Sellers I connect with tell me that contactability is their biggest challenge and often prospecting is their least favorite activity, likely because it's challenging. I love it. And I have discovered an ability to get 40% response rate from the C-Suite.
Over the last two months, I've sent out AI-aided personalized prospecting messages to 121 different organizations, including C-Level, VP-Level and Board. The result? 47 net new meetings with folks we had never met with before—nearly a 40% response rate. 🚀 So, how did I do it?
It starts with leveraging AI as a powerful tool to scale our efforts without losing the human touch. Here's the process:
- Research: Use AI to comb through LinkedIn profiles, company websites, and reports. AI helps surface key insights, aligning our business solutions with the prospect's mission and needs.
- Personalization: AI drafts the initial message, but this is where the human touch comes in. I review, tweak, and personalize each email, ensuring it reflects my voice and the specific needs of the prospect.
- Execution: Send out these highly targeted messages at scale. Because they're personalized and aligned with the prospect's goals, they stand out in the inbox. You can use tools like Sales Navigator and/or Zoominfo to figure out the e-mail addresses of those you seek to engage.
- Follow-Up: AI can help craft follow-up messages, but again, I make sure to add that final touch to keep the conversation warm and engaging.
The key takeaway? AI can amplify your efforts, but it's the personalization and authenticity that drive the real results.
I'll literally ask AI to write a message to leadership at XYZ organization from me at my organization (naming it, linking websites) and ask it to surface areas for collaboration that would specifically be of value for my customer based on their mission statement.
The output is gold, and I massage it to ensure it's short, sweet and to the point while also in my voice.
C-Levels get a lot of e-mail, so you can't sound like everyone else who has come and failed before.
Cutting through the noise with value and their mission statement gives you a higher probability of success.
Prospecting success comes from controlling the controllables: quality of message, quantity of outreaches and consistency of execution over time.
Remember - we're not trying to sell anything. We're trying to earn a meeting so we can build a relationship and earn the right to be a trusted advisor. Every meeting we've earned in the last couple of months with this method has yielded several net new opportunities with people we've never talked to before.
Putting It All Together
Achieving a 40% response rate from C-level executives isn't about luck—it's about having a well-crafted strategy that combines the power of AI with the irreplaceable human touch. By following these steps, you can start to see similar results in your own prospecting efforts.
Remember, AI is a tool that can help you scale and optimize your outreach, but it's your unique insights and personal engagement that will close the deal. Start implementing these strategies today, and watch your response rates soar. 🚀
What's your biggest challenge in prospecting? How are you leveraging AI in your sales process? Let's discuss in the comments! 💬
#SalesProspecting #SalesStrategy #SalesSuccess #B2BSales #LeadGeneration #SocialSelling #AIinSales #CLevelEngagement #PersonalizationInSales
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