This site uses cookies to improve your experience. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country, we will assume you are from the United States. Select your Cookie Settings or view our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Used for the proper function of the website
Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Strictly Necessary: Used for the proper function of the website
Performance/Analytics: Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Sam Liang is the co-founder and CEO of Otter.ai. Before Otter.ai, Sam was the founding CEO of Location Labs (acquired for $220M), and the architect behind Google’s blue dot – yes, that blue dot you see every time you open Google Maps. He has a classic Silicon Valley pedigree: Stanford PhD, Google early days, multiple successful exits. The numbers are staggering: they’ve gone from zero to processing billions of conversations, partnered with Zoom as their primary transcription pr
Discover how mastering strategic openings can elevate your sales game. Learn essential techniques to start strong and secure client trust from the very first meeting.
5 Key Learnings from Scaling from 3 to 75 Go-To-Market Team Members in Less Than 12 Months The latest SaaStr CRO Confidential is out and Sam Blond did a great deep dive with Graham Mareno, VP of Worldwide Sales at Codeium. I really liked this one and wanted to write up a few more learnings. Codeium has emerged as one of the hottest AI startups, growing from 30 to 150 employees in just one year, with a valuation already exceeding $1 billion.
Wes from Flower Mound, Texas, has a familiar challenge: how to attract more qualified B2B leads and convert them before they slip away. Hes already tried a variety of channels, including inside sales, social media, and email, but is struggling to ramp up both volume and quality. Below are the key insights from our conversation, along with practical strategies to multiply your lead count and build a system that secures face-to-face meetings with the right buyers.
AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.
Imagine you’re sitting in a lunchtime webinar that promised “actionable” insights. Those insights are so “actionable” that you’re having trouble keeping your eyes open. Why? The topic isn’t all that fresh, or worse, it’s a disguised sales pitch. Now, imagine the panelists are talking with you instead of at you.
This past winter, I had an issue with my heat pump freezing up. This was a first for me. They worked on it off and on for two to three weeks. They never told me that some amount of ice was normal. My expectation, as I did not know any better, was that no ice was normal. I had to ask to find out. All of this could have been avoided if the company had taken the time to clearly set expectations for me instead of allowing me to set my own.
Four of the most powerful but least used words in business or human relationships are, “I made a mistake.” There are another three powerful words, “I was wrong.” They are tough words to say, but think of the impact they have in moving things forward, in building relationships/trust. In everything we do in selling (and business) there is always the possibility of making a mistake.
Four of the most powerful but least used words in business or human relationships are, “I made a mistake.” There are another three powerful words, “I was wrong.” They are tough words to say, but think of the impact they have in moving things forward, in building relationships/trust. In everything we do in selling (and business) there is always the possibility of making a mistake.
Great advice is everywhere, but most of it is fluff. In sales, you dont need clichsyou need real strategies that help you win more deals. Weve pulled together five of the biggest game-changing sales tips from the Sales Gravy Podcast so far this year. These are proven tactics from top sales pros who know what it takes to close deals, stay sharp, and dominate the competition.
A new report found that 41% of brands now use AI for video creation, up from 18% in 2024. Wistias 2025 State of Video Report data comes from over 14 million videos and surveys of 1,300 professionals. It also addressed video engagement and budget trends. The report attributes the surge in the use of AI for video to the increasing accessibility of AI tools, empowering marketers to streamline production and enhance video quality.
We are thrilled to announce that Juan Carlos Niebles , one of our talented researchers, has been named one of the top 100 in AI by the Artificial Intelligence Observatory in Colombia. This recognition is a testament to his groundbreaking work and significant contributions to the field of computer vision and artificial intelligence. About Juan Carlos Niebles Juan Carlos is a prominent researcher of Colombian origin who currently holds the position of Director of Research at Salesforce AI Research
In SaaS, its easy to assume that virtual selling has completely taken over. After all, Zoom is efficient, email is scalable. Hyrid and work-from-home made it the default paradigm for many in B2B sales. But if you listen to many top CROs in SaaSlike Jonathan Vassil of Toast, Christian Smith of Splunk, Loren Padelford of Slice, and Sam Blond CRO emeritus of Brextheyll tell you that in-person selling is far from dead.
