ProgrammableMarketing/varicent.com (opens in a new tab)
PDF

Views

  • Plan
  • Roadmap
  • Research

On this page

  • The brief
  • Start here
  • Idea portfolio
  • Effort vs impact
  • This week · 6
  • This quarter · 8
  • Big bets · 3
  • Wildcards · 3
  • How we can help
Generated Oct 22, 2026
  1. Programmable
  2. Playbooks
  3. Varicent
Varicent logo

growth playbook · Oct 22, 2026

varicent.com (opens in a new tab)

Varicent growth playbook

Diagnosis

Varicent has the strongest analyst position in its category (a 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader, ranked first in every evaluated use case) and a deep content library, and its hiring shows a push to turn that into pipeline: a digital director for web, SEO/AEO/GEO and conversion, a content manager, a product marketing leader, an ABM campaign manager, Workday ecosystem sellers, pricing and deal desk leaders and customer trainers.

The gap is that buyers comparing options meet Varicent through its rivals: at least 15 competitor pages are about Varicent, and Varicent publishes no comparison, alternatives or pricing page.

This playbook starts with comparison pages, AI-readable proof, tool-result routing, a pricing explainer and a planning-season campaign, then adds intent-led ABM, a Workday kit, a switching program, reviews, benchmarks and new industry pages.

Growth Score

7/10

Biggest Opportunity

Own the comparison and evaluation moment, in search and AI assistants, with the analyst and customer proof Varicent already has.

Biggest Risk

Xactly, CaptivateIQ, Everstage, Performio and Salesforce Spiff define Varicent as complex and slow in their own content, and mid-size buyers may never reach Varicent's side of the story.

01

Start here

The three moves to make first. Each one is written up in full below.

  1. 1

    Publish Varicent's own comparison pages: rivals have 15 pages about Varicent, Varicent has none

    List the five rivals that appear most in lost and won deals this year.

    High impact First result in 1 month
  2. 2

    Make the site readable for AI assistants: richer llms.txt and software schema

    Ask five assistants "best incentive compensation software for enterprises" and record the sources.

    High impact First result in 1 month
  3. 3

    Clean the dates and labels that make content look stale

    Fix the typo and the quiz label today.

    Medium impact First result in 2 weeks

02

Your idea portfolio

20 ideas, grouped by when to run them. Open any idea for how to run it: the steps, who to approach, copy you can use, and how to measure it.

  • 7 ideas are marked Unexpected: plays you are unlikely to have tried.

Every idea placed by the effort it takes against the impact it could have. Quick wins sit top left; select a number to open that idea. The filters below narrow the list by status, timing, category and what Programmable can build.

Effort vs impactEach number is an idea. Select one to open it.
Impact →
Quick wins · 4Big bets · 12Fill-ins · 2Reconsider · 2
Effort →

Showing 20 of 20 ideas

This week 6

Quick wins with a clear first action.

  • 01

    Buyers searching "Varicent vs Xactly", "Varicent alternatives" or asking an AI assistant which SPM tool to choose are answered by Varicent's competitors: Xactly, CaptivateIQ, Everstage (eight pages, one updated September 28) and Performio publish at least 15 pages about Varicent, while Varicent's 793-URL site has no comparison page at all. Varicent is the only vendor among them ranked first in every evaluated use case in the 2026 Gartner Critical Capabilities, and it is hiring a Director of Digital Marketing for "SEO/AEO/GEO", a content manager for "SEO and AEO" and a product marketing leader for competitive intelligence. Comparison searches are the highest-intent searches in the category.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 month Sr. Director

    First action

    List the five rivals that appear most in lost and won deals this year.

    How to measure it

    Demo requests from comparison and alternatives pages

    Now
    –
    Target
    40 a quarter
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick rivals

      Five most common in deals.

      Sr. Director, Product Marketing 2 days

    2. 2

      Check facts

      Each rival's current features and claims.

      Sr. Director, Product Marketing 1 week

    3. 3

      Write pages

      Fair tables, fit, switching help.

      Manager, Content Marketing 2 weeks

    4. 4

      Legal and analyst review

      Claims, trademarks, Gartner quotation rules.

      Legal 1 week

    5. 5

      Build template

      Comparison layout with schema.

      Senior Web Developer 1 week

    6. 6

      Publish and link

      Why Varicent, llms.txt, sitemap.

      Senior Manager, Digital Marketing 2 days

    7. 7

      Paid search

      Competitor and alternatives terms.

      Senior Manager, Digital Marketing ongoing

    8. 8

      Refresh

      Quarterly fact check.

      Sr. Director, Product Marketing quarterly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    Writing time and a paid search test budget
    Owner
    Sr. Director, Product Marketing

    Smallest test

    Publish "Varicent vs Xactly" and track rankings and demos for a month.

    Why it works

    Publish five fair comparison pages (Varicent vs Xactly, CaptivateIQ, SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management, Salesforce Spiff and Anaplan) plus one "how to choose SPM software" guide. Each page: who each product fits, a capability table built around the Gartner use cases (cited within Gartner's quotation rules), implementation time, admin model, AI, integrations (Workday, Salesforce), and a switching section with a named migration offer and a customer who moved. Link each from Why Varicent, add them to llms.txt, and give sales a matching competitor comparison.

    Buyers trust a vendor that compares itself openly, search engines and AI assistants need a Varicent-authored source to cite, and today the only sources are rivals.

    Ready to use

    ChecklistComparison page outline

    [ ] Who each product fits best
    [ ] Capability table by Gartner use case (quotation rules checked)
    [ ] Implementation time and admin model
    [ ] AI, Workday and Salesforce integration
    [ ] Switching section with migration offer
    [ ] Customer who switched
    [ ] Last-reviewed date and sources
    [ ] Listed in llms.txt and linked from Why Varicent

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Out-of-date claims about rivals

      Date every page and cite public sources.

    • Looks aggressive

      Say where a rival fits better.

    Evidence

    • Competitor researchRivals publish at least 15 pages about Varicent: Xactly "Xactly vs. Varicent"; CaptivateIQ "Switch from Varicent to CaptivateIQ" ("without complexity or hidden costs. Go live in weeks, not months"); Everstage eight pages, including "Top 10 Varicent Alternatives in 2026" (updated September 28, 2026), "Varicent vs Xactly" and "Varicent vs Anaplan"; Performio "The Best Varicent Alternatives in 2026" and two three-way comparisons.Source
    • Your websiteSitemap (793 URLs, checked October 21, 2026): 399 blog posts, 82 events, 60 news items, 48 videos, 33 customer stories, 33 ebooks and 21 tools, but no comparison page against any named rival, no "alternatives" page and no pricing page. The Why Varicent page says "other solutions will leave you with unsolvable problems" without naming them. Only 9 URLs are in French and none in other languages.Source
    • Your websiteVaricent is a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Sales Performance Management ("eighth consecutive recognition") and "ranked 1st in all evaluated Use Cases in the 2026 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Sales Performance Management"; a Leader in The Forrester Wave for SPM incentive compensation, Q1 2025, described as "the only solution evaluated with an in-depth set of AI capabilities".Source
    • HiringDirector, Digital Marketing & Web Experience (Toronto, posted September 29, 2026): will "own our digital growth strategy across paid media, web experience, SEO/AEO/GEO, conversion optimization, and performance measurement", "Own the strategy for Varicent.com as a key demand generation, storytelling, and conversion platform", shape "Varicent's approach to SEO, AEO, and GEO, helping buyers discover us across both traditional and AI-powered search experiences", and lead a Senior Manager of Digital Marketing, a Senior Web Developer and "paid media and SEO/AEO/GEO agency partners".Source
    • HiringSr. Director, Product Marketing (posted September 23, 2026): owns "positioning, messaging frameworks, buyer personas, value propositions, and market narratives", "competitive intelligence initiatives", launches, and influences "commercialization strategies, packaging decisions".Source
  • 02

    The new digital director is asked to win AI-powered search. Varicent's llms.txt lists product pages but no customer results, analyst findings or comparisons, and the product pages carry only Organization markup, no SoftwareApplication, FAQ or review data.

