W
W

way3sexy

AE

Fire Starter
Contributor
Good Citizen

Ad Sales vs Saas

Has anyone transitioned from SaaS to Ad sales (Google) or vice versa?

I've been in SaaS for about 4 years now and have an opportunity to get a role at Google to sell GoogleAds. My concern is that ad sales is much more transactional (getting people to simply spend more) and alot of my experience in SaaS selling complex 6 figure deals muscle will atrophy and go unused.

I'm thinking if I take Google it may be a hard transition back to SaaS if that was the case in the future. Or if Google would even consider me for Google Cloud sales since it's a different pace.

Could be overthinking but curious on everyone's thoughts?
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12

16 comments

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braintank
Politicker
6
Enterprise Account Executive
I'd stick to saas if you're doing well
medhardwaredr
Politicker
4
Director of Sales NA
Ads can be rough but you can bank. Not my cup of tea so Iโ€™d recommend Saas but thatโ€™s your call!
Pachacuti
Politicker
3
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
Ads are going away but neither is as SaaS. Google is a nice name to have on your resume.

I would say ad sales can be as much, if not more relationship based over the long run.

Which will make you more $$? And what do you see yourself doing 10โ€™years from now?
Gasty
Notable Contributor
3
War Room Community Manager
Agreed!
Think from a zoomed out view of the whole situation.

Where do you see in 10 years? Google can be a great addition. Who knows if youโ€™d even want to comeback to SaaS after ad sales?
I am sure, there would be IJPโ€™s in Google as well. Build relations and try to move within Google? No?
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
3
ERP Sales
SA360 is legit, heard great things
Diablo
Politicker
2
Sr. AE
I feel the digital ad space is growing a lot and would continue to.
Justatitle
Big Shot
2
Account Executive
TAM is typically much larger, more transactional but the deals can also be huge.
jefe
Arsonist
2
๐Ÿ
That's a tough choice. Sticking with you're good at and enjoy is always a good call.

BUT it's fucking Google. That'd be hard to pass up.

What's the OTE like?
way3sexy
Fire Starter
4
AE
$180k 60/40 split, 50k in stocks

I know, the big G is so hard to turn away from ๐Ÿฅฒ

jefe
Arsonist
2
๐Ÿ
If that's comparable, I'd be inclined to give it a shot.

Could really catapult your career as you move through it.
way3sexy
Fire Starter
2
AE
I mean current OTE at my company cybersecurity SaaS is 230k 50/50 split but attainment is so low for myself and across the board Iโ€™d be lucky to even hit 200k in total comp. Only 1 rep has hit quota out of 8 of us because of a monster deal heโ€™s been working for 1.5 yearsโ€ฆ

I think all of you guys sold me on Google. I appreciate you all ๐Ÿซถ
jefe
Arsonist
2
๐Ÿ
OTE means nothing when it ain't real.

Cheers, keep us updated!

(and throw the Savages giving input some upvotes)
Sunbunny31
Arsonist
2
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
Best of luck to you! Agreed that OTE means nothing when you're not achieving it.
What might be interesting once you're safely seated is a quick run down on how you overcame (either proactively or handling an objection) the question about attainment, since you haven't. It comes up a lot, and I'd love to hear how you tackled that to land an offer from such a marquee company.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
๐ŸฆŠ
Is the offer sweet enough to make you learn a new industry and company?
cw95
Politicker
1
Head of SDR
I did, kinda, it was a half SaaS product but mainly ads. I found selling to that ICP quite difficult and when I did I just didnโ€™t enjoy it, very traditional sales such as taken the client out and making their ego explode just to get it across all the time.
0
account excuctive
Saas doing ok for me.

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