Sales Logic - Selling Strategies That Work

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Increase Productivity in Sales Question: Rashid from Asia asks, "We love the show—the whole team listens. We have not had a good first quarter, and not sure what is going on. Feels like we are doing all the things we did in 2025 that made it a strong year. We are coaching, role playing, being consistent. Why can't we hit our sales goal?" Book: Emotional Intelligence For Sales Success by Colleen Stanley 🧠Catch the BLOG for this episode.

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Get Consistently Better at Sales Question: Daniel in Chicago asks, "I've been in sales for 18 months. Some months I crush it, some months I feel like I'm drowning. How do I know if I'm just in a slump — or if sales isn't for me?" Book: To Sell Is Human by Daniel Pink 🧠Catch the BLOG for this episode.

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Retain Your Top Customers Question: Rachel from Canton Ohio asks, "I am new to sales, new to my company, only celebrating one year. While I am new, I still have not hit my sales goal, and I am getting worried. My boss is getting really frustrated with me. I don't know what I am doing wrong. How do I know if I have the right sales process? Or how do I know what I am doing wrong?" Book: 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 by Scott McKain 🧠Catch the BLOG for this episode.

Question: Leo from Sydney asks, "Congrats on six years, Sales Logic is a great show. Wondering here down under what your best strategies are for getting to decision-makers. How do you get more customer facing time?" Book: Influence by Robert Cialdini Lightning Round: Top 10 BEST Ways to Close Out First Quarter

Lightning Round - Top 10 Metrics You Should Be Tracking in Sales Question: Anna from Ontario asks, "Love the show—not up that early on a Saturday, but my team and I catch it as a podcast. Here's a question for you: how do you know if a deal is progressing slowly or it is dead and you need to walk away?" Book: Integrity First Selling by Mark Hunter 🧠Catch the BLOG for this episode.

What Six Years and 200+ Episodes Teach Us About Winning in Sales Welcome to a special milestone episode of the Sales Logic Podcast! In this 6-year anniversary celebration, hosts Mark Hunter and Meridith Elliott Powell reflect on their journey from launching the very first episode just before the world changed in 2020, to creating a thriving sales community that gathers every Saturday morning. They share the lessons that have fueled their consistency and growth—like the power of accountability, always listening to your audience, and pushing through the failures that pave the way to long-term success. You'll hear behind-the-scenes stories, from recording in far-flung locations (yes, even at 2:30 AM in Hawaii!) to how guest engagement and adapting to changing market trends have shaped the show. Plus, Mark and Meridith offer their top tips for sales success, favorite episodes, and favorite books, all while highlighting the crucial role listeners play in making the podcast what it is today. Lightning Round: Mark & Meredith's Best Sales Advice Books: Atomic Habits by James Clear, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. 🧠Catch the BLOG for this episode.

Lightning Round: Top 10 Worst Sales Questions to Ask Question: Jason of B2B Tech asks, "I've missed my goals four weeks in a row. I feel like throwing in the towel. Any ideas on how to turn things around - this year is going downhill fast?" Book: '30 Days to Sales Success' by Meridith Elliott Powell 🧠Read the BLOG for this week's episode.

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Differentiate Yourself in The Marketplace Question: Cynthia from Minneapolis asks, "We love the show here in Minny! So my company is focused on one thing this year—cross sells. We have had so many mergers and acquisitions in the last few years, and offer several products that our customers could benefit from. Frankly, I am a little overwhelmed. Where do I start, and how do I make sure I am adding value? Thanks so much for the help." Book: The Framemaking Sale by Brent Adamson and Karl Schmidt 🧠Read the BLOG for this week's episode.

Lightening Round: Top 10 Ways to Build Your Sales Confidence Question: Philip from Tennessee asks, "Hey guys, can you talk more about that perspective of abundance rather than scarcity? What does that look like, sound like, and how do you actually practice it?" Book: The Go Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann 🧠Read the BLOG for this week's episode.

Lightning Round: Top 10 Best Pieces of Sales Advice You've Ever Received Question: Alice from Madison Wisconsin asks, "I am excited about 2026 and I want to do well this year. What is your best advice for a sales person looking to hit her goal in 2026?" Book: Market Eminence by David Newman 🧠Read the BLOG for this week's episode.

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Get to Decision Makers Question: Amal from Morocco asks, "We love this show—we listen as a team to Sales Logic every week. Here's our question: how do you not sell on price when procurement turns every conversation to price?" Book: Value Based Selling by John Doerr and Neil Rackham 🧠Read the BLOG for this week's episode!