    High impactLow effort First result in 1 month Director

    First action

    Ask five assistants "best incentive compensation software for enterprises" and record the sources.

    How to measure it

    Citations in 20 tracked questions

    Now
    –
    Target
    10 of 20
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Baseline

      20 buyer questions across assistants.

      Senior Manager, Digital Marketing 2 days

    2. 2

      Extend llms.txt

      Proof, comparisons, FAQs.

      Manager, Content Marketing 2 days

    3. 3

      Add schema

      SoftwareApplication, FAQ.

      Senior Web Developer 1 week

    4. 4

      Write FAQs

      Product and industry pages.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 week

    5. 5

      Validate

      Rich results test.

      Senior Web Developer 1 day

    6. 6

      Track

      Monthly citation check.

      Senior Manager, Digital Marketing monthly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Director, Digital Marketing & Web Experience

    Smallest test

    Add FAQ markup to the Incentive Compensation page.

    Why it works

    Extend llms.txt with sections for proof (analyst results, top customer results by industry), comparisons and buyer FAQs; add SoftwareApplication markup with the review rating to product pages and FAQ markup to product and industry pages; test monthly which sources assistants cite for 20 buyer questions.

    Assistants answer from what they can parse; structured, factual pages raise the chance Varicent is the cited source.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Review markup rules

      Mark up only ratings shown on the page with their source.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteContent hygiene: seven news pages, including "Edge Scholarship Winners 2022" and a 2022 TrustRadius award, carry a sitemap last-modified date of October 19, 2026; the Revenue Benchmark Quiz is still labelled the "2025 Market Spotlight" quiz while the 2026 Market Spotlight is promoted; the customer stories page lists an industry as "Information Technoogy Solutions". llms.txt (served from /hubfs/llms.txt) lists product, industry and resource pages but no customer proof, analyst findings or comparisons.Source
    • Your websiteStructured data on the homepage, Incentive Compensation and Book a Demo pages is limited to Organization and PostalAddress (plus VideoObject on the demo page): no SoftwareApplication or Product, FAQ or review markup.Source
    • HiringDirector, Digital Marketing & Web Experience (Toronto, posted September 29, 2026): will "own our digital growth strategy across paid media, web experience, SEO/AEO/GEO, conversion optimization, and performance measurement", "Own the strategy for Varicent.com as a key demand generation, storytelling, and conversion platform", shape "Varicent's approach to SEO, AEO, and GEO, helping buyers discover us across both traditional and AI-powered search experiences", and lead a Senior Manager of Digital Marketing, a Senior Web Developer and "paid media and SEO/AEO/GEO agency partners".Source
    • Your websiteBook a Demo page: "4.5 out of 5", "Up to 5% Revenue Uplift", "40% Fewer compensation disputes", "35% Lower commission operations cost", a customer quote that the team "saved a full headcount on the comp team", and a self-guided product tour for visitors "Not ready for a live demo".Source
  • 03

    Seven 2022-era news pages carry a sitemap date of October 19, 2026, the benchmark quiz is still labelled "2025" while the 2026 Market Spotlight is promoted, and the customer page has an industry typo. Search engines distrust last-modified dates that change without content changes, and buyers notice old labels.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 2 weeks Manager

    First action

    Fix the typo and the quiz label today.

    How to measure it

    Pages with mismatched dates or labels

    Now
    –
    Target
    0
    By
    1 month

    Steps

    1. 1

      Fix labels

      Quiz and typo.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 hour

    2. 2

      Check sitemap dates

      HubSpot settings.

      Senior Web Developer 1 day

    3. 3

      Add visible dates

      Tools and guides.

      Senior Web Developer 2 days

    4. 4

      Review old news

      Keep, archive or noindex.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 week

    5. 5

      Update quiz data

      2026 benchmarks.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 week

    6. 6

      Monthly check

      Crawl for stale labels.

      Senior Manager, Digital Marketing monthly

    First result
    2 weeks
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Manager, Content Marketing

    Smallest test

    Update the quiz to 2026 this week.

    Why it works

    Make sitemap dates reflect real edits, update the quiz to the 2026 data, fix the typo, and add visible "last updated" dates to tools and guides. Archive or noindex news items older than three years that bring no traffic.

    Accurate dates help search engines recrawl what really changed and keep the evergreen tools credible.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Removing pages loses links

      Redirect to the nearest current page.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteContent hygiene: seven news pages, including "Edge Scholarship Winners 2022" and a 2022 TrustRadius award, carry a sitemap last-modified date of October 19, 2026; the Revenue Benchmark Quiz is still labelled the "2025 Market Spotlight" quiz while the 2026 Market Spotlight is promoted; the customer stories page lists an industry as "Information Technoogy Solutions". llms.txt (served from /hubfs/llms.txt) lists product, industry and resource pages but no customer proof, analyst findings or comparisons.Source
    • Your websiteTools page: 21 free tools, including a Revenue Planning Scorecard ("In just 7 minutes"), a Revenue Benchmark Quiz ("compare your organization with 1,400 industry leaders") and a Revenue Potential Calculator; the 2026 Market Spotlight reports that teams using AI for revenue planning "are 46% more likely to exceed target" (1,000+ revenue leaders).Source
    • Your websiteSitemap (793 URLs, checked October 21, 2026): 399 blog posts, 82 events, 60 news items, 48 videos, 33 customer stories, 33 ebooks and 21 tools, but no comparison page against any named rival, no "alternatives" page and no pricing page. The Why Varicent page says "other solutions will leave you with unsolvable problems" without naming them. Only 9 URLs are in French and none in other languages.Source
  • 04

    Varicent offers 21 tools, from a 7-minute Revenue Planning Scorecard to a benchmark quiz against 1,400 leaders. Someone who just scored their own plan has told Varicent exactly where they struggle, and Varicent is hiring BDRs who qualify with MEDDICC.

    High impactLow effort First result in 1 month Business Development Represen…

    First action

    Measure today's time from tool completion to first touch.

    How to measure it

    Meetings from tool completions

    Now
    –
    Target
    +50%
    By
    1 quarter

    Steps

    1. 1

      Map fields

      Scores and answers into Salesforce.

      Marketing Operations 1 week

    2. 2

      Set routing

      Target-size companies to sellers.

      Marketing Operations 2 days

    3. 3

      Write openers

      One per tool.

      Business Development Representative (Associate Seller) 2 days

    4. 4

      Add nurture

      For smaller companies.

      Senior Campaign Manager 1 week

    5. 5

      Coach

      Weekly call reviews.

      Sales Development Manager weekly

    6. 6

      Track

      Meetings by tool.

      Marketing Operations monthly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Business Development Representative (Associate Seller)

    Smallest test

    Route one week of scorecard results and compare meetings.

    Why it works

    Pass each completed tool's answers and score to Salesforce, alert the territory's Associate Seller for target-sized companies, and open the call with the two weakest areas from their result plus a relevant customer story. Smaller companies get a nurture sequence instead.

