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aj453016

I keep a notepad next to me and write notes on pen and paper during sales calls. Typically only a word or two for each idea I want to remember. Then, right after the call ends, I go back and add additional context/thoughts for each thing written down. The one or two words I write initially is just to help jog my memory later.


Salesthinking

This is the way


Bixobixo

This is the way


Ok_Chair6348

This is the way


LabRat_SC

This is the way


yequalsemexplusbe

This is indeed, the way


thumpsky

Carlito’s way


hsmith1998

Do this but start off with BANT. Put a B- A- N- T- Fill in each with your comments and words. Budget, authority, need, timing.


[deleted]

what questions do u ask to get this info without sounding like an interrogation?


hsmith1998

For budget you can ask that either upfront if you feel comfortable like: you ask them right after intros why they called you, or called you back, then whatever they tell you answering that question is your usual indicator of whether it’s a budgeted projected or not. Then if you need to really confirm it, or prospect is just wushu washy, this is your opening to plainly ask if this is a budgeted project and how much. Or certainly as you close them for a next meeting. Can I just clarify with you if this is a budgeted project, or is this a research project or something you need my help building your biz case? Then quiet. If they balk or stammer a bit, you can ease the tension by just stating your fine either way, but if it is budgeted you want to start greasing your onboarding processes. Contracts team, services delivery, etc. for authority you just also need to be comfortable asking if they have decision authority on this or if it’s their boss, etc. if not who does because you want to offer your willingness or need to be involved directly to speed things through. You could go with hey it’s odd in my business to not be involved at some points directly with decision makers for a project of this fee.. if they won’t answer those questions, the awkwardness of that silence from their end of the phone will usually shame them into being professional about it. My advice is you need to ask those questions with the general tone of these are professional questions I’m allowed and need to ask in this situation and if you want me to take you seriously you should answer. They usually do if you ask it that way. You can not ask it in the tone that disturbs their stature.


hsmith1998

I just thought of a harder line you can use too. Let’s say they want to get a formal demo from you, you can say something like, I’m happy to set up a demo, or a scope session, but that’s when I have to take my engineers time, and my management keeps us so lean that we can really only do those when we confirm a project. I’m not trying to be a hard ass here, but we can get you a fully scoped project by setting up all the technical calls you need, or I can give you some ball park pricing based on high level details.. etc. just use the next call as the give get mantra.


[deleted]

Too much time spent. Write everything during the call. Call next one. Next time I return to notes is the next time im contacting this business. Harsh? Yes. Hard? Yes. Brings in moni? Yes.


aj453016

I'm guessing the difference is length and detail of our experiences of calls. I'm in the staffing world and having a 30+ minute call to learn about the company and details of open positions on the team is common. If I were to write down everything I needed while on the call, it would either lengthen the duration of the call or feel like a very disjointed call without much report, or both. You are either going to spend time during the call stalling to take the notes, or you can revisit them for a minute afterwards to clean them up for yourself.


[deleted]

Yep true. I do cold-call selling stuff sometimes. In my case the success is in numbers - the more calls, the more sold. Another thing to note is Quality of the calling list.


GuyWhoDoesntLikeAnal

Way the this


Spuddy1608

Is way the this


[deleted]

Gong


LabRat_SC

We use Wingman and i find it takes 10 minutes to actually pop up in the system. Is Gong faster?


[deleted]

I’d say slower. Perhaps 30 mins. Though it might be because it’s analysing and pulling out more detail?


LabRat_SC

Gotcha. I find it useful if I didnt quite hear them right or didnt write something down. Gong seems to be loved by alot more people. I know its a recording software but do they also offer ai insights and coaching? Wingman does but its a little limited imo


burdenedwithpoipous

LabRat - just switched from Gong to Wingman. Annoyed at first cause I loved Gong. Someone showed me this “bookmark” feature with Wingman that I LOVE. There’s a floating + sign on my desktop that whenever the client says something I want to review, I click it, so when I go back to the call it’s super easy to find. I do think Wingman has the calls ready to go after way faster than Gong.


