Know What's Happening in Sales

Today's Sales Pulse

Von AI platform unifies CRM data for smarter GTM intelligence

Von, an AI platform from Rattle, builds a company‑wide context graph that merges CRM records, call transcripts, emails and internal documents, then leverages Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini to deliver insights while keeping costs low. In demos it analyzed data from 101 SMBs, showcasing its ability to automate mixed‑model reasoning for revenue teams.

Should Sales Teams Build Their Own Tools?
BlogApr 17, 2026

Should Sales Teams Build Their Own Tools?

AI coding tools and low‑code platforms are enticing sales teams to develop custom software instead of purchasing enterprise solutions. While building a prototype can be fast, the real challenge lies in post‑launch responsibilities such as security, governance, integration, compliance, and...

By Sales Enablement Collective
Target Launches $20% Target Circle Bonus Car Seat Trade‑in to Lure Parents
NewsApr 17, 2026

Target Launches $20% Target Circle Bonus Car Seat Trade‑in to Lure Parents

Target is running a bi‑annual Car Seat Trade‑In event from April 19 to May 2, giving parents a 20% Target Circle bonus on new gear. The move comes as comparable sales fell 2.5% and revenue slipped 1.5% year‑over‑year, prompting the retailer to...

By Pulse
Sales Is a Game of Probability—Not Perfection: Why Consistency Wins Every Deal
BlogApr 17, 2026

Sales Is a Game of Probability—Not Perfection: Why Consistency Wins Every Deal

The article argues that sales success hinges on probability, not product perfection. By controlling three levers—message quality, outreach volume, and execution consistency—salespeople can dramatically improve their odds of winning. Real‑world examples include booking 86 executive meetings in a day and...

By Carson V. Heady (Salesman on Fire)
AI Accelerates Sales: Faster Reps, Shorter Cycles, Bigger Wins
SocialApr 17, 2026

AI Accelerates Sales: Faster Reps, Shorter Cycles, Bigger Wins

AI is changing how sales teams work. Join us for an evening with the leaders and startups at the frontier. > Hear how teams are using AI to ramp reps faster, shorten cycles, and close more > LinkedIn's VP of Global Sales...

By YCombinator
Did I Just Closed $75 Millions in 2 Weeks of Selling?
BlogApr 17, 2026

Did I Just Closed $75 Millions in 2 Weeks of Selling?

The author reports $75 million in letters of intent (LOIs) signed in two weeks but stresses that not all LOIs are equal. He outlines a hierarchy—binding agreements with exclusivity or deposits, non‑binding expressions of interest, and relationship‑maintenance letters—each with different conversion...

By AI of the Coast: The 5-Year Roadmap to General AI
2026 SDR Skills Report Defines 10 Essential Abilities
SocialApr 17, 2026

2026 SDR Skills Report Defines 10 Essential Abilities

Last week, we announced the 2026 State of SDR Skills Report. Here's what went into it: 9 world-renowned experts on the SDR profession defining the skills that SDRs need for modern success in 2026. Truly an expert panel that resulted in 10 skills...

By Chris Orlob
What Is Personal Selling? Types, Examples, & More
NewsApr 17, 2026

What Is Personal Selling? Types, Examples, & More

Personal selling—direct, one‑on‑one outreach—remains the primary driver of high‑value B2B deals in 2026 despite the rise of AI‑generated emails and chatbots. Buyers now receive over 120 sales emails per week, filtering out automated noise and responding only to tailored, human...

By SalesHandy
10 Questions Every CEO Must Answer to Increase Revenue Today
BlogApr 17, 2026

10 Questions Every CEO Must Answer to Increase Revenue Today

The article outlines ten hard‑hitting questions CEOs must answer to unlock revenue without adding headcount or new tech. It stresses fixing the sales organization’s foundation—optimal manager‑to‑rep ratios, clear leadership roles, and absolute performance standards—before chasing tactics. It also warns against...

By Understanding the Sales Force
M‑tron Industries Secures $2.7 Million Defense Radar Production Contract
NewsApr 17, 2026

M‑tron Industries Secures $2.7 Million Defense Radar Production Contract

M‑tron Industries announced a $2.7 million production contract with a rising U.S. Department of Defense contractor for a major counter‑UAS radar program. The deal, slated for work in Orlando through mid‑2027, highlights the company’s expanding footprint in high‑performance RF components for...

