Strive - GTM Talent Partner’s Post

Don't get me wrong... LinkedIn has its place, it’s the Meta Facebook of “business professionals” but let's be honest. WE ARE THEIR PRODUCT. It’s a marketing tool period. It is time to make a change. To move to where we can learn from our contacts, grow with them, empower them, and share content without persecution from sales and marketing teams selling us drivel… #risk #leadership #education #thedte #compliance #iso27001 #cyber #cybersecurity #vendorrisk #riskmanagement #SEC #FTC #GLBA #supplychain #sales

I've noticed that LinkedIn has strayed far from its roots, often becoming a relentless marketplace of unsolicited sales pitches and automated messages. What was once a platform for genuine professional networking has turned into a flood of impersonal solicitations, drowning out meaningful interactions. In my search for true professional engagement, I discovered TheDTE (The Digital Trust Ecosystem) —an invitation-only community where experts share knowledge sincerely, free from sales distractions. The DTE's focus on quality interactions, trust, and mutual respect makes it an invaluable resource for real professional growth. If, like me, you're exhausted by LinkedIn's commercialization and crave authentic professional connections, consider exploring The Digital Trust Ecosystem. Let's work together to revive the essence of networking. #TheDTE #DigitalTrustEcosystem #TheDigitalTrustEcosystem #ProfessionalNetworking #AuthenticConnections #Networking #DigitalTrust #ProfessionalCommunity #CareerGrowth #AuthenticConnections #SalesFreeZone #ProfessionalDevelopment #NetworkingEvolution #RealEngagement #ExpertCommunity

LinkedIn has become a relentless marketplace of unsolicited sales pitches. What was once a platform for genuine professional networking is now overrun with impersonal messages and constant noise. That’s why I’m excited to share my experience with The Digital Trust Ecosystem (The DTE)—an invitation-only community where experts connect without the distraction of sales pitches. The DTE offers quality interactions, genuine engagement, and a focus on professional growth. Tired of the commercialization on LinkedIn? Discover a better way to network. Read our company's latest blog to learn more about The DTE and why it could be the right move for you. #ProfessionalNetworking #Networking #DigitalTrust #ProfessionalCommunity #CareerGrowth #AuthenticConnections #SalesFreeZone #ProfessionalDevelopment #NetworkingEvolution #RealEngagement #ExpertCommunity #QualityOverQuantity #DigitalTransformation #BusinessNetworking #LinkedInAlternatives #ProfessionalInsights #TrustAndRespect #KnowledgeSharing #BusinessGrowth #GenuineNetworking #SecuradinInsights

#Cybersecurity vendors: If you're pounding practitioners with cold outreach this time of year, please know the message you're sending is this: "Help! We're flailing!" 😱 Have had a metric sh*ton of CISO and operator friends griping about the cold calls and emails this last week. (That is the technical measurement.) Let's be clear: No one is signing or entertaining anything new right now. As Christina Morillo pointed out, that ship sailed at the beginning of the month. So cold outreach to get time, pick brains, whatever, at this time of year really shows that your pipeline isn't where ELT wants it to be, and in the absence of clearer thinking, your org is reaching for a familiar switch. It makes people think, how good can your tech really be if you're this desperate? I get it. Sometimes the numbers aren't what you want them to be. I would suggest, however, that the time at the end of the year would be better spent circling the wagons and rethinking/re-tooling your strategy instead of doubling down on what essentially didn't work. Questions you can ask: Where are our prospects spending their time, both IRL and virtually? How can we refine our story to talk about what we solve vs what we do? Get time in January with existing customers to ask where they're sourcing new tech/services/ideas. Double down on customer appreciation this time of year in lieu of net new prospecting. Cold outreach this time of year is an act of desperation. Using this time to critically examine pipeline data and areas or improvement is probably a better investment to hit the ground running in Q1.

