Business owners might find it hard to make the most of their sales team’s work because doing administrative jobs by hand can use up a big chunk of their time. Sales pipeline automation gives them more time to concentrate on important sales work.
What is sales pipeline automation?
Before we address that question, let’s provide you with the easiest explanation of what a sales pipeline truly is.
We understand that it’s not easy to plan your sales process without knowing the steps you need to take.
As an entrepreneur, you want a clear view of all the stages potential customers go through to become actual customers.
Why?
Because you don’t want to waste time trying to figure out how to get loyal customers.
The key lies in understanding the sales pipeline automation and designing it effectively for your business.
So, let’s learn more about the sales pipeline and how your business can benefit from it.
What is a sales pipeline?
A sales pipeline is a marketing idea illustrating sellers’ steps to turn potential customers into buyers.
Unlike the sales funnel, which focuses solely on the potential customer’s journey, the sales pipeline centres on the actions of the seller.
It’s important to note that the steps in the sales pipeline automation can vary based on the process you want to implement in your business.
Absolutely!
Just like the sales funnel, many marketing experts have adapted the stages of the sales pipeline to enhance its efficiency.
A pipeline displays the deals a salesperson is currently handling and indicates which stage of the sales process these prospects are in.
As a result, you can clearly understand how your prospects respond to your brand.
Moreover, you can assess the feasibility of the roadmap you’ve created for your business.
What are the stages of the sales pipeline?
Let’s bear in mind that the sales pipeline automation can vary in stages depending on what you aim to achieve in the process.
This also means that B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) sales have different stages.
So, instead of presenting you with the standard stages right away, let’s consider these crucial points before developing your sales pipeline:
- Clear objectives and defined goals.
- Create a list of your prospects.
- Establish a clear sales and marketing process.
- Set revenue goals.
Now that you have these key points in mind, you can begin building your sales pipeline based on the specific goals you want to accomplish.
To assist you in creating your sales pipeline stages, here are the common stages that can serve as a reference.
Stage #1: Lead-in or Prospecting
Businesses employ various methods to generate prospects.
For example, you can entice leads through your social media posts and guide them to your website.
Another approach is to offer free services as a lead magnet, asking for their contact details in return.
Absolutely!
You have multiple avenues to engage leads and draw them to your company.
Apart from social media posting, blogs, email marketing, paid ads, referrals, and other marketing strategies can be utilised.
Your ingenuity as a skilled salesperson or marketing expert plays a significant role in this aspect.
Stage #2: Qualifying Leads
Your objective is to successfully convert all your leads into paying customers.
However,
It’s normal to lose some leads during your potential customer’s journey.
The unfortunate reality of lead generation is that not all interested customers fully grasp the actual value of your products or services.
As an entrepreneur, you don’t want to waste time dealing with leads who ultimately don’t make a purchase.
This is why qualifying your leads is of utmost importance.
Not only will it save you time, but it will also enable you to optimise your marketing strategy.
So, how can you qualify your leads?
Of course, you can personalise your questions to qualify your leads.
However,
To simplify the process of creating customised questions, let’s focus on these guided questions:
- What pain points are you currently facing?
- How much are you willing to invest in resolving these challenges?
- Have you used similar solutions before, and what did you appreciate or dislike about them?
- Who will be involved in the decision-making process?
- Are there any specific features or capabilities you’re seeking in a solution?
Stage #3: Discovery
This is the stage where you get in touch with your qualified leads to pinpoint and comprehend their pain points.
Exactly!
You aim to determine if your services are the perfect solution to their issues.
The discovery stage is also known as the “needs assessment” stage.
During this phase, you evaluate the customer’s requirements to identify the most suitable product or service.
Businesses can tailor their offerings according to individual customer preferences by conducting a needs assessment.
Personalised solutions are more likely to resonate with customers and increase satisfaction.
Accurately identifying customer needs allows you to avoid investing in products or features that hold little value for the customers.