    A specific, fast reply to a self-diagnosis converts far better than a generic follow-up, and the tool has done the discovery.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Prospects feel watched

      Say "you took the scorecard" and offer the result review, not a pitch.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteTools page: 21 free tools, including a Revenue Planning Scorecard ("In just 7 minutes"), a Revenue Benchmark Quiz ("compare your organization with 1,400 industry leaders") and a Revenue Potential Calculator; the 2026 Market Spotlight reports that teams using AI for revenue planning "are 46% more likely to exceed target" (1,000+ revenue leaders).Source
    • HiringSenior Campaign Manager (20-month contract, posted October 9, 2026): "integrated demand generation campaigns, with a strong focus on Account-Based Marketing (ABM)" for "net-new prospect accounts across global markets", with Associate Sellers (BDRs). The BDR post asks for MEDDICC qualification and tools such as Salesforce, Salesloft and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.Source
    • Your websiteCustomer stories cover telecom, manufacturing, IT solutions and insurance (results such as "Cut Sales Disputes by 30%" and "Cut Payment Delays by 50%"); industry pages exist for financial services, insurance, media and entertainment, high-tech and telecommunications only, while logos on the site include life sciences and medical technology companies. Partner pages exist for Workday, Deloitte and KPMG; the Elevate event features celebrity headliners.Source
  • 05

    There is no pricing page, and CaptivateIQ's switch page promises "no hidden costs". Varicent is hiring a Director of Pricing Strategy and a Deal Desk leader to cut deal cycle times; buyers who cannot estimate cost add a round of calls.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 month Director

    First action

    List the five inputs the deal desk uses to price a deal.

    How to measure it

    Days from first meeting to proposal

    Now
    –
    Target
    -20%
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      List inputs

      What drives price.

      Director, Deal Desk & Pricing Strategy 1 week

    2. 2

      Write the page

      Drivers, timelines, inclusions.

      Sr. Director, Product Marketing 1 week

    3. 3

      Build the form

      Same inputs as the deal desk.

      Senior Web Developer 1 week

    4. 4

      Route

      Estimates to sellers with data.

      Marketing Operations 2 days

    5. 5

      Train sellers

      Use the same story.

      Sales Enablement 1 week

    6. 6

      Measure

      Cycle time and win rate.

      Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations quarterly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations

    Smallest test

    Publish the implementation timeline section first.

    Why it works

    Publish a page that explains what drives price (modules, payees, plan complexity, implementation scope), typical implementation timelines by size, what is included (support, admin training through the Admin Enablement Program) and a request-an-estimate form that asks the same questions the deal desk needs.

    Transparency about how pricing works builds trust and shortens the cycle even without list prices.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Competitors use the information

      Publish drivers and ranges, not discounts.

    Evidence

    • HiringCommercial and education hiring: a Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations and a Director, Deal Desk & Pricing Strategy (posted October 6, 2026) to own "quote-to-booking governance" and "reduce deal cycle times"; a Customer Education Trainer and a Product Trainer (posted October 19, 2026) to run "the Admin Enablement Program and product-focused webinar series".Source
    • Competitor researchRivals publish at least 15 pages about Varicent: Xactly "Xactly vs. Varicent"; CaptivateIQ "Switch from Varicent to CaptivateIQ" ("without complexity or hidden costs. Go live in weeks, not months"); Everstage eight pages, including "Top 10 Varicent Alternatives in 2026" (updated September 28, 2026), "Varicent vs Xactly" and "Varicent vs Anaplan"; Performio "The Best Varicent Alternatives in 2026" and two three-way comparisons.Source
    • Your websiteSitemap (793 URLs, checked October 21, 2026): 399 blog posts, 82 events, 60 news items, 48 videos, 33 customer stories, 33 ebooks and 21 tools, but no comparison page against any named rival, no "alternatives" page and no pricing page. The Why Varicent page says "other solutions will leave you with unsolvable problems" without naming them. Only 9 URLs are in French and none in other languages.Source
  • 06

    Incentive plans, quotas and territories are rebuilt before each fiscal year, and the new Senior Campaign Manager runs integrated and account-based campaigns. Varicent already has the assets: the Revenue Plan Quality Checklist, the scorecard and the 2026 Market Spotlight.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 month Senior Campaign Manager

    First action

    Pick 200 target accounts with fiscal years starting in January.

    How to measure it

    Opportunities from campaign accounts

    Now
    –
    Target
    25
    By
    1 quarter

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick accounts

      200 with January fiscal years.

      Senior Campaign Manager 1 week

    2. 2

      Package assets

      Checklist, scorecard, report.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 week

    3. 3

      Launch ads

      LinkedIn to target accounts.

      Senior Manager, Digital Marketing 1 week

    4. 4

      Run webinar

      Customers on plan fixes.

      Senior Campaign Manager 1 month

    5. 5

      Follow up

      Associate Sellers on engaged accounts.

      Business Development Representative (Associate Seller) ongoing

    6. 6

      Measure

      Pipeline by account.

      Marketing Operations weekly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    Ad budget
    Owner
    Senior Campaign Manager

    Smallest test

    Email the checklist to 50 target accounts this week.

    Why it works

    Run a planning-season campaign for target accounts: a "plan review in 30 minutes" offer, the checklist and scorecard as entry points, a webinar with customers on fixing plans in weeks, and Associate Seller follow-up on engaged accounts. Use the 46% statistic from the Market Spotlight as the hook.

    Timing the offer to the moment buyers feel the pain lifts response far above an always-on campaign.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Too late for this cycle

      Target accounts with April and July fiscal years next.

    Evidence

    • HiringSenior Campaign Manager (20-month contract, posted October 9, 2026): "integrated demand generation campaigns, with a strong focus on Account-Based Marketing (ABM)" for "net-new prospect accounts across global markets", with Associate Sellers (BDRs). The BDR post asks for MEDDICC qualification and tools such as Salesforce, Salesloft and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.Source
    • Your websiteTools page: 21 free tools, including a Revenue Planning Scorecard ("In just 7 minutes"), a Revenue Benchmark Quiz ("compare your organization with 1,400 industry leaders") and a Revenue Potential Calculator; the 2026 Market Spotlight reports that teams using AI for revenue planning "are 46% more likely to exceed target" (1,000+ revenue leaders).Source
    • Your websiteBook a Demo page: "4.5 out of 5", "Up to 5% Revenue Uplift", "40% Fewer compensation disputes", "35% Lower commission operations cost", a customer quote that the team "saved a full headcount on the comp team", and a self-guided product tour for visitors "Not ready for a live demo".Source

This quarter 8

The core plays for the next three months.

  • 07

    Rivals publish Varicent comparison pages because buyers search them, and the Senior Campaign Manager is hired for ABM on net-new accounts. Accounts reading SPM comparisons or alternatives content are in market now.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 quarter Senior Campaign Manager

    First action

    Trial one intent data source for a month.

    How to measure it

    Opportunities from intent-led plays

    Now
    –
    Target
    15 a quarter
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick sources

      Review-site and B2B intent.

      Marketing Operations 2 weeks

    2. 2

      Define topics

      Comparisons and category terms.

      Senior Campaign Manager 1 week

    3. 3

      Weekly list

      Accounts above threshold.

      Marketing Operations weekly

    4. 4

      Run the play

      Ads, offer, story, outreach.

      Senior Campaign Manager weekly

    5. 5

      Sales handoff

      Opportunity notes.

