KENT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

Kent​

Solutions


Blog

Return to Kent Solutions' Website
Follow Us on LinkedIn!

Why Most Businesses Struggle with Sales & Marketing (And How Automation Fixes It)

2/20/2025

0 Comments

 
By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Solutions
Picture
Image by Freepik

Have you ever felt like you're in an basketball game, trying to pass the ball to a teammate, and you're continually blocked in the process? It's frustrating, huh? Well, that often happens with sales and marketing handoffs, and you're experiencing this, you're not alone in the battle.

Maybe you're generating leads, but they slip through the cracks before they convert. Or perhaps your sales team is frustrated because they're not getting quality leads. And let's not even talk about the hours wasted on repetitive tasks that pull you away from growing your business.

It doesn't have to be this way. Sales and marketing should work together seamlessly—but most businesses don't experience seamless handoffs. The good news? Automation can change that, bringing relief to the overwhelming feeling of managing these tasks.

The Top Sales & Marketing Struggles Businesses FaceMany companies face the same everyday challenges:

1. Leads Slip Through the Cracks

Without a structured follow-up system, potential customers disappear before they can convert. If you rely on manual follow-ups, it's easy to miss key touchpoints.

2. Manual, Repetitive Tasks Eat Up Time

Sending emails, following up, scheduling meetings, updating CRM records—these tasks add up fast, pulling your team away from high-value activities.

 3. Inconsistent Outreach Hurts Conversions

When lead nurturing isn't consistent, potential customers lose interest and move on to competitors who engage them more effectively.

4. Sales & Marketing Aren't Aligned

Opportunities get lost if marketing generates leads, but sales doesn't know how (or when) to follow up. A lack of alignment between teams leads to inefficiencies.

5. Scattered Data Makes Tracking Difficult

Without transparent reporting, you're guessing instead of making data-driven decisions. Manually tracking metrics wastes time and leaves room for errors.

How Automation Solves These ChallengesAutomation bridges the gaps, turning sales and marketing into a well-oiled machine:

1. Follow-ups on Autopilot

Automated email and SMS sequences ensure every lead gets the right message at the right time, improving conversion rates.

2. Less Busywork, More Productivity

Automating repetitive tasks like data entry, appointment scheduling, and email campaigns frees your team to focus on closing deals.

3. Consistent, Personalized Outreach

Automated workflows send the right message based on lead behavior, keeping prospects engaged without overwhelming your team.

4. Sales & Marketing in Sync

Automation ensures leads are nurtured properly before being handed to sales, improving team communication and collaboration.

5. More Intelligent, Data-Driven Decisions

With automated reporting and analytics, you get real-time insights into what's working and what's not, allowing quick adjustments.

Simplify, Streamline, and ScaleSales and marketing don't have to feel chaotic. With the right automation, you can simplify processes, close more deals, and grow your business—achieving a sense of accomplishment and inspiring further growth. Whether you're just starting or looking to fine-tune your strategy, automation is the key to unlocking efficiency and results.

Want to Simplify Your Marketing? Grab This Free Infographic!We've put together "Seven Steps to Simplify Your Marketing with Automation," a free infographic that explains how to streamline your sales and marketing.
​
📩 Download it now and start simplifying your marketing today!
Picture

Download your freebie so you can up your marketing automation game!
DOWNLOAD FREEBIE


0 Comments

How to Create a Well-Oiled Sales and Marketing Engine for Business Growth

10/11/2024

0 Comments

 
By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Solutions
Picture
Image by Freepik

Picture a business world where sales and marketing operate like well-oiled machines—seamlessly aligned, communicating freely, and collaborating towards shared goals.

That sounds like a pipe dream, right?

Yet, in today's competitive landscape, companies that can bridge the gap between these two critical functions in today's competitive landscape unlock a decisive advantage. By fostering better sales and marketing alignment, organizations pave the way for growth, improved efficiency, and a boosted bottom line.

Let's dive into what this looks like!

1. Define Shared Goals and KPIs

Misaligned objectives can lead to conflicting priorities and wasted efforts. Sales and marketing teams should collaborate to define shared goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that align with the overall business strategy. This shared vision will help teams work towards a common purpose and measure success collectively.

2. Implement a Unified Data Strategy

Data silos obstruct effective sales and marketing alignment. Both teams can access accurate, up-to-date customer data by implementing a centralized Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Regular data audits and cleansing processes maintain data integrity, promoting informed decision-making. processes ensure data integrity, promoting informed decision-making and enhancing the overall performance of the organization.

3. Facilitate Open and Consistent Communication

Communication breakdowns can derail efforts. By encouraging regular cross-functional meetings, collaboration sessions, and open feedback loops, organizations can foster mutual understanding and address challenges proactively, making the audience feel reassured and prepared for potential obstacles.

4. Develop a Unified Lead Management Process

Disagreements over lead quality strain relationships. Collaborating to develop a shared lead scoring and qualification process ensures both teams work with the same criteria and prioritize the most promising leads.

5. Foster a Culture of Collaboration

Cultural misalignment can significantly barrier integration. Implementing cross-functional training programs, team-building activities, and shared incentives can break down silos and promote a culture of collaboration and shared success. This not only enhances the working environment but also drives growth and improves operational efficiency.

