Navigating Sales in Slack: Early Deals and Hard-Learned LessonsJames Sherrett recounts his experiences of closing early sales deals at Slack without a traditional sales team. He describes the significance of celebrating wins through dedicated Slack channels and shares a memorable story about negotiating with Sauce Labs, a customer demanding a discount. The narrative highlights the importance of understanding customer needs and being prepared for tough negotiations. Sherrett explains how these early experiences and the detailed pricing proposals were pivotal in refining Slack's approach to sales and customer success.00:00 Introduction: A Slack Story by James Sherrett00:19 The First Deal: Celebrating Wins01:16 Creating the #accounts Channel03:27 Memorable #accounts Post: Sauce Labs05:09 The Cannon09:32 Crafting the Perfect Pricing Proposal18:14 Conclusion: Lessons Learned19:28 Teaser: Up Next - Offsite in Sonoma This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com
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19:51
Slack's Wall of Love
The Twitter Game: Building Slack's Wall of LoveThis episode explores how Slack effectively used Twitter to connect with its tech-savvy audience and amplify customer feedback. It details the creation and evolution of Slack's 'Wall of Love,' a curated collection of positive tweets that addressed customer objections and showcased unsolicited endorsements. The narration emphasizes the significance of customer engagement on Twitter and describes internal processes designed to maximize the surface area of the company to customer feedback.00:00 Introduction: A Slack Story by James Sherrett00:22 The Early Days: Twitter as a Key Platform01:46 Playing the Twitter Game05:23 Creating the Wall of Love07:29 Managing and Expanding the Wall of Love11:06 Maximizing Customer Feedback14:30 Conclusion: The Importance of Customer Interaction This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com
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15:43
Launching Paid Slack
Launching Paid Slack: The Journey from Free to PaidIn this episode, James Sherrett shares the story of how Slack transitioned from a free to a paid product. From the early planning stages, the company knew its business model would be a B2B SaaS offering. The script details the use of credits to ease the transition for customers, and the data-driven approach that helped identify key patterns in user growth and retention. As Slack prepared for its February 12, 2014 launch, the team used customer feedback, analytics, and strategic PR to ensure a successful rollout. The episode also touches on the company's early struggles and the pivotal role of customer stories in achieving long-term success.00:00 Introduction: Launching Paid Slack00:23 Defining the Business Model00:51 Customer Engagement and Feedback02:41 Analyzing User Data04:08 Preparing for Launch10:14 The Launch Day13:17 Post-Launch Reflections18:29 Continued Growth and Customer Relations This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com
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19:47
Socks, Slack Socks
The Slack Socks Saga: A Quirky Marketing SuccessIn this episode, James Sherrett narrates the fascinating journey of how Slack created custom socks as a unique marketing tool. Starting with a small budget, the team decided to use socks featuring their tartan design as company swag. The process wasn't easy and included a 99-email thread just to finalize designs.Despite initial challenges, the socks became immensely popular, eventually leading to orders of up to 500,000 pairs. The socks not only contributed to brand identity but also symbolized the quirky originality and growing pains of Slack as it transitioned from a startup to a large business. The narrative concludes with reflections on how the company's unique identity evolved and adapted as it grew.00:00 The Slack Socks Story Begins00:22 Why Socks? The Marketing Strategy02:25 Design Challenges and Email Correspondence05:50 The Popularity of Slack Socks06:56 Evolving Designs and Internal Impact10:20 Reflections on Growth and Change13:02 Conclusion and Transition to Paid Slack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com
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13:23
Saying No Nicely
Saying No Nicely: A Slack Story by James SherrettIn this episode, James Sherrett starts at Slack in 2014 as full-time Director, Accounts. He discusses the evolving roles and responsibilities in a small startup environment, focusing on customer interactions, providing demos, and collecting feedback.A key theme is the philosophy of 'saying no nicely,' both to customers and in shaping product strategies. James explores different ways to decline requests respectfully and strategically, the impact of this approach on customer satisfaction, and the overall business operations. Additionally, he touches upon the growth of Slack, its core functionalities, and how it became a pivotal tool for digital communication and teamwork.00:00 Introduction: Starting in Accounts at Slack01:33 Customer Interactions: Helping and Selling02:24 The Art of Saying No Nicely03:01 Examples of Saying No Nicely04:50 Learning from Customer Feedback06:37 The Philosophy of Saying No Nicely12:24 Slack's Core Functionality in 201414:39 The Complexity of Messaging15:48 Being a Guide and Guard16:48 Saying No Nicely: A Continued Practice17:36 Conclusion: Focus Drives Results18:03 Up Next: Slack Socks This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.slackstory.com
In 2013, I started as #9 on the Slack team. A Slack Story tells the best stories from the 7 years and 5 jobs that followed. The Podcast is those stories in audio form. Plus more to come.
Subscribe by RSS with this link: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/3721181.rss www.slackstory.com
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