It might surprise you what I’ve learned after working with salespeople for over 20 years on selling skills and strategies. Some salespeople should have never been hired for sales. I sometimes wondered how they ever got hired in the first place. Obviously, the only sale that ever took place was the sale to the sales manager. That was an unfortunate sale. Here’s how you can avoid … [Read more...]
Where Luck Meets Opportunity: Understand the Buying Process
The Roman philosopher Seneca said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” I say that you make your own luck. That is a very true statement for sales. When you know where your buyer is in the buying process you will become a lot luckier. You just might make more sales, too. Do more qualifying. I often qualify my prospect when I first meet with him as an … [Read more...]
Why Not Have Your Best Sales Year Yet?
At the end of every year you get to look back at your year and how well you did. Here are the rules that I practice to have a successful sales year. Why don’t you try them so you can have your best sales year yet? Rule #1. I will set valid sales call objectives for each sales call. You will certainly not have your best year yet if you make a sales call and tell your customer … [Read more...]
No More Useless New Year’s Resolutions
New Year's resolutions are worthless without the actions to take to achieve the goals. Become the top salesperson? Double your sales? Lose 10 pounds? The first two I can help you with since I write about sales. Even weight loss is about the actions you need to take. Why not this year focus on actually doing these actions so you can have a successful selling year? Here’s where … [Read more...]
Why Not Take a Sales Holiday?
You’ve worked hard all year. Are you thinking about sales this holiday season? It’s really too late to think about making this year’s sales goals unless you are in the midst of negotiating a deal that is likely to close. Instead of working on selling, why don’t you take a little time for a sales holiday? During your sales holiday you will think about your selling. Here’s what … [Read more...]
‘Tis the Season to Be Charming (Or at least the holiday party)
I’ve seen it so many times. Careers are made and lost year after year at holiday parties. Do you want to be the one selected for the next promotion? You can be. It’s up to you to be charming at your business holiday party. Have the right focus. You may have experienced this at a previous business function. You are talking with someone you just met. There are many groups of … [Read more...]
Some Wrong Ideas About Selling
I had a recent conversation with a CEO about sales. He was commenting on some of the materials he was reading about selling. Imagine my surprise when he said that one of the articles instructed salespeople to make more sales calls to close business so that they were lengthening their sales cycle. Don’t try to close business in the first sales call. Instead, focus on building … [Read more...]
Sales Skill: Think about your selling
I often say that the lesser known sales skill is thinking. What you think about your selling is often a predictor of whether or not you will be successful at selling. Here are some thoughts that will help you sell or derail your success. What type of buyer am I working with? Your job in sales can be more or less difficult depending on your prospect’s perspective of how risky … [Read more...]
Sales Goals and Removing the Obstacles In Your Way
Salespeople without goals are often the least successful salespeople in their group. Here’s the type of thinking you need to be sure that you can take advantage of the opportunities that come your way and for you to sell more. What do you want long term? You can’t make a plan without a goal. Your goals tell you which direction to head and often determine the choices you … [Read more...]
Can Your Customers Help You Sell?
You can make your selling easier. One of the ways you can do it is by getting your customers to help you sell. Here are some strategies that you can implement while you sell so you get some more help from your customers. Explain your sales process. How would you respond to a customer who had a problem and didn’t come to you so that you could address it? I’ll bet you would be … [Read more...]