By Pulse
Embrace Competitors in Deals to Boost Win Rates
SocialApr 17, 2026

Embrace Competitors in Deals to Boost Win Rates

I actively try to get competitors -included- in the evaluation. For almost all sales teams, win rates are lowest when it’s you vs. status quo. Win rates actually go up in competitive deals as it means the buyer is committed to...

By Brian LaManna
Success Lies Beyond the Click, Not the Creative
SocialApr 17, 2026

Success Lies Beyond the Click, Not the Creative

Most distribution systems don't die at the top. They die at the handoff. Ad performs. Page doesn't convert. Email opens. Link doesn't get clicked. Content lands. No next step exists. Everyone optimizes the first moment. Nobody designs what happens right after it. Ran paid campaigns with 4%...

By Vinay Katiyar
Dalet Appoints Brian Doheny as President and CRO to Drive Global Expansion
NewsApr 17, 2026

Dalet Appoints Brian Doheny as President and CRO to Drive Global Expansion

Dalet announced the appointment of Brian Doheny as President and Chief Revenue Officer, tasking him with scaling the company's media‑technology platform globally. Doheny, a 30‑year SaaS veteran, will oversee sales, marketing, professional services and customer success as Dalet rolls out...

By Pulse
Timing, Not Content, Drives Distribution Success
SocialApr 17, 2026

Timing, Not Content, Drives Distribution Success

Most people think distribution is a content problem. Wrong channel. Bad hook. Weak copy. It's not. Distribution is a timing problem. Ran the same cold email sequence to the same list twice. Two weeks apart. Zero changes. First send — silence. Second send — three calls...

By Vinay Katiyar
Questioning CRM's Value Beyond Simple Data Storage
SocialApr 17, 2026

Questioning CRM's Value Beyond Simple Data Storage

i still dont understand what value does CRM add here other than a database? Unless agentic-first structured data maybe is valuable?

By Ranjan Roy
Backblaze Appoints Dual Chief Sales Officers to Chase $14B AI Storage Market
NewsApr 17, 2026

Backblaze Appoints Dual Chief Sales Officers to Chase $14B AI Storage Market

Backblaze announced a dual‑chief sales officer structure, promoting Anuj Kumar to chief revenue officer and moving Jason Wakeam to chief enterprise sales officer. The move is aimed at capturing a projected $14 billion AI‑driven storage market by 2030.

By Pulse
Leverage Competitor Success to Win New Prospects
SocialApr 17, 2026

Leverage Competitor Success to Win New Prospects

Want instant credibility with a new prospect? Don't talk about yourself. Talk about their competitor. "We helped [similar company] solve [exact problem you suspect they have]." Now they're leaning in. Not because of you. Because of the fear of falling behind.

By Chris Orlob
Validate Research First: Boost Credibility and Open Dialogue
SocialApr 17, 2026

Validate Research First: Boost Credibility and Open Dialogue

Founders: Start discovery by validating your research: 'I snooped on LinkedIn before this. Looks like you have 2 new sellers who joined recently - is that right, or do I need to get better at Sales Navigator?' Shows preparation. Demonstrates credibility. Opens door for...

By Pete Kazanjy
Vitesse Appoints Shareen Minor as CRO to Drive U.S. Revenue Growth
NewsApr 17, 2026

Vitesse Appoints Shareen Minor as CRO to Drive U.S. Revenue Growth

Vitesse announced the appointment of Shareen Minor as chief revenue officer for North America, tasking her with scaling commercial operations after a $93 million Series C round. Minor brings two decades of carrier, TPA and insurtech experience to accelerate the company’s U.S....

By Pulse
Fix Flow Before Scaling Volume in Sales
SocialApr 17, 2026

Fix Flow Before Scaling Volume in Sales

If deals are stalling, more volume tends to add noise. The 30/60/90 playbook below shows a better sequence: • 0–30: fix leaks and unblock flow • 31–60: tighten ICP and targeting • 61–90: scale what converts Fix flow first. Then add volume. https://t.co/zzHu8bPpGE

By devbasu
Embrace Silence; Let Buyers Reveal Their True Needs
SocialApr 17, 2026

Embrace Silence; Let Buyers Reveal Their True Needs

The most underused weapon in sales: Silence. After asking a powerful question most sellers rush to fill the silence. Don't. Sit in the discomfort. The buyer will fill it. And what they say in those uncomfortable seconds is almost always the most valuable thing they share...

