Thomas Steenburgh, a marketing professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, was inspired by his early career at Xerox to discover why firms with stellar sales and R&D departments still struggle to sell new innovations. The answer, he finds, is that too many companies expect shiny new products to sell themselves. Steenburgh explains how ... Show More
Mar 2021
098: How to Sell Innovations To the World
Here is another solo episode, especially for those who are selling innovations. You see, selling innovative products may be hard because customers are not familiar with them yet. In the context of sales, this means the feeling of unfamiliarity carries a feeling of risk, and custo ... Show More
9m 59s
Nov 2024
635. Why Selling Isn't Enough: The Missing Pieces in Your Product Business
Welcome back product bosses! Today I’m sharing a hard truth which is, focusing only on selling is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in your product-based business. If you’re someone who has really been struggling to make any sales, you’ve seen a decline in your sales, your ... Show More
36m 30s
Jun 2025
How to Craft a Great Sales Presentation
<p dir="ltr">Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Update Your Sales Strategy</p> <p dir="ltr">Question: Marquessa from Salt Lake City, Utah asks, "I work for a tech start-up and we are doing well - start-ups are a struggle - and while we have been well-funded, we need sales. We have b ... Show More
24m 44s
Apr 2025
Bringing Innovation to an Underserved Market
Founded in 2014, Thinx, Inc. makes absorbent underwear that can be worn during menstruation. But the feminine care market had seen virtually no innovation in half a century because of the taboo against discussing the topic of menstruation. As a result, the startup was competing a ... Show More
26m 32s
Jun 2025
Best Strategies for Onboarding New Sales Reps
<p dir="ltr">Lightning Round: Top 10 Qualities of a Successful Sales Professional</p> <p dir="ltr">Question: Steve from Atlanta GA asks, "I am a senior executive in a large manufacturing corporation, I handle the Eastern Region. We are struggling with our sales people, more than ... Show More
24m 48s