Fatal Sales Failure: Forget the Front Lines
Chris Conrey explains that it’s a Fatal Sales Failure to be rude to the “front line” people at a prospect company. Don’t let that Executive Washroom go to your head!
Fatal Sales Failures–And How to Avoid Them
Announcing a guest blog series on “Fatal Sales Failures and How to Avoid Them” featuring prominent bloggers, tweeters, sales experts sharing their stories.
Are You Responding to RFPs? We hear you.
Today we want to highlight a podcast called “The RFP Whale Hunt.” Take a few minutes out of your day to listen to this podcast. Dr. Barbara Weaver Smith explains 10 ways to win an RFP. As we often say, sometimes the winning strategy may be to walk away. These do’s and don’ts will help you with winning tactics for getting that competitive edge.
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Expert Series Call: The Key to Fast Growth is ‘Discoverability’
Each month we do our Expert Series call focused on growth and sales for small and medium sized businesses. This month, on July 20th at 12pm Eastern, we’re doing our free call with Compendium CEO, Chris Baggott .
The Sales Graveyard: Cold Calling and Other Retired Tactics
Back in 1995, smiling and dialing was expected. A sales person was supposed to get names from trade shows, Thomas Register, Harris, etc. Then they were supposed to start calling. I swear, salespeople taught buyers to not answer the phone. I honestly believe bad sales tactics had a lot to do with the internet boom. Buyers desperately wanted a way to get product information without a pushy salesperson.
When to Persist Even after You Hear the Word “No”
Many sales people give up on their dreams because they worry about and try to avoid that feeling of rejection that comes when a prospect says “No”. It’s a natural concern. No one really wants to feel like a reject in life. However, it is a word that successful sales people must navigate past if they are to close deals, especially big ones.
When you hear “No”, it’s important to discern the story behind the “No”.
One of The Best Business Superpowers – Courage
Courage is such a strong word to use in the business environment but it can be fitting. I recently decided it was time for me to start my own company after working for two wonderful people for 9 years. I know I am not running into burning buildings or facing enemy fire but I do know it took a lot for me to make this leap.
If I am being honest I think deep down I knew I should have left about 3 years ago. But I could always come up with a reason to stay, a reason to let my fear of the unknown, of failing, overcome my desire to take the leap. In the end, while not heroic, it did take courage for me to do what I knew was right.
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People Buy from People They Like
We believe that this old adage is for the most part true, but not quite so simple. Really, what ever really is so simple? Actually, the more I thought about this saying, the more I realized that it fits quite nicely with what we teach to small businesses.
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Five Key Elements of an Initial Sales Call
Here are five key points to consider in preparation to make your initial call on a prospective customer. No, they’re not about putting brochures in a folder or loading up the power point!
Sales Should Not Be a Dirty Word
Not all sales people are scum of the earth. They do the work for businesses to thrive, create jobs, build connections and grow. So, if you’re in sales (or whatever you do), don’t be evil. And if you’re not in sales, please don’t be too quick to judge. There are a lot of sales professionals out there doing great work!
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Can Technology Substitute for Real Customer Knowledge?
I received a very disconcerting email this morning from amazon.com. It was the typical occasional email that amazon.com customers receive, recommending books that I might enjoy.
Amazon, of course, is known for its ability to understand its customers’ taste and to make recommendations on that basis. The entire system is technology-based, not human-based. That is to say, amazon.com doesn’t really know me at all; it creates the illusion of knowing me by crunching data about my browsing and buying habits on its site.
The Pleasant Comfort of Trust
There is nothing more enjoyable than being in comfortable surroundings. In the show Cheers, I am quite certain it wasn’t the just beer that brought Norm to the bar—though it was a nice bonus. Rather, it was the comfort and comradery that he felt at the bar. Norm could be himself and not really give a care. If you remember, the entire group in that bar was extremely open, frank, and much braver within the group than outside of it.