Who said sales tools are just for big companies? The reality is, every sales team, regardless of size, needs the right tools to streamline their sales process and boost productivity. Let’s dive into the essential tools that can transform your sales game!
What are sales tools?
Sales tools are software and platforms that assist sales teams in managing their sales cycle, customer interactions, and data.
They enhance sales performance by automating tasks, providing insights through sales analytics, and improving customer relationship management.
These tools are vital for sales reps, managers, and marketing departments to optimize their strategies and close deals efficiently. From CRM software to sales prospecting tools, the best sales tools support every aspect of the sales process.
Sales tools by category: Quick overview
Below is a comprehensive table that outlines 24 essential sales tools, categorized to help you identify the best ones for your needs:
24 best sales tools, divided into categories
We’ve divided these apps into 7 types of sales tools:
- Cold email tools
- CRM tools
- Sales intelligence and prospecting tools
- Sales engagement tools
- Video conferencing and demo tools
- Contract management tools
- Sales analytics tools
- Sales productivity tools
Each fulfills a different role and helps achieve different goals, but ultimately, all these tools add up to help the bottom line.
Cold email outreach tools
Cold email outreach tools are a game-changer for sales teams. They let you reach out to tons of potential customers with personalized emails, which makes it easier to generate leads and build relationships.
These tools save time by automating the outreach process and ensuring that your messages are consistent and professional. Plus, with features like email tracking, analytics, and follow-up sequences, you can keep an eye on how your campaigns are performing and tweak them as needed.
In short, cold email outreach tools help sales squads connect with more prospects, convert leads into customers, and boost revenue.
Woodpecker
Woodpecker is an all-in-one email outreach platform that helps you get more sales from cold emails.
Whether you’re running an agency or a business that relies on email to close deals, Woodpecker has got you covered. One of its best features is the ability to warm up your inbox before sending emails, which helps improve deliverability.
Woodpecker also verifies all your email addresses to make sure you’re reaching real people. It uses natural sending patterns that mimic human behavior, helping you stay out of spam folders and avoid emailing the same contact twice.
With Woodpecker, you can easily create drip campaigns and sequences using a visual builder. You can automate actions based on whether someone opens, clicks, or replies to your email.
The platform also offers email tracking and analytics in a detailed dashboard. Woodpecker integrates with a variety of tools, from CRMs like Hubspot and Pipedrive to email marketing apps like Hunter and Mailgun, and even communication tools like Slack.
You can also easily A/B test all aspects of your emails: body, subject lines, visual elements, CTAs, and more.
One of the best parts about Woodpecker is its affordable pricing. For just $20 per month, you can reach up to 500 contacts and store 2,000 of them in your database. And, there’s a free trial so you can try it out before committing.
Overall, Woodpecker is a fantastic tool that helps marketers and salespeople automate tasks, personalize outreach, and keep their sales process running smoothly.
Grab your free Woodpecker trial now!
Saleshandy
Saleshandy is a tool for scaling outbound email campaigns and provides features like email tracking, scheduling, and A/B testing.
It offers a unified inbox, sender rotation, and automatic email warm-up, but email verification is an extra charge. Pricing starts at $36/month, with a 7-day free trial.
While Saleshandy helps manage outbound sales, recruitment, and account management, it has its drawbacks. The user interface can be confusing, and managing contacts isn’t always smooth. Integrations are limited in lower-tier plans, and the follow-up feature requires an additional package.
Despite these issues, Saleshandy can still be a useful tool for those looking to enhance their email outreach.
Overloop
Overloop is a sales engagement platform that lets you send cold emails, LinkedIn messages, and make cold calls.
It includes features like email tracking, multichannel campaigns, and lead management tools. Pricing starts at €69 per user per month, but there’s no free trial.
Overloop is generally easy to use and offers a great onboarding experience with a wealth of features. However, it can be slow and occasionally buggy, with integration issues (especially with Salesforce) and unreliable bounce reporting. It’s also relatively pricey compared to some competitors.
