There are a number of companies that capture data about SMBs online: reviews and reputation, visibility, social media mentions and so on. Usually these tools and services are sold directly or indirectly to SMBs as part of a local online marketing package. However vSplash has taken these same capabilities and turned them into an impressive sales tool to help local reps sell more efficiently.
Called BuzzBoard, the “presence analysis” tool arms the sales rep with volumes of data about the merchant. This includes an estimate of the sales opportunity (potential value of the account based on “what’s missing” from the online portfolio) and how the merchant compares with competitors. Everything is housed on an iPad app that can be shown to the merchant if desired.
Below are some sample screenshots:
Many SMB presence tools (e.g., GetListed) are being used informally by local sales reps already to do prospecting and research in advance of telephone sales calls or site visits. BuzzBoard rolls all this up into a nice product specifically designed for sales reps.
Based the opportunity analysis (which I think is unique to this product) sales reps can better prioritize calls or time. They can go after accounts based on the size of the opportunity. This and the competitive analysis feature may be the most compelling aspects of the product. My understanding is that an SEM analysis capability will soon be added into the product as well.
BuzzBoard is intended to be white labeled. The product is new and there are no empirical data yet on how its use affects sales performance but there are several entities testing it out right now. I was promised a look at the data when it becomes available.
July 26th, 2012 at 6:07 am
[...] among the industry analysts with favorable blogs posts at BIA/Kelsey, LocalSearch Insider and Greg Sterling’s Screenwerk blog. All the analysts appreciate the capability the BuzzBoard tool has to substantively and positively [...]
July 26th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
[...] demonstrating how to do it.vSplash BuzzBoard Turns SMB Presence Data into Useful Local Sales Tool (Screenwerk) Called BuzzBoard, the “presence analysis” tool arms the sales rep with volumes of data about [...]
July 26th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
I need this yesterday. Can’t wait.