Today’s buyers expect more than generic outreach–they want relevant, personalized interactions that address their specific needs. For sales teams managing hundreds or thousands of prospects, however, delivering this level of personalization without automation is nearly impossible. The key is integrating AI in a way that enhances customer engagement rather than making it feel robotic.
The GTM Podcast is available on any major directory, including: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Ray Smith is the VP of AI Agents at Microsoft. Previously, he was the Global VP of Product for SAP, CRM and Sales Cloud. Before that, he was the CEO and Co-Founder of DataHug, which was acquired by Calidus Cloud in 2016. Ray breaks down why the rise of AI agents is a tectonic shift, how businesses are already seeing ROI, and what it means for SaaS, team structure, and go-to-market strategies.
George Foreman, gave us a masterclass in resilience, on never giving up. His pivots and comebacks from defeat were legendary. He was a force of nature and one of the greatest boxers, salesmen and personalities the world has ever known.His inspirational story matters to us because one of the most critical mental disciplines for sales professionals is resilience.
If youre looking to increase revenue without acquiring new customers, cross-selling is one of the best ways you can do that. Its all about offering complementary products or services so you can maximize every transactionall while improving the customer experience. Sounds like a win-win, right? Effective cross-selling helps customers find new products they genuinely need, so theyll leave more satisfied with your business and remain more loyal, too.
I have a prediction: one of the biggest business acumen trends of 2025 will be large companies instructing their mid- and upper-level managers to stop being so passive and start making significant bets. Why do I make this prediction? Because five out of the last six business acumen programs I have delivered for clients across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, high tech, chemicals, and consumer products, have requested that I develop business simulations to help participants learn ab
ZoomInfo customers aren’t just selling — they’re winning. Revenue teams using our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform grew pipeline by 32%, increased deal sizes by 40%, and booked 55% more meetings. Download this report to see what 11,000+ customers say about our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform and how it impacts their bottom line. The data speaks for itself!
CFOs, VP Finance and Finance Leaders: Be Our VIP Guest at the 2nd Annual CFO Summit at 2025 SaaStrAnnual on May 13 with top speakers from: Andreessen Horowitz Emergence Capital OpenAI SnapLogic and more! “The Rise of the AI-Driven Finance Org” THE 2025 SaaStr Annual CFO SUMMIT hosted by Lloyed Lobo and in partnership with Carta and Grant Thornton The role of the CFO is being redefined.
AI is rapidly transforming industries, empowering businesses to enhance customer experiences, improve efficiency, and make smarter decisions. But an essential question arises: How can we ensure that AI is creating accurate and grounded answers? Recently, automatic methods for evaluating model responses, like using Large Language Models (LLMs) as judge models have been deployed to assess and critique model responses on-demand.
I hate to break it to you, but having a great product or service alone is not enough to succeed in todays marketplace. Sales teams need the right tools, content, and data to talk to customers and close deals faster. Thats where sales enablement platforms help. Ive worked with businesses that spend thousands on software that sales teams end up barely using.
The sales process varies greatly depending on the purchase. If youre selling a cup of coffee, the options are relatively simple. You choose a price based on size, add any extras, and send your customers on their way. But what happens when the purchase isnt as straightforward? Take buying a CRM, for example. You cant just pick it off a menu. You need to evaluate pricing, implementation, features, integrations, and ongoing support.
AI is reshaping marketing and sales, empowering professionals to work smarter, faster, and more effectively. This webinar will provide a practical introduction to AI, focusing on its current applications, transformative potential, and strategies for successful implementation in your organization. Using real-world examples and actionable insights, we’ll examine how businesses are leveraging AI to increase efficiency, enhance personalization, and drive measurable results.
The global trade landscape is shifting, and brands that rely on eCommerce and omnichannel distribution are feeling the pressure. Tariffs and trade policies are raising costs, squeezing margins, and adding new layers of complexity to supply chains. But heres the reality: market disruption always presents opportunity. For brand executives and eCommerce leaders, this is a moment of strategic decision-making.