6. Embrace Change and Continuous Improvement

Resistance to change can hinder progress and innovation. Involving both teams in decision-making and providing comprehensive training and support can mitigate resistance and ensure a smoother transition when implementing new processes or technologies.

7. Leverage Integrated Technology Solutions

Technology integration challenges arise when sales and marketing teams use disparate tools and platforms. Investing in an all-in-one solution or leveraging middleware solutions can streamline processes and ensure seamless data flow between teams. Comprehensive training on these technologies promotes user adoption and maximizes their potential.


By implementing these strategies, organizations can break down silos, foster better collaboration, and unlock the synergies between sales and marketing teams. The result? A cohesive, customer-centric approach that drives growth, improves operational efficiency and ultimately boosts bottom-line results.

One last note...

Remember, aligning sales and marketing is an ongoing process that requires continuous evaluation and refinement. By fostering an environment of open communication, shared goals, and a collaborative culture, organizations can engage their teams in the process and reap the rewards of a truly aligned sales and marketing engine.

# # #
​

Interested in exploring an all-in-one solution to streamline your sales and marketing efforts? Book a quick chat with our team today to learn about Workestrate—a powerful platform that can revolutionize your business operations. Click the button below to take the first step towards seamless sales and marketing alignment!
Picture

Schedule a quick chat with our team!
15-Minute Chat


0 Comments

5 Hidden Costs of Misaligned Sales & Marketing Teams

9/6/2024

0 Comments

 
By: Kathy Kent Toney, CEO & Founder of Kent Solutions
Picture
​Image by pressfoto on Freepik

Do you ever feel like your sales and marketing teams are playing a game of tug-of-war? Are they constantly pulling in opposite directions, working against each other instead of joining forces?

I've certainly experienced this in my career. Daily tug-of-war scenarios affected everything, from working relationships to the company's bottom line.

If this sounds all too familiar, you're experiencing one of the most pernicious issues plaguing businesses today— misalignment between your two critical revenue engines. And this is not a problem you want to put off. If left unchecked, it can severely threaten sustainable growth.

So, what are the costs of misaligned teams?

1. Wasted Marketing Budget

From generating low-quality leads that don't convert to blatantly missing your target buyer personas, unaligned teams burn incredible sums of money in pursuit of the wrong prospects. It's a wildly inefficient use of resources.

2. Sluggish Sales Cycles

With conflicting messaging and positioning, a lack of shared pipeline visibility, and botched lead handoffs, some leads can indefinitely linger while engaged leads go cold. A few extra months of delays can slash projected revenue in half!

3. Abysmal Close Rates

Without sales enablement from marketing, your reps will struggle to create an impact even when they manage to engage. Throw in divergent incentives between the two teams, and you've got a recipe for watching deals repeatably die.

4. Resource Drain

The amount of duplicated roles, endless alignment meetings, and toxic silo-building required to keep this dynamic afloat creates immense organizational drag. It's a massive time and money suck.

5. And The Stats Don't Lie...

A recent Forrester study found that a 10% increase in sales and marketing alignment could generate a massive 27% increase in marketing's contribution to revenue. Yet in 2022, only 8% of companies reported having tight operational integration between their sales and marketing teams.

Beyond Just Numbers

The toll goes far beyond just revenue impacts. According to InsideView's 2021 report, 54% of companies suffering from misalignment experienced significantly longer sales cycles. Demand Metric's research revealed that misaligned companies lose 40% of their marketing-generated leads.

However, the intangible costs are even more damaging in the long term. Misalignment erodes workplace culture, customer experiences, and employee morale over time. A 2021 LinkedIn study found that companies with tight sales-marketing alignment achieved 36% higher employee retention rates.


So, how do you stop the endless wars between your sales and marketing teams? The answer is a robust CRM that automates sales and marketing processes to produce a more seamless experience that reduces the need for human intervention. This solution can bring relief and optimism, knowing there is a way to end the constant struggle.

If you're unsure if your CRM can foster team alignment, check out my FREE CRM Strategy Workbook. It's designed to help you evaluate your current CRM system, understand its potential for improving team alignment, and provide practical steps to fine-tune your CRM or deploy a new one.
​
Download the CRM Strategy Workbook today to take the first step toward ending the tug-of-war between your sales and marketing teams!
Picture

Download your FREE copy today!
The crm strategy workbook


0 Comments
    Follow Us!

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019

    Categories

    All
    AI
    Ai Agents
    AIAutomation
    Automation
    Chatbots
    CRM
    CRM Optimization
    Customer Engagement
    Customer Journey
    Data Protection
    Digital Transformation
    Email Marketing
    Employees
    Future Of Work
    Holidays
    Innovation
    Intelligent Bots
    Lead Conversion
    Leadership
    Lead Management
    Lead Nurturing
    Marketing
    Marketing Automation
    Marketing Strategy
    Multi-Agent Systems
    Omni-channel Strategies
    Personal Development
    Pilpeline Visibility
    Pipeline Visibility
    Process Improvement
    Product Development
    Productivity Hacks
    Project Management
    Reduce Stress
    Reporting
    Sales
    Sales Automation
    Sales & Marketing Integration
    Sales Process
    Sales Strategy
    Scrum
    Smarketing
    Technology
    Voice Of The Customer
    Workflow Automation

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.