B2B selling presents unique challenges. Deal cycles are longer, there are more stakeholders involved in the decision making process, and sellers are expected to have expert level knowledge about their products and services. Today, more business operate in a remote or hybrid capacity, which means that digital communication is a crucial skill for any rep. Read on to learn the basics of the B2B sales process.
Business-to-business (B2B) describes the process of selling products or services from one business to another. It involves understanding the specific needs and goals of the buying business and providing tailored solutions to address them. B2B sales often require building relationships, effective communication, and demonstrating value to drive successful transactions in the business-to-business environment. A B2B company is one that sells to other businesses.
B2B sales refers to a sales model or a category of selling wherein a business sells its products or services to another business. Because B2B sales usually involves higher price points, more complex processes, and several touchpoints over multiple channels, B2B companies need to maintain a team of highly-trained B2B sales professionals in order to drive revenue.
Here are six categories that would be considered examples of business-to-business companies.
Manufacturers selling heavy machinery, specialized tools, or production equipment cater specifically to other businesses operating in manufacturing sectors. These B2B transactions revolve around delivering machinery that enhances operational efficiency, increases productivity, and helps businesses meet their production goals.
Software companies develop and offer specialized software solutions tailored to the needs of other businesses. Whether it's enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, customer relationship management (CRM) software, or project management tools, these B2B sales involve providing scalable and customizable software to streamline operations and improve productivity for businesses in various industries.
Professional services include consulting firms, legal services, accounting firms, marketing agencies, and more. B2B sales in the professional services sector revolve around offering expertise, advice, and specialized services to help businesses overcome challenges, improve performance, and achieve their strategic objectives.
Business consulting and training provide valuable guidance and education to other businesses. These services can include management consulting, leadership training, sales training, or specialized workshops. B2B consultants and trainers work closely with companies to identify areas for improvement, offer expert advice, and empower employees to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Wholesale distributors purchase goods in bulk from manufacturers and sell them to retailers or other businesses. Wholesale distributors often deal with a wide range of products, from electronics to consumer goods, and act as intermediaries, ensuring the smooth flow of products from manufacturers to end consumers.
Companies specializing in office supplies, stationery, furniture, and technology equipment cater to the needs of other businesses. These transactions involve providing essential supplies to maintain smooth office operations or offering services such as managed print solutions, document management, or office cleaning services.
As their names imply, business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) sales primarily differ in their target customers. While B2B companies sell products and services to other businesses, B2C companies consider the general public (or certain segments of it) as their primary market and end consumers.
This main differences between B2B and B2C are as follows:
Read more about B2B Sales vs. B2C Sales.
A B2B sales representative is a professional who uses strategic sequences and specialized selling methods to engage corporate buyers. Because corporate buyers tend to research products and services online before contacting a salesperson, these buyers are often well-informed and likely comparing competing products at the same time.
B2B sales representatives are responsible for various tasks to ensure an optimal B2B sales experience, including:
In cases where teams do not have account executives, B2B sales reps own virtually the entire sales cycle, engaging customers throughout the buyer journey — from prospecting and lead nurturing to closing deals.
Learn more about B2B sales reps: what they do and why they are important to a high-performing sales team.
In B2B sales, outside sales professionals often operate outside of an office because they are meeting with prospects and clients or presenting at an event. On the other hand, inside sales professionals engage clients remotely through cold calling, emailing, and video conferencing.
Inside sales professionals can close deals without ever personally meeting their customers. In contrast, outside sales reps almost always make a sale during or shortly after a personal meeting with clients.
This difference in engagement approach requires different skill sets and selling techniques required for either practice. For example, outside sales professionals leverage in-depth product knowledge and in-person communication skills while inside sales professionals become adept in the use of CRMs, a shared sales process, email, and social media.
Recently, however, the line between inside and outside sales has started to blur as outside sales reps begin using the same communication technologies as well as engagement strategies favored by inside sales professionals.
Read more about B2B Inside Sales vs. Outside Sales.
B2B selling is a complex process that requires a well-designed and executed B2B sales strategy in order to succeed. It follows a distinct process and uses a wide range of sales techniques for various buyer personas and selling situations.
The exact number and names of stages in your sales process will depend on your industry, company, and sales organization, but the B2B sales process is typically a 5- to 8-stage sales cycle.
Learn more about the B2B Sales Process (plus some tips and tricks for the modern sales pro).
In contrast to the B2B sales process which focuses on the sellers' perspective, the B2B sales funnel corresponds to the buyers' journey. The sales funnel often serves as a visualization of a prospect's proximity to or likelihood of making a purchase by identifying the cognitive or emotional phases the prospect undergoes in the buying process.
Most B2B sales funnels consist of 4 to 7 steps. Here is an example of a 7-step B2B sales funnel:
Learn more about the B2B Sales Funnel (plus best practices).
What if every rep could sell like your best rep? Outreach makes it easy for reps to self-source their own pipeline and organize their book of business.
The B2B sales approach involves several factors, including seller competency, sales process effectiveness, product fit, available alternatives, and the buyers purchasing capability and willingness to adopt.
To make all these moving parts work together, businesses need to:
There is an overwhelming number of B2B sales methodologies and frameworks to choose from. While they all claim to be effective, not all will fit your business, your sales organization, or your target customers. Some methods might work well for a specific industry but not others, while other methods succeed only if they fit the type of customer accounts in your portfolio.
Some of the more popular B2B sales techniques and methodologies include:
Learn more about these 5 popular sales techniques (plus the pros and cons).
To determine whether a B2B sales technique or a specific sales sequence positively impacts a business, sales organizations identify and measure key performance indicators (KPIs). KPIs are agreed-upon metrics used in assessing a sales organization's performance in different areas such as profitability, sustainability, and efficiency. They are also used to discover trends and to evaluate the productivity and performance of individual sellers.
Common B2B sales KPIs include:
B2B companies tend to confront several common challenges. The most pressing issues in B2B sales include:
In 2022, in the aftermath of the pandemic and on the heels of economic uncertainty, the greatest challenge to B2B sales is efficiency. Here are some of the resources we have for adjusting your B2B sales strategy in an unpredictable market:
Here are some tips for improving B2B sales performance:
B2B sales is in a state of rapid transformation. The line between inside sales and outside sales is fading while best practices for consumer sales — especially when it comes to personalization — are becoming mainstream in B2B.
Sales tools introduced just a few years earlier (such as revenue intelligence platforms) have already become necessary for survival. Technology and buyer-centricity are shaking the ecosystem as AI and machine learning empower teams to scale both customer engagement and revenue.