Cracking Your Top Accounts With Account-Based Sales

It's a big blue sea of potential clients out there, and it can be tempting to cast your net a little too wide. But you don't need us to tell you that, sooner or later, this may lead to trouble. Why throw so much time and money into something that may or may not pay off? In a world of abundant data and sophisticated sales and marketing strategies, there's no reason why you should be letting your resources get swept away with the tide. 

Wouldn't it be easier to focus on a few hand-picked accounts, the creme de la creme of prospects, that can significantly affect your company's growth? You know their needs, you understand their decision-making processes, and you're tuned into their goals. This means you can choreograph every move to ensure you win them over. In a nutshell, that's the art of account-based selling (ABS) — a high-reward game that can transform your approach to B2B sales and marketing. 

Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash

What is Acount-Based Sales?

You'll find plenty of straight-laced definitions of account-based sales online, but we'd like to use a little analogy to paint the full picture.

Imagine your business has to put on a dance show — the performers are your marketing, sales, and customer service teams. Everything is very carefully choreographed, and everyone knows their steps to perfection. A multi-touch strategy acts as the rhythmic music that keeps everyone aligned.

There's one caveat, however. This performance is not for the masses. It's an exclusive show reserved for a select VIP audience — those high-value accounts that you've rolled out the red carpet for. You're not trying to impress the world — just a select group of clients who will make your bottom line look amazing.

In the opening act, sales and marketing take centre stage, dancing in harmony and captivating your VIP accounts. Then, the spotlight swivels to customer success. This is where the magic happens: delivering a tailor-made onboarding experience that's unique, thoughtful, and custom-fitted to the client.

The show isn't over yet. Enter the dynamic duo: account managers and marketers, gracefully sweeping back onto the stage for the grand finale. Together, they deliver the perfect pitch to upsell and cross-sell to these VIP clients.
Et voila! Account-based selling is the show that keeps your entire organisation on its toes, making sure that only your elite audience buys a ticket to the show and stays for the encore.

Who should use account-based selling?

As you can tell from the definition, account-based selling isn't for everyone, and it's not a magic solution that will suit all types of businesses. This very specialised strategy only excels in certain environments. 

If you're a B2B that deals, in particular, with high-value contracts and complex sales processes, then account-based selling may be right up your street. 

The key thing to remember is that it's not about quick wins or mass market saturation. Account-based selling is all about the slow burn, where you take the time and resources to nurture high-value relationships through personalised services and targeted marketing. 

To be successful at account-based selling, collaborations across teams — sales, marketing, and customer service — are critical. So, if you have the capacity and determination to tailor your service to such an extent, you could be in for some big wins. But remember, significant investment and plenty of patience are required. 

6 Steps to implement account-based selling

1. Pinpoint Your High-Value Accounts

Not all clients are created equal — find those with the potential to drive significant revenue. Use your existing customer data, industry insights, and marketing intelligence to create a profile of your ideal client. This, really, is the foundation of your strategy. 

2. Research and Understand Your Targets

Once you've identified your key accounts, it's time to roll up your sleeves and really get to know them. Understand their business model, their pain points, their goals, and their decision-making processes. This knowledge is crucial to crafting personalised strategies that will resonate with them.

3. Develop Personalised Strategies

Now, armed with a thorough understanding of your targets, you can create tailored strategies. These strategies should address the specific needs and goals of each account. Consider every aspect – the messaging, the channels, the timing – to ensure it's personalised for each account. Consider also how you're going to execute these strategies and what tools and platforms will be most suitable. 

4. Align Your Teams

Account-based selling isn't a solo sport; it's a team game. Your sales, marketing, and customer service teams must work together seamlessly. Ensure they're all aligned with the objectives, strategies, and roles in this process. Collaboration is key here, and everyone needs to know their part in the dance.

5. Execute, Monitor, and Adjust

Put your plans into action. But remember, this isn't set and forget – you need to monitor performance closely. Use metrics and KPIs to assess whether your strategies are working or need adjusting. Be ready to pivot or refine your strategy based on the feedback and data you collect.

6. Nurture Relationships

Once you've secured these high-value accounts, don't just sit back and relax. The work has only just begun. Now it's time to nurture these relationships, provide exceptional service, and look for opportunities to upsell or cross-sell. Your goal is to deepen these relationships and increase their value over time.

Remember, implementing account-based selling is not an overnight job. It's a methodical, step-by-step process that requires research, planning, execution, and refinement. Stay patient, stay focused, and the results will follow.

Conclusion

If you know that you need to maximise the value of your top accounts, an ABS strategy may be the right move for you. To execute it, of course, you need the right plan, the right tools, and expert guidance. 

Having helped many organisations in this endeavour, BEE Digital is ready to help you execute your very own ABS strategy and ensure you can hone in on your most valuable prospects, personalise your efforts, and exceed your objectives. From carving out your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) to executing the strategies that effectively synchronise your teams' efforts and leverage the best tools and technologies, we've got you covered. Book a quick call with us today.