During several of the Summer Sales Solutions training events this month, the topic of summer theme parties came up. A recurring question was in regard to how to offer different theme parties without complicating your business by the need to change your party format each month. Running different theme parties each month, especially in the summer or […]
Sales Activities
5 Easy Ways to Maximize Space in a Small Business
No shop, restaurant or any retail space can succeed without using the space that they have in an intelligent way. This can be straightforward when you have a lot of space to work with but that’s not something most businesses are blessed with. So, if you only have a small store or office, then how […]
Survey Says…Most Are Not Willing!
Most direct sellers are not willing to do what it takes to find business and be successful! On a recent Cash Flow Show Radio, I talked about a survey I had conducted a few years ago. Most Are Not Willing! It was a one question survey that went something like this: Why don’t you have enough […]
Sales: Science or Art?
Recently, I read an article about sales being more science than art. Perhaps I was a little unfair in my comments, but the author’s premises were flawed. I think we want to see sales being more like science because of what we perceive as the predictability and certainty that seems to exist in science. We […]
Great Selling is Habit Forming
I’m sure you’ve experienced something that gives you a “rush.” It’s when, all of a sudden, everything just falls into place, everything is working as it should, it seems effortless. Sometimes we experience it in sports. For example, when I’m riding, I get it a groove, I’m in a paceline, my pedal stroke is perfect, […]
What Problem is Your Customer Really Trying to Solve?
The majority of sales people, unfortunately are just peddlers—walking, talking brochures. Needless to say, customers are finding digital sources of information much more useful than talking to those sales people. The data consistently shows customers limit contact with these types of sales people to the very end of the buying process. Some few sales people […]
Fear of Failure
As sales people and leaders, we have an interesting relationship with failure. We are in an intensely competitive profession. Our customers are and should be evaluating alternatives. In any buying decision, there will only be one supplier selected, with the others losing. As good as any of us are, we all fail! Like any other […]
Considerations When Planning Team Incentives
When planning a team incentive for your direct sales consultants it is important to consider many criteria. With careful planning you can accomplish what you set out to do without breaking the bank. For more information listen to the full version of this broadcast on the Cash Flow Show – Home Business Radio or read the Cash […]
Prospecting Differentiation
We want our prospecting efforts with customers to stand out. To, somehow, differentiate ourselves from the dozens of other prospecting calls or emails our customers receive. Unfortunately, our efforts at differentiation tend to focus on the wrong thing: we focus on us, ourselves, our companies, what we sell. This leads our prospecting conversations to discussions […]
Are You Selling What You Can Sell or Selling What You Need to Sell?
Most sales people I meet are genuinely busy. They are trying to meet new customers, find new deals, qualify them, move them to closure. It seems to be almost a badge of honor when I speak to sales people, to proclaim the long hours and hard work. Sometimes, they proudly proclaim, “I’m selling everything I […]
