Episode 27: 5 Questions with Katie Ray

There’s no denying that sales development is a difficult job. Convincing someone to part with a resource as precious as time is no easy task. That’s why there are so many resources out there for sales development professionals. Blogs, podcasts, digital events, certifications, and now...communities. This rise in micro-communities over the past couple of years has given the SDR a new place to learn and grow. A place to share insight with peers, learn from leaders, and grow their skills through workshops and events. SDRs who leverage communities are getting a ton of help and advice from many different perspectives - which is great! But sometimes, it’s hard to know where to start. Can you just jump into the discussion and begin growing right away? We talk with Katie Ray, Community Manager for Sales Hacker, about the ‘community lifecycle.’ Tune in to learn how you can find, join, and leverage a community from start to finish, and what impact it could have on your overall development. Structure & Questions: Before we jump into the ‘lifecycle’ of a community member, let’s talk about the basics. How do you define community? And what do they typically provide for a member (in this case, SDRs)? What’s the first step someone should take when seeking out a community? How do you go about finding and using community resources? Not all community members are upfront about everything. Is there a way to tell that the person you’re talking with or the resources they’re sharing are ‘legit?’ Finally, how can you leverage a community for more than just self-development? Is there a way to use community to grow your business or pipeline?