I spent this week on a tour of StillSecure customers speaking to them about security, their jobs and what would make their lives easier.  One thing that I heard consistently from them was that they are overwhelmed with security vendors barraging them.  Be email, phone or postal mail it just doesn't stop.  They don't answer their phones and don't even know where these vendors get their names. Mr Bump in a recent comment on my blog about the used car salesman of NAC says this is another example of why he is just fed up with sales people.

I hear all of this loud and clear and will be sure to pass this along to our on sales and marketing teams.  However, it begs the question of how are security vendors supposed to contact and sell their products? Should security vendors just sit their and wait for the phone to ring with questions or orders?  Would you prefer that all sales people are highly technical and just talk bits and bytes with you?  How will you find out about new products and services?  For all of the bellyaching and moaning about sales and marketing overload, it would seem that if it was not successful, vendors would not do it.

I would like to hear from you.  How would you like to see vendors contact you?  What do you think the sales process should look like? I don't think sales people want to be a pain in the butt and for the most part don't want to blow smoke up anyones butt.  What do you think?  Leave a comment and be heard.  The time you save dealing with annoying sales tactics may be your own.