LinkedIn has strayed far from its roots, turning into a relentless marketplace of unsolicited sales pitches and automated messages. What was once a platform for genuine professional networking has become a flood of impersonal solicitations, drowning out meaningful interactions. In search of true professional engagement, I discovered The Digital Trust Ecosystem (The DTE)—an invitation-only community where experts share knowledge sincerely, free from sales distractions. The DTE's focus on quality interactions, trust, and mutual respect makes it an invaluable resource for real professional growth. If you're exhausted by LinkedIn's commercialization and crave authentic professional connections, consider exploring The Digital Trust Ecosystem. Let's revive the essence of networking. #ProfessionalNetworking #Networking #DigitalTrust #ProfessionalCommunity #CareerGrowth #AuthenticConnections #SalesFreeZone #ProfessionalDevelopment #NetworkingEvolution #RealEngagement #ExpertCommunity #QualityOverQuantity #DigitalTransformation #BusinessNetworking #LinkedInAlternatives #ProfessionalInsights #TrustAndRespect #KnowledgeSharing #BusinessGrowth #GenuineNetworking #DigitalTrustEcosystem #SecuradinInsights

Last week, we participated in the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce Business Expo at The Canalside Conferences and Events. It was great to meet so many businesses from the region and talk to visitors from a variety of industries. Two themes emerged from my conversations: one related to cybersecurity and the risks small businesses are exposing themselves to, and the second to apprenticeships and managing the relationships between candidates, sponsors, and stakeholders. As part of our work in the financial services industry, when onboarding during projects, we must undertake each client's security training (4 times in the past 12 months 😛 ) before we can access their systems. Even having undergone the training, the test phishing emails they send randomly are so sophisticated that even experienced IT professionals have to diligently check the contents to ensure we don't succumb to a 'bad actor' email. Small businesses often believe they are not likely to be targeted by cyber threats. However, due to their size, they are actually more vulnerable. The odds of not having proper cybersecurity are in favour of the 'bad actors '. These malicious entities can attack large volumes of unprotected users and extract low-value ransoms, making their 'business' very lucrative. Could your business recover from a £5-50k ransom? Fortunately, the event featured several IT support companies that prioritise cybersecurity in their services. While it might seem like an additional expense for your company, the potential loss of trust and other financial impacts of a cyber attack far outweigh this cost. The second interesting theme was managing relationships between education providers, employers, and apprentices. This multifaceted relationship model also requires managing recruitment (employers), funding, feedback, placements, and compliance. This surfaced as a conversation topic from multiple providers who were trying to manage the myriad of information on spreadsheets. We'll be following up with these organisations about how CRM can quickly collate all their information into a reliable and secure single source of truth capable of delivering real-time reports and insights. This is an excellent type of solution that can improve productivity, customer satisfaction, and employee retention and, as a result, also drive cost reductions. Contact cloudfortyseven to start a conversation on how we can help you improve your customer relationships. https://lnkd.in/d44ghiDZ #somerset #exeter #bristol #taunton #salesforce #crm #devon #Consultancy #Technology #Tech #Salesforce

As a Sales Navigator user, InMails are a valuable tool for reaching out to LinkedIn members you aren’t directly connected with. Use InMails selectively, as they are a form of cold outreach. However, in certain situations, they can help you reach individuals who may otherwise be hard to contact. People are most likely to respond to your InMails when: ➊ They have recently started a new position. At this stage, they are often seeking fresh ideas to help them succeed in their new role. ➋ They are active on LinkedIn. Sales Navigator’s "Posted on LinkedIn" filter helps you identify members who are actively engaging on the platform. ➌ You present a highly relevant offer that delivers clear value to them. For example, an invitation to an exclusive cybersecurity webinar featuring Chief Information Security Officers from Fortune 50 companies and a senior representative from the National Security Agency. How are you using InMails for business development? Share your experience in the comments!