Dear SaaStr: What Are The Best Ways to Transition From The Founder-Led Sales Stage? Transitioning from founder-led sales to a commissioned sales team is one of the most criticaland trickysteps in scaling a SaaS business. Its where many startups hit roadblocks, but if you do it right, its a game-changer. Heres how to approach it: 1. Dont Rush the Transition.
When you’re running an ecommerce store, the chances are that you keep track of thousands of moving pieces every single day. You have to maintain inventory, help customers, and stay on top of trends all at once. Luckily, with artificial intelligence (AI) , you got this. AI offers an equal footing for small and medium-sized business (SMB) owners competing with big retailers through diverse tools and resources.
Imagine standing in a queue to order a burger, and by the time you reach the counter, the store is out of burgers. You know that sinking feeling, right? But what if you could use a self-order kiosk to skip the queue and get your burger? Wouldnt it be great to self-serve, save time, and have easy access to what you need? Now, imagine that same convenience in a B2B setup.
Incorporating generative AI (gen AI) into your sales process can speed up your wins through improved efficiency, personalized customer interactions, and better informed decision- making. Gen AI is a game changer for busy salespeople and can reduce time-consuming tasks, such as customer research, note-taking, and writing emails, and provide insightful data analysis and recommendations.
Big-budget enterprise sales teams arent out-selling you because they have deeper pocketstheyre winning because they have better systems. While small and mid-market businesses (SMBs) represent 43.5% of the United States gross domestic product (GDP) , according to the most recent data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, yet sales tech providers often leave smaller businesses hanging.
Despite the widespread adoption of social media and the rise in SMS and RCS messaging, email remains a vitally important channel for reaching customers and prospects. Research by SAP Emarsys and Deloitte found email was the preferred channel for consumers to interact with brands (chosen by 40% of respondents), well ahead of brand websites (28%), mobile apps (24%) and SMS (21%).
AI is driving up churn all across the board. Why? In many cases, its not because vendors fail their customers, or that the solution wasnt good enough. In previous years, customers might have just renewed out of intertia. But things are different now. Today churn is often simply because looking at how AI changes a category put the customer / renewal into play.
For some time now, our sales teams have increasingly fielded questions about Membrains AI capabilities. Consistently, our answer has been: It does not have any. As AI tools became more and more common as enhancements to software applications, the questions became more insistent, and our answer remained the same: No, Membrain does not have AI capabilities yet.
What if you could help your sellers stop wasting 72% of their day on non-selling activities and focus on bringing in revenue? Incorporating AI in your enablement workflows can help you cut down on busy work, get projects done faster, and let your team (and you!) focus on making a bigger impact. We put together this guide to show you how to use AI to cut time and costs for projects, including collateral creation, development of training videos, and automating tedious processes.
Over the past week, my NCAA March Madness bracket ranked as high as 7th place nationally out of millions. It wasnt luck. Ive been filling out brackets for years, and each year I learned something small, adapted, and improved. It struck me how much this mirrors what separates good salespeople from great ones: consistent learning, calculated risk, and fine-tuning strategy over time.
A fabulous analysis in The Atlantic by Alex Reisner The Unbelievable Scale of AIs Pirated-Books Problem shows how employees at Meta, all the way up to MZ (presumably Zuckerberg), chose to steal 7.5 million books and 81 million research papers to train its flagship AI model, Llama 3.
Dear SaaStr: What “Quotas” Should My VP of Customer Success and VP of Product Have? For a VP of Customer Success (VPCS), their “quota” or ownership should revolve around two key metrics: Net Revenue Retention (NRR) and Gross Retention Rate (GRR). NRR is the North Star metric for customer successit measures how much revenue youre retaining and expanding from your existing customer base.
In today’s ultra-competitive markets, it’s no longer enough to wait for buyers to show obvious signs of interest. Instead, sales teams must be proactive, identifying and acting on nuanced buyer behaviors — often before prospects are fully ready to make a purchase. In this eBook from ZoomInfo & Sell Better, learn 10 actionable ways to use these buyer signals to transform your sales strategy and close deals faster.
We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 26,000+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.
You know about us, now we want to get to know you!
Let's personalize your content
Let's get even more personalized
We recognize your account from another site in our network, please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.
96 
Let's personalize your content