By Chris Orlob
HockeyStack Raises $50 Million to Deploy AI‑Powered Revenue Agents for Enterprise Sales
NewsApr 17, 2026

HockeyStack Raises $50 Million to Deploy AI‑Powered Revenue Agents for Enterprise Sales

HockeyStack announced a $50 million financing round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, Y Combinator and Uncorrelated Ventures to launch its Revenue Agents platform for large enterprises. The funding brings total capital raised to just over $50 million and will fund product development,...

By Pulse
Clari and Salesloft Turn Forecasts Into Real-Time Action
SocialApr 17, 2026

Clari and Salesloft Turn Forecasts Into Real-Time Action

HOT TAKE: Clari + @Salesloft (with MCP) makes revenue intelligence actionable. Forecast insights now live in execution → faster decisions, no context switching. Add LLMs like OpenAI & Anthropic, and pipeline data becomes real-time workflows. More from @CR_MSchneider: https://t.co/sHMVwbXD4X

By Holger Müller
Gain a Competitive Edge in the AI-Driven Marketplace
SocialApr 17, 2026

Gain a Competitive Edge in the AI-Driven Marketplace

Finding your edge in a synthetic world by @Timothy_Hughes https://t.co/cNWvlII2QI @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Sales #SalesTips #SalesLeader #Salesforce #SalesEnablement #Marketing #Leadership #MarketingStrategy #ArtificialIntelligence https://t.co/ElCEOZaKjz

By Tim Hughes
Crosschq Appoints Former SAP Exec Hector Selberis as CRO to Drive AI Hiring Growth
NewsApr 17, 2026

Crosschq Appoints Former SAP Exec Hector Selberis as CRO to Drive AI Hiring Growth

Crosschq announced the hiring of Hector Selberis, a former SAP Senior Industry Account Director, as chief revenue officer. Selberis will lead go‑to‑market and sales teams as the company pushes its AI‑powered hiring intelligence platform into a crowded market. The move...

By Pulse
Accuris Names Tom Genova Head of Sales, Americas to Drive Growth
NewsApr 17, 2026

Accuris Names Tom Genova Head of Sales, Americas to Drive Growth

Accuris announced the appointment of Tom Genova as Head of Sales for the Americas, tasking him with scaling the company's Engineering Intelligence platform across key verticals. The move signals a strategic push to convert product innovation into faster revenue growth...

By Pulse
AI Does McKinsey‑grade Research, Drives Millions per Lead
SocialApr 16, 2026

AI Does McKinsey‑grade Research, Drives Millions per Lead

You can run McKinsey-level research for almost nothing to generate millions in revenue. Here's what our Single Brain actually generates for every single lead that books a discovery call - before anyone touches it: 1. Full company dossier: revenue, headcount, tech stack,...

By Eric Siu
Outreach AI Agents Join Salesforce AgentExchange, Unlocking Integrated Revenue Workflows
NewsApr 16, 2026

Outreach AI Agents Join Salesforce AgentExchange, Unlocking Integrated Revenue Workflows

Outreach announced that its agentic AI platform is now available on Salesforce’s AgentExchange, a marketplace that hosts roughly 14,000 vetted apps and tools. The move lets revenue teams embed AI agents directly into Salesforce and Slack workflows, turning insights into...

By Pulse
Salesforce Unveils FDE Partner Network, Adding 30+ Global Firms to Boost Agentforce Deployments
NewsApr 16, 2026

Salesforce Unveils FDE Partner Network, Adding 30+ Global Firms to Boost Agentforce Deployments

Salesforce announced the Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) Partner Network, enlisting more than 30 global consulting firms such as Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, Slalom and IBM Consulting. The network is designed to extend Salesforce’s Agentforce engineering expertise, helping B2B sellers close the...

By Pulse
Hyperscayle Launches 12‑Month RevOps AI Transformation Program for B2B Companies
NewsApr 16, 2026

Hyperscayle Launches 12‑Month RevOps AI Transformation Program for B2B Companies

Hyperscayle announced a 12‑month RevOps AI Transformation Program aimed at helping B2B organizations systematically adopt AI across sales, marketing and account teams. The prescriptive engagement combines traditional RevOps strategy with hands‑on AI implementation, targeting mid‑market and enterprise customers.