🚀The Two Most Common Approaches to Opening a Cold Call 🚀 Cold calling can be challenging, but it all starts with a strong opening! Here are two effective ways to kick off a successful cold call: 1️⃣ Opening Statement + Open-Ended Question Start with a brief, impactful statement that grabs their attention, followed by an open-ended question to understand their situation. Example: "How are you currently detecting and responding to potential cyber incidents?" This approach engages prospects in a conversation and uncovers key insights right away. Make sure the question is open-ended to encourage them say more than a simple yes or no. 2️⃣ Opening Statement + Meeting Request Instead of diving into discovery right away, follow your opening statement by requesting a meeting. Most people think this means there will be no discovery. However, once they agree, we can jump into discovery with an a la carte format: “Typically, when I meet with other [insert title], they’re interested in discussing a, b, or c. Which of these would be more relevant to your situation?” When they pick a topic, dig deeper by asking why that’s important to them. This method keeps the conversation focused on their specific needs and ensures you're addressing the most relevant pain points during the meeting. If you or your company are struggling to create a scalable and repeatable cold calling system, contact us and we will create a strategy specific to your situation.

🚨 Cyber attacks are not a matter of 'if,' but 'when.' Will your business survive when it happens?  Imagine losing everything to a cyber attack – your data, reputation, and business.  The harsh truth is, that hackers are already preparing, and they won’t wait for you to catch up. Join, Stew Lambert for our Pillars of Business Success webinar, where he’ll show you how to build an unbreakable defense against the inevitable.  Every moment you delay, you risk becoming another statistic.  Learn how to close the gaps and protect what you’ve worked so hard to build. 📅 Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2024 🕛 Time: 12 Noon CST Don't wait until it's too late. Arm yourself now: https://lu.ma/3agh9jpg @Mark Bromberg @Stew Lambert @John Frank @Rick Hayhurst @Nicholas Loise @Brad Herda  #CyberSecurity #ProtectYourBusiness #DataUnderAttack #BusinessSurvival #Webinar #ActNow #NoSecondChances #PillarsOfSuccess #BusinessSecurity #CyberThreatPrevention

As 2024 draws to a close, I'm reflecting on what has been an incredible year at Exclusive Networks—a journey that started for me in February as VP of Digital Business. Here are some highlights and key takeaways that I’ll carry forward:   1. Discovering a New Industry: #Cybersecurity Entering the world of cybersecurity has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. The intricacies and nuances of this market have kept me on my toes, and I’ve loved every moment of the learning process (and yes, I’m still learning!). What I’ve learned: I thrive on learning, and I consider myself fortunate to have a role that pushes me to grow every single day.   2. Joining an Incredible Company Exclusive Networks is a company with an entrepreneurial spirit, incredible people, and a collaborative culture that spans the globe. The values here resonate deeply, and the teamwork is inspiring. What I’ve learned: #People are our greatest asset. With the talent and passion of our team, there’s no limit to how far we can go.   3. Building Strong Vendor Relationships In the cybersecurity market, relationships with #vendors are vital. We’re fortunate to have built exceptional partnerships with them. They look to us not only to capture the growth in the cybersecurity market but also to innovate and evolve alongside them. What I’ve learned: Our vendors challenge us to constantly reinvent distribution and deliver more value—to them, our channel partners, and ultimately to the end-users of cybersecurity solutions and services.   4. Digital Business at the Core The future of distribution is digital. We’re leading the way with marketplaces, hyperscalers, cloud solutions, customer platforms, digital marketing, data-enabled demand generation, and AI-enhanced solutions for our customers. What I’ve learned: We’re focusing on the right priorities—reshaping cybersecurity distribution with innovative go-to-market models. From operating on the three main marketplaces to scaling demand generation globally to launching our new customer platform, we’re making bold moves.   5. Navigating a Fast-Evolving World The pace of change in our industry is staggering, and the opportunities are immense. But with opportunity comes the need for focus. What I’ve learned: Focus is everything. We must concentrate on initiatives that truly deliver value, drive impact, and propel Exclusive Networks forward.   6. The Power of a Great Team None of the above would be possible without the amazing people I’m privileged to work with every day. My team is made up of top talent, and together we challenge each other, work hard, have fun, and, most importantly, trust one another to push forward. What I’ve learned: Great things are achieved with great people. I’m incredibly grateful for the team around me.   Here’s to an even more exciting 2025. The innovations we’re working on will continue to shape the future of cybersecurity distribution. Stay tuned, buckle up, and join us on this journey—we’re just getting started!