This reduces resource wastage and prevents unnecessary expenses.
The best part about this stage?
Uncovering the problems helps you position your business effectively.
Stage #4: Proposal/Presentation
Once the needs have been analysed, it’s time to craft a tailored solution for the potential customer.
Now that you have successfully pinpointed their pain points, showcasing the value of your services will become remarkably straightforward!
Why?
Rather than answering your question directly, allow me to pose one to you first.
How does it feel when someone identifies your real problem for you?
Exactly!
Experiencing a sense of significance leads to unwavering trust in the person who clarifies your problem.
Imagine giving your customer a chance to feel this sense of being cared.
Not only will you leave a strong impression, but they will also place their trust in your services.
This stage may involve presenting a formal proposal and a demonstration, highlighting how the product/service perfectly aligns with the customer’s needs.
Stage #5: Negotiation and Closing
This is the stage where you need to ensure everything is crystal clear.
The goal is to impress potential customers to buy your product and turn them into loyal customers.
Managing expectations at this stage is crucial to avoid misunderstandings in your future partnership.
Negotiations take place to address any concerns, objections, or pricing discussions.
The sales representative works to find a mutually acceptable agreement that satisfies both the customer and the company.
Stage #6: Retention
This stage focuses on nurturing the customer relationship to encourage repeat business and customer advocacy.
Contented customers may refer new leads and provide positive reviews, contributing to future sales prospects.
How to boost customer retention?
The crucial point here is to satisfy your customer.
A contented customer will undoubtedly stay and recommend your services to others.
Take a look at these suggestions on how to make your customers happy.
- Create a compelling onboarding journey.
- Embrace feedback to improve service.
- Implement a consistent communication plan.
- Send engaging newsletters.
- Provide personalised customer support.
- Deliver outstanding, exclusive services.
Why sales pipeline automation is important?
Integrating a sales pipeline is a fundamental business factor that can increase a company’s growth rate by up to 15%.
The sales pipeline offers a well-organized and transparent sales process that directs the sales team in approaching potential customers and nurturing them at every stage.
Exactly!
Automating your sales pipeline boosts efficiency by streamlining tasks, enhancing productivity, and minimizing errors.
By monitoring prospects through each stage of the pipeline, businesses can gain valuable insights into their sales performance and make more accurate predictions about future revenue.
The pipeline enables businesses to prioritize opportunities based on their potential to convert, ensuring that the sales team concentrates their efforts on the most promising leads.
What is the best tool for automating your sales pipeline?
Automating the sales pipeline on its own will significantly propel your business.
Just imagine the impact of automating everything, from marketing to the sales process!
Precisely!
No more ignored customers, leading to a definite improvement in your conversion rates.
You’ll have the freedom to personalise your communication with your customers.
Run your campaigns with ease!
Manage your business while spending precious time with your loved ones!
Easy Peasy Funnels will help you automate your marketing and sales process.
Yes, it’s possible to automate your sales pipeline with this tool.
Plus, you can create engaging funnels, customised websites, surveys, and opt-in forms all on one platform.
Certainly!
Easy Peasy Funnels is the all-in-one platform you’ve been eagerly anticipating.
How does sales pipeline automation increase the success rate?
Every entrepreneur desires to enhance efficiency and productivity in their marketing and sales strategies.
A sales pipeline brings numerous benefits to your business.
Indeed! Here’s a brief and straightforward explanation.
“Automation enhances the success rate of the sales pipeline.”
Why?
Let’s revisit the stages of the sales pipeline.
Nurturing your leads is a crucial part of the process.
However,
Personalising your customer’s journey can consume a significant amount of your valuable time.
But,
Sales Pipeline automation has made it possible.
With sales pipeline automation, you can personalise your customer’s journey without wasting too much time.
It saves time, boosts efficiency, and empowers sales teams with valuable insights, leading to more closed deals and increased revenue.
