If you’re in B2B sales, you know the drill: every week, there’s some new tool promising to “revolutionize your go-to-market strategy.” Most of them are more flash than substance. You’re here because you want to cut through the noise and figure out if Workwithpod—or anything else, for that matter—will actually help your team land more deals with less hassle. This guide is for busy sales leaders and operators who want to make smart software decisions, not just follow the latest trend.
1. Figure Out What Actually Needs Fixing
Before you even look at Workwithpod or any other B2B GTM (go-to-market) software, be honest: what’s broken in your sales process? Most teams don’t need a shiny dashboard—they need to fix bottlenecks.
Ask yourself: - Are reps missing follow-ups? - Is handoff between sales and customer success a mess? - Are you drowning in manual data entry or duplicate work? - Is it impossible to know what’s actually in the pipeline?
Pro tip: Don’t buy software to solve people problems. Tech can’t fix unclear roles or a lack of accountability. If your process is chaos, get that sorted first.
2. Get Clear on the Core Job You Need a Tool to Do
There are dozens of “GTM” tools out there, but they don’t all tackle the same problems. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Opportunity & Pipeline Management: Tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive
- Collaboration & Deal Execution: Workwithpod, Accord, Mutual Action Plan tools
- Sales Enablement: Showpad, Highspot
- Outreach & Automation: Outreach, Salesloft
- Data Enrichment: ZoomInfo, Clearbit
Figure out which category your pain lives in. Don’t get distracted by features you don’t need.
3. Make a Shortlist: Who’s Actually in the Running?
Let’s be real—most teams end up looking at the same 3–5 players. If you’re reading this, you’re probably comparing:
- Workwithpod (mutual action plans & collaborative deal execution)
- Accord (similar in scope to Workwithpod)
- Your CRM’s built-in tools (e.g., Salesforce mutual action plans, which are, frankly, barebones)
- Maybe a legacy player like Meddpicc, or homegrown spreadsheets
Don’t waste time on tools that are obviously wrong for your deal size, sales cycle, or tech stack. For example, if you sell $5,000 SaaS deals with a 2-week close, you probably don’t need a heavy-duty mutual action plan platform.
4. Compare Based on What Matters (Not What’s in the Demo)
Here’s what you should actually look at—ignore the shiny stuff:
a) Does It Solve Your Core Problem?
Sounds obvious, but it’s easy to get sidetracked. Does the tool make it easier to close deals faster, with less confusion? Or is it just another thing for reps to update?
Workwithpod: Really shines if your deals involve multiple stakeholders, long sales cycles, or complex onboarding. It’s built for collaboration—think shared plans, buyer checklists, and clear next steps. Not magic, but actually useful.
Accord: Similar pitch, but tends to be heavier on customization. Some teams love that, others find it overkill.
CRM Add-ons: Usually free, but often clunky. If your reps already ignore CRM tasks, don’t expect adoption to improve.
b) Will Reps (and Buyers) Actually Use It?
Adoption is everything. If your reps and buyers won’t touch it, you’re wasting money.
- Is it dead simple to set up a plan or workspace?
- Can buyers interact without creating an account or jumping through hoops?
- Does it feel like extra admin, or does it actually help move deals forward?
c) Integration: Will It Play Nice With Your Stack?
- Can you connect it to your CRM, email, and calendar with minimal pain?
- Does it sync data both ways, or is it a one-way street?
- Will you need to hire someone to maintain integrations?
Pro tip: Ask for a real-world demo using your process, not their canned scenario.
d) Transparency and Visibility
- Can managers see deal progress without bugging reps?
- Is there a clear record of buyer engagement and next steps?
- Does it help spot deals that are going sideways, or just add noise?
e) Pricing: Be Skeptical
- Are you paying per seat, per deal, or for “premium” features you’ll never use?
- Is there a minimum contract or annual lock-in?
- What happens if adoption is poor—are you stuck paying anyway?
Don’t be afraid to negotiate. Most SaaS pricing is flexible if you push.
5. Put Tools to the Test: Try Before You Buy
Demos are sales theater. Insist on a real trial—ideally with your own deals.
- Set up a pilot with a couple of reps and a few real buyers.
- Measure: Did it make your process better? Did it remove friction, or just add steps?
- Look for honest feedback, not just “it looks cool.”
If possible, run two tools side-by-side. It’s extra work, but you’ll see quickly which one actually fits your team.
What to watch for in a pilot: - Are reps using it without reminders? - Do buyers engage, or ignore it? - Is deal velocity improving, or flat? - Any weird bugs or support issues?
6. Dig Into Support and Long-Term Fit
Most software companies are great at onboarding, but disappear when you hit a snag.
- Is there real support (phone, email, chat) or just endless docs?
- Are updates breaking things, or does the product get better?
- Is the company stable, or likely to get acquired and sunset?
Don’t be afraid to ask for reference calls with long-term customers.
7. Ignore the Hype—Focus on Outcomes
A lot of B2B GTM tools promise “seamless collaboration” and “deal acceleration.” Most don’t deliver. Here’s what actually matters:
- Are deals closing faster?
- Is handoff to customer success smoother?
- Do reps spend less time in admin hell?
- Can managers spot issues without micromanaging?
If you can’t point to a real-world improvement after 30–60 days, move on.
8. Keep It Simple and Iterate
Don’t try to overhaul your whole sales process overnight. Pick one core problem, fix it, and build from there. The best teams keep things simple and tweak as they go. If a tool is making your life harder, ditch it.
Shopping for sales software shouldn’t feel like buying a used car. Be honest about what you need, test in the real world, and ignore the buzzwords. The right tool is the one your team actually uses—and that makes your sales process less painful, not more. Start simple, keep iterating, and remember: software isn’t magic. It’s just a tool. Use it wisely.