      Business Development Representative (Associate Seller) weekly

    6. 6

      Measure

      Pipeline vs. non-intent accounts.

      Marketing Operations monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Intent data subscription
    Owner
    Senior Campaign Manager

    Smallest test

    Run the play on 20 in-market accounts.

    Why it works

    Use intent data (review sites and B2B intent providers) for comparison and category topics, build a weekly in-market list, and run a play: comparison page ads, the switching offer, a customer from the same industry and Associate Seller outreach.

    In-market accounts convert several times better than cold target lists, and the comparison pages give the play its content.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Noisy intent signals

      Act only above a threshold and with fit.

    Builds on

    Evidence

    • HiringSenior Campaign Manager (20-month contract, posted October 9, 2026): "integrated demand generation campaigns, with a strong focus on Account-Based Marketing (ABM)" for "net-new prospect accounts across global markets", with Associate Sellers (BDRs). The BDR post asks for MEDDICC qualification and tools such as Salesforce, Salesloft and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.Source
    • Competitor researchRivals publish at least 15 pages about Varicent: Xactly "Xactly vs. Varicent"; CaptivateIQ "Switch from Varicent to CaptivateIQ" ("without complexity or hidden costs. Go live in weeks, not months"); Everstage eight pages, including "Top 10 Varicent Alternatives in 2026" (updated September 28, 2026), "Varicent vs Xactly" and "Varicent vs Anaplan"; Performio "The Best Varicent Alternatives in 2026" and two three-way comparisons.Source
    • Your websiteCustomer stories cover telecom, manufacturing, IT solutions and insurance (results such as "Cut Sales Disputes by 30%" and "Cut Payment Delays by 50%"); industry pages exist for financial services, insurance, media and entertainment, high-tech and telecommunications only, while logos on the site include life sciences and medical technology companies. Partner pages exist for Workday, Deloitte and KPMG; the Elevate event features celebrity headliners.Source
  • 08

    Varicent is hiring two Workday ecosystem roles measured on Workday-sourced pipeline, and it has over 150 joint customers and a certified integration. Workday sellers need a two-minute story; Workday HR and finance buyers need a page that speaks their language.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 2 quarters Ecosystem Growth Executive Wo…

    First action

    List the joint customers willing to be referenced.

    How to measure it

    Workday-sourced opportunities

    Now
    –
    Target
    20 a quarter
    By
    3 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Find references

      Joint customers.

      Ecosystem Growth Executive - Workday 2 weeks

    2. 2

      Write the brief

      Two-minute story.

      Sr. Director, Product Marketing 1 week

    3. 3

      Build the page

      Workday buyers.

      Senior Web Developer 2 weeks

    4. 4

      Record demo

      Integration in five minutes.

      Sr. Director, Product Marketing 2 weeks

    5. 5

      Run enablement

      Workday seller meetings.

      Ecosystem Growth Executive - Workday monthly

    6. 6

      Joint webinar

      Quarterly.

      Senior Campaign Manager quarterly

    7. 7

      Track

      Workday-sourced pipeline.

      Marketing Operations monthly

    First result
    2 quarters
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Ecosystem Growth Executive Workday

    Smallest test

    Run one enablement meeting with the new brief.

    Why it works

    Build a Workday landing page (what the integration does, joint customer results, how HR, finance and sales share one plan), a one-page seller brief and a short demo video for enablement meetings, and a joint webinar series. Ask joint customers for a case study each quarter.

    Partner sellers bring Varicent into deals they already own when the story is simple and proven.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Workday sellers prioritize their own modules

      Show how Varicent helps close their deals.

    Evidence

    • HiringTwo Workday ecosystem roles (Ecosystem Growth Executive and Market Development Executive, Workday) measured on "Workday-sourced pipeline development, Workday-sourced bookings", running "in-person Workday Enablement Meetings" for Workday sellers and "1:many marketing and ecosystem events". Varicent was named a Workday Innovation Partner with a certified integration in April 2025, for "over 150 joint customers".Source
    • Your websiteCustomer stories cover telecom, manufacturing, IT solutions and insurance (results such as "Cut Sales Disputes by 30%" and "Cut Payment Delays by 50%"); industry pages exist for financial services, insurance, media and entertainment, high-tech and telecommunications only, while logos on the site include life sciences and medical technology companies. Partner pages exist for Workday, Deloitte and KPMG; the Elevate event features celebrity headliners.Source
    • HiringSr. Director, Product Marketing (posted September 23, 2026): owns "positioning, messaging frameworks, buyer personas, value propositions, and market narratives", "competitive intelligence initiatives", launches, and influences "commercialization strategies, packaging decisions".Source
  • 09

    Rivals market "go live in weeks, not months" against Varicent. Varicent's stories show fast results (plan rollouts in eight weeks, 30% fewer disputes), but there is no page for teams leaving spreadsheets or an older tool.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 2 quarters Sr. Director

    First action

    Collect timelines from the last ten implementations.

    How to measure it

    Replacement deal win rate

    Now
    –
    Target
    +10 points
    By
    3 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Collect timelines

      Last ten implementations.

      Professional Services 2 weeks

    2. 2

      Define scope

      Common plan types.

      Professional Services 1 month

    3. 3

      Price it

      Fixed fee.

      Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations 2 weeks

    4. 4

      Write the page

      Program and stories.

      Manager, Content Marketing 2 weeks

    5. 5

      Promote

      Comparison pages and ABM.

      Senior Campaign Manager ongoing

    6. 6

      Measure

      Win rate and time to go live.

      Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations quarterly

    First result
    2 quarters
    Cost
    Services time
    Owner
    Sr. Director, Product Marketing

    Smallest test

    Offer the program in two current deals.

    Why it works

    Package a switching program: a fixed-scope migration for common plan types, a timeline by company size, a data import checklist, and two customers who switched. Promote it on comparison pages and to in-market accounts.

    Switching risk is the top objection in replacement deals; a defined program lowers it.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Fixed scope overruns

      Strict scope and change orders.

    Builds on

    Evidence

    • Competitor researchRivals publish at least 15 pages about Varicent: Xactly "Xactly vs. Varicent"; CaptivateIQ "Switch from Varicent to CaptivateIQ" ("without complexity or hidden costs. Go live in weeks, not months"); Everstage eight pages, including "Top 10 Varicent Alternatives in 2026" (updated September 28, 2026), "Varicent vs Xactly" and "Varicent vs Anaplan"; Performio "The Best Varicent Alternatives in 2026" and two three-way comparisons.Source
    • Your websiteCustomer stories cover telecom, manufacturing, IT solutions and insurance (results such as "Cut Sales Disputes by 30%" and "Cut Payment Delays by 50%"); industry pages exist for financial services, insurance, media and entertainment, high-tech and telecommunications only, while logos on the site include life sciences and medical technology companies. Partner pages exist for Workday, Deloitte and KPMG; the Elevate event features celebrity headliners.Source
    • HiringCommercial and education hiring: a Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations and a Director, Deal Desk & Pricing Strategy (posted October 6, 2026) to own "quote-to-booking governance" and "reduce deal cycle times"; a Customer Education Trainer and a Product Trainer (posted October 19, 2026) to run "the Admin Enablement Program and product-focused webinar series".Source
  • 10

    Varicent shows "4.5 out of 5" on the demo page and rivals display their review-site badges. The new trainers run the Admin Enablement Program, where admins finish feeling confident in the product.

    High impactLow effort First result in 1 quarter Customer Education Trainer

    First action

    Count reviews from the last three months.

