CSO Insights is a specialist research firm benchmarking the challenges faced by today's sales and marketing organizations. CSO Insights tracks the trends in the use of people, process, technology and knowledge to improve sales performance. 

Research is their core business. Each year, they survey thousands of Chief Sales Officers to learn the challenges they see as most critical.

Last year I invited sales managers and business owners to participate in CSO Insights 2011 Sales Performance Optiization Survey and the pool of respondents of more than 2000 sales executives provided an extremely insightful and valuable set of benchmarks for companies in different industries. 

“I have been completing your surveys now for several years and would like to thank you for the amazing work you are doing. I am STILL digesting the last SPO survey - amazing source of information!!!” -Paul Hamilton-Smith, Partner, Procesos Commerciales

The survey itself is completely confidential and takes about 15-20 minutes and you and your company can remain anonymous if desired.

In return for completing the survey, you will receive a complimentary copy of the survey (retail value $795) in late January or early February next year.
The survey is divided into the following areas:

1. Key trends in 2012
2. Hiring and Compensation
3. Sales Cycle
4. Sales Strategy
5. Sales Execution
6. Sales Process
7. Account Management
8. Sales Management
9. Core CRM
10. CRM 2.0
11. Sales and Marketing Alignment
12. Going Forward.

If you are in marketing, please bring this survey to the attention of the sales leader in your company.