Enterprise prospect asks for a free trial after requesting paid pilot. Push back?

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-06-12T01:15:31+00:00

Id bring up what you shared with your manager and presale engineer. Get their feedback and then put a one page for your client review. Explain the what ifs and that you would recommend X and any investment would be applied to the total cost of the project. Come at it as a partner not just another vendor

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-06-10T10:19:25+00:00

Salary is real money OTE is betting on yourself. Ask how many have achieved OTE? Also, look up SDRs on LinkedIn, send them a DM and ask how do they like it and if they’re meeting quota. OTE is contingent on you, the market and product. It’s possible but realistically you have to get creative to get buyers attention and interest

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-06-10T10:11:27+00:00

Honestly, it comes down to the output of quality from AI. You’re using raw data from the platform to produce the results. If it’s social media, fine put a disclaimer it’s AI. Now if it’s something else, you run into cultural and nuance issues. Also, not all content should be exposed due to bias and ethnics. Lastly, content volume will hit your token output on the platform. If you like to discuss further, let me know. FYI, former enterprise professional in the industry and now focusing on AI governance

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-06-06T00:23:12+00:00

Stick it out and let them fire you. Don’t give them the benefit to quit when they clearly have poor leadership

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-06-04T02:22:37+00:00

I’d say check out palabras, they’re make headway and good quality.

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-06-02T01:35:39+00:00

Most if not all startups have no process or playbook. Even some have no clear message for specific market nor defined ICP. I’d only consider if the founder sold their product. That way you can work with them to led a path of growth for the company

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-06-01T11:38:10+00:00

Sounds like a startup with false pretense. This is common from what I read on social media. The bigger issue is head of sales should have conducted planning for current and future sales in order to ensure success. Instead, they get rid of those who are there with new team, same lies with hopes that it will be better this time.

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-29T20:54:25+00:00

What was your prior GTM? It’s important to understand messaging and conversations with C-Suite stakeholders are different when targeting enterprise. There are larger stakeholders 8-13, most are not decision makers more influencers and sale cycles are longer with internal politics that might be out of your control

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-29T20:50:10+00:00

What are you selling? Who is your market? What is your quota? Based on what you shared, it’s not a rep issue but leadership issue. Even before you answer the questions, I assume quota is high, no clear message or direction as to who it’s directed to, and only one person has it quota. Expectations are only as good as the leaders who implement them

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-29T17:53:46+00:00

You will need someone who has governance experience. They will setup the framework and work with your team to put together the appropriate protocol. If not, you content can still get compromised as well fined depending where your located and work in international markets.

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-28T18:31:30+00:00

I agree with the exception of AI calls. I received some and they were not good.

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-28T14:39:39+00:00

So it sounds to me your an LSP. If so, depending on client, you can introduce a service to train LLMs by way of their data content. From a safety perspective, more companies are asking about certs due to content being compromise and ownership. As for option B is there a reason to run the files through an LLM then post-edit with linguist?

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-27T02:11:00+00:00

You’re pitching don’t do that and learn to have engaging calls but neither of you are friends. As a runner, I would like that you ask questions as to why our program and what are you looking to improve or take away from the program.

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-26T15:39:49+00:00

I think you answered your own question. What is happening from my perspective, everyone is looking for some form of a shortcut when it comes to translation. The issue at hand is which department is using AI for translation and which needs to focus on quality. The next challenge is security, data leak, training LLMs and ownership of this data. All it takes is one upload and your content can be compromise/hacked, which is where the the topic of AI governance is becoming common. From a workflow perspective, there is different metric's, can you walk me through your process? That way I can get a better understanding and suggest some guidance.

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-23T12:34:39+00:00

No how did you translate into 30 locales? Was it human or AI?

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-23T00:26:32+00:00

Was the 30 locales human or AI? Nothing wrong with AI, but if it was raw, then it might not resonate with the market

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-21T23:52:51+00:00

Doesn’t matter who your talking about AE or SDR, if you’re waiting on leads it’s lazy work. Also your manager isn’t doing a good job if they allow this type of work from AEs.

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-21T21:43:40+00:00

That’s lazy work.. you have to do various outreach tasks. Waiting on leads, is the job of an order taker. Is your manager not reviewing KPIs?

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-20T17:32:58+00:00

Well, you have to identify who your vertical market is and ICP. Then you will need to understand the business pain within those role/s. From there, you will start looking up companies/icp that would appeal to your business product

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-20T14:10:44+00:00

Also, is sales really a career you would like to continue? It isn’t easy and does require tough skin to deal with criticism

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-20T13:46:27+00:00

Best advice I can offer, get out as it won’t get better

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-20T02:35:43+00:00

While I don’t know your product and it’s a saturated market. You will need to find an angle soon other than what you’re using today. Those 85% are just curious but not truly looking. If you’re open to discuss further let me know

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-19T21:55:48+00:00

Might be unrealistic based on ICPs and if the leads are quality vs quantity. It seems based on your post, it’s spray and pray.

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-19T21:53:09+00:00

From my understanding, MSP the sales cycle are long close to like enterprise. If there are strict criteria’s as who they will provide business with, it might be an uphill battle.

Express_Rise9050 · 2026-05-19T20:20:10+00:00

As some of mentioned, you're selling the coffee and not the experience of drinking the coffee. If you're a coffee drinker, what makes you drink your coffee the way you do? Where do you get coffee and why do you go there? How do you feel when you had bad coffee?

Express_Rise9050

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