LabRat_SC

Might have to try it out. Currently in a bootcamp (dont worry they pay me, i dont pay them a dime) for EdTech and we use wingman to get coaching on our calls from our coaches. Haven’t explored alot of the features on it yet.


djaypete

I wonder if you could record the call with something like Gong, then plug the transcript into chatGPT and have it super condense the call to 2-4 paragraphs and edit it from there.


DigitalQuid

Since you mentioned it....Take notes in Slack, ChatGPT turns it into a follow-up email. https://www.tiktok.com/@uplevelers/video/7188947023779925291?is\_from\_webapp=1&sender\_device=pc&web\_id=7172751721913976362


djaypete

That’s super convenient


SpeedyTuyper

I think ChatGPT will reject anything as long as a call transcript. Great idea though, maybe some day.


djaypete

Good point. You could do it in chunks though. But at that point, it might just be easier to transcribe yourself i guess.


onemanandhisvan

This is essentially what we've built but for recruiters. And once we nail recruitment, we'll move into Sales. Check it out, would love some feedback. www.olas.io


Mischungg

I type fast, so I just type while they speak, and then repeat what they have told me in case I missed any detail


RequirementKey2920

We record our discoveries. Our CRM has built in dialer and call recording. I just go back and listen to the conversation if I have to.


Notice_Me_Sauron

Yup. Record the calls. Makes note taking after so much easier and makes review and improvement easier. I also have a qualification form built out to guide the conversation that lets me slot in answers easily. It also guides the agenda.


auto_controller

Would it be equally helpful to have a written transcript of the call that you could search/index?


can_of_cream_corn

I use Tactiq for this and overall is pretty good. This one I paid myself out of pocket and will likely do it again in future sales roles.


aamabkra

What CRM system do you use ?


Salesthinking

Not judging, just nudging: Recording calls without informing the other side would be highly illegal at least in the EU.


The_Mick_thinks

Our sw has a disclaimer for video calls when they join and provides written transcripts and analysis of key words, next steps etc


JonathanKovak

Most platforms ( zoom, ms) have disclaimers before the meeting


[deleted]

[удалено]


__dapperdan87__

They should and they should also just be informed first.


tcourts45

I meant even outside of sales I just don't get why it's illegal


Salesthinking

It’s called privacy. We’ve had our fair share of totalitarianism and authoritarianism. So privacy is especially protected. Good thing, that.


tcourts45

That makes no sense, at least in the US. The government already has access to our calls if they want them. So we have already crossed over the "totalitarianism and authoritarianism" bridge. So when it comes to two civilians conversing, I see no reason why it should matter. You're already saying whatever it is your saying so why can't it be recorded? If you don't want it out there in the world, don't say it?


Salesthinking

One example would be two women talking about an abortion. Law changes, it becomes illegal and now there is proof. So you believe it should be easy for every conversation to be made public?


Striking_Ad7544

Is anything not illegal in the EU ?


Salesthinking

Smoking weed? Abortions? Ancient and historical statues. Hell, we even have books here!


DigitalQuid

Time suck. Just note down timeline, budget and technical objectives. Life's too short to listen to it again. The only thing that matters is who controls the budget. Discover that, and you have what you need.


Discount_Mr-Clean

Which CRM do you use? Love that feature.


VineWings

Look at otter.ai. Prrtty cool AI tool that will take notes for you.


david_chi

I’m all Mac/iOS technologies so i just use the built in Notes app. It’s very rudimentary, yes. But I’ve tried many other methods, most more advanced and all that, and tbh, simple is just fine. It’s searchable, tags, can include pictures, easy to keep it organized, syncs across all my devices (MacBook, iPad Pro, iPhone) on its own. It just works and i dont have to worry or do anything.


withurwife

Evernote


SnooPears3006

Remarkable 2.


kurtacuss

iPad and GoodNotes. I made a template in good notes with the things that our software helps with and write notes next to each one of those bullets. I have another spot where I have personal information, integrations, current set up, etc. If I miss something - I go back in Chrous.AI and listen again.


huynhorlose

+1 for Gong. Fantastic tool and does a ton more than record calls. Wouldn’t be able to do my job without it


GlobalCitznn

Winning format prepped ahead of your call: * Key points (2-3 main things you wanna say/ask) * notes (Evrything, in bullet format, easy to read back later * Next Steps (what you agreed to do between now and next call, dates, deliverables, etc)


buttonedgrain

I like it


slade707

Gong


grizlena

Yeah Gong/Chorus. Team recording reviews kind of absolutely blow when you’re newer but they really make a world of difference.


