Do I Really Need Another Sales Rep?
thinksales|January - March 2019

So you need quick growth. You knew this day was coming, but you kept putting it off in the hope that it would solve itself. Is your quickest route to revenue really bringing on another rep? Not necessarily. Examine your current reps and inefficiencies first.

Marc Odenweller
Do I Really Need Another Sales Rep?

I need quick growth. My current reps are good, but coverage is unsaturated.

Shouldn’t I just add another headcount? Isn’t that the quickest route to revenue? Add another rep, drop them into a territory? My onboarding process takes a couple months for a rep to get productive and start closing business. If I get started interviewing immediately and find a fit, I am on the fastest track to meeting my goals, right?

Well, I guess the answer is, maybe.

ARE MY CURRENT REPS AS PRODUCTIVE AS THEY SHOULD BE?

Each of my reps has plenty of accounts, territory, products and opportunity. Our market is not saturated and the overall opportunity for the company is good. I could carve off half of a region or a set of products and add another headcount and double my production. Yes, that is one answer to a potential growth strategy, but before looking at incremental headcount growth I need to understand if my rep yield is in line with expectations. When I built my business plan, I knew some things:

1. I had some idea of how many territory managers I needed.

2. I knew my inside sales to outside sales ratio.

3. I budgeted for overlays and product specialists and technical resources.

This story is from the January - March 2019 edition of thinksales.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January - March 2019 edition of thinksales.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THINKSALESView All
Getting Over Your Fear Of Cold Calling Customers
thinksales

Getting Over Your Fear Of Cold Calling Customers

A recent research study found that 48% of business-to-business salespeople are afraid of making cold calls.

time-read
5 mins  |
July - September 2019
10 Tips To Get Honest, Productive Feedback
thinksales

10 Tips To Get Honest, Productive Feedback

Great leaders are great learners. Their never-ending pursuit of information pushes them to constantly improve and sets them apart from the rest. Getting and learning from feedback isn’t always easy, but it is necessary, if we want to become better.

time-read
5 mins  |
July - September 2019
The 5 Things All Great Salespeople Do
thinksales

The 5 Things All Great Salespeople Do

The best salespeople know they’re the best. They take pride in their art form. They separate themselves from the rest of the pack regardless of circumstance. So how do they do it? What’s their secret? Are you one of them?

time-read
4 mins  |
July - September 2019
Why Trade Shows Are Worthy Of Your Marketing Budget
thinksales

Why Trade Shows Are Worthy Of Your Marketing Budget

Given unrealistic expectations against a modest budget, marketing leaders are routinely tasked with making trade-offs on what stays and goes in their annual budget. In a highly digitised world, trade shows might seem like the ancient way to do things, but they remain one of the best forums for exposure to customers. Increase your success rate with trade shows through more thoughtful planning that aligns sales and marketing to common goals and objectives.

time-read
4 mins  |
July - September 2019
Why CRM Projects Fail And How To Make Them More Successful
thinksales

Why CRM Projects Fail And How To Make Them More Successful

CRM is an important tool, but it is just a tool. When the laptops are shut down for the day, it’s your sales team that is responsible for bringing value to clients and driving revenue. Implement your CRM with that in mind and you’ll be pleased with your ROI.

time-read
4 mins  |
July - September 2019
Avoid Making Enemies: But Do Make Decisions!
thinksales

Avoid Making Enemies: But Do Make Decisions!

Strong leaders listen to all the arguments, probe for understanding, avoid telling people they are wrong, and then step back and decide.

time-read
2 mins  |
July - September 2018
4 Ways To Improve Your Content Marketing
thinksales

4 Ways To Improve Your Content Marketing

While most buyers today will evaluate your products and services on their merits – delivering memorable and emotional experiences at business events can distinguish you from your competitors.

time-read
5 mins  |
January - March 2019
Pathway To Profitability
thinksales

Pathway To Profitability

Years of working with leading companies and hundreds of hours spent researching and developing the 5-Pillar Strategic Sales Organisation Framework and AssessmentTM has led me to understand, at a deep level of certainty, that many companies are not realising the revenue, margins and profits their organisations are capable of achieving. There is a strategic option to address this challenge; a silver bullet for all companies.

time-read
4 mins  |
January - March 2019
Do I Really Need Another Sales Rep?
thinksales

Do I Really Need Another Sales Rep?

So you need quick growth. You knew this day was coming, but you kept putting it off in the hope that it would solve itself. Is your quickest route to revenue really bringing on another rep? Not necessarily. Examine your current reps and inefficiencies first.

time-read
3 mins  |
January - March 2019
What Subscription Business Models Mean For Sales Teams
thinksales

What Subscription Business Models Mean For Sales Teams

Manage the challenges of a subscription sales business by splitting sales roles.

time-read
4 mins  |
January - March 2019