Masamune

Sales Manager

How do you avoid burning your network if the product/service in the SaaS industry you sell isn't working?

How many times you have been forced to use personal contacts and the network you built in years, pressured with absurd goals, only to find out - once you are hired - that the SaaS you have to sell doesn't work, is full of bugs and doesn't respect the value proposition? I've already let down some of my contacts, so I burned them even for future jobs.

The product will take years to be sufficiently good, but the results are expected for yesterday. What strategies could be put in place in order to overcome this situation (other than leaving)?

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10 comments

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softwarebro

Politicker

Sales Director

"I've already let down some of my contacts, so I burned them for future jobs"... My advice: don't burn your contact book over shitty software.

Ethwitz

Member

Sales associate

Get the fuck outta there it won’t get better

CaneWolf

Politicker

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

Dude, GTFO. There are products that actually do work at least some of the time.

ChefK

Good Citizen

SDR

You need to find a new job. That’s it. Absolutely no other answer to that question. When you are selling a shitty service or overpromising things you can’t deliver, it doesn’t matter what you are selling because it’s ruining your personal brand. You should never work for a company that will ruin your personal brand because it could hurt you years later.

wessidesales

Good Citizen

Sales Development Representative

LEAVE. That is your only option!

ouroborus

Catalyst

VP sales

Agree with everyone below, find somewhere else where you can sell something you believe in and don't compromise your integrity or reputation.

PhlipOut

Politicker

Account Executive

If the product doesn't work you cannot fix this.
Get out. Life is short, sell something that works and that people need

DataSlangah

Politicker

SAE

I think you should leave. If you stay, you need to be absolutely honest with your contacts about your product still being in beta and not working great.

Hocael

Fire Starter

Partner Manager

I have a hard time selling something I don’t believe in. If it will really take years to be sufficient, and you believe the cost/benefit is not there, I really think the only thing you can do is leave - or you’re the stereotypical used car salesman who will have zero credibility in future sales. Your reputation is important.

Now - if you think improvement is possible - even incremental - to get to a state where you feel more comfortable about the value prop being legit, start building your case for leadership. Enlist the help of your account managers and support team members to work on a priority list of development, ARR at risk if certain things aren’t addressed, etc. If leadership doesn’t care as much as you do, I think that’s a clear value difference that indicates it’s time for a new opportunity.

diet75

Big Shot

Enterprise AE

There's simply no other option. Get out of that company and connect with your contacts about how you messed up.

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Masamune

How do you avoid burning your network if the product/service in the SaaS industry you sell isn't working?

10 comments

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