Sales Transformation Program Overview
How MSPs Can Build A Formidable and Scalable Sales Engine

Why Sales Engines Tend To Fail
 
Most MSPs struggle with building a scalable sales model. It is not uncommon for MSPs to grow their business rapidly through their operational and administrative excellence to a point. Then, they tend to hit the sales "wall"; where they can’t grow using their current sales model. More often than not, this sales block can stagnate their growth for years.
 
At this point, most owners will look to hire salespeople to build the business. Unfortunately, this is often a disaster for both the owner and the sales professional(s). It can lead to the hiring and onboarding of a succession of sales people who don’t perform and leave within months. In some cases, this pattern can be repeated for years on-end leading to wasted time and lost market opportunity.
 
The Owner Must Change For The Sales Results To Change

In our direct coaching work and sales transformation peer groups, we have worked with many of our clients to overcome this sales chasm. The owners who successfully built their sales engine shared a common roadmap and set of best practices that other MSP owners can emulate.

Here are the 6 essential steps for sales transformation that can serve as your roadmap:
 
  1. The owner has to be "all in" and lead the charge: The owner must drive the changes within the company, which I'll explain further below, but even more importantly, they must change their own way of doing things. They will have to be personally dedicated to build a new sales model - complete with implementing new processes, developing a new team and mastering new ways to lead/manage. This will have to be a top personal priority or it won’t work.

  2. The owner must invest: The biggest investment an owner must make is their own time. Our clients commit to investing 50% of their time specifically on sales transformation (often more). Secondly, they have to invest substantial money in five areas: 1) Sales process definition and automation 2) Hiring the right level of talent (recruiters and compensation) 3) On boarding 4) Training - Development and Tools 5) Training and coaching for themselves. We will cover each of these aspects in the points that follow.

  3. The owner needs new skills: Leading, managing and motivating a sales force is far different than overseeing the service department or your administrative staff. The owner needs new skills to engage in the performance producing sales management activities - weekly sales objectives; daily huddles; pre-call planning; post-call debriefs, weekly sales meetings, activity tracking and one on one coaching sessions

  4. The owner must build the sales infrastructure: Here is the infrastructure that you will need:

    • Sales Playbook: The sales process you follow systematically - including skills, tactics and stage gate criteria (how do you know you are progressing in the sales process)

    • Tools and Training for Appointment Setting: To set up call blocks and ensure the volume of activity and disciplined follow up required to be successful

    • On Boarding: Establishing a roadmap for success by your sales force - especially in-depth understanding of your offering catalogue, quoting, weekly calendar of activities and shadowing on client and prospect calls.

    • CRM/Sales Process Automation and Pipeline Reporting: This will make your sales force more productive by following a standard sales process that feeds into the management systems that you will use to direct effort and produce the desired results.

    • Metrics to Manage By: You need both activity metrics and results metrics. Fortunately, only two activity metrics matter: 1) number of new prospective clients meetings per week and 2) how qualified these opportunities are in terms of client’s “pain” points; the appeal of your business case and their readiness to change.

  5. The owner has to hire the right talent: You need to set standards for your ideal candidate in terms of functional skills, experience/track record and behavioral attributes. Our advice is to target sales executives with a clear track record in building their own book of business (in a B to B environment with SMB clients). In you are interested in the specific attributes that we look for when recruiting sales people for our clients, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  6. The owner has to become a transformational sales coach: Whether it is in a small group setting or one on one, it is the quality of coaching makes the difference in your sales results. Transformational coaching hits on all of three of the following aspects with your team:
    • Effort/Activity
    • Sales Skills/Call Execution
    • Motivation
    • Culture/Integrity

The Results:

While results vary depending on the owners’ commitment, time investment and follow through, here is what our owners can expect to produce:

  • 8-10 discovery meetings per month with qualified MSP prospects per sales person
  • 1-2 new MSP sales per month for each sales person
  • 20-30% increase in sales to existing clients


The Program:

The Sales Transformation Program has been refined by over 3 years of investment and learning. Here is what the program requires for you to achieve results:

  • One on one onboarding meeting and readiness plan with Michael Cummings in our Saint Charles, IL offices
  • 4 quarterly working sessions (two days each in Chicago)
  • Monthly action plans
  • Weekly or bi-monthly accountability calls


Your Investment:

  • $1,800 a month for an 18 month program. Limited to 8 participants in each group.
 
Are You Willing To Do What It Takes?
 
Transforming your sales model is fully dependent on the owner - and it is a big job. But, taking shortcuts or looking for an easier approach just doesn’t work. In our sales transformation programs, TBG clients devote themselves to an 18 month effort to transform their ability to lead, manage and scale a new sales model. But, once the transformation is achieved, the results are enduring.
 
If you would like to speak with someone directly about Taylor Business Group’s Sales Transformation Program, please contact Michael Cummings at (630) 442-1409, or email Michael at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 
 
Taylor Business Group has been a leader in the IT industry for almost two decades. As evidenced by clients who represent nearly $400,000,000 in annual revenue, Taylor Business Group has developed the metrics and methods that drive business success. The average Net Operating Income (NOI) for our members has increased by four percentage points in their first two years. This translates to an extra $40,000 of income for every $1,000,000 of top-line revenue for our members. That's over $16,000,000 of additional real profit created annually!