By Pulse
ZoomInfo Partners with Pinecone to Power AI Contact Recommendations, Lifting Engagement 50%
NewsApr 16, 2026

ZoomInfo Partners with Pinecone to Power AI Contact Recommendations, Lifting Engagement 50%

ZoomInfo announced a partnership with Pinecone to embed the latter's serverless vector database into its sales intelligence platform. The integration powers real‑time AI contact recommendations, delivering a 50% rise in user engagement and a two‑fold boost in relevance, while handling...

By Pulse
Sales Training for Manufacturing: 7 New Essentials
NewsApr 16, 2026

Sales Training for Manufacturing: 7 New Essentials

Manufacturing sales teams face informed buyers, longer cycles and rapid AI adoption, prompting a shift from product‑centric training to consultative, customer‑focused selling. While 71% of reps already use AI tools, the technology magnifies existing skill gaps, especially in discovery and...

By The Brooks Group
Bissett Bullet: Know When You’re Beaten … For Now
NewsApr 16, 2026

Bissett Bullet: Know When You’re Beaten … For Now

Martin Bissett advises sales professionals to deem a prospect dead after three unanswered contacts spanning roughly a month. He argues that persisting beyond this point drains valuable time and resources, even though the lead might revive later. The recommendation includes...

By CPA Trendlines
Why Sales Teams Drift Off Process (Even When They Know It Works)
BlogApr 16, 2026

Why Sales Teams Drift Off Process (Even When They Know It Works)

Sales teams often abandon proven sales processes despite training and demonstrated results. The Center for Sales Strategy identifies process drift as a behavior issue caused by inconsistent leadership inspection, fading reinforcement, and disconnected coaching. High‑performing teams combat drift by staying...

By The Center for Sales Strategy
You Don’t “Need More Leads.” You Need to Turn Your Current Audience Into Sales.
BlogApr 16, 2026

You Don’t “Need More Leads.” You Need to Turn Your Current Audience Into Sales.

Business owners often chase new leads, but the real growth lever lies in monetizing the audience they already have. Kelly Roach argues that 85% of sales happen between the 8th and 12th follow‑up, and that roughly 3% of a current...

By The Sacred Art of Selling
How Staffing Agencies Can Turn LinkedIn Signals Into Consistent Client Meetings
BlogApr 16, 2026

How Staffing Agencies Can Turn LinkedIn Signals Into Consistent Client Meetings

Staffing agencies that rely on static LinkedIn lists see erratic meeting volumes, while those that track real‑time hiring signals achieve consistent pipelines. Signals such as sudden job‑post surges, new funding rounds, or executive hires reveal immediate hiring pressure, allowing agencies...

By Cue the Growth!
Discovery Is a Continuous, Coachable Sales Superpower
SocialApr 16, 2026

Discovery Is a Continuous, Coachable Sales Superpower

The most important skill in sales is discovery. I also believe it's the most teachable and coachable area one can improve at. No one was born being great at discovery. The biggest mistake sellers make is thinking...

By Brian LaManna
Price Increase Email Template: 10 Ready-to-Use Examples for Every Situation
NewsApr 16, 2026

Price Increase Email Template: 10 Ready-to-Use Examples for Every Situation

The article offers a collection of ten ready‑to‑use price‑increase email templates for SaaS, freelancers, agencies, service firms and e‑commerce brands. It outlines when to send the notice—at least 30 days in advance—and the five non‑negotiable elements each email must contain,...

By SalesHandy
Proof Comes in Tiers: Rank Yours Strategically
SocialApr 16, 2026

Proof Comes in Tiers: Rank Yours Strategically

Not all proof is created equal. How does yours rank up? So if you’ve been following me for a while or done any of my programs, then you already know that I talk about proof… A LOT. You can have the best product...

By Katelyn Bourgoin
Buyers Are Now Machines, Not Humans
SocialApr 16, 2026

Buyers Are Now Machines, Not Humans

The Internet Was Built for Humans. Your New Buyers Are Machines by @Timothy_Hughes https://t.co/WgSJglYxAk @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Sales #SalesTips #SalesLeader #Salesforce #Marketing #Leadership #MarketingStrategy #MarketingSuccess #ArtificialIntelligence https://t.co/R6IPpYvT7d

By Tim Hughes
Fleet Launches Inaugural Partner Program As It Adopts A 100 Percent Channel Sales Model: Exclusive
NewsApr 16, 2026

Fleet Launches Inaugural Partner Program As It Adopts A 100 Percent Channel Sales Model: Exclusive

Fleet Device Management announced its inaugural partner program, shifting to a 100% channel‑sales model where every deal is routed through a reseller or service provider. The program offers two tracks—reseller and services—along with training, certification, deal registration and higher margins....

