Comments for Software as a Service (SaaS) http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service and all things software Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:48:18 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on In Search of the Mythical VP Sales & Marketing by Bruce Cleveland http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/marketing/in-search-of-the-mythical-vp-sales-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-562 Bruce Cleveland Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:48:18 +0000 http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/?p=443#comment-562 Susan: As I said in the article, even if someone has both skill sets I do not believe someone can execute both functions simultaneously with excellence; they are both 200% fulltime jobs. Susan:

As I said in the article, even if someone has both skill sets I do not believe someone can execute both functions simultaneously with excellence; they are both 200% fulltime jobs.

]]> Comment on In Search of the Mythical VP Sales & Marketing by Susan Knight http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/marketing/in-search-of-the-mythical-vp-sales-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-561 Susan Knight Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:39:45 +0000 http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/?p=443#comment-561 You said "I have found very few people - I mean less than a handful – who are experts at both functions." So maybe it's not that people can't do both gigs.. it's just the wrong people get hired and those hiring don't search hard enough.. I do belive in unicorns :) Susan You said “I have found very few people – I mean less than a handful – who are experts at both functions.” So maybe it’s not that people can’t do both gigs.. it’s just the wrong people get hired and those hiring don’t search hard enough.. I do belive in unicorns :)

Susan

]]> Comment on In Search of the Mythical VP Sales & Marketing by There is No Perfect VP of Sales and Marketing « gabriel catalano | in-perfección http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/marketing/in-search-of-the-mythical-vp-sales-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-559 There is No Perfect VP of Sales and Marketing « gabriel catalano | in-perfección Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:51:31 +0000 http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/?p=443#comment-559 [...] and shouldn’t be. Interwest investor Bruce Cleveland recently wrote an article entitled, In Search of the Mythical VP Sales and Marketing where he defines the separate domains of sales and [...] [...] and shouldn’t be. Interwest investor Bruce Cleveland recently wrote an article entitled, In Search of the Mythical VP Sales and Marketing where he defines the separate domains of sales and [...]

]]> Comment on In Search of the Mythical VP Sales & Marketing by Mike http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/marketing/in-search-of-the-mythical-vp-sales-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-545 Mike Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:38:10 +0000 http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/?p=443#comment-545 I agree with your statement. As a VP of sales in start-ups, it's my experience that the business is best served by getting known as soon as possible. In the hands of a solid marketer and commitment/investment by the CEO/BoD, a qualified pipeline will emerge. This accelerates the ability to get a sales head who can rapidly convert prospects to customers. I agree with your statement. As a VP of sales in start-ups, it’s my experience that the business is best served by getting known as soon as possible. In the hands of a solid marketer and commitment/investment by the CEO/BoD, a qualified pipeline will emerge. This accelerates the ability to get a sales head who can rapidly convert prospects to customers.

]]> Comment on In Search of the Mythical VP Sales & Marketing by Bruce Daley http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/marketing/in-search-of-the-mythical-vp-sales-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-544 Bruce Daley Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:16:46 +0000 http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/?p=443#comment-544 Out of necessity I have been in both roles over the years and have to say you are absolutely right Bruce. In my experience startups hire a sales person and put them in charge of marketing much to its neglect. They would be better off hiring a part time marketing executive for the most part. Out of necessity I have been in both roles over the years and have to say you are absolutely right Bruce. In my experience startups hire a sales person and put them in charge of marketing much to its neglect. They would be better off hiring a part time marketing executive for the most part.

]]> Comment on In Search of the Mythical VP Sales & Marketing by Justin http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/marketing/in-search-of-the-mythical-vp-sales-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-543 Justin Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:18:25 +0000 http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/?p=443#comment-543 As someone who was a VP of Sales and Marketing I agree and disagree with you. My expertise was on the sales side and I was not a VP of Marketing. We got around this with a very sharp Director of Marketing and utilizing an outside agency. The outside agency really gave us a more scalable story and reach (we decided) than a true Marketing leader. As someone who was a VP of Sales and Marketing I agree and disagree with you. My expertise was on the sales side and I was not a VP of Marketing.