Overloop is a good choice for sales teams looking to streamline their outreach efforts, but its performance and scalability issues may be a concern for larger teams.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems are essential sales tools that help salespeople and organizations manage customer interactions and data throughout the sales cycle.
These systems centralize customer information, making it easily accessible to sales reps and managers. By providing a comprehensive view of customer interactions, CRM systems enhance the efficiency of sales processes, improve customer satisfaction, and help in closing deals faster.
CRM tools also offer features like:
- pipeline sales management tools,
- sales analytics,
- task automation,
- workflow automation.
These which streamline administrative tasks and boost sales productivity. In day-to-day operations, CRMs help sales teams track leads, monitor sales performance, and manage relationships more effectively, all of which lead to better sales outcomes and higher customer retention.
Breakcold
Breakcold is designed for agencies, startups, and consultants, offering a combination of sales CRM and pipeline management software with cold emailing features.
Breakcold provides unlimited email campaigns and personalizing capabilities, ensuring your emails hit the right notes. It features a unified inbox and automatic rotation of email domains, which keeps your email deliverability high.
Starting at $29/user/month with a free trial available, it’s an affordable option for small teams.
However, Breakcold has a steep learning curve and some users report integration issues and bugs. It also lacks advanced analytics and has no add-ons, making it less versatile compared to other CRM tools.
HubSpot
HubSpot CRM is a versatile tool that streamlines business operations across customer support, sales enablement, customer success, and marketing.
It offers real-time sales activity tracking, detailed reporting, unlimited sales data and contacts, and a meeting scheduler. Additional features include live chat, an AI email writer, and customizable dashboards.
While HubSpot’s free plan is generous, advanced features are locked behind higher-priced plans starting at $1,600/month. This can be out of reach for small businesses. The platform’s comprehensive suite of features can also be overwhelming, requiring additional training.
Despite these drawbacks, HubSpot draws marketers and salespeople in by enhancing their customer engagement and managing their sales processes effectively.
Snov.io
Snov.io is a powerful collection of sales tools designed to help businesses generate leads and engage with them through email and LinkedIn automation.
Key features include an email finder, prospect finder for LinkedIn, email verifier, drip campaign creator, email warmup, and a sales CRM for managing your pipeline.
Pricing starts at $39 per month, with a free trial available offering 50 credits.
However, setup can be challenging for novice users, and the pricing becomes steep with a large number of addresses. Users have reported issues with data enrichment accuracy and unresponsive customer support, which may hinder the overall experience.
Still, if you want a platform that combines cold email with CRM effectively, you should consider Snov.io.
Sales intelligence and prospecting tools
Sales intelligence and prospecting tools are essential for the modern sales team. They help you find and gather valuable information about potential customers, making it easier to target the right people.
These tools save a ton of time by automating the data collection process and providing detailed insights into your prospects. This means sales reps can focus more on building relationships and less on manual data entry.
From understanding your prospects’ needs to tracking their interactions, these tools make your sales efforts smarter and more efficient. In short, they’re your secret weapon for finding the best leads and closing more deals.
Apollo
Apollo is a comprehensive sales intelligence tool and engagement platform designed to streamline your entire sales process.
It offers a powerful suite of features, such as lead sourcing and enrichment, prospecting tools, lead scoring, and a handy Chrome extension for Gmail and LinkedIn communication. You can easily set up email and call sequences, both manually and with AI assistance.
Starting at $59 per user per month with unlimited email credits, Apollo also has a free plan available.
Apollo excels in integrating with CRMs like HubSpot, making it easy to create and launch sequences. However, it has its drawbacks. Users have reported issues with data accuracy, particularly with phone numbers and emails, and the setup for sequences can be slow.
Additionally, overlapping IP addresses in physical offices can lead to penalization.
Despite its strengths, Apollo’s pricing might not be flexible enough for smaller teams, and its customer support has received some negative feedback.
UpLead
UpLead is a B2B prospecting tool that gives you instant access to millions of contacts and companies. You can filter by over 50 criteria to find your ideal next customer.
UpLead is praised for its ease of use and the ability to confirm emails before purchasing with points, which ensures high data quality.