By CRN (US)
Skip the Bad Questions, Ask These 10 That Sell
SocialApr 16, 2026

Skip the Bad Questions, Ask These 10 That Sell

Here are the two worst questions to ask on sales presentations: 1. “Does that make sense?” 2. “What questions do you have?” They offer no value (aside from getting you to shut up for a second). ...

By Chris Orlob
Orchestrate ABM Around Main Characters, Not Extras: Lessons From B2BMX
NewsApr 16, 2026

Orchestrate ABM Around Main Characters, Not Extras: Lessons From B2BMX

At B2B Marketing Exchange 2026, LiveRamp’s Ed Vander Bush and Influ2’s Doug Madey urged marketers to treat individual decision‑makers and hidden stakeholders as the main characters of ABM, not the entire account. They argued that synchronizing marketing and sales around real‑time...

By Demand Gen Report
Showpad Launches AI Platform to Boost Field Sales Productivity by up to 44%
NewsApr 16, 2026

Showpad Launches AI Platform to Boost Field Sales Productivity by up to 44%

Showpad introduced an AI‑native revenue effectiveness platform for field sales teams, claiming a median quota increase of up to 44%. The solution bundles content management, sales readiness, buyer engagement and revenue intelligence into a single GenieAI‑powered product, aiming to cut...

By Pulse
DIGIDECK Demonstrates the Organization-Wide Impact of Managed AI with Navi
NewsApr 16, 2026

DIGIDECK Demonstrates the Organization-Wide Impact of Managed AI with Navi

DIGIDECK has deployed GrowthIQ’s Navi, a managed AI orchestration platform, across its sales and customer‑success teams. The system integrates Salesforce, Zoom, Google Drive and internal knowledge bases to deliver real‑time pipeline insights, coaching, and upsell planning. In Q1 2026 the deployment...

By AiThority
Day 6: The One Email that Makes the Sale (You Already Know How It Works)
BlogApr 16, 2026

Day 6: The One Email that Makes the Sale (You Already Know How It Works)

The post reveals a repeatable five‑line email framework that turns a casual conversation into a high‑conversion sales pitch. Over a week of daily examples, the author shows how the same architecture—subject line, hook, story, offer, call‑to‑action—produces consistent engagement. A fill‑in‑the‑blank...

By How We Grow
The Firms Growing Faster Aren’t Necessarily Working Harder
BlogApr 16, 2026

The Firms Growing Faster Aren’t Necessarily Working Harder

Firms often possess valuable client connections, but those relationships remain hidden in inboxes, fragmented CRMs, and partners’ mental rolodexes. Competitors that surface shared connections before a pitch consistently win deals that others lose. Intapp DealCloud injects AI‑driven relationship intelligence into...

By Legal Tech Daily
Individual Differences in Negotiation—And How They Affect Results
NewsApr 16, 2026

Individual Differences in Negotiation—And How They Affect Results

A Harvard‑based study led by Hillary Anger Elfenbein found that individual differences explain roughly 49% of the variance in negotiators’ performance and satisfaction. The research categorizes these differences into personality traits, cognitive‑emotional‑creativity factors, and underlying motivations. Extroversion, mood, openness, cognitive complexity,...

By Program on Negotiation (Harvard Law)
How Portland Leather Goods Did $1M in Sales in 20 Days on TikTok Shop Thanks to an Affiliate Blitz
NewsApr 16, 2026

How Portland Leather Goods Did $1M in Sales in 20 Days on TikTok Shop Thanks to an Affiliate Blitz

Portland Leather Goods catapulted its TikTok Shop sales from roughly $1,200 a day to a $100,000 peak after launching a seven‑day affiliate blitz in March. By recruiting about 500 creators who posted 3,800 videos and amassed 13 million views, the brand...

By Modern Retail
ZoomInfo Data Enrichment: About It & When To Look Elsewhere
NewsApr 16, 2026

ZoomInfo Data Enrichment: About It & When To Look Elsewhere

ZoomInfo remains the go‑to B2B data‑enrichment platform for large North‑American enterprises, offering a database of over 250 million contacts and 100 million companies. Its subscription‑plus‑credit pricing starts around $15,000 per year but can quickly climb into six‑figure enterprise contracts as credit consumption...

By Cognism Blog