By Liz Mangini

Image by Suzanne Calkins

Account-based marketing (ABM) is all about precision—focusing your efforts on the accounts that matter most. It’s about working smarter, not harder, by zeroing in on opportunities where you see the biggest potential. While it’s heavily focused on sales, marketing still has a big role to play. To make ABM work, your sales team must be armed with the right tools and marketing resources to convert leads into sales. Here’s how to ensure they’re set up for success—from the initial conversation to closing the deal. 

Deliver a persuasive pitch 

With ABM, your sellers will engage in a lot of personalized, one-on-one conversations with prospects. They’ll need to know your product(s) inside and out to be especially persuasive. Here’s what will help: 

• Invite and follow-up email templates help your team engage right away and continue to nurture leads. These emails keep your brand top of mind and move the prospect closer to a decision. Plus, sellers should personalize the message to detail how your solution can help their particular business. 
• Call scripts ensure sellers stay on track while keeping the conversation flexible. These scripts guide them through common questions by providing key talking points about your solution, allowing room for authentic dialogue. 
• Pitch decks should speak directly to the prospect’s needs, showing how your solution solves their specific challenges with clear visuals and compelling value. 
• Click-through demos let potential customers explore your product on their own. They provide an interactive experience that highlights value without pressure. 

Handle objections and compete effectively 

In any sales pitch, prospects will come up with reasons why it’s not the right time to buy. Sometimes they’re not sold on the investment; other times, they’re considering a competing product. Sellers should expect these objections and know how to handle them confidently. 

• Objection handling guides include common objections and answers that sellers can use to turn “no” into a chance to showcase your product’s benefits. 
• Compete battlecards equip sellers with an understanding of the market landscape and competing products. Battlecards highlight key differences at the organizational or product level, helping sellers position yours as the best option. 

Provide proof and build trust 

After initial conversations with prospects, sellers should maintain momentum by showcasing the results customers can expect. Whether it’s a standout success story or in-depth information that answers technical questions, sellers should reach out to build trust in your product. 

• Solution briefs outline how your product solves their specific problem, providing a deeper dive into its value. 
• Case studies showcase real-world examples that build credibility. Success stories that prospects can relate to are a quick way to highlight wins. 
• Whitepapers offer research-backed insights and are for prospects who need more detailed information. 

ABM is about pursuing valuable deals with laser focus. By equipping your sales team with these key resources, they can engage effectively, overcome objections, and close deals quickly, driving revenue growth. 

Reach out to get started! 

By Liz Mangini, Carolyn Lange

Image by Nicole Todd

So, your solution has a story to tell. But most people won’t have the time—or patience—to read a wall of text about its benefits and features. A solution brief is the answer. It distills key details into a format that’s easy to read and hard to ignore. These two-page assets pack a punch: they reinforce benefits, highlight features, and position your offering as the best choice. Use them to grab attention at events, re-engage leads, or convince your audience to take action. 

In short, a solution brief is your pitch in its most polished form: clear, sharp, and informative. To nail this format, you need tight, focused messaging, smart design, and the right amount of white space. Here’s how to make your solution brief shine. 

Start with why, then move on to how 

It’s tempting to dive straight into all the bells and whistles, but your audience needs context first. Why does your solution exist? What problem does it solve? Once you’ve established that, you can provide a few details about the coolest features to hold your reader’s attention. 

Tighten up your marketing message 

Less is more in a solution brief, which means your messaging should focus on the most essential points. To get there, zero in on your differentiators, benefits, and core features. (If that sounds daunting, don’t worry—2A can help!) 

Develop a framework and stick with it 

A framework is a useful way to organize a brief, but don’t overcomplicate things by using too many approaches. Whether you’re presenting your solution as a step-by-step journey, a three-phased approach, or a problem/solution pairing, pick one framework and stick with it. 

Keep the design clean and engaging 

A solution brief is as much about how it looks as what it says. Use plenty of white space to make your content easy to skim. Pair your copy with visuals that support your message, such as charts, icons, or product screenshots. 

Focus on the next step for your customer 

A solution brief should do more than educate—it should drive action. What do you want your customer to do next? Contact your sales team? Download a demo? Visit your website? Be clear and specific about next steps. 

Bonus tip 

Creating a great solution brief takes expertise. At 2A, we’ve perfected the art of pairing short, punchy copy with clean, impactful design. Let us help you create an asset that communicates your value and drives results. 

Reach out to get started! 

By Liz Mangini

Image by Thad Allen

While chatting with a Microsoft marketing lead recently, I heard about a presentation challenge that’s all too common. She told me it was difficult to create slides that serve two purposes—supporting presenters and flying solo without commentary. Either the deck would be too dense and full of text, or lack enough information for readers to understand the story.

She asked me, “How do I provide enough context, tell the full story, and frame it all on a limited number of slides?”

At 2A, we get it!

When it comes to solutions, the 1970s extraterrestrial superhero duo comes to mind—The Wonder Twins. They activated their superpowers by touching hands and saying, “Wonder Twin powers, activate!” Zan metamorphosed into a form, and Jayna into a shape. Together, they solved any problem and always saved the day.

Although 2A storytellers and designers may not be from another planet, their creative expertise is out of this world! Storytellers magically form ideas into impactful copy and designers shape concepts into appealing visuals. Together, they transform words and shapes into a compelling story that resonates and drives action.

In fact, 2A is composed of more than the Wonder Twins (storytellers and designers). We have a Wonder Team, which also includes whip-smart, innovative consultants, program managers, and developers.

Whether you need help with a pitch deck, case study, video, eBook, or messaging framework, the Wonder Team works with you to understand your challenges and goals. Then, we strategize to come up with simple, innovative solutions that empower you to deliver successful business outcomes.

Do you need a Wonder Team?

We are ready to activate!