Real talk about AI tools that don't suck for sellers
+300 cold calls/day, for 30 straight weekdays, to grow his Saas tool
You can’t look left or right without hearing about some new AI tool being talked about. It’s starting to get really noisy out there, and determining what tools can actually help you do your job is challenging. I don’t know about you, but with the pace at which AI is moving, I have found myself overwhelmed with the tools and how to use them.
I’ve learned to use some in my current role, and have also learned about others. In my opinion, there are a few that consistently stand out, helping most with the core functions of outbound sales.
If the AI tools are not helping you be more efficient and do more with less, then they’re a distraction. AI is really cool, and I highly encourage you to learn to use it, but let’s keep the main thing the main thing.
My role is a hybrid between an account executive and a business development rep. The following tasks are core to my role:
Account research
Outbound sales motions (emails, calls, social selling, LinkedIn)
Post-sales follow-up
Point of view generation (POVs)
Account planning
CRM data input (notes, account stages, etc.)
Proposal generation
Some of these may look familiar to you as well. It is easy for tasks to slip through the cracks, and some take a lot of time to complete. However, they don’t have to with the help of AI.
ChatGPT is the biggest tool that can save you time. The paid version is next level, and is likely the best $20 you’ll spend all month. I know you’ve likely heard of it and maybe even too much. However, the tool is only as good as the user.
Use Prompt Cowboy to turn your half-baked prompt into something crisp and detailed. Prompts are crucial for getting the most out of AI tools; you must learn to get good at writing them.
Take that prompt and feed it to ChatGPT, and you are off to the races. Here are some use cases you can feed it to help you save time or improve on some of the tasks mentioned:
Create a prompt to do detailed account research for account planning or to prepare questions or notes for a demo.
Feed it your call transcripts and ask it to craft a follow-up email.
Feed it your call transcripts and emails and ask it to create a business case or POV.
Create a prompt that turns all post-meeting notes or transcripts into CRM notes or inputs.
You will get the most out of ChatGPT with custom GPTs. This is part of the paid features. You can build a cold call role-play bot to sharpen your cold calling skills based on a successful call you had.
Feed it a prompt generated from Prompt Cowboy, then add some call transcripts of what good calls look like, then ask it to create a bot that you can role-play with, and that will score your calls. BOOM! Many people are paying thousands for other software to do this, and you could do it for $20.
Now, will it be perfect? Of course not. But for the cost and time invested, the ROI can be exponential.
The last tool you should be using is NotebookLM. It is one of my favorites for creating a repository of all my findings on an account. I can reference it and interact with it to learn and remind myself of anything that I’ve learned about an account based on previous engagements I’ve had.
I upload everything from transcripts, call recordings, emails, sales methodologies, buyer personas, and LinkedIn profiles. I can ask a simple question like, “Remind me what challenges this person mentioned about this on this date?” It will then spit out that information and more. It can also generate a summary of all the information it is given.
This is a huge time saver for me. Instead of having to look at the account notes in the CRM or filter through past emails, it’s all there. All I have to do is ask.
I’m no expert in AI prompt writing; I’m a sales guy. However, Write with AI and ChatGPT Central are some great resources for you to dive deeper into prompt writing.
It is easy to get lost in every new AI tool that comes out, which seems to be a silver bullet for success. I’ve learned that some are not worth the effort, and others are simpler than you think once you learn them. The latter can be a huge time saver and productivity booster.
Don’t get caught up in all the noise and all the shiny objects. AI will not replace you if you learn how to use it. But it will distract you from what matters most, and that’s engaging with and talking to prospects.
-
Until next time,
Tajh
More on Sales 🔎
Ultimate guide for SDRs & BDRs (Cold Calls, Emails, Systems)
300 cold calls/day, for 30 straight weekdays, to grow his Saas tool
Hiring Sales Gigs 💼
Technology Sales Representative, Oracle
Whenever you're ready, here are some ways I can help you:
Consultation Call: Book a live 50-minute 1:1 video session and get personalized consulting. Ask your questions, get advice, get real-time feedback on your calling, role play, or we can discuss whatever you’d like in detail.
We have partnered with HigherLevels to offer training from top performers in tech sales, with live Q&A and a community of active sellers. Whether you are looking to break into tech sales, go from SDR to AE, or master cold calling, their students are breaking in and crushing it at top tech companies. Get started here.1
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you click and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.