Lightning Round: Top 10 Things to Accelerate First Quarter Sales Question: Althea from the Philippines asks, "Buyers are taking so much longer to decide and it feels like the list of people involved in the decision is growing. How am I supposed to know when a deal is truly stalled versus just moving at today's normal pace?" Book: Selling Through Tough Times By Tom Reilly 🧠 Read the BLOG for this week's episode!

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways Buyer Expectations Are Changing Question: Elizabeth from Santa Cruz asks, "I love Sales Logic. I listen every week and share your podcast with my team and clients. So here's my question: all everyone is talking about is AI and how it is going to change sales. Are there other sales trends I need to be paying attention to?" Book: Selling Without Selling Out by Andy Paul 👀Read the BLOG for this week's episode.

CFOs: The True Decision-Maker in Today's Buying Cycle Lightning Round: Top 10 Things You Need to Do Now to Start 2026 Strong Question: From Chris in London asks, "I have been selling pharmaceuticals for years, and I have ridden economic ups and downs, but I have never in all my career made so many sales presentations where the CFO is in the room. I know how to sell to a CRO, I know how to sell to a CEO, but how do I sell to a CFO?" Book: The Value Sale by Ian Altman 👀Read the BLOG for this week's episode

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Know a Deal Is Dead Question: Felipe from Quebec asks, "I have three deals that made it to proposal stage but all went silent. They said timing was good, budget was approved—now nothing. What's the best way to re-create urgency without sounding desperate?" Book: The JOLT Effect by Matthew Dixon & Ted McKenna 👀Read the BLOG for this week's episode.

Question: Marcus from Toronto asks, "My company has rolled out several AI tools, but none of them actually save me time. How do I know which parts of my process I should automate and which I should never hand over to AI?" Book: The AI-First Sales Rep" by Tony Hughes Lightning Round: Top 10 Things You Are Grateful for in Sales 👀Read the BLOG for this week's episode.

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways To Build Trust With Your Customers Question: Panchal from Spotify asks, "I am from a different country. My English accent is a little different than the native. Will that delay building trust with the customer? If yes, what's the solution?" Book: The Culture Map by Erin Meyer 👀 Read the BLOG for this week's episode

Lightning Round: Top 10 Mistakes that Are Killing Your Pipeline Question: Mike from San Diego asks, "Our company is growing fast, both organically and through acquisitions. We're great at landing new business, but I'm worried our customer retention is slipping. How do I get my team to focus on both?" Book: Never Lose a Customer Again by Joey Coleman 👀 Read the BLOG for this episode.

Lightning Round: Top 10 Follow-Up Moves Question: Lucia in Seattle asks, "Love the show–I am a new listener. Here's my question: I'm killing myself and cannot get one of my deals across the finish line. I get to proposal stage and then they go cold or I lose to my competition. I really need help." Book: Gap Selling by Keenan 👀 Read the BLOG for this episode.

Lightning Round: Top 10 Discipline & Mindset Hacks for Salespeople Question: John Leota asked on Spotify, "Hello Meredith and Mark, amazing show. I feel that I'm falling short as a sales rep because my sales discipline is lacking. I always convince myself that I'm going to start prospecting, and when it's time to do so I find a reason to not get out there and do it. I think it's due to my lack of knowing my Ideal Customer Profile or plan of action. Any advice you can give me to change my mindset?" Book: Unbeatable—The Legend of the Salesman on Fire by Carson Heady 👀 Read the BLOG for this episode.

Lightning Round: Top 10 Sales Mistakes You're Making Question: Quaron from Toronto asks, "I work in sales for a large HVAC company and it has been a year—between tariffs, economy, competition and private equity dominating our market, I am struggling with my sales. What's working this year—what are others doing that I am missing?" Book: Go for No and When They Say No by Andrea Waltz and Richard Fenton 👀 Read the blog for this episode here!

Lightning Round: 10 Ways to Update Your Sales Process Question: Shawn from Madison Wisconsin asks, "So heard your podcast last week—congratulations on 250 shows. I heard you all talking about the sales process and how both are making adjustments and doing things differently. What is changing and why—I am curious." Book: The Sales Rhythm Playbook by Steve Powell

Ever wonder if the pursuit of perfection is holding you back? Join us for the 250th episode of Sales Logic as we celebrate our journey—from a spontaneous idea to a Saturday morning ritual—and reveal why starting and adapting beats waiting for perfection. Hear our top insights on sales leadership, hitting quotas, staying focused, and how AI is reshaping the game. With audience questions, book picks, and our signature lightning round, this episode is packed with lessons from our wins, missteps, and everything in between. Listen in to celebrate this journey with us and get ready to transform your sales strategies. ⚡Lightning Round: Best Sales Advice We've Ever Gotten 💡Congratulate Mark & Meridith by leaving a review on your favorite podcast app!

