SALES ALIGNMENT WHEN SALES AND MARKETING ARE ALIGNED, THE BENEFITS ARE CLEAR. WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? http://www.eloqua.com/topics/Sales-and-Marketing-Alignment.html http://www.hubspot.com/All-You-Need-to-Know-about-Aligning-Sales-and-Marketing/ http://corporatevisions.com/resources/article-archive/strategies-and-tactics-for-better-marketing-and-sales-alignment/ http://blogs.forrester.com/lori_wizdo/13-03-24-lead_to_revenue_management_fosters_marketingsales_alignment http://blog.alinean.com/2013/01/sales-and-marketing-alignment-in-2013.html BUT DESPITE THE BENEFITS, MANY BUSINESSES STILL STRUGGLE WITH SALES ALIGNMENT. OF B2B COMPANIES SAY THEY HAVE BUT EVEN THOUGH MANY COMPANIES MAY STRUGGLE WITH GETTING MARKETING AND SALES WORKING TOGETHER, IT’S ON SENIOR MARKETERS’ RADAR. ONLY 8% TIGHT ALIGNMENT BETWEEN SALES AND MARKETING. “BEST-IN-CLASS” COMPANIES WITH STRONG SALES AND MARKETING ALIGNMENT EXPERIENCED IN ANNUAL REVENUE. AVERAGE GROWTH 20% 4% DECLINE. EXPERIENCED A 57% OF MARKETING EXECS REPORTED WEAK OR MIXED COLLABORATION AND "ADMINISTERING LEADS AND LEAD PIPELINES." WITH SALES WHEN "DEFINING LEAD QUALIFICATION CRITERIA" 90% OF SENIOR MARKETERS SAY ALIGNMENT IS A HIGH OR VERY HIGH PRIORITY. LAGGARDS