Ohreos

SDR (Sales Development Rep)

General Question

hey guys. first time posting on here. I started recently as an SDR for a startup SaaS company and did really well my first quarter, smashing my quota. thing is I barely made any calls. is this relatively normal? just wanna set expections.

also I kinda suck at making small talk, any tips or advice? trying to set a better personal brand, feel like I'm the quiet introvert type. appreciate y'all!

🧠 Advice

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Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

I'm not doubting it. I used to get almost all my meetings on email back in my SDR days.

But here's the thing: If you have a Manager who hasn't been an SDR themselves, you'd be forced to hit your call numbers soon, regardless of your quota achievement.

Having said that, good work!

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

How did you smash quota with no calls? Email only?

Ohreos

Fire Starter

SDR (Sales Development Rep)

Targeting people before conferences was really helpful too besides inbounds

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Focus on consistently hitting quota. That's a good personal brand.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Agree with this. Start sprinkling in calls so you don't get shit for it later.

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

Just integrate a call on your 2nd or 3rd follow up email instead and then you'll make everyone happy without messing with your playbook too much.

Congrats on all your success - keep it rolling and the conference lists are great targets. Good on you.

Ohreos

Fire Starter

SDR (Sales Development Rep)

Mostly yeah 🫣

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

Idk if its normal but i have heard that there are many ppl who rely heavily on email. If i was you, I would start to try cold calling as well.

It should help increase your numbers and its a skill that will be helpful as your career develops.

In terms of small talk, there is a book called "knock out networking" that I read years ago that might help. its geared around how to be a better networker, but the tips are pretty much around small talk.

generally I would say be curious about the other person. ask them questions, dont feel like you have to talk. ppl love to talk about themselves so if you do that, you will make a good impression.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Building your personal brand? As an introvert?

Smart to do some pre-conference targeting. That’s a pro move. But that won’t last forever.

Instead of building a personal brand, focus on building your discipline, your work ethic, and a business plan for when conferences don’t do it any more.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

Agreed. Personal brand as a successful SDR/AE. It used to be called "having a good reputation" - for a reason. That's what you're aiming for.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

How were you booking meetings? Inbound? Outbound emails?

Ohreos

Fire Starter

SDR (Sales Development Rep)

Both

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Our BDR team focuses mainly on email. With the resources at one's disposal these days, I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Are you measured heavily on call volume? My big concern would be getting into hot water based on KPI expectations..

bandabanda

Tycoon

Senior AE Mid Market

First, congrats! Don’t get comfortable and keeping seeing where you can improve. But hell yeah, definitely celebrate and be proud of yourself.

Barely made any calls - what’s your call volume compared to other reps?

Id say keep doing what you’re doing because that’s working. But you definitely need to pick up the phone for 2 reasons:
- leadership will not always be okay with this. Undoubtedly they will want to see you making more dials. Not sure WHEN this will happen but don’t be naive about it.
- it’s an invaluable skill to have. Master phone and email prospecting and you’re essentially bulletproof as a seller. Great career security.

Agree with everyone else here about personal brand - crush your number, be a reliable, consistent, and outstanding sales rep. Make sure you win and help your team win. That’s it. That’s your brand.

Small talk - depends on the context. Cold calling, don’t worry about it. Be brief. Be bright. Be gone.

If it’s a zoom, ask a simple question about them that you know personally - you saw they went to XYZ school, live in certain city (“how do you like it out there? Never been” type thing). Overall my rule has been to give a great meeting and not waste their time, best rapport builder out there.

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Ohreos

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