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand Question: Juan from Santa Fe asks, "I sell software for a small firm that focuses on manufacturing firms - and for the last few years business has been great. Once the election happened we are struggling—struggling because it seems like everyone has become price sensitive—so price sensitive. I have listened to your podcast and I know I need to sell value if I want to get price off the table - what are the best questions to ask to get to the value?" Book: Spin Selling by Neil Rackman

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Protect Your Price Question: Lucia from Seattle asks, " I love sales logic—listen on my way to work—you have been so helpful. I am writing in because I am stuck. I am killing myself and cannot get one of my deals across the finish line. The harder I try the worse it gets - I get to the proposal stage, then nothing." Book: Wealthy and Well-Known by Rory and AJ Vaden

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Fill a Dry Pipeline Question: Mike from San Diego asks, "I am the CRO of a large DME company and we have been experiencing strong growth—organic and through acquisitions. And experiencing all that comes with that: disorganization, constant shifts in strategy and structure and I am really worried we have lost our focus on keeping customers. We have no problems getting new customers, but I am really worried about our retention rate. How do I get my team to focus on both? and should I? Love the show by the way - make my entire team listen to it." Book: How to Get a Meeting with Anyone by Stu Heinecke

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways You Should Be Doing Marketing Question: April from Milwaukee asks, "I am a veteran sales professional – I have been selling in manufacturing for more than twenty-five years. But I have to tell you this last year has been hell— tariff threats, the economy, competition, a total reorg of our sales team, and oh did I mention we were acquired. For the first time in my sales career, I am not making my sales goals. Help, what am I doing wrong?" Book: This Is Marketing by Seth Godin 💡 Join us Monday, July 28th at 3 p.m. CT for an exclusive Sales Logic Expert Exchange with sales legends Mark Hunter and Meridith Elliott Powell, featuring Sam Richter, a global authority on sales intelligence. Reserve your spot here. ➡️ Prospecting doesn't have to be a numbers game. With the right data, it becomes a precision strategy.

This episode brought to you by our Sales Logic Expert Exchange with Brynne Tillman. Uncover actionable social selling strategies that prioritize value and trust. This episode focuses on the importance of a structured social selling approach, featuring critical stages such as buyer mapping and content strategy. Brynne, Mark and Meridith explore why being the first to add value is vital, with 74% of buyers choosing reps who offer insights. Brynne shares her expertise on optimizing your LinkedIn profile to stand out as the vendor of choice, transforming from just a salesperson to a trusted resource.

This episode brought to you by our Sales Logic Expert Exchange with Mike Weinberg. Join Mark and Meridith as Mike shares his personal journey and reminds us that sales is more than a job—it's a key driver of the economy, offering both freedom and fun. With the sales world reshaped by COVID-19 and AI, Mike highlights the need to revisit the fundamentals. He explores how AI and traditional techniques can work together, stressing the importance of strong frameworks and training to help teams create demand—not just respond to it. Mike calls for a return to basics: real customer connections and value-driven conversations. He encourages sales pros to stay passionate, focused, and strategic—creating, advancing, and closing deals—even in uncertain times.

Lightning Round: Top 10 Qualities of a Successful Sales Professional 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 40% are not hitting quota. We just redid our sales training, but wondering if you have any thoughts." Book: Hire Right, Fire Less by Kelly Riggs

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Use Client Testimonials Question: Lanora from Toronto, Canada asks, " I am struggling with my sales managers—I feel like he wants me to focus on the wrong sales strategies for our market and I have been doing HIS sales process for more than six months—and I am not getting results. I have tried to talk with him about my ideas - but he is NOT open. I am also about to go on a PIP for not hitting my numbers.. HELP what do I do?" Book: Building A Story Brand 2.0 by Donald Miller 💡Join Mark and Meridith on June 23 for a dynamic conversation featuring special guest Sonia Dumas. This session goes beyond AI as a tool—you'll learn how to use AI as a strategic advantage Grab your spot at this link

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand Question: Sina from Tokyo, Japan asks, "I work in the financial services industry, and expanding my portfolio is a long sales cycle - feels like these days it is getting longer. I am doing a great job of getting the meetings, and connecting with decision-makers. I am even having good conversations, but not quite getting the decision-maker to make decisions—any ideas would be appreciated." Book: Secrets of Closing The Deal by Zig Ziglar

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Update Your Sales Strategy 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 been great at getting through the door, getting to decision makers, and getting good questions during our sales presentations - but we can't close the deal. Ideas?" Book: Business Storytelling by Janine Kurnoff

