Building My Sales Tech Stack: Tools That Help Me Win at Business Development

Something I’ve been thinking about lately is the idea of a "tech stack for sales." A friend brought it up, and it really got me mapping out my own tools to see what I’m using and how. I'd love your feedback—if you think there’s more I could be doing, I’m all ears. Here’s what I have so far.

I break my tools into four major categories:

• Research tools

• Sales tools

• Project management tools

• AI tools

Research Tools

Of course, the basics like Google and checking out a client's website are still critical. Leveraging their blogs, press releases, or other content can be a fantastic way to start a conversation. Remember: keep it authentic and pure. You have an opportunity to cut through the noise by being a loyal follower—not just another cold pitch.

LinkedIn is an essential tool if you’re in B2B sales. Think of it as a 24/7 networking convention. Ask yourself: If I were meeting this person at an event, how would I approach them? Don't just push sales. Build relationships. Gain trust. Start conversations. Genuinely care about what they do.

Other research tools I use:

• Apollo.io – a fantastic tool to gather company and contact information, especially if you don't have LinkedIn Sales Navigator.

• Listen Notes – if someone’s been on a podcast, you can find the episode, listen to it, and use that information to break the ice.

• Owler – I haven’t used this one yet but plan to. It’s another research tool for company insights.

AI Tools

• ChatGPT – incredible for strategy development and idea bouncing. I’m careful not to copy-paste text directly—people can usually tell. I mostly use it as a brainstorming partner and a proofreader, especially when budget is tight.

• Otter.ai – my go-to for recording meetings. It lets me stay present in conversations without worrying about missing notes. I love that it also works for in-person meetings, not just virtual ones.

• Grammarly – a lifesaver for quick proofreading and editing.

Project Management Tools

• XMind – a visual tool for mapping out ideas, strategies, and complex information. I love how clean and organized it feels.

• Trello – I use it for tracking projects, staying on top of tasks, and keeping myself accountable.

• Zapier – this tool ties everything together by automating workflows between my different apps. (More on this below!)

Sales Tools

Finding the right CRM is crucial. I've worked with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive—and they all have strengths. Right now, I’m loving:

• HubSpot – it integrates easily with tools like HubLead for LinkedIn. HubLead lets me create new contacts directly from LinkedIn without switching tabs—a major time-saver.

Before HubSpot, I used MailTracker to monitor if emails were opened or ignored. Now HubSpot handles that organically.

Integrate your tools!

Zapier has been a game-changer for connecting my tools: When I add a new contact via Apollo or HubLead to HubSpot, Zapier helps create that contact in my Gmail, allowing me to update details like birthdays or mailing addresses later.

Another hack I use is after recording a meeting with Otter, the transcript email is automatically forwarded to Trello via Gmail, creating a ticket for follow-up.

Automation isn't about adding complexity—it’s about making your tools work harder for you.
It’s one thing to have a screwdriver. It’s another to have a power drill.

Lesson Summary:

Lesson Learned:
Investing time into building a thoughtful tech stack isn't just about using more tools—it’s about making your work more efficient, creating better connections, and setting yourself up for real, sustainable wins. Tools should work for you, not the other way around.