Pricing starts at $99 per month, which is reasonable for the value it provides.
On the downside, canceling your subscription immediately cuts off access, and like any tool, it can occasionally have outdated contact information.
Despite these issues, UpLead is a great instrument for small business owners and sales forces looking for reliable and cost-effective prospecting.
Cognism
Cognism is known for its extensive database and user-friendly interface, making it a favorite among sales professionals.
It pulls data from various sources, ensuring you get comprehensive contact information. Key features include a handy Chrome extension, seamless CRM integrations, and automated data enrichment for new leads.
However, some users have reported issues with data accuracy, especially with mobile numbers, and outdated contact info. The integrations, while useful, can sometimes be buggy. Pricing isn’t transparent and can be high, which might be a drawback for smaller businesses.
Overall, Cognism is a powerful tool but might not be perfect for everyone.
Sales engagement platforms
To be effective, sales teams need sales engagement platforms. Emails, phone calls, and social media interactions with current and future customers can be better managed and automated with their help.
- The sales process can be optimized with these tools, freeing up sales reps to concentrate on relationship building and deal closing.
- Integrating with CRM systems allows them to centralize all customer data, which facilitates tracking progress and strategy adjustments.
- Sales analytics also provide valuable insights, which, as a result, boost efficiency and effectiveness in the sales process.
To sum up, sales engagement platforms improve the efficiency and effectiveness of sales agents’ day-to-day operations, which in turn boosts sales and customer happiness.
Mailshake
Mailshake is a user-friendly sales engagement platform perfect for cold emailing and prospecting.
It simplifies campaign setup and integrates seamlessly with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive. With features like email verification, LinkedIn marketing automation, and an AI writing assistant, it’s a comprehensive tool for reaching out to leads.
However, it lacks a free trial and has limited customization options.
Pricing is straightforward: $29/user/month for Starter, $59/user/month for Email Outreach, and $99/user/month for Sales Engagement.
Users have noted long customer support response times and some issues with exporting data points and contact mapping.
Despite these drawbacks, Mailshake is effective in helping marketers and salespeople achieve their goals.
Amplemarket
Amplemarket is an AI-powered sales engagement platform that excels in lead generation and prospecting.
It offers a rich feature set, including lead enrichment, email validation, and multi-channel sales flows. The platform also provides detailed analytics and tools to boost email deliverability.
While it’s a powerful tool, pricing details are not publicly available, which can be a bit frustrating. Users have reported challenges with onboarding and occasional glitches in task management.
Despite these issues, Amplemarket’s AI features save time and effort, making it a valuable tool for improving sales productivity and efficiency.
Salesrobot
Salesrobot focuses on automating LinkedIn and email outreach, which is super important nowadays.
It has a central inbox for managing communications, supports list imports from CSV, and integrates with LinkedIn Sales Navigator. Automated follow-ups and team collaboration features are great for streamlining processes. The AI writing assistant helps craft effective messages.
Pricing starts at $99 per month for one email and LinkedIn account, and there’s a 14-day free trial. While easy to use, it relies heavily on LinkedIn’s algorithm, which can be risky.
Some users have experienced glitches with LinkedIn automation, but overall, Salesrobot is reliable and offers good customer support.
Video conferencing and demo tools
Video is more popular than ever. To excel in sales, you need proper video converencing and demo tools. They allow sales representatives to engage with prospects and customers in real-time, no matter where they are.
- These tools help sales teams conduct face-to-face meetings, deliver product demonstrations, and hold collaborative sessions, which are crucial for building strong customer relationships.
- They streamline scheduling, reduce travel costs, and allow sales professionals to conduct more presentations and follow-ups efficiently.
- Additionally, by integrating with CRM systems and other sales tools, these platforms ensure a seamless workflow and provide valuable insights into customer interactions.
In summary, video conferencing and demo tools are indispensable for modern sales teams, offering convenience and effective ways to showcase products and services.
