with HubSpot.
Get started with HubSpot’s free sales tool today.

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