If you’re in charge of picking software for a revenue team, you already know: there’s a new “game-changing” tool every week, and half of them sound exactly the same. This guide’s for sales, marketing, or RevOps leaders who want a no-nonsense way to compare Lift-ai with the rest of the B2B go-to-market (GTM) software crowd.
Here’s how to cut through the buzzwords, figure out what actually matters, and avoid buyer’s remorse.
1. Get Clear on What Problem You Actually Need to Solve
Before you even look at a demo, ask yourself: What’s the real pain here? Is it lead quality? Rep productivity? Forecast accuracy? Executive FOMO is not a strategy.
Common GTM problems revenue teams actually face:
- Wasting time on bad leads
- Not knowing which accounts are in-market
- Data spread across too many tools
- Reps not using the software you already pay for
- Manual, error-prone reporting
Pro tip: Write down your top 3 “if we fixed this, we’d make more money” problems. This simple list will keep you focused when sales reps (and internal champions) start waving shiny features at you.
2. Make a Shortlist—Don’t Get Lost in the Comparison Matrix
You could spend weeks comparing 20+ vendors, but you’ll just end up more confused. Instead:
- Google “[Your Problem] + GTM software”—see who comes up again and again.
- Ask peers what they’ve tried and regretted (or loved).
- Skim review sites, but don’t put too much stock in 5-star raves; they’re easy to game.
- For Lift-ai, check out their site and see if they show specifics on how they help revenue teams. If all you see is “AI-powered growth,” move on.
Try to narrow it down to 3–5 tools—any more and you’ll never make a decision.
3. Dig Into the Core Features (and Ignore the Fluff)
Most GTM tools promise a laundry list of features. Most of them don’t matter to your bottom line. Here’s what to actually look for, using Lift-ai as a benchmark:
Must-haves: - Lead/account scoring: Is it actually accurate, or just a black box? Can you see why a lead is ranked high or low? - Real-time signals: Does it flag accounts showing buying intent, or is it just dumping data? - Integrations: Does it connect with your CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot, whatever you use) and with the rest of your sales stack? - User adoption: Is it actually easy for reps to use, or will it just collect dust? - Reporting: Do you get actionable insights—or just pretty dashboards?
Ignore: - “AI-powered” everything—ask how the AI actually helps, or if it’s just a buzzword. - Vanity analytics—do you really care how many emails were opened, or do you need to know which accounts are ready to buy? - Features you won’t use—don’t pay extra for a marketing automation add-on if your team only needs lead scoring.
Pro tip: Ask for a demo where you see your own data (or at least your industry’s data), not a cherry-picked sample.
4. See How the Tool Fits Into Your Existing Stack
The best GTM software isn’t the most powerful—it’s the tool your team will actually use. Here’s how to judge fit:
- Integration pain: How hard is it to set up? Does it need a full-time admin, or can your ops person handle it in an afternoon?
- Overlap: Are you already paying for something with 80% of the same features?
- Adoption: Will reps see value on day one, or will you spend months begging them to log in?
- Data flow: Does it push data into your CRM and other systems automatically, or do you need to babysit it?
Example: Lift-ai claims to plug right into most major CRMs and sales engagement platforms. If you use something less common, don’t just take their word—ask for a real integration list, and talk to a customer who’s done it.
5. Evaluate Pricing (But Watch for Hidden Gotchas)
Everyone wants to know “how much does it cost?” but pricing in B2B SaaS is rarely straightforward.
- Transparent pricing: Can you actually see prices on the site, or do you have to endure a 30-minute call just to get a ballpark?
- Per-user vs. per-account: Some tools charge by user, some by number of accounts, some by API call. Make sure you know which.
- Creeping costs: Watch for “platform fees,” add-ons, or required services that aren’t mentioned until late in the process.
- Contract flexibility: Multi-year deals might sound like a bargain, but don’t lock yourself in unless you’re sure.
Pro tip: Ask for a three-month pilot or a monthly contract. If a vendor isn’t confident enough to let you try before you commit, that’s a red flag.
6. Look for Evidence—Not Just Hype
Any vendor can throw up a few logos and a case study or two. Dig deeper:
- Ask for references—and talk to people actually using the tool, not just happy customers handpicked by marketing.
- Look for results: What KPIs improved for similar teams? Don’t settle for “increased pipeline” unless they can show real numbers.
- Support responsiveness: Test their support before you buy—ask a tricky question and see how fast (and usefully) they answer.
- User reviews: Read the 3-star reviews, not just the 5-stars. That’s where you’ll see the rough edges.
For Lift-ai: If their site is all big promises and no specifics, approach with caution. Ask if they’ll walk you through a real client setup, warts and all.
7. Run a Real-World Trial (Don’t Just Watch a Demo)
You wouldn’t buy a car without driving it. The same goes for GTM software.
- Set up a sandbox or pilot.
- Use real reps, real data, and real workflows.
- Set clear success criteria: “If we see X improvement in Y metric, we’ll buy.”
Involve end-users early. If your reps hate it, they won’t use it—no matter how smart the AI claims to be.
8. Make the Choice—And Don’t Overthink It
After all this, pick the tool that’s easiest to try, fits your real workflow, and solves your most painful problem. If that’s Lift-ai, great. If it’s something else, that’s fine too. You can always switch later—nothing is forever in SaaS.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
Don’t let the endless options and shiny features paralyze you. Most revenue teams win by picking a tool that’s “good enough,” getting value fast, and tweaking from there. The perfect tool doesn’t exist, and the best GTM software is the one that actually gets used.
Remember your original problems, ignore the hype, and stay focused on what’ll actually move the needle for your team. You’ve got this.