    How to measure it

    Reviews from enablement cohorts

    Now
    –
    Target
    40 a quarter
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Check site rules

      What is allowed.

      Customer Marketing 1 day

    2. 2

      Add the ask

      Final session.

      Customer Education Trainer 1 week

    3. 3

      Write the guide

      What helps reviewers.

      Manager, Content Marketing 2 days

    4. 4

      Follow up

      Email after training.

      Customer Marketing ongoing

    5. 5

      Use quotes

      Pages and ads.

      Manager, Content Marketing monthly

    6. 6

      Track

      Reviews by cohort.

      Customer Marketing monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Customer Education Trainer

    Smallest test

    Ask the next training cohort.

    Why it works

    At each Admin Enablement graduation, invite attendees to review Varicent on the main review sites with a short guide on what reviewers find useful (no incentives that break site rules). Track reviews by cohort and share new quotes with marketing.

    Admins are the daily users buyers want to hear from, and the end of training is when their view is most positive and informed.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Only happy admins review

      Invite every attendee and answer critical reviews.

    Evidence

    • HiringCommercial and education hiring: a Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations and a Director, Deal Desk & Pricing Strategy (posted October 6, 2026) to own "quote-to-booking governance" and "reduce deal cycle times"; a Customer Education Trainer and a Product Trainer (posted October 19, 2026) to run "the Admin Enablement Program and product-focused webinar series".Source
    • Your websiteBook a Demo page: "4.5 out of 5", "Up to 5% Revenue Uplift", "40% Fewer compensation disputes", "35% Lower commission operations cost", a customer quote that the team "saved a full headcount on the comp team", and a self-guided product tour for visitors "Not ready for a live demo".Source
    • Competitor researchRivals publish at least 15 pages about Varicent: Xactly "Xactly vs. Varicent"; CaptivateIQ "Switch from Varicent to CaptivateIQ" ("without complexity or hidden costs. Go live in weeks, not months"); Everstage eight pages, including "Top 10 Varicent Alternatives in 2026" (updated September 28, 2026), "Varicent vs Xactly" and "Varicent vs Anaplan"; Performio "The Best Varicent Alternatives in 2026" and two three-way comparisons.Source
  • 11

    Varicent surveyed 1,000+ revenue leaders for the 2026 Market Spotlight (AI planners "46% more likely to exceed target"), but the data lives in a report download and a quiz still labelled 2025.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 quarter Manager

    First action

    Pick five charts with the strongest differences.

    How to measure it

    Benchmark users

    Now
    –
    Target
    5,000
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick cuts

      Industry, size, region.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 week

    2. 2

      Design

      Interactive charts.

      Design 2 weeks

    3. 3

      Build

      On the site.

      Senior Web Developer 1 month

    4. 4

      Promote

      Weekly chart posts.

      Manager, Content Marketing weekly

    5. 5

      Pitch press

      Industry cuts.

      Communications monthly

    6. 6

      Route

      Engaged users to sellers.

      Business Development Representative (Associate Seller) ongoing

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Build time
    Owner
    Manager, Content Marketing

    Smallest test

    Publish one industry chart as a post.

    Why it works

    Turn the survey into an interactive benchmark: choose industry, size and region, see how peers plan quotas, territories and incentives and how they perform. Publish one chart a week on LinkedIn and pitch industry cuts to trade press.

    Original benchmark data earns links, citations and repeat visits, and every visitor tells Varicent their industry and size.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Small samples in some cuts

      Hide cuts below a minimum count.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteTools page: 21 free tools, including a Revenue Planning Scorecard ("In just 7 minutes"), a Revenue Benchmark Quiz ("compare your organization with 1,400 industry leaders") and a Revenue Potential Calculator; the 2026 Market Spotlight reports that teams using AI for revenue planning "are 46% more likely to exceed target" (1,000+ revenue leaders).Source
    • Your websiteContent hygiene: seven news pages, including "Edge Scholarship Winners 2022" and a 2022 TrustRadius award, carry a sitemap last-modified date of October 19, 2026; the Revenue Benchmark Quiz is still labelled the "2025 Market Spotlight" quiz while the 2026 Market Spotlight is promoted; the customer stories page lists an industry as "Information Technoogy Solutions". llms.txt (served from /hubfs/llms.txt) lists product, industry and resource pages but no customer proof, analyst findings or comparisons.Source
    • HiringManager, Content Marketing (posted October 6, 2026): "Own our organic content strategy, including SEO and AEO, helping Varicent show up wherever buyers are searching for answers"; writes "thought leadership, email, website copy, product launches, SEO and AEO content, campaigns, customer stories, ebooks, reports"; must "Identify the topics where Varicent has something meaningful and differentiated to say".Source
  • 12

    Varicent has industry pages for financial services, insurance, media, high-tech and telecom, but its logos include life sciences and medical technology companies and its stories include manufacturers. Those buyers have specific incentive problems (territory-based reps, distributor channels, compliance).

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 quarter Sr. Director

    First action

    List customers in each industry who can be referenced.

    How to measure it

    Industry-page demos

    Now
    –
    Target
    15 a quarter
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      List customers

      By industry.

      Customer Marketing 1 week

    2. 2

      Interview

      Two per industry.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 month

    3. 3

      Write pages

      Problems, products, proof.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 month

    4. 4

      Publish

      With schema.

      Senior Web Developer 1 week

    5. 5

      ABM

      Industry target lists.

      Senior Campaign Manager ongoing

    6. 6

      Measure

      Demos and pipeline.

      Marketing Operations monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Sr. Director, Product Marketing

    Smallest test

    Publish the life sciences page.

    Why it works

    Write pages for life sciences and medical devices and for manufacturing and distribution: their incentive and territory problems, the relevant products (Channel Incentives, Territory Planning), customer stories and a demo path. Run industry ABM to each.

    Buyers look for proof in their own industry, and Varicent already has it.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Thin proof in one industry

      Launch the stronger one first.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteCustomer stories cover telecom, manufacturing, IT solutions and insurance (results such as "Cut Sales Disputes by 30%" and "Cut Payment Delays by 50%"); industry pages exist for financial services, insurance, media and entertainment, high-tech and telecommunications only, while logos on the site include life sciences and medical technology companies. Partner pages exist for Workday, Deloitte and KPMG; the Elevate event features celebrity headliners.Source
    • Your websiteSitemap (793 URLs, checked October 21, 2026): 399 blog posts, 82 events, 60 news items, 48 videos, 33 customer stories, 33 ebooks and 21 tools, but no comparison page against any named rival, no "alternatives" page and no pricing page. The Why Varicent page says "other solutions will leave you with unsolvable problems" without naming them. Only 9 URLs are in French and none in other languages.Source
    • HiringSenior Campaign Manager (20-month contract, posted October 9, 2026): "integrated demand generation campaigns, with a strong focus on Account-Based Marketing (ABM)" for "net-new prospect accounts across global markets", with Associate Sellers (BDRs). The BDR post asks for MEDDICC qualification and tools such as Salesforce, Salesloft and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.Source
  • 13

    The demo page is rich in proof but ends in a form. The new digital director owns "conversion paths", and every hour between form and meeting loses buyers to rivals who offer instant booking.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 month Director

    First action

    Measure today's time from form to booked meeting.

    How to measure it

    Demo form to held meeting

    Now
    –
    Target
    +25%
    By
    1 quarter

    Steps

    1. 1

      Measure

      Current form-to-meeting time.

      Marketing Operations 2 days

    2. 2

      Set rules

      Who can book directly.

