How Close.io Revolutionized Sales Communication: The Journey of Founders Empowering Sales Teams.
Company profile
Company business details
Motivation to build the product
The founders were motivated by the need to improve sales processes and reduce the inefficiencies associated with manual data entry in CRM systems. Their experience in an outsourced sales business highlighted the challenges salespeople faced, prompting them to create a solution that would empower sales teams.Problem that their product solves
Close.io solves the problem of inefficient sales communication and data management for businesses. The end users are sales teams who need to track interactions and close deals effectively. Solving this problem is crucial for businesses as it directly impacts their sales performance and revenue generation.Their unfair advantage
Close.io's unfair advantage lies in its seamless integration of communication tools directly into the CRM, which reduces the need for manual data entry and enhances the efficiency of sales processes.Strategies
Pre-Launch (Product Development & MVP)
Free Class on Avoiding Bad Hires
Eric Siu, the host of Growth Everywhere, shared his personal experience of losing over $840,000 due to a bad hire. To address this issue, he organized a free class titled 'The Five Secrets to Avoiding Bad Hires That Can Cost You $50,000 Plus Each.' He encouraged listeners to text 'bad hire' to a specific number to register for the class, effectively using a direct call-to-action to engage his audience and provide valuable insights on hiring practices.
Landing Page Testing
Before launching SwipeGood, Steli and his team created a simple landing page to gauge interest in their product. They invited users to sign up, even though the service wasn't fully operational yet. This allowed them to collect data on potential user interest and validate their idea. They used this feedback to refine their offering and eventually partnered with a service provider to facilitate transactions, demonstrating a lean approach to product development.
Launch Stage
In-Person Interviews and Networking
During the launch stage of Close.io, Stelly, the founder, emphasized the importance of in-person interactions and networking. He shared that he would meet with potential clients and investors to discuss their needs and how Close.io could help them. This hands-on approach allowed him to build relationships and trust, which were crucial for the early growth of the company.
Persistent Follow-Up Strategy
Steli Efti emphasizes the importance of persistent follow-ups in sales. He shares that many entrepreneurs give up after one or two follow-ups, interpreting silence as rejection. Instead, he adopts a binary follow-up strategy, continuing to reach out until he receives a response. For instance, he once followed up 48 times with an investor before finally receiving a positive reply, which led to a successful meeting and investment. This approach not only keeps the conversation alive but also demonstrates commitment and persistence to potential clients and investors.
Growth Stage
Content Marketing through Blogging and Speaking Engagements
Stelly leveraged content marketing as a key strategy for growth by writing blog posts and participating in speaking engagements. He created valuable content that addressed common challenges faced by sales teams, such as training sales reps and managing morale. This not only established him as an authority in the sales space but also drove inbound leads to Close.io, as potential customers sought out his insights and expertise.
Learn more about Close.io
How to Scale a Saas Business by Outsourcing Sales, with Close.io CEO Steli Efti
