Incentivization is a critical factor in aligning sales and marketing efforts. The guide identifies common challenges in many organizations, where marketing is not incentivized to support sales execution, and sales is not incentivized to actively participate in marketing initiatives.
The first step in addressing this issue involves accurate reporting and metrics. The guide argues that without the right reporting and metrics, incentives lose their effectiveness. Therefore, organizations need to ensure that they have a clear and factual understanding of the impact of marketing initiatives on revenue.
The guide introduces two types of revenue attribution: touched revenue and actioned revenue. Touched revenue recognizes the collaborative efforts of both marketing and sales in driving revenue, while actioned revenue represents revenue generated through specific actions or channels. By accurately attributing revenue to these categories, organizations can create a fair and transparent system for incentives.
Incentivization should align with the overarching goal of generating revenue at the lowest cost to drive profitability. For marketing, this may involve tying compensation and target setting to sales outcomes. This goes beyond traditional metrics like clicks and attendees, including activations, product adoptions, and both touched and actioned revenue.
Sales, on the other hand, should be incentivized to actively engage with marketing initiatives. This can be achieved through various means, such as setting up Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) around following up on marketing opportunities or introducing sales programs and competitions. The guide highlights the importance of being strategic with incentives, avoiding the risk of incentives becoming an acquired right or leading to unethical practices.
A significant aspect of incentivization is linking it to reporting accuracy. Inaccurate reporting can lead to frustration and demotivation among teams, as individuals may perceive their efforts as undervalued. Therefore, leadership needs to tie marketing compensation and target setting to accurate and transparent reporting.
In conclusion, incentivization plays a pivotal role in aligning sales and marketing efforts. By accurately attributing revenue, setting up clear incentives, and tying compensation to outcomes, organizations can motivate both teams to collaborate effectively, ultimately driving revenue and profitability.
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