      Sales Development Manager 2 days

    3. 3

      Build

      Scheduler after the form.

      Senior Web Developer 1 week

    4. 4

      Route

      By size and region.

      Marketing Operations 1 week

    5. 5

      Test

      A/B against current.

      Director, Digital Marketing & Web Experience 1 month

    6. 6

      Roll out

      Winning flow.

      Director, Digital Marketing & Web Experience 1 week

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    Scheduler tool
    Owner
    Director, Digital Marketing & Web Experience

    Smallest test

    Turn on booking for one region.

    Why it works

    Show a calendar right after the form for qualified companies (size and region from the form or enrichment), routed to the right seller, and a product-tour path for others. A/B test against the current flow.

    Instant booking removes a back-and-forth and lifts show rates.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Unqualified meetings

      Booking only for target-sized companies.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteBook a Demo page: "4.5 out of 5", "Up to 5% Revenue Uplift", "40% Fewer compensation disputes", "35% Lower commission operations cost", a customer quote that the team "saved a full headcount on the comp team", and a self-guided product tour for visitors "Not ready for a live demo".Source
    • HiringDirector, Digital Marketing & Web Experience (Toronto, posted September 29, 2026): will "own our digital growth strategy across paid media, web experience, SEO/AEO/GEO, conversion optimization, and performance measurement", "Own the strategy for Varicent.com as a key demand generation, storytelling, and conversion platform", shape "Varicent's approach to SEO, AEO, and GEO, helping buyers discover us across both traditional and AI-powered search experiences", and lead a Senior Manager of Digital Marketing, a Senior Web Developer and "paid media and SEO/AEO/GEO agency partners".Source
    • HiringSenior Campaign Manager (20-month contract, posted October 9, 2026): "integrated demand generation campaigns, with a strong focus on Account-Based Marketing (ABM)" for "net-new prospect accounts across global markets", with Associate Sellers (BDRs). The BDR post asks for MEDDICC qualification and tools such as Salesforce, Salesloft and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.Source
  • 14

    Varicent has partner pages for Deloitte and KPMG. Consulting partners advise on sales compensation redesign and often recommend the platform.

    Medium impactMedium effort First result in 2 quarters Alliances

    First action

    Agree one joint webinar with one partner.

    How to measure it

    Partner-sourced opportunities

    Now
    –
    Target
    10 a quarter
    By
    3 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick partners

      Most active ones.

      Alliances 1 week

    2. 2

      Write the POV

      Co-authored.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 month

    3. 3

      Webinar

      Joint.

      Senior Campaign Manager 1 month

    4. 4

      Landing pages

      Per partner.

      Senior Web Developer 2 weeks

    5. 5

      Referral process

      Tracked in Salesforce.

      Marketing Operations 2 weeks

    6. 6

      Review

      Quarterly.

      Alliances quarterly

    First result
    2 quarters
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Alliances

    Smallest test

    Run one joint webinar.

    Why it works

    Run a joint program with each: a co-authored point of view on plan design, a joint webinar, partner-specific landing pages and a referral process tracked in Salesforce.

    Advisers are trusted in large deals, and a shared point of view gets Varicent into redesign projects early.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Partners work with rivals too

      Give them better enablement and access.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteCustomer stories cover telecom, manufacturing, IT solutions and insurance (results such as "Cut Sales Disputes by 30%" and "Cut Payment Delays by 50%"); industry pages exist for financial services, insurance, media and entertainment, high-tech and telecommunications only, while logos on the site include life sciences and medical technology companies. Partner pages exist for Workday, Deloitte and KPMG; the Elevate event features celebrity headliners.Source
    • HiringTwo Workday ecosystem roles (Ecosystem Growth Executive and Market Development Executive, Workday) measured on "Workday-sourced pipeline development, Workday-sourced bookings", running "in-person Workday Enablement Meetings" for Workday sellers and "1:many marketing and ecosystem events". Varicent was named a Workday Innovation Partner with a certified integration in April 2025, for "over 150 joint customers".Source
    • Your websiteVaricent is a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Sales Performance Management ("eighth consecutive recognition") and "ranked 1st in all evaluated Use Cases in the 2026 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Sales Performance Management"; a Leader in The Forrester Wave for SPM incentive compensation, Q1 2025, described as "the only solution evaluated with an in-depth set of AI capabilities".Source

Big bets 3

Larger plays that can change the trajectory.

  • 15

    Forrester calls Varicent "the only solution evaluated with an in-depth set of AI capabilities", and the site already has 21 diagnostic tools. None lets a buyer try Varicent's AI on their own plan.

    High impactHigh effort First result in 3 quarters Sr. Director

    First action

    Test the analysis on ten anonymized plans.

    How to measure it

    Meetings from analyzer users

    Now
    –
    Target
    50 a quarter
    By
    4 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Prototype

      Ten plans.

      Sr. Director, Product Marketing 1 month

    2. 2

      Privacy design

      No payee data, deletion.

      Security 1 month

    3. 3

      Build

      Tool and results page.

      Senior Web Developer 1 quarter

    4. 4

      Launch

      Plan-season campaign.

      Senior Campaign Manager 1 month

    5. 5

      Route

      Users to sellers.

      Business Development Representative (Associate Seller) ongoing

    6. 6

      Improve

      From feedback.

      Sr. Director, Product Marketing quarterly

    First result
    3 quarters
    Cost
    Product and engineering time
    Owner
    Sr. Director, Product Marketing

    Smallest test

    Analyze five plans by hand and send the results.

    Why it works

    Build a free analyzer: paste or upload a plan document (no payee data), get a summary of complexity, dispute risks, misaligned measures and suggestions, with an offer to model it in Varicent. Keep uploads private and deleted after analysis.

    A useful free tool that shows the product's AI on the buyer's own problem is the strongest demand engine in the category.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Confidential documents

      Clear privacy terms and no storage.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteVaricent is a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Sales Performance Management ("eighth consecutive recognition") and "ranked 1st in all evaluated Use Cases in the 2026 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Sales Performance Management"; a Leader in The Forrester Wave for SPM incentive compensation, Q1 2025, described as "the only solution evaluated with an in-depth set of AI capabilities".Source
    • Your websiteTools page: 21 free tools, including a Revenue Planning Scorecard ("In just 7 minutes"), a Revenue Benchmark Quiz ("compare your organization with 1,400 industry leaders") and a Revenue Potential Calculator; the 2026 Market Spotlight reports that teams using AI for revenue planning "are 46% more likely to exceed target" (1,000+ revenue leaders).Source
    • HiringSr. Director, Product Marketing (posted September 23, 2026): owns "positioning, messaging frameworks, buyer personas, value propositions, and market narratives", "competitive intelligence initiatives", launches, and influences "commercialization strategies, packaging decisions".Source
  • 16

    Rivals win mid-size deals on speed and simplicity. Varicent is hiring pricing and deal desk leaders and its product marketer will influence packaging.

    High impactHigh effort First result in 3 quarters Director

    First action

    Analyze the last 20 mid-size deals lost and why.

    How to measure it

    Mid-size win rate

    Now
    –
    Target
    +15 points
    By
    4 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Analyze losses

      20 deals.

      Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations 1 month

    2. 2

      Define the package

      Scope and templates.

      Sr. Director, Product Marketing 1 month

    3. 3

      Price it

      Starting scope.

      Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations 1 month

    4. 4

      Train sellers

      Package story.

      Sales Enablement 2 weeks

    5. 5

      Launch

      Pages and partners.