Loom
Loom is a terrific tool for creating and sharing videos quickly. With Loom, you can record your screen, voice, and face to create instantly shareable videos, perfect for personalized outreach and follow-ups.
Key features include easy video editing and screen recording, and it integrates smoothly with tools like Gmail and Slack.
Pricing starts at $10 per user per month for the Starter plan and goes up to $45 per user per month for the Business plan.
However, some users find the interface tricky, and there are occasional issues with starting and stopping recordings. Despite these drawbacks, Loom is powerful for enhancing communication and engagement in sales processes.
Storylane
Storylane is a no-code demo platform that lets commerce teams create engaging product demos and tours.
You can capture your product and create personalized demos to share via emails, social media, and websites. The tool’s key features include guided product tours and real-time analytics. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and requires contacting their sales team for details.
While Storylane offers strong functionality, the onboarding process can be complex, and there are occasional bugs with HTML capture.
Despite these issues, Storylane effectively creates compelling demos that can accelerate the sales cycle and improve conversions.
ClickMeeting
ClickMeeting is a versatile webinar and online meeting platform supporting live, automated, and on-demand webinars.
It allows sales managers to engage with up to 1,000 attendees, making it ideal for product demos, training sessions, and large virtual events.
Features include customizable webinar rooms, automated email marketing, and integration with CRM and marketing tools like HubSpot and Google Analytics.
Pricing starts at $25 per month for the Live plan, supporting up to 25 attendees. Users have reported issues with audio lag in recordings and limited customization options.
Nevertheless, ClickMeeting is a powerful tool for conducting webinars and virtual meetings that enhance sales and marketing teams.
E-signature and Contract Management Tools
E-signature and contract management tools revolutionize the way sales teams handle agreements and contracts. These tools allow sales professionals to send, sign, and manage agreements digitally, significantly speeding up the sales process.
- By automating contract workflows, they help reduce administrative tasks, ensuring that sales reps can focus more on selling and less on paperwork.
- Additionally, these tools provide secure, legally binding signatures and maintain a clear audit trail for compliance purposes.
- They also integrate seamlessly with CRM systems, allowing for easy access to contracts and customer data.
Overall, e-signature and contract management tools enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and improve the customer experience by making the entire contracting process faster and more transparent.
Docusign
Docusign is a game-changer for managing agreements. It allows you to send, sign, and store documents digitally, eliminating the need for printing, scanning, or faxing.
Key features include real-time tracking, integration with CRM systems, and templates for frequently used documents. Docusign helps sales and marketing teams close deals faster and more efficiently by automating the agreement process.
Pricing starts at $10 per user per month for the Personal plan, with Business Pro at $40 per user per month. However, some users find the interface confusing, and there are occasional security concerns.
Despite these issues, Docusign remains a robust tool for streamlining the sales process.
Ironclad
Ironclad is a powerful contract management tool that integrates seamlessly with major CRMs like Salesforce, helping sales and legal teams collaborate efficiently.
It offers features like automated contract approvals, real-time activity feeds, and robust analytics to track contract performance. Ironclad excels in reducing negotiation times and speeding up the sales cycle. Pricing is custom-based, requiring contact with their sales team.
However, users have reported that setting up workflows can be time-consuming, and the software can be slow to load.
Despite these drawbacks, Ironclad is highly praised for its intuitive interface and excellent customer support.
Conga
Conga streamlines contract management with features like legal-approved templates, clause playbooks, and dynamic contract request wizards.
It allows teams to create, manage, and track contracts efficiently, reducing the time spent on pipeline management and increasing productivity. Conga’s integration with CRM systems ensures smooth workflow automation.
Pricing is customized based on business needs, and potential users need to contact their sales team.
However, some users find the software difficult to navigate without technical knowledge, and the lack of training materials can be challenging. Overall, Conga is a solid tool for contract management, offering significant benefits for sales teams looking to streamline their processes.
Forecasting and sales analytics tools
Forecasting and sales analytics tools are crucial for sales teams. They provide real-time reporting and deep insights into sales performance, helping sales reps and managers understand trends, track progress, and make data-driven decisions.