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Boost Your Confidence Question: Felipe asks on Spotify, "I have a quick question. I have started in a new job in mid-February for introduction of a new product in the market and cooperate with a coworker who is the Team Leader of the project (we both report to the same boss). My colleague is calling me every day to ask my plan of the day, if I will have a visit with the customer, how many projects I have created. I do not mind being accountable, but I do not know if it is productive everyday reviewing of my job. What you think?" Book: Sales Management Simplified by Mike Weinberg

⚡Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Set the Right Sales Cadence Question: "Hi Meredith and Mark, I am really enjoying the show and learning so much. However, I haven't yet earned a dollar as I struggle to "ask for the sale". I am a solopreneur providing professional services and my sales cycles are long. I don't want to blow a good relationship by being too pushy. Any tips would be very welcome." Book: The Lost Art of Closing by Anthony Iannarino 🔥Sales Logic EXPERT Exchange, NEXT WEEK on May 27th at 04:00 PM! This month's guest: Carson Heady→ on "What it really takes to rise to the top 1% in today's fast-changing sales landscape." 🔥Register here to grab your spot! 🔥

Lightning Round: Top 10 Client Acquisition Strategies Question: John from Milwaukee asks, "I am in the packaging industry, and it is tough right now with the threat of tariffs, the economy, inflation—so much going on with our customers—yet our leaders just keep pushing our sales quotas higher and higher. I have never missed my sales goal, but wow, this year I am worried about it— any advice?" Book: Predictable Sales by Michael Anderson 🔥Sales Logic EXPERT Exchange, coming up on May 27th at 04:00 PM! This month's guest: Carson Heady What's our topic? What it really takes to rise to the top 1% in today's fast-changing sales landscape. Register here to grab your spot!

Balancing Ambition with Personal Well-Being. Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Manage Your Energy, NOT Your Time Question: "How do you keep the enjoyment of being in sales: balancing work and life? What are your best tips on how to ensure you retain a healthy balance, as sales can be stressful and intense?" Book: The Joy of Selling by Steve Chandler

Handling Underperforming Salespeople Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Become More Disciplined Question from a New Listener: "How do you grow a sales team when ownership struggles to let go of underperformers? These employees were never really trained, but sales is our only revenue stream, and the owners hesitate to make tough calls. They want change but aren't ready to act—often making excuses in hopes things will improve." Book: Mentally Fit by Meridith Elliott Powell

From Disinterest to Dialogue…Master the Art of Engaging Prospects. Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Shorten the Sales Cycle Question: Tawanda from Baltimore M.D. asks, " I do not know what has happened in the last 30 days but I cannot get anyone to answer a call, an email, or a text. What is going on with prospects? I have goals to hit. What ideas do you have that can help?" Book: Exactly What To Say by Phil Jones 🔥Register for this month's Sales Logic Expert Exchange with Mike Weinberg! Let's have a no-fluff conversation on what salespeople and sales managers are getting wrong in today's market—and what to do instead.

🌩️Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Build Your Network Question: Maria from Cartagena, Colombia asks, "I just got the job of my dreams. I have been working in operations for a large manufacturing firm for years. I have wanted to be in sales, and I have finally gotten my shot. But wow this is different—so much freedom with time and it is up to me to structure my day, my week. What is your best advice?" Book: Build What Matters: Creating A Life of Significance by Sydne Jacques 🔥Register for this month's Sales Logic Expert Exchange with Mike Weinberg! Let's have a no-fluff conversation on what salespeople and sales managers are getting wrong in today's market—and what to do instead.

Harnessing Online Presence for Lead Generation 🔥 Lightning Round: Top 10 Signs Your Sales Strategy Needs a Tune Up Question: George from Bar Harbor Maine asks, "I am a consultant, moved to Maine a few years ago to get out of the rat race of Boston. I love it—but I have lost my ability to easily make sales calls or attend networking events to drum up business. What can I do to DRIVE inbound leads?" Book: Pick Up The Phone and Sell by Alex GoldFayn Episode Summary Can sales be both powerful and principled? Join us as we unpack the art of driving inbound leads through authentic relationship-building. From the value of a daily posting routine to overcoming the hurdles of maintaining momentum in a new location, listen as we share stories and strategies that highlight the importance of a strong online presence and proactive outreach. M&M explore the dynamic dance between inbound and outbound sales strategies. It's not just about waiting for leads to come to you, but also picking up the phone when necessary. We discuss how a balanced approach, coupled with consistency and discipline, can significantly enhance your sales success. Whether it's through leveraging content on LinkedIn or practicing the principles in "Atomic Habits" by James Clear, we guide you through the steps to refine your lead generation and qualification processes.

