Key takeaways

• Mutual Action Plans (MAPs) keep complex deals on track by aligning sellers and multiple stakeholders.
• MAPs reduce confusion and missed deadlines while boosting buyer trust.
• Trumpet users build and share live MAPs in digital sales rooms to close deals faster.
  
  
  Staying in sync with your champion can be a challenge.

Now add 5+ additional stakeholders and a web of email threads... Enter chaos.

Deadlines get missed, priorities get jumbled, and key information falls through the cracks. This is where Mutual Action Plan (MAPs) come in.

By providing a structured framework, MAPs help align all parties involved, streamline communication, and ensure that everyone is on the same page throughout the sales process.

You might also know them as mutual success plans, go-live plans, joint engagement plans, or joint execution plans.

In this blog, we’ll look into what Mutual Action Plans are, why they’re essential for successful sales engagements, and how to effectively implement them to drive your deals forward 👇‍

Let's begin..

What is a mutual action plan?

A Mutual Action Plan (MAP) is a shared, living document that outlines clear steps, roles, and milestones for a deal. Also called mutual success plans, go-live plans or joint execution plans, MAPs remove confusion and keep everyone aligned from start to finish.

How to create a mutual action plan: 9 best practices

1. Just keep it mutual

A MAP should be truly mutual, not just a list you hand over. Bring your buyer in from the start and co-create it together.

2. Focus on the 'results'

Frame your MAP around clear outcomes and benefits. This keeps it positive and helps reduce overwhelm for buyers juggling multiple tasks.

3. Plan from the launch date

It’s all about the launch.

This date is what your mutual action plan should be developed around. Schedule out the MAP activities based on how long it will take to get to the launch and include that information in the document.

The action plan should detail the time estimations and deadlines for every task, objective, milestone, or other requirements.

This will keep the plan goal-oriented, action-driven, and focused on the end result. The customer should get the sense that it’s pulling them towards the desired outcome.

4. Tie the mutual action plan to the buyer’s schedule

Mutual action plans should be based on and linked to things or events that are critical to your buyer – ones that they already prioritise and consider to be important.

The onboarding, launch, and value experience (we’ll get to this) are the most critical dates for you to tie to the buyer’s other initiatives and events. Find out what else they have going on. What are their drives, initiatives, and KPIs? What does the leadership care about and what are they working towards?

5. A mutual action plan is a living document

Your MAP should update in real time. Use live collaboration tools so stakeholders can add edits, make notes or adjust timelines as needed.

6.Focus on roles before individuals

Mutual action plans are used in deals that involve multiple stakeholders, decision-makers, and influencers. Some buying decisions involve individuals who only have a tangential connection.

You probably won’t know who those people are at the beginning of the sales cycle. That doesn’t mean you should delay creating the plan or leave them off the document.

7. Distribute the plan and track your progress

Mutual action plans are meant to be shared with as many people as necessary. Anyone involved in sales or buying should have access to it – whether they’re a major stakeholder or not. This keeps everyone on board and working together smoothly.

8. Highlight the cost of missing deadlines

Add consequences for delays. Show what happens when tasks slip and how it impacts the bigger timeline. This helps keep everyone accountable.

9. End with a value experience

Set a clear date for when your buyer will see first value. Use your MAP to anchor the journey to this success moment - even after the sale closes.

Why trumpet makes MAPs better

Account Executives like Sophie Ellis at Lunio use trumpet’s digital sales rooms to host live MAPs buyers can update in real time.

Trumpet’s collaborative spaces make it easy to:

• Build a custom MAP in minutes
• Share clear next steps during every call
• Keep everyone accountable
• Track deal progress with real-time insights

Trumpet users see up to 38% faster deal cycles by turning static plans into dynamic buyer experiences.

Sophie Ellis, Account Executive at Lunio has been using trumpet mutual action plans as a living document that exists between her, and her buying team, making it easier to align on goals and maintain complete transparency throughout the sales cycle.

“During every call, I always share the mutual action plan by saying, "I've created this. Does it look reasonable for the time that we're working towards? Is there anything else we need to add?" This way, we can collaborate on defining clear next steps.”

You can create, send, and manage mutual action plans with trumpet. trumpet’s a buyer enablement tool designed to help make selling easier, and give sellers a leg up over their competition by sending smart, personalised, and trackable digital sales rooms.

FAQs about mutual action plans

When should I share a mutual action plan?
Share it early - as soon as you’re aligned on goals. Co-creating the plan builds trust and keeps buyers committed.

What should a MAP include?
Key milestones, deadlines, who’s responsible, and clear links to the buyer’s success.

Can a MAP change during the deal?
Yes. A good MAP is flexible. Keep it updated together to reflect new priorities or timelines.

Do MAPs work for small deals too?
Absolutely. Even simple deals benefit from clear next steps and shared accountability.

How does trumpet help?
Trumpet’s buyer pods include live MAPs, mutual action widgets and personalised content - all in one place, fully trackable.