      Senior Campaign Manager 1 month

    6. 6

      Review

      Win rate and margin.

      Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations quarterly

    First result
    3 quarters
    Cost
    Services and product time
    Owner
    Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations

    Smallest test

    Offer the package in three current mid-size deals.

    Why it works

    Define a package for companies with a few hundred payees: standard plan templates, fixed implementation in a set number of weeks, admin training included and a published starting scope. Sell it through comparison pages and partners.

    A packaged offer competes on the rivals' strongest message without discounting the enterprise product.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Cannibalizes larger deals

      Cap the package by payee count.

    Evidence

    • Competitor researchRivals publish at least 15 pages about Varicent: Xactly "Xactly vs. Varicent"; CaptivateIQ "Switch from Varicent to CaptivateIQ" ("without complexity or hidden costs. Go live in weeks, not months"); Everstage eight pages, including "Top 10 Varicent Alternatives in 2026" (updated September 28, 2026), "Varicent vs Xactly" and "Varicent vs Anaplan"; Performio "The Best Varicent Alternatives in 2026" and two three-way comparisons.Source
    • HiringCommercial and education hiring: a Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations and a Director, Deal Desk & Pricing Strategy (posted October 6, 2026) to own "quote-to-booking governance" and "reduce deal cycle times"; a Customer Education Trainer and a Product Trainer (posted October 19, 2026) to run "the Admin Enablement Program and product-focused webinar series".Source
    • HiringSr. Director, Product Marketing (posted September 23, 2026): owns "positioning, messaging frameworks, buyer personas, value propositions, and market narratives", "competitive intelligence initiatives", launches, and influences "commercialization strategies, packaging decisions".Source
  • 17

    Varicent's platform runs incentives for large enterprises across industries. Survey data (the Market Spotlight) shows opinions; platform data could show actual attainment spread, dispute rates and plan complexity by industry.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 year Chief Marketing Officer

    First action

    Check contract terms for aggregated data use.

    How to measure it

    Index downloads

    Now
    –
    Target
    10,000
    By
    1 year

    Steps

    1. 1

      Check terms

      Aggregated data use.

      Legal 1 month

    2. 2

      Define metrics

      Attainment, disputes, complexity.

      Data Science 1 month

    3. 3

      Analyze

      Anonymized data.

      Data Science 1 quarter

    4. 4

      Write

      Index and summary.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 month

    5. 5

      Launch

      Elevate, press, analysts.

      Chief Marketing Officer 1 month

    6. 6

      Use in sales

      Industry findings.

      Sr. Director, Product Marketing ongoing

    First result
    1 year
    Cost
    Analyst time
    Owner
    Chief Marketing Officer

    Smallest test

    Publish one anonymized metric across industries.

    Why it works

    With customer consent and strict anonymization, publish a yearly index of plan design and outcomes by industry. Launch at Elevate with press and analyst briefings.

    Unique data makes Varicent the source buyers and analysts quote, not just a vendor.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Customer concerns

      Opt-in and suppression of small groups.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteCustomer stories cover telecom, manufacturing, IT solutions and insurance (results such as "Cut Sales Disputes by 30%" and "Cut Payment Delays by 50%"); industry pages exist for financial services, insurance, media and entertainment, high-tech and telecommunications only, while logos on the site include life sciences and medical technology companies. Partner pages exist for Workday, Deloitte and KPMG; the Elevate event features celebrity headliners.Source
    • Your websiteTools page: 21 free tools, including a Revenue Planning Scorecard ("In just 7 minutes"), a Revenue Benchmark Quiz ("compare your organization with 1,400 industry leaders") and a Revenue Potential Calculator; the 2026 Market Spotlight reports that teams using AI for revenue planning "are 46% more likely to exceed target" (1,000+ revenue leaders).Source
    • Your websiteVaricent is a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Sales Performance Management ("eighth consecutive recognition") and "ranked 1st in all evaluated Use Cases in the 2026 Gartner Critical Capabilities for Sales Performance Management"; a Leader in The Forrester Wave for SPM incentive compensation, Q1 2025, described as "the only solution evaluated with an in-depth set of AI capabilities".Source

Wildcards 3

Unexpected experiments, each with a cheap way to test it.

  • 18

    Compensation administrators and sales operations leaders who ran Varicent move companies. A former user at a new company is the warmest lead in enterprise software.

    High impactLow effort First result in 1 quarter Business Development Represen…

    First action

    List admins who completed training in the past three years.

    How to measure it

    Opportunities from former users

    Now
    –
    Target
    5 a quarter
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Build the list

      Admins and sponsors.

      Customer Marketing 2 weeks

    2. 2

      Set alerts

      Job changes.

      Business Development Representative (Associate Seller) 1 day

    3. 3

      Write outreach

      Welcome and plan review.

      Business Development Representative (Associate Seller) 2 days

    4. 4

      Reach out

      Within 30 days.

      Business Development Representative (Associate Seller) ongoing

    5. 5

      Track

      Opportunities.

      Marketing Operations monthly

    6. 6

      Thank

      Gift for referrals.

      Customer Marketing ongoing

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Business Development Representative (Associate Seller)

    Smallest test

    Contact five former admins who moved this year.

    Why it works

    Track job changes of customer admins and sponsors (LinkedIn Sales Navigator alerts, which the BDR team already uses), and reach out within 30 days with a welcome, an offer to review their new company's plans and a reference from their old team.

    Former users know the product and its value, which shortens the cycle.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Feels intrusive

      Personal, helpful outreach only.

    Evidence

    • HiringSenior Campaign Manager (20-month contract, posted October 9, 2026): "integrated demand generation campaigns, with a strong focus on Account-Based Marketing (ABM)" for "net-new prospect accounts across global markets", with Associate Sellers (BDRs). The BDR post asks for MEDDICC qualification and tools such as Salesforce, Salesloft and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.Source
    • HiringCommercial and education hiring: a Director, Pricing Strategy and Operations and a Director, Deal Desk & Pricing Strategy (posted October 6, 2026) to own "quote-to-booking governance" and "reduce deal cycle times"; a Customer Education Trainer and a Product Trainer (posted October 19, 2026) to run "the Admin Enablement Program and product-focused webinar series".Source
  • 19

    Varicent's Elevate event features headline speakers, and the site lists 82 events. One big event a year leaves most target accounts unreached.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 1 quarter Manager

    First action

    List the ten best Elevate sessions.

    How to measure it

    Roundtable-sourced opportunities

    Now
    –
    Target
    10 a quarter
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick sessions

      Ten best.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 week

    2. 2

      Cut clips

      Short videos and articles.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 month

    3. 3

      Plan roundtables

      Four regions.

      Events 1 month

    4. 4

      Invite

      Target accounts.

      Senior Campaign Manager ongoing

    5. 5

      Host

      Customers lead.

      Customer Marketing quarterly

    6. 6

      Track

      Pipeline by event.

      Marketing Operations monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Event budget
    Owner
    Manager, Content Marketing

    Smallest test

    Run one roundtable in Toronto.

    Why it works

    Cut Elevate sessions into clips and articles for the next 12 months, and run small regional roundtables for comp and sales ops leaders using the same themes, with customers as hosts.