These tools consolidate customer data and sales activities, offering a clear view of the sales pipeline and enabling precise forecasting.
With detailed analytics, reps can identify what works and what doesn’t, which allows them to optimize their strategies and boost productivity.
In day-to-day operations, these tools help sales professionals stay on top of their game, ensuring they hit targets and drive revenue growth.
InsightSquared
InsightSquared is like having a crystal ball for your sales team.
It offers real-time sales analytics and forecasting, helping sales ops leaders and executives produce reliable forecasts and understand pipeline trends.
Features include detailed win/loss reports, high-level dashboards, and rep-level analysis. InsightSquared integrates seamlessly, providing unparalleled sales intelligence in an intuitive view.
Pricing varies, but the tool’s ease of setup and depth of data are standout features. However, it can be tricky to configure without proper training, and real-time sync with Salesforce can be slow.
Overall, it’s a powerful tool for improving sales performance and understanding the story behind the numbers.
Clari
Clari takes the guesswork out of forecasting and pipeline management. It uses AI to record and transcribe calls, helping sales reps take better notes and bookmark key moments.
Features include predictive forecasting, real-time pipeline visibility, and activity analytics. Pricing details require direct inquiry, but users praise its ability to eliminate manual data entry and provide actionable insights.
Clari’s AI-driven analysis helps sales teams see which deals are moving or at risk, enabling precise planning.
However, some users find the integration with existing reporting processes challenging and occasional glitches in call recording. Despite this, Clari is a robust tool for driving sales success.
Aviso
Aviso is an AI-powered revenue operating system that integrates multiple CRM instances into a single view.
It offers features like predictive forecasting, pipeline management, and conversational intelligence. Aviso’s machine learning models and real-time streaming architecture provide accurate, up-to-date insights, helping sales teams make informed decisions.
The mobile app enhances accessibility, and the CRM writeback feature improves data hygiene. Pricing is available upon request, and users appreciate its comprehensive data integration and forecasting capabilities.
However, the platform can be complex, with a steep learning curve for new users. Overall, Aviso is a powerful tool for enhancing sales operations and performance.
Sales productivity tools
Sales productivity tools are the secret weapons for sales teams, helping them streamline sales-related tasks, manage workflows, and boost overall efficiency.
- These tools integrate with CRM software, automate routine tasks, and provide a clear view of the sales pipeline.
- By reducing administrative burdens, they allow each sales rep to focus more on customer interactions and closing deals.
- Sales productivity tools also enhance collaboration within marketing and sales departments, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
- They support sales management by tracking performance metrics and providing insights into sales strategies.
In short, these tools are essential for maintaining high sales productivity and driving better results.
ProofHub
ProofHub is an all-in-one project management tool that simplifies planning, organizing, collaborating, and executing projects.
Its standout features include multiple views (Gantt, Table, Board) for clarity on work, a multilingual interface, and robust customer support.
It allows sales teams to create specific workflows using Kanban boards, ensuring tasks move seamlessly through stages. ProofHub also offers custom roles to manage access and maintain privacy.
Pricing is straightforward: $153/month for access to all the features, but some teams find the tool cumbersome after a few months.
While it excels in visibility and ease of use, it lacks some advanced customization options. Overall, ProofHub is a strong choice for sales teams looking to streamline project management.
Chili Piper
Chili Piper is a game-changer for booking meetings and managing sales calls.
With features like one-click booking via email, automated reminders, and CRM integration, it’s designed to make scheduling a breeze.
Sales reps can book meetings from any app, thanks to the Chrome extension that integrates with tools like Salesforce, Gmail, and Outlook.
Pricing is tailored to your needs. You can try it out for free or start for as little as $15 per user per month. Some users report issues with reminder emails and occasional crashes.
Despite these minor setbacks, Chili Piper stands out for its seamless integration and ability to enhance customer interactions, making it a favorite among top sales tools.
Trello
Trello is a visually appealing, easy-to-use tool that helps sales teams manage their workflows from lead nurturing to closing deals.
