Who is in Sales? Everyone Sells.

Sell Yourself All The Time...

Manage Your Manager

...Most Sales Mangers are promoted because they can not sell, but wield a pretty mean Excel spreadsheet...

Know When To Fire a Client

...the customer is NOT always right and your relationship does not need to be a 'master/slave' type...

Know When To Fire Your employer...

...the only boss you need is the one staring back at you in the mirror...your employer works for you, not the other way around...

The Age of the Cubicle is Dead

...technology has finally arrived that allows you to do your job from any place on the planet...do it.

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10.16.2008

Are Customers Smarter Now?

Everyone says, "...because of the internet, your clients are smarter now more than ever..."

I wonder. Really?

I my opinion, there was a time when the internet held all sorts of "information" - but today, there is so much, that it is all just "data". Perhaps a subtle difference, perhaps not.

Think about it in the world of copiers. Just because a prospect can search the 'net and retrieve hundreds of brochures, user reviews and even pricing does this make him/her smarter?

Informed, agreed.

Can access to all the facts in the known world make your prospect "smarter" than you? The down and dirty answer is "yes" if you are a copier person. (If you are reading this, you are in the 2%)

But if you client has access to all the data in the known world, SO DO YOU.

Just because I can search out and find information on how to build a Space Shuttle, does not mean I know how to fly it...and just because your prospect can find out exactly how xerography, or Edgeline or copier leases work sure as heck does not mean they now know how to navigate the sea of confusion.

They need someone to help, to advise, to partner with.

That someone could be you.

Not all that easy if you think about it, eh?

Lots of pressure, eh? Pressure? Yes.

If you go into a relationship knowing you can help and intending to help, you put it all on the line. So you better do your homework, and you better know more then your client.


Sales - who woulda thunk it could be this difficult.


10.08.2008

Getting Attention - Carnival Barking

From a question posed on LinkedIn, by Julian Lockhart

"How do I get the attention of a prospect who won't return my call? I am thinking of sending a short note with a penny in it that says " a penny for your thoughts". Any other ideas?"


My response:

"...Ok well.

I will answer without demeaning - I hope.

I have worked for companies that used these "techniques" to get attention - the baby shoe, the Penny, cookie, flowers, toy trucks, uniforms with custom logos - all were successful 15 YEARS AGO.

It don't work now. And if it does, I question the entry level of the person who was attracted to you over a penny.

I don't know about your time, but my time is AT LEAST as valuable as my prospects and usually MORE valuable, at every level of contact(yes, even C-Level).

'Put That Coffee Down!"

Leave all the "techniques" to the Carnival barkers in the mall - you know the ones, selling skin lotion, back massages and mini, RC helicopters.

Leave the "Boiler Room", "Glenn Garry Glenn Ross" and "Cadillac Man" tricks to Hollywood and approach each prospect as a person you can help.

If you know that what you provide fits what they need and will honestly make their lives easier - tell them.

Big Point -

One answer alluded to this, recognize when it's time to "cut bait" - I understand what you mean by "Some of my greatest wins in sales came after a repeatedly getting no response... "

But remember this -

Jesus doesn't get everyone, why should you?

(oh oh - I mentioned Jesus. You can substitute Budah, or Mohammad, L.Ron Hubbard or Jim Jones, you get the point.) ..."

10.07.2008