    Small rooms with peers convert better than big stages, and the content is already recorded.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Low attendance

      Small groups of 12 to 15.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteCustomer stories cover telecom, manufacturing, IT solutions and insurance (results such as "Cut Sales Disputes by 30%" and "Cut Payment Delays by 50%"); industry pages exist for financial services, insurance, media and entertainment, high-tech and telecommunications only, while logos on the site include life sciences and medical technology companies. Partner pages exist for Workday, Deloitte and KPMG; the Elevate event features celebrity headliners.Source
    • Your websiteSitemap (793 URLs, checked October 21, 2026): 399 blog posts, 82 events, 60 news items, 48 videos, 33 customer stories, 33 ebooks and 21 tools, but no comparison page against any named rival, no "alternatives" page and no pricing page. The Why Varicent page says "other solutions will leave you with unsolvable problems" without naming them. Only 9 URLs are in French and none in other languages.Source
    • HiringSenior Campaign Manager (20-month contract, posted October 9, 2026): "integrated demand generation campaigns, with a strong focus on Account-Based Marketing (ABM)" for "net-new prospect accounts across global markets", with Associate Sellers (BDRs). The BDR post asks for MEDDICC qualification and tools such as Salesforce, Salesloft and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.Source
  • 20

    Varicent customers report fewer disputes and faster payouts, and their sellers see their earnings in Varicent. A seller who trusts their pay is a quiet advocate inside the customer and at their next job.

    Medium impactMedium effort First result in 2 quarters Customer Success

    First action

    Prototype the summary with one customer.

    How to measure it

    Compensation disputes at pilot customers

    Now
    –
    Target
    -15%
    By
    3 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Prototype

      One customer.

      Product Management 1 month

    2. 2

      Privacy review

      Seller-only view.

      Security 2 weeks

    3. 3

      Pilot

      Three customers.

      Customer Success 1 quarter

    4. 4

      Measure

      Disputes and satisfaction.

      Customer Success 1 quarter

    5. 5

      Publish

      Aggregated results.

      Manager, Content Marketing 1 month

    6. 6

      Roll out

      As a feature.

      Product Management 2 quarters

    First result
    2 quarters
    Cost
    Product time
    Owner
    Customer Success

    Smallest test

    Mock up the summary and show three customers.

    Why it works

    Offer customers a seller-facing year-end earnings summary (opt-in, private to the seller) with a clear breakdown, and measure dispute reduction. Use aggregated results as proof.

    Seller trust in pay is the outcome comp teams are judged on, and visible clarity strengthens renewals.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Customers want control

      Customer-configured and opt-in.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteBook a Demo page: "4.5 out of 5", "Up to 5% Revenue Uplift", "40% Fewer compensation disputes", "35% Lower commission operations cost", a customer quote that the team "saved a full headcount on the comp team", and a self-guided product tour for visitors "Not ready for a live demo".Source
    • Your websiteCustomer stories cover telecom, manufacturing, IT solutions and insurance (results such as "Cut Sales Disputes by 30%" and "Cut Payment Delays by 50%"); industry pages exist for financial services, insurance, media and entertainment, high-tech and telecommunications only, while logos on the site include life sciences and medical technology companies. Partner pages exist for Workday, Deloitte and KPMG; the Elevate event features celebrity headliners.Source

03

How Programmable can help

Where an idea in this playbook is something Programmable builds or runs, it's listed here with what we'd do. Everything else is yours to run.

ProgrammableTalk

Fill the events in this plan

These ideas are events. Talk gets registrants for them and tells you who's coming and what their company does before the day.

Plan an event (opens programmable.talk in a new tab)
More example playbooks and reviews

More growth playbooks

Other companies we have researched, each read from what they are hiring for.

  • AM:PM growth strategyA creator-led, editor-verified news app from Mumbai with two 60-second video briefings a day (AM at 9:00, PM at 8:00) across eleven beats…22 growth ideas
  • Siro growth strategyAI for in-person sellers: it records sales conversations on the rep's phone and coaches reps, automates their admin and gives managers…21 growth ideas
  • Daymark Health growth strategyValue-based, in-home and virtual cancer care: oncology nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers and health partners who support…21 growth ideas
  • Mosaic growth strategyAI resource planning, management and forecasting for project-based firms, with Chello, an AI planning assistant, and native ERP…20 growth ideas
  • Sofar Ocean growth strategyAn ocean intelligence company: the Spotter sensor network (buoys, Scout USV, A-Size floats), marine weather forecasts built on its own…23 growth ideas
  • Robinhood growth strategyA trading and investing platform for stocks, options, futures, crypto and prediction markets, with retirement, managed portfolios…21 growth ideas
  • Synthesia growth strategyAn AI video platform for business: Studio turns scripts into avatar videos with translation and dubbing; Sessions adds interactive…21 growth ideas
  • Keeper Security growth strategyA zero-trust, zero-knowledge identity security platform: enterprise password management, KeeperPAM privileged access, secrets management…21 growth ideas

See every playbook and website review

Independent research. Programmable wrote this playbook from public sources, as they stood on October 22, 2026, and cites them throughout. Varicent did not commission, review or endorse it, and Programmable is not affiliated with Varicent. Company and product names are trademarks of their owners, used only to identify them. The ideas are suggestions and opinion, not professional, legal or financial advice, and not statements about how Varicent runs its business.

Something wrong, or do you represent Varicent? Email [email protected] and we will correct it or take it down.

30/60/90 roadmap

What to focus on in each month, and the ideas that carry it.

  1. Days 1 to 306 ideas

    Comparison pages, llms.txt and schema, stale-label cleanup, tool-result routing, the pricing explainer and the planning-season campaign.

  2. Days 31 to 6010 ideas

    Intent-led ABM, the Workday kit, the switching program, review asks, the interactive benchmark, new industry pages, instant booking and partner co-marketing; champion tracking and Elevate content.

  3. Days 61 to 904 ideas

    Commit to the big bets: the AI plan analyzer, a mid-size fast-start package and the compensation index; pilot the seller earnings summary.

The research behind the plan

3 research areas, each summarised in a few lines. Open any of them for the full detail.

Customers

What customers say

Customers value handles complex plans at scale. The most cited problem: manual commission calculations.

  • Fewer disputes and faster payouts
  • Disconnected quotas, territories and incentives
  • In their words: “comp plan”

Market

Competitive landscape

5 competitors compared: Xactly, CaptivateIQ, Everstage, Performio and 1 more.

  • Gap to exploit: A vendor-authored, fair comparison of SPM tools
  • Xactly: Similar enterprise complexity
  • CaptivateIQ: Less planning depth

Hiring signals

Varicent is building a digital demand engine around its analyst lead.

  • Director, Digital Marketing & Web Experience: Web, SEO/AEO/GEO and conversion. Ideas 1, 2, 13.
  • Manager, Content Marketing: Organic content, SEO and AEO. Ideas 1, 3, 11.
  • Sr. Director, Product Marketing: Positioning, competitive intelligence, packaging. Ideas 1, 9, 16.

From the team that wrote this playbook

All products
  • ProgrammableAgencyWorking AI systems in days, not quarters (opens programmable.agency in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableInfoAn agent that finds, researches and asks first (opens programmable.info in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableDigitalScreenshots in, an animated product demo out (opens programmable.digital in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableWatchKnow the day a supplier falls out of compliance (opens programmable.watch in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableTalkGet registrants for your events, and know who’s coming (opens programmable.talk in a new tab)
  • ProgrammablePageText what you need, your customer gets a page that works (opens programmable.page in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableCommunityForums with labelled AI members, never empty (opens programmable.community in a new tab)
ProgrammableMarketing
ExamplesLeaderboardsProductsTermsPrivacyCookiesDPALegalContact

© 2026 AI-Powered Growth Intelligence