6 Easy AI Tricks for Busy Account Executives to Crush Their Quota

As an account executive, you‘re on the front lines of your company‘s revenue generation efforts. But in today‘s hyper-competitive sales landscape, simply working harder isn‘t enough to consistently crush your quota. You need to work smarter—and that‘s where artificial intelligence (AI) comes in.

AI is rapidly transforming the world of sales. High-performing sales teams are 4.9X more likely to be using AI than their underperforming counterparts, according to Salesforce research. And it‘s no wonder why—AI can help account executives work more efficiently, engage prospects more effectively, and ultimately close more deals.

But with so many AI tools and technologies out there, getting started can feel overwhelming. That‘s why we‘ve compiled this list of 6 easy AI tricks that any account executive can implement to start seeing results fast.

1. Prioritize High-Value Leads with AI Scoring

Not all leads are created equal. Pursuing the wrong leads can lead to wasted time and lost revenue—in fact, sales reps spend just 33% of their time actively selling, according to HubSpot research. AI-powered lead scoring can help you focus your efforts on the opportunities most likely to convert.

Lead scoring tools like Salesforce Einstein analyze a wealth of lead data—from demographic info to engagement history—to predict a lead‘s likelihood of becoming a customer. Apttus, a quote-to-cash solution provider, used Einstein Lead Scoring to increase their lead-to-opportunity conversion rate by 25%.

Getting started with AI lead scoring is easier than you might think. Most CRMs now offer built-in lead scoring capabilities, or you can integrate a standalone tool. The key is ensuring your CRM data is clean and complete—the better the data, the smarter the AI. Consider integrating data from other sources like your marketing automation platform for a 360-degree view of prospects.

2. Automate Prospecting with AI Research Tools

Prospecting is a crucial but time-consuming part of any account executive‘s job. But thanks to AI, you can now automate much of the grunt work involved in finding and researching potential customers.

Tools like ZoomInfo ReachOut use machine learning to identify prospects that match your ideal customer profile, complete with contact information and key company details. There are also AI tools that analyze prospects‘ online behavior—like website visits and content downloads—to gauge their buying intent.

By leveraging AI prospecting tools, account executives can save hours of manual research time each week. Instead of combing through LinkedIn and company websites, you can focus your energy on crafting personalized outreach messages and preparing for sales calls.

When selecting an AI prospecting tool, look for one that integrates with your CRM and other sales tools. And remember, while AI can greatly streamline the prospecting process, it‘s still up to you to build genuine human connections with prospects.

3. Write Better Sales Emails with AI Optimization

Email remains one of the most effective channels for engaging prospects—the average open rate for sales emails is 21.33%, according to HubSpot research. But with buyers‘ inboxes increasingly crowded, generic, templated emails simply won‘t cut it anymore.

That‘s where AI-powered email optimization tools like Phrasee and Persado come in. These tools use natural language generation (NLG) and machine learning to analyze your target audience‘s language preferences and craft email subject lines and body copy that are mathematically optimized for engagement.

For example, Chase bank used Persado‘s AI platform to optimize their email marketing and saw a 16% increase in open rates and a 12% improvement in click-through rates.

When implementing AI email optimization, it‘s important to remember that authenticity still matters. Use the AI-generated suggestions as a starting point, but be sure to inject your own personality and tailor the message to each specific prospect. Combining the power of AI with genuine, human connection is the key to email success.

4. Streamline Workflows with AI Assistants

Administrative tasks like scheduling meetings, updating CRM records, and writing follow-up emails can quickly eat into an account executive‘s valuable selling time. Luckily, AI-powered assistants can now handle many of these tasks for you.

Tools like Exceed.ai and Drift‘s Sales Seat use natural language processing to engage leads via two-way email and chat conversations. They can answer common questions, qualify leads based on your set criteria, and even book meetings directly on your calendar. Some AI assistants can automate up to 75% of the sales process, according to Drift.

Implementing an AI assistant is a relatively low-effort way to significantly streamline your workflows. Look for a tool that integrates seamlessly with your CRM and has a user-friendly training interface. Be sure to train your AI on your brand voice and equip it with enough information to handle a variety of scenarios.

5. Make Smarter Decisions with AI-Powered Analytics

Sales teams today are sitting on a goldmine of data—but manually analyzing that data to spot trends and make forecasts is time-consuming and prone to human error. AI-powered sales analytics tools can do this heavy lifting for you, delivering actionable insights directly to your dashboard.

Platforms like InsightSquared and Aviso use machine learning to analyze your historical sales data, identify patterns, and make predictions. They can forecast deal outcomes, alert you to at-risk opportunities, and even recommend the next best action to take with each prospect.

The key to success with AI sales analytics is data quality. Ensure your CRM data is structured, standardized, and as complete as possible. The more data the AI has to work with, the more accurate and insightful its recommendations will be.

6. Scale Personalized Support with AI Chatbots

Closing the deal is just the beginning—to turn one-time buyers into loyal, repeat customers, account executives need to ensure their customers‘ success. But as your customer base grows, providing prompt, personalized support to everyone becomes increasingly challenging.

Enter AI chatbots. Chatbots can handle a significant portion of common customer inquiries—freeing up your time to focus on more complex, revenue-generating activities. Chatbots can successfully resolve up to 80% of routine customer queries, according to IBM.

Implementing a chatbot is now easier than ever, thanks to no-code platforms like MobileMonkey. As you design your chatbot flows, prioritize the customer experience. Program your chatbot to reflect your brand voice, provide clear pathways to human support when needed, and continuously monitor performance to identify areas for optimization.

The Future of Sales is AI-Assisted

AI is no longer a nice-to-have in sales—it‘s rapidly becoming table stakes. By 2021, AI adoption in sales is projected to grow by 155%, according to Salesforce research. Account executives who embrace AI now will be well-positioned to thrive in the years to come.

The 6 AI tricks we‘ve covered—lead scoring, prospecting, email optimization, task automation, analytics, and chatbots—are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to AI‘s potential to transform sales. As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more powerful applications emerge.

But adopting AI doesn‘t have to be daunting. Start small by implementing one or two of these tricks and gradually scale up as you get more comfortable. Many AI sales tools are designed to be user-friendly and integrate seamlessly with your existing tech stack.

The most successful account executives will be those who view AI not as a threat, but as a powerful ally in hitting their numbers and delivering value to customers. By combining the efficiency of AI with the power of human connection, there‘s no quota you can‘t crush.

Ready to take your sales game to the next level with AI? Check out our Ultimate Guide to AI for Sales for more in-depth insights and tool recommendations. The future of selling is here—and it‘s AI-powered.