B2B Sales Learning

The Experts: Top Sources for B2B Sales Learning

This is our fourth blog in our Sales Experts series. In this blog, we ask, “What is your number one source for learning about sales innovation?” Our group of sales leaders provided a range of resources that they think provide the best B2B sales learning.
 

Here’s what they had to say:


One of my best sources for sales learning are Sales P2P groups. Right now I am involved with the Communitech Sales Leaders P2P and the Innovation Factory Sales P2P. Learning from your peers and our guest session leaders helps be significantly.
 
Mark Elliott, Co-founder VA Partners, @markeelliott
 
One source?! It’s way too hard to pick just one, so I’ll list out a few go-to’s:
 

  • SaaStr blog/podcast
  • LinkedIn
  • Personal network and local peer-to-peer meetings
    • These are incredibly valuable! I always leave with a great tidbit of information, a new book to read, or a new tool to try out.

 
Shane Gamble, Head of Sales at Smile.io, @ShaneGamble01
 
My #1 source is probably vendors who reach out to me or my organization. A close second is trusted experts like VA Partners, either directly or via social media.
 
Tim Davison, VP Enterprise Client Development at Morneau Shepell, @davison_tim
 
Blogs and Podcasts. @bostonvc is a fav.
 
David Carter, Executive Director at the Innovation Factory, @dkrcarter
 
I have the benefit of working for a large global organization with many data points when it comes to what is working with customers or not. So if I had to choose my ‘number one’ source it would be the discussions I have with other people within my organization. I try to make a point of setting aside time each month to discuss sales strategy and innovation with people in the organization that on a day to day basis I normally don’t work with. For example learning what is resonating in other parts of the world has often led to improvements here in North America.
 
Greg St. Louis, Vice President Sales at Wolters Kluwer Health
 
#1 SiriusDecisions – great recommendations based upon B2B research and real data! Then Jeb Blount, Gary Vaynerchuk, Gerhard Gschwandtner to name a few who produce great content for sales leaders.
 
Marlene Keay, Senior Manager Business Development at Virtual Causeway, @marlenekeay
 
I am constantly chatting with other Business Development Managers and Sales leaders in my network. Informal conversations over a coffee often spark a tremendous amount of new ideas or remind you of old tactics you have forgotten about. I challenge myself to make at least 3 new connections (online, in person or over the phone) each quarter to spark new ideas. I also follow a number of the top sales voices on LinkedIn. They can be found at this link. I am constantly scanning LinkedIn for new articles and videos from these leaders to see what would resonate with the buyers we are focused on.
 
Jonathan Jones, Business Development Manager at Bridgit, @JonathanJones88
 
For fresh ideas, innovations, and discussions I strongly prefer magazines and blogs. My favourite sources are HBR (Harvard Business Review), and McKinsey &Co.
 
Carlos Hernandez, Regional VP at Sandvine, @CAHernandezR
 
Podcasts. No better way to accelerate and enrich your daily learning than listening to interviews with domain experts. Recent playlist – Sales Hacker, SaaStr, Invest Like the Best, The Knowledge Project.
 
Chad McCaffrey, Entrepreneur in Residence at Communitech, @cjkmccaffrey
 
SalesHacker.
 
Dan Wardle, Head of Emerging Business & Business Development at Vidyard, @wardledan
 
I am a big LinkedIn fan. Nothing fancy, just lots of reading and hearing from experts in the trenches.
 
Ryan McCartney, BDC Communitech Partner, @rmccartney323
 
Podcasts. Especially love Make It Happen Mondays from John Barrows & The Sales Engagement Podcast from Outreach.
 
Logan Lyles, Director of Partnerships at Sweet Fish Media, @loganlyles
 
Check out our other expert blogs for 2019:
 

What B2B sales strategies and tactics will grow in importance for your organization in 2019? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter!
 

The Experts: Top Sources for B2B Sales Learning