Transforming One-Time Buyers into Lifelong Clients: Building Lasting Customer Relationships for Sustainable Growth Question: Zoltan asks, "I recently came across your co-hosted podcast, Sales Logic, and have been enjoying the insights you share. This year, I'm focused on developing stronger sales skills within the AEC professional services industry in Europe. I would love to learn from you—which three books would you recommend to help me on this journey? I've completed Dale Carnegie's sales training and really connected with its client-centric approach. Many thanks in advance for your recommendations! Wishing you a great day." Book: What Great Sales People Do by Michael Bosworth 🔥 Hot Topic: Top 10 Ways to Retain Customers

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways AI Can Make You More Human Question: Marina in Silicon Valley asks, "I work software sales and it is competitive—crazy competitive. It is so hard just to get a meeting with a customer. I need to stand out from my competition, but am struggling to figure out how." Book: Purple Cow by Seth Godin

Should you ever fire a client? With Guest Co-Host, Verl Workman. Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Define Your Ideal Prospect Question: Maria from St Augustine asks, "I have been in sales for years, and I think this is the MOST stressed out I have ever been. A long-time client, used to be my favorite, has become a bear. They are driving me crazy, fight me on my prices, and working with them is stressful. I think about letting them go, but they are 1/3 of my annual goal? Help?" Book: Raving Referrals For Real Estate Agents by Verl Workman

Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Gain More Sales Knowledge Question: Maria from Singapore asks, "I am new to sales, just started my first job as an inside sales rep. I am excited and scared all at the same time. My sales goals don't kick in until May—what are the best strategies I can put into place to ensure I hit my sales goal?" Book: The Future of Sales, the Rise of AI Agents by Victor Antonio Read the blog for this episode here.

ROI is in the eyes of the customer. You need to understand their goals, their pain points, and their desired results before you can effectively sell the ROI. Lightning Round: Top 10 Ways to Ask for Referrals Question: Jonathan from Missoula, Montana asks, "I am a classic sales guy; I have been in sales for more than 20 years. In 2025 I got the news that I am now reporting to the CFO - how strange is that? Anyway, he wants to deliver every presentation and every conversation in terms of ROI? This is foreign to me—help?" Book: Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results by Amy Climer, Ph.D. 📖 Read the blog for this episode at this link. Episode Summary: Join us Mark & Meredith as they explore incorporating ROI into your sales presentations. They'll unpack the significance of understanding what truly matters to your customers before discussing ROI, helping you distinguish between price and value. M&M also discuss the role of time in ROI, emphasizing that immediacy in delivery can add significant value for your customers. We'll guide you in presenting a compelling ROI to clients by framing conversations around their needs and desired outcomes rather than just pricing. Tune in to adopt these strategies for sustained business growth and stay ahead in your sales game. ❓Send YOUR questions to Mark & Meridith at [email protected]

Lightning Round - Top 10 Ways to Follow Up Without Being Annoying Question: Mateo from Cartagena asks, " I just changed job[s]—same industry—big equipment sales. Most of my team is struggling, [the] economy is tough right now—but three or four guys in our company are blowing it out of the water. I am curious, what do you think they are doing [that] we are not doing? What makes a top producer?" Book: Relentless by Tim Grover

Lightning Round: 10 Worst Mistakes You Can Make in Sales Question: Lorenzo from San Francisco asks, "I have been working in insurance sales for more than 15 years, and it is getting harder and harder to get to the right person. I ask prospects who to talk with, who makes decisions—they assure me they can—and then I hit a dead end? How do you determine who makes the decisions in organizations? Am I doing something wrong?" Book: Selling to Big Companies by Jill Konrath ❖ Send your questions to Meridith and Mark at [email protected] 🧠 Register now for the Sales Logic Expert Exchange→This month: Tiffany Bova! Topic: "Unlocking Sustainable Growth: The Roadmap to Long-Term Success" → Register for Feb. 25th from 3-4 p.m. CT here.

+The sales advice we wish we had been given! Lightning Round: Top 10 Best Habits for Sales Professionals Question: Brook Ingram from Shreveport, Louisiana asks, "What's the best advice you give to new sales professionals starting out?" Book: The Best Sales Book Ever by Connie Podesta and Meridith Elliott Powell ❓Submit your OWN question at SalesLogicPodcast.com or send us an email at [email protected] 🧠 Register now for the Sales Logic Expert Exchange→This month: Tiffany Bova! Topic: "Unlocking Sustainable Growth: The Roadmap to Long-Term Success" Register for Feb. 25th from 3-4 p.m. CT here.