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How to define and work with your Ideal Customer Profile

Sales Today

Release Date: 04/10/2025

EQ vs AI - Why emotional beats artificial intelligence show art EQ vs AI - Why emotional beats artificial intelligence

Sales Today

Uncover the secret to achieving consistent sales success by enhancing your emotional intelligence.   Join me, Fred Copestake, as I engage with James White, an experienced sales mentor and trainer, to explore how Daniel Goleman's five characteristics of emotional intelligence can revolutionise your sales approach.   James passionately advocates for listening over pitching and stresses the importance of truly understanding client needs to foster genuine connections. Our goal is to help you achieve consistent sales results, reduce stress, and enjoy a more balanced life. ...

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Why Most LinkedIn Training Fails B2B Salespeople (and What Works Instead) show art Why Most LinkedIn Training Fails B2B Salespeople (and What Works Instead)

Sales Today

In this episode of Sales Today, I am joined by Brad Eather, a digital communications consultant and the creator of the Digital Sales Mastery framework.   Brad shares why LinkedIn should be treated as a communications tool rather than a marketing broadcast channel, and how salespeople can use it to connect with the right people in the right way.   The conversation explores the difference between influencers and business professionals, showing how salespeople can move from passively consuming content to engaging and producing it in a way that attracts the right audience. ...

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How I sold myself into a new job show art How I sold myself into a new job

Sales Today

What if a sudden layoff could lead to the career transition of a lifetime?   Meet Luis Alan, who after twenty years in IT, found himself navigating the thrilling world of tech sales at Deel.    Through his personal journey from technical support in Costa Rica to unexpected roles on cruise ships, Luis turned a layoff in the oil and gas industry into a springboard for success in sales.   He shares how LinkedIn became his secret weapon and how skills acquired from IT played an essential role in reinventing his career path.   The episode unpacks the art of career...

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Tech in Sales: Having the right conversations show art Tech in Sales: Having the right conversations

Sales Today

In this third episode of the Sales Today podcast miniseries, sales tech expert Hanneke Vogels shifts the focus to how technology can elevate the right conversations with prospects and customers.   From virtual calls to face-to-face meetings, the discussion centres on using tech to prepare more intentionally, uncover fresh angles, and deliver conversations that help buyers think in new ways.   Hanneke highlights the often-overlooked art of meeting preparation - knowing your objective, anticipating the customer’s goals, and having well-crafted questions ready.   She...

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Tech in Sales: Driving the right outcomes show art Tech in Sales: Driving the right outcomes

Sales Today

In this fifth and final episode of the Sales Today podcast miniseries, sales tech strategist Hanneke Vogels returns to wrap things up with Fred Copestake as they delve into the last part of the modern sales framework: delivering the right outcomes.   But before they get there, the conversation begins with one of the most critical (and often messy) phases in sales: negotiation.   Hanneke shares how tech can help streamline this complex process - from collaborative contract tools to AI-powered note-takers that analyse sentiment and conversation flow.    They explore...

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Tech in Sales: Creating the right solutions show art Tech in Sales: Creating the right solutions

Sales Today

In this fourth episode of the Sales Today podcast miniseries, sales tech expert Hanneke Vogels joins Fred Copestake to explore the future of proposals, presentations, and how we bring solutions to life for buyers.   Hanneke kicks things off with a strong rallying cry - “Death to the PDF!” - challenging the outdated way many salespeople still share proposals.   She explains how today’s proposal tools and digital sales rooms allow sellers to create interactive, trackable micro-sites that not only look better but also provide rich data on buyer engagement.   From...

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Tech in Sales: Doing the right research show art Tech in Sales: Doing the right research

Sales Today

In this second episode of the Sales Today podcast miniseries, Fred Copestake continues his conversation with sales tech expert Hanneke Vogels - this time addressing how modern technology can transform your research process before engaging with prospects.   The focus is on understanding who you’re talking to, what they care about, and how to personalise outreach in meaningful ways using tools already at your fingertips.   From mapping complex Decision Making Units (DMUs) to exploring individual communication styles with DISC-based AI profiling, this episode highlights how tech...

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Tech in Sales: Finding the right opportunities show art Tech in Sales: Finding the right opportunities

Sales Today

Modern technology is reshaping how sales teams identify and qualify opportunities.   In this conversation, Fred Copestake speaks with sales tech expert Hanneke Vogels to explore how tools like HubSpot’s Breeze and other sales intelligence platforms can help define and refine your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP).   They examine how existing customer data can reveal key patterns and shared traits, enabling teams to pinpoint lookalike companies and prioritise outreach more effectively.   There's also a focus on how AI can support deeper customer understanding, allowing...

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Developing and using Partnering Skills - Procurement Special show art Developing and using Partnering Skills - Procurement Special

Sales Today

This episode is a live recording of Fred Copestake’s show for the Alchemie Network, where he dives deeper into what makes true collaboration between sales and procurement work. Picking up from the last session on the evolution of sales, Fred explores selling through partnering skills – a practical approach to creating better, more productive relationships. With his usual energy, hard-won experience, and a few lighthearted moments, Fred unpacks six key elements of PQ (Partnering Intelligence) – the lesser-known but equally vital cousin of IQ and EQ. In this episode, you’ll...

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Sales Today Rewind – 15 Essentials For Your Sales Process show art Sales Today Rewind – 15 Essentials For Your Sales Process

Sales Today

Too many sellers treat sales like a checklist. It’s not.   Sales is a system - and when every part is strong, the whole thing works better.   In this special recap episode, we take a step back to zoom out and review the 15 core skills, tools, and mindsets covered so far on Sales Today.   Whether you're new to the series or have been with us since episode one, this is your chance to assess, reflect, and reset your approach to modern ethical selling.   What’s Covered:   • The 15 essential skills for modern B2B selling • Why sales isn’t just a series...

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More Episodes

 

Tired of wasting time on prospects who aren’t a perfect fit?

 

Top sales teams know the secret: mastering the art of disqualification.

 

Discover how identifying and embracing your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) can revolutionise your sales approach.

 

Forget rejection - it’s all about respect and efficiency. Find out why disqualifying the wrong leads is a game-changer for high-performing teams.

 

Learn from a real-world example with an IT services client who turned their strategy around by focusing on midsize engineering firms, boosting their conversion rates in the process.

 

What if the ICP wasn’t just a marketing tool, but the key to profitable sales conversations?

 

Uncover how to use your ICP as a daily filter in every call, proposal, and interaction to ensure you’re targeting the right customers.

 

And don’t overlook the power of celebrating disqualification - it’s the cornerstone of building a team focused on meaningful, high-impact relationships.