About the Guest Jill Santos Hutcheson is the Regional Vice President of Salesforce’s Marketing Cloud practice across the US in the Small Business Retail and Consumer Goods vertical. In her 10-year sales career, Jill has honed her passion for selling to the small business space and coaching Account Executives, typically in their first or second closing role. Born in Queens, New York, Jill currently resides in Atlanta, GA, with her husband and their dog and cat. Connect with Jill Santos Hutcheson Key Takeaways Value-focused selling is done by prioritizing customer relationships; businesses can better understand their customers’ needs and impact their ROI. Sales are all about relationships and understanding customers on a human level. Dead deal reviews help sales reps identify where they may have lost deals and give them actionable next steps to improve their skills. Creating trust between the sales rep and the decision-maker is key to getting a deal over the line. Quote “We are in sales. The goal is to close the business but to build long-standing relationships that will grow and grow as time goes on, and as the economic downturn goes and turns back up, again, we’re planting those seeds with these customers and focusing on that value… That is why you should work with us, not simply because we have the lowest price or because we’re willing to get in there and negotiate.” – Jill Santos Highlights from the Episode Can you tell me a bit about your background and career? As of last month, Jill Santos has been in sales for ten years and has been in a leadership position for 8 years. She worked for companies such as Yelp and Glassdoor and is currently working for Salesforce, leading the marketing cloud practice in the segment for retail and consumer goods. Your contribution to our eBook mentions the need for value-focused selling. Can you expand on what you mean by that? Value-focused selling is a sales approach that emphasizes the value that a product or service can bring to a customer rather than the price. This type of selling is often seen as more consultative, as it requires the salesperson to understand the customer’s needs to find the right solution. In today’s economy, where prices are often the deciding factor, value-focused selling can be a breath of fresh air for customers who appreciate being seen as more than just a number. How do you coach your reps when dealing with rejection, especially when budgets may be tight right now? The best way to coach your reps when it comes to dealing with rejection is to encourage them to be brave and to ask tough questions. Remind them that selling is about helping people and that rejection is not personal. Help them to see that every no gets them closer to a yes, and that they can learn from their mistakes. As a female leader, what advice would you give to a younger female just out of college coming into the workforce? Be clear with what you want, be prepared, and be aware of your surroundings. Additionally, it can be helpful to create an alter ego that embodies the qualities you want to have in a meeting or situation. Consider what you are doing to upskill during your downtime beyond work. Is there a book, blog, newsletter, website, or video that you would recommend to our listeners? Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler Libby App The Likeability Trap by Alicia Menendez 30 Minutes to President’s Club The Retail Dive Newsletter Ted Talk: The Happy Secret to Better Work