It offers boards, lists, and cards to bring projects to life and keep them moving forward. Trello’s pre-built sales templates save time and effort, while its automation features eliminate repetitive tasks.
The platform integrates with other sales tools like Salesforce, enhancing lead management. However, it lacks some advanced features and customization options.
Pricing is competitive, making Trello an excellent choice for small businesses looking to improve their sales process without breaking the bank. You can use a lot of the tool for free. And if you find yourself missing some of the advanced features, you can upgrade for as little as $5 per month.
Its intuitive design and powerful collaboration features make it a go-to for sales teams.
How to select the right sales tools
Selecting the right sales tools for your team involves careful consideration of several factors to ensure they meet your team’s needs and boost productivity. Here’s a guide to help you make the right choice:
- Identify your needs: Understand your sales process and pinpoint where improvements are needed. Do you need better CRM integration, automation, or analytics?
- Ease of use: Choose tools that are intuitive and easy to use. A complex tool might hinder rather than help.
- Integration capabilities: Ensure the tool integrates seamlessly with your existing systems like CRM software, email, and calendar apps.
- Scalability: Pick tools that can grow with your business. As your sales team expands, your tools should be able to handle increased workload and users.
- Customization: Opt for tools that allow customization to fit your specific workflows and processes.
- Cost: Evaluate the pricing plans and ensure they fit within your budget. Consider long-term costs, including potential upgrades.
- Customer support: Reliable customer support is crucial. Choose vendors known for their excellent support services.
- Security: Ensure the tool adheres to high security standards to protect sensitive customer data.
- Reviews and recommendations: Check reviews from other users and get recommendations from peers in the industry.
- Trial periods: Utilize free trials to test the tool’s effectiveness in your actual work environment.
It all comes down to looking at these factors properly and with a keen eye. Check review sites like G2 and Capterra, look at forums like Reddit and Quora, and read niche-specific websites. Make sure to set up demos to see how the functionalities actually work.
Conclusion
Choosing the right sales tools can significantly enhance your team’s productivity and efficiency. By focusing on factors like ease of use, integration, scalability, and cost, you can ensure you pick tools that truly benefit your sales team.
For example, if your main sales channel is cold email, try out Woodpecker.
Happy selling!
FAQ
What are the best sales tools?
The best sales tools include CRM software like Salesforce, sales automation tools like Outreach, and analytics tools like InsightSquared. These tools streamline processes, enhance productivity, and provide valuable insights, helping sales teams manage their sales cycles, customer interactions, and data more efficiently.
What is sales tooling?
Sales tooling refers to the collection of software and platforms that assist sales teams in managing their sales processes, customer interactions, and data. These tools enhance performance and efficiency by automating tasks, providing insights through analytics, and improving customer relationship management.
What sales tools or technologies do you utilize to streamline your sales processes?
Common sales tools include CRM systems, email automation software, lead generation tools, and sales analytics platforms. These technologies streamline processes by automating routine tasks, managing customer data, and providing insights to improve sales strategies and productivity.
How many types of sales are there?
There are several types of sales, including B2B (business-to-business), B2C (business-to-consumer), direct sales, consultative sales, and e-commerce sales. Each type involves different strategies and approaches to meet the needs of various customer bases.
What are the 7 keys of sales?
The 7 keys of sales are prospecting, building rapport, identifying needs, presenting solutions, handling objections, closing the sale, and follow-up. Mastering these steps helps sales professionals effectively navigate the sales process and close more deals.
What is a CRM sales tool?
A CRM sales tool is software that manages customer relationships and interactions. It helps sales teams track leads, manage customer data, and streamline the sales process by providing a centralized platform for all customer-related information and activities.
What is a sales tool kit?
A sales tool kit is a collection of resources, including software, templates, and strategies, that sales teams use to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. It typically includes CRM tools, email automation software, lead generation tools, and sales analytics platforms.
What is the best sales technique?
The best sales technique is consultative selling, where the salesperson acts as an advisor. This approach involves understanding the customer’s needs and providing tailored solutions, building trust and long-term relationships that lead to successful sales outcomes.