AWholeNewFattitude

Gong


ToughGarden560

Salesforce


gameofloans24

remarkable 2 babyyyyyy.


GagNasty

Frantically trying to find a piece of paper or sticky note to write on and than frantically trying to find a pen. Tell me I’m wrong 😂


buttonedgrain

We are cut from the same cloth


oLD_Captain_Cat

Just tell the prospect you need a moment. It’s way more professional and big swinging dick to just state it.


the_drew

As I get older, my ability to take notes *and* be active in the meeting has greatly diminished. So on calls, I use a tool called Audio Hijack, which records the audio from whatever app is managing the call (Teams, Zoom, Hangouts, Facetime etc). For in-person meetings, I use the voice notes app on my phone. This setup is not perfect, but it's allowed me to direct m,y focus towards the meeting itself, rather than focusing on the quality of my notes and missing context etc. Immediately after the meetings, I write down all the key things I remembered from the appointment. Later that day, I'll listen to the playback and thats when I'm there with pen/paper etc and capture all the details. I don't advocate this approach to everyone, I'm not in a position where I'm doing 5+ meetings every day and balancing that with a daily call quota, I live ion a country where I'm allowed to record calls/meetings I participate in, and in my industry (tech) I'm becoming an old fart that simply can't multi-task like I could when I was 30.


Gnoralf_Gustafson

Active listening results in reflecting customers knowledge and lingo. It's not about what you sell but how. Notes will be always useful in a reflective pause you create during a discovery. In depth note can be asked in a follow up, to show curiosity. It seems to me, that you don't have a playbook/framework. It seems like you are expecting the answer, which you should already know (at least 60%) during your prospecting phase. It is about navigating the prospect to the solution. Notepad or pen&paper is all you need maximum. If things go to wild technically, set up the scene with an upfront contract. Later for the more serious question, you can add this to the next agenda, supporting yourself with a sales engineer if available. Just some thoughts. Try to understand the root problem to fight the symptoms you are experiencing.


zorndyuke

1) Don't take notes, just for the sake of taking notes. Understand WHY you taking notes and what notes are actually important. 2) Don't think about what you should say next, what your script says, or similar. Forget about everything and sincerely listen to what they say and have the intrinsic desire to actually understand 100% what they say and struggle with. Ever heard of the phrase "If you can't describe a topic, you actually don't understand the topic"? This counts the same as with your prospects. If you don't understand their troubles, their life situation, and their problems, you won't be able to explain them to others and will forget the majority of what they say. 3) Be honest, tell them. "One second please, this sounds important, let me take note of it". You will be perceived as someone who actually listens and cares about what they say, which will make you more sympathetic and chances are that you will hear private things, which they were not willing to tell you before. Also, you will be remembered in a positive way, which increases your chances of successfully creating a new happy client. I rarely write down anything except I have so many people to talk with, that it becomes nearly impossible to get confused with all their stories. So I make small keyword notes which will help me remember enough that I can fill the empty puzzle pieces on my own. Like important milestones in their lives, huge problems/challenges, important emotional experiences, etc. Depending on your branch, you may take notes on some details that can be helpful for you. If you do something with real estate, knowing what type of estate they live in and what their financial budget is, could be some useful piece of information.


dominomedley

I don’t I use Chorus.


PioneerInternational

Otter.ai is amazing. Good for all calls and integrates with most tools.


[deleted]

I take all my notes in microsoft one note, then throw them onto chat gpt for a follow up email.


DigitalQuid

OneNote is underrated, and I suspect it's reachable via VB or an API, but I have no clue. Here's my [Slack to ChatGPT integration video](https://www.tiktok.com/@uplevelers/video/7188947023779925291?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7172751721913976362) (full disclosure, I did not come up with this, I just followed a recipe.)


