Unlock the secret to hiring sales superstars

How do you hire the best salespeople for your agency?

I get asked this question quite often.

Here are the three core skills you want:

1. Sales: they expertly choreograph sales conversations and close the deal

2. Digital marketing: they communicate the value of SEO (or whatever you sell) in simple, compelling, and relatable terms

3. Vertical expertise: they contextualize your product to your buyers' world with confidence and familiarity

All three core skills result in a salesperson who will quickly deliver deals for your agency.

CQ

P.S. Want to dive deeper into building a founder-independent sales team for your agency?  Reach out.  I’d love to connect with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three core skills to look for when hiring agency salespeople?

Sales ability to choreograph conversations and close deals, digital marketing knowledge to communicate value in simple terms, and vertical expertise to speak confidently within the buyer's world.

Why isn't sales skill alone enough to hire a strong performer?

Because closing ability without the knowledge to explain the value of the service, SEO or whatever else is being sold, in simple terms leaves a gap that undermines the pitch itself.

Why does vertical expertise matter as much as sales and marketing skill?

Because contextualizing the product to the buyer's specific world builds a level of confidence and familiarity that generic sales skill alone can't replicate. It's what makes a pitch feel relevant, not generic.

What happens when all three core skills are present in one salesperson?

Deals get delivered quickly, since sales technique, clear value communication, and vertical familiarity work together instead of leaving gaps that slow down or stall the sales process.

How does hiring for these three skills help build a founder-independent sales team?

Because a salesperson with all three skills doesn't rely on the founder's personal expertise to close deals. Their own combination of sales ability, marketing communication, and vertical knowledge lets them operate independently.