How Multi-threading in SMB could be a double-edged sword

I work in the SMB segment that caters to companies less than revenue $15-20Mn. Initially, I was dealing only with companies less than $5Mn of revenue and multi-threading wasn't even needed. I was talking directly talking to the CXOs or the founders. 

but with slightly bigger companies, I have to talk to several CXOs after coordinating with the controllers for a few calls. Multi-threading has become a necessity. A couple of things I have noticed that could be critical learning for others - 

1. Always. always. always keep the person you're talking to in loop. In scenarios where you are being ghosted by your point of contact, you are tempted to surpass and reach out to their bosses. DO NOT. I always reach out a few times to my Poc, and if they still don't respond; I keep them in cc and mail the boss with a summary. "I was in touch with ABC and I thought it's wise to summarise our conversations thus far, for all of us to be in loop". Double-edged. sometimes it works, the other times there's radio silence. 

2. There will be cases where the CXO has no idea that their subordinates are hunting out a tool. This, I would call, a loophole in the AEs qualification call. There's a sense of authority with folks who have been sent by their bosses to look out. there's a loss of authority when their bosses are not looped in. You can sense that. If the latter is the case, you'd have to outbound into CXOs taking in reference the information you have gathered but not revealing the guy you spoke with just yet. 

3. Multithreading is useless if you do not have the org-chart mapped out in your chats with the POC. Your reachouts will fall on deaf ears if you don't know who the right person is. So to be able to do so, ask the right questions to your POC from call 1. Who the economic buyer is, what's the decision making process like, who to involve next, possible roadblocks yada yada. 

Thank you for reading patiently. :) 
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15
SaaSguy
Tycoon
6
Account Executive
I'll add a point on the 3rd bullet - how you ask for decision maker/economic buyer etc.
I like to frame it as "walk me through your last purchase" - then the wheels start turning and they add details like I submitted this to xyz and then xyz signed off, etc."
Always dig deeper on this point, so many reps just take "we vet the solution then sign off" as an answer.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Good addition to a solid post!
jefe
Arsonist
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🍁
Succinct and well-written post. Good to keep in mind!
Thanks for sharing
saaskicker
Celebrated Contributor
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Enterprise AE
Multi-threading is so important. They've done studies, you know. Sixty percent of the time, it works every time.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
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How very sex panther of you 😆
saaskicker
Celebrated Contributor
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Enterprise AE
Multi-threaded panthers.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
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Sales Rep
What are the tells to help you sense if the boss is in the loop or not?
oldcloser
Arsonist
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💀
I actually love this post.
LambyCorn
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A mfkn E
Great points. Thanks! I have never tried it out
lilhunter
Good Citizen
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independent sales consultant
On point #2, I would actually say this is a case for multi-threading. If boss isn't bought in, good to know as soon as possible so you can stop spending time w/ whoever is just trying to pump you for info / demos for potentially other reasons.
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