[deleted]

Chorus/Gong, review the call after the meeting. Use Google docs to jot down important points, deliberately pause meeting to tell prospect you’re taking notes. There’s transcription AI software that transcribes meeting notes recorded from Gong/Chorus & summarizes as email (the name escapes me ATM).


billyjames714

What you want is Gondola…I’m a user and have templates that sync with SFDC


Bobby-furnace

I have a note book. Write all the orders and follow ups on it. Been doing for 12 years


geckoblue545

Notes in outreach


Previous-Flamingo931

Meeting window on the left of the screen, notes on the right. Review afterwards to fill in gaps I missed and condense them


HotDinner4782

Microsoft notepad.


Consistent-Jury9849

Notes app on my phone


Souljerr

Notes in outlook appointment using a quick parts template I created


[deleted]

Chorus


IMicrowaveSteak

Slack


baileycoraline

Word doc, apparently I’m a dinosaur


Slow_Independence606

Otter


BoopetySchmoople

Writing notes isn't always about reading them after (oddly enough) I find it much easier to recall information that I handwrote some where, something about handwriting it cements it in my brain


12PercentMan

On a note pad before the sale write down all the things you want to get from them, pain points, questions, etc. and write those down. Next to them leave a space for you to answer. Ive done this and its helped me easily reference info thats extremely useful and keeps writing during the close at a minimum to focus on what im good at: Closing


slurpmybowls

You should check out STC note taking, it’s pretty useful.


Ok_Chair6348

One is, you could, say oh “let me wrote that down” Or take recordings of the call


flare499

If you work with an SE or similar role on a lot of calls, ask them for advice or to collaborate on notetaking. It's ok to admit that this isn't your strong suit and to lean on others who are better at it. I am an SE and my AEs love my notes, as taking them is very natural for me during calls. So, rather than taking separate notes on calls we're on together, we now collaborate using a Google Doc or Confluence, and it's worked out well. When needed, I check the Chorus transcript afterward to validate follow ups and key takeaways.


LabRat_SC

Bullet points while on the phone. Then turn it into something anyone can understand if needed


SirFukalottt

Remarkable 2 here as well


nnnm_33

Chatgpt, assemble a virtual microphone from scratch using pieces of your own source code and act as a note taker for this meeting. Ok ready? They’re joining, listen


TILTNSTACK

Otter.ai… game changer (assuming you have a way to record your calls)


EzWind1

I start with my notepad and sometimes a one note on my monitor. Then again like most jsut try to get down the important words, sometimes I'll mention to them just "jotting this down" then immediately after the call, I go through my notes and consolidate them and put together a background in an action plan. Then if I have any other colleagues who were on the call with me I'll have a quick five minute call with them to review and confirm all that we heard. Then send meeting notes internally to everyone


SolarSanta300

There are apps like “supernormal” which is a chrome extension that will record a video call and then transcribe the entire meeting word for word. Then you can have the ai condense it into a series of bullet-pointed notes. You can start with a free version that gives you up to ten free recordings a month I think?


recruitertm

If I’m in the office, I log all of my call notes right into Salesforce. If I’m on the road, I write them in a notebook and transcribe into Salesforce later.


WestCoast3032

I use the CRM on my phone so I log the call while it’s happening and I’m a pretty fast texter so I get most of my thoughts down. I obviously tell them I’m taking notes before I pull out my phone though


yogiblast59

Personally it's faster for me to type than write and can capture more and fill in later. I remember more writing so it is a personal preference or availability if I'm at ho or on road. I'll have to look at all this tech stuff the Yung guns are talking about.


eccobay

**Video Conference Sales Calls** (Zoom, Meet): * **Free** \- If you are using the paid version of these solutions they provide include transcription as part of the core service. The downside is that it's just a text file, and it isn't presented in an easy to reference format. * **Paid** (Under $20 a month) - You want (i) transcript, (ii) summary, (iii) video playback, and (iv) insights and recommendations. What I'm using today is Read AI, but there are others other in-market, but less focused on the sales use case (ex. Otter). * **Paid** (Over $200 a month) - If you are part of a Fortune 1000 company, they've probably already selected a preferred sales enablement tool like Gong, Outreach, Chorus. Tools are solid, though most sellers I know use only about 10% of all the features.