Technology moves very quickly.

This is true of any field, sales especially. And given the current state of the world, virtual ways of conducting life and business are evolving quicker than ever. 

If you don’t keep up, it will pass you by. If you don’t know how to use the latest tools and technology platforms to close customers, then your competitors will be a step ahead of you and take those customers right out from under you. 

To help in your chase, we’ve rounded up 6 digital B2B platforms that can help you understand your prospects better and close them more effectively, so that you are not just standing there staring after the sales that got away.

1. SalesForce.com

Everyone has heard of SalesForce and may even be using it already. If not, you’re late to the game. SalesForce is a Customer Relationship Management platform. Basically, it helps keep all of your customer data straight and organized, making it easy to access at a glance. So when dealing with a customer, if you want to know their purchase history, what interactions you’ve had with them before, what their needs are, etc., SalesForce allows you to search for and pull up the pertinent information, to help you better address the customer’s needs.

At ASLAN, we even use it to score opportunities along the sales cycle.  This helps our sales leadership to help our sales reps understand the value of each phase (engage, discovery, build value and advance) of process.  If you would like to learn more about how we use this, feel free to reach out.

2. Zoom

Zoom helps businesses and organizations bring their teams together in a frictionless environment to get more done. This easy, reliable cloud platform for video, voice, content sharing, and chat runs across mobile devices, desktops, telephones, and room systems. There are many platforms available but in terms of replicating the in person, face to face type of meeting, we have found Zoom (and RingCentral  which leverages Zoom technology) really hits the mark. Check out how we can help you learn to conduct a virtual demo on your product or solution. 

3. Google Analytics

This is about keeping track of customers’ interactions with your website and content. How are they getting to your site? What links are they clicking on? How much time do they spend there, and what are they interested in? Google Analytics helps you get a feel for what your customers are looking for, so that you’re in a better position to provide it for them. This is where sales and marketing need to partner up to learn the recipe for acquiring new prospects and keeping existing customers happy. 

4. LinkedIn

These days, you can’t engage with customers without a social media presence. While Facebook is more about cat videos and silly memes, LinkedIn is all business. It can connect you directly with your customer base in any field. This way, you can interact with them and gain their trust, as well as keep your finger on the pulse of what’s current and relevant in your industry. You can also share resources and open dialogue with existing accounts and potential prospects. And for individual users who want to tap into LinkedIn’s network to prospect for new leads more effectively, increase pipeline and close more deals, you may want to check out the free trial of Linkedin Sales Navigator. 

5. Owler 

OwlerPro is a one-stop-shop for sales professionals to discover new prospects, research accounts, and personalize marketing and sales communications to drive higher open rates and responses. Search for prospects by sector, location, revenue, employee count and more in Owler’s database of over 13 million public and private companies, and be the first to know when one of your prospects experiences layoffs, a leadership change, launches new products, or raises capital. 

6. Vidyard

“The Next Best Thing to Meeting Face to Face.”  If you struggle to get the attention of prospects or even your boss, check out this tool called Vidyard, that allows you to create quick turn, short shelf life videos that help you to demonstrate your product, answer a question or propose something new. Vidyard is the online video platform for business; whether you need a video management solution for your existing videos, or video software to create new ones, Vidyard is the fastest way to record and manage videos online.

This tool, unlike Zoom, is great to actually get the meeting.  Zoom is great once you have the meeting scheduled. 

Ready for More?

ASLAN and its Other-Centered(R) approach to selling (and life for that matter) is always looking for ways to make life easier and more fulfilling for sellers and those who coach sellers.  

If you this has been helpful and you want to learn more about Selling Virtually, we would be happy to help out. Simply visit our Virtual Selling Skills page for more information. 

Sean Robertson

As VP of Solutions, Sean’s passion is developing and creating a learning experience that emotionally taps into each learner, matches ASLAN’s commitment to excellence, and exceeds our client’s wildest expectations. Find him on: LinkedIn.