We got around this with a very sharp Director of Marketing and utilizing an outside agency. The outside agency really gave us a more scalable story and reach (we decided) than a true Marketing leader.

]]> Comment on In Search of the Mythical VP Sales & Marketing by Bruce Cleveland http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/marketing/in-search-of-the-mythical-vp-sales-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-539 Bruce Cleveland Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:06:41 +0000 http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/?p=443#comment-539 In respsonse to Start Up CEO: If you read my background, you'll see I've been involved in several small fledgling start ups: Oracle, my own, and Siebel Systems. I joined Oracle in the early 1980's when there were only a couple dozen people. I started my own start up and successfully sold it in 1992 and I joined Siebel Systems as a founding member of the executive team. None of these start ups had any venture money in them. So, I may not be the VC you want on your team but I've had three fairly successful start up outcomes and none of them had a VP Sales & Marketing. I do appreciate your point that people need to wear many hats in the very early stages. However, if I only saw companies do this in the beginning, I probably wouldn't have written about it. In respsonse to Start Up CEO:

If you read my background, you’ll see I’ve been involved in several small fledgling start ups: Oracle, my own, and Siebel Systems.

I joined Oracle in the early 1980’s when there were only a couple dozen people. I started my own start up and successfully sold it in 1992 and I joined Siebel Systems as a founding member of the executive team.

None of these start ups had any venture money in them.

So, I may not be the VC you want on your team but I’ve had three fairly successful start up outcomes and none of them had a VP Sales & Marketing.

I do appreciate your point that people need to wear many hats in the very early stages. However, if I only saw companies do this in the beginning, I probably wouldn’t have written about it.

]]> Comment on In Search of the Mythical VP Sales & Marketing by Larkin http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/marketing/in-search-of-the-mythical-vp-sales-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-538 Larkin Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:49:23 +0000 http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/?p=443#comment-538 Amen... and thank you for saying so. As VP Sales I've worked for several start-ups where the CEO expected me to deliver the marketing role. And only after I had accepted the job by the way. Not having Marketing makes the job of selling much more challenging... Amen… and thank you for saying so. As VP Sales I’ve worked for several start-ups where the CEO expected me to deliver the marketing role. And only after I had accepted the job by the way. Not having Marketing makes the job of selling much more challenging…

]]> Comment on In Search of the Mythical VP Sales & Marketing by Lance Hoffman http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/marketing/in-search-of-the-mythical-vp-sales-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-536 Lance Hoffman Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:59:38 +0000 http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/?p=443#comment-536 I agree completely. I have always found the combination of the 2 to be ineffective and have been curious as to why it's done so often. I think it tends to result from the propensity of some sales guys who think they can do marketing ("how hard can it be? The marketing guys do it! ;-)). Kind of like the engineers who think they are marketeers too. I find most "true" marketing types don't see themselves as salesmen, nor do they want to be. Good insights and a good articulation of the differences between the 2 roles. Thanks for sharing. I agree completely. I have always found the combination of the 2 to be ineffective and have been curious as to why it’s done so often. I think it tends to result from the propensity of some sales guys who think they can do marketing (”how hard can it be? The marketing guys do it! ;-) ). Kind of like the engineers who think they are marketeers too. I find most “true” marketing types don’t see themselves as salesmen, nor do they want to be. Good insights and a good articulation of the differences between the 2 roles. Thanks for sharing.

]]> Comment on In Search of the Mythical VP Sales & Marketing by Ron Shevlin http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/marketing/in-search-of-the-mythical-vp-sales-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-535 Ron Shevlin Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:56:17 +0000 http://www.interwest.com/software-as-a-service/?p=443#comment-535 Amen. The mentality isn't limited to startups. I work with a number of larger organizations who think it's a good idea to have sales and marketing report to a single person. I think it stems from a CEO (or collective senior exec) mindset that just wants to sweep marketing under the rug, and limit the number of execs on the senior team. Thanks for a great post. Amen. The mentality isn’t limited to startups. I work with a number of larger organizations who think it’s a good idea to have sales and marketing report to a single person.

I think it stems from a CEO (or collective senior exec) mindset that just wants to sweep marketing under the rug, and limit the number of execs on the senior team.

Thanks for a great post.

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