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Get Your Whole Company Involved To Boost Your Sales
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:26 PM
[General]
To enhance your company's efforts you need an "Integrated Visibility" program. Discussing the definitions or descriptions of "what is sales? or "what is marketing" (etc....) eats up a lot of time. If an executive team is hoping to prove to each other who is the smartest person in the room, they can debate the semantics all day long.
When the numbers come up short,Cheap Terrell Davis Jersey, some will rationalize all sorts of excuses why the company is not meeting expectations. Fingers get pointed, sales and marketing professionals get fired, and new plans get drawn up to do better in the future. But often nothing new happens.
When people do not believe they are responsible for the growth, they wait for those with official sales jobs to produce. It can be a long wait.
For a long time people looked at "sales",Cheap Toby Gerhart Jersey, "business development",Cheap Eddie Royal Jersey, "marketing",Cheap Franco Harris Jersey, "pubic relations", "networking",Cheap Eric Berry Jersey, "social media", and "branding" as totally separate functions. Everyone agrees they sound like they belong together, but few work on making them work in sync.
2. Do the employees all believe that EVERYONE, regardless of job title, is part of the business development team? Or do they wait for the "sales" people to take care of all aspects of new client acquisition?
Often when a business is falling short the answers are often negative.
Smart companies put their focus on the results, not the definitions of the disciplines that will lead them to more business.
1. Do those who are responsible for sales, marketing, and other revenue generating activities believe in their soul that the company's products and services are spectacular? Does the leadership have the same confidence? Are people coming to work to advance a cause, or just to check the box to get a pay check?
have been talking with many business leaders lately about "sales". This is an important to all companies, law firms and other organizations.... but to many it seems mysterious. Everyone wants "more" sales,Cheap C.J. Spiller Jersey, but some question what it means to have a plan to bring in the business.
Has your company planned a team meeting recently? Is everyone included? If the answer is no to either (or both) of these questions.... why not? Getting everyone on your team motivated to grow your overall "Integrated Visibility" will boost your sales.
I believe all companies must ask themselves:
Always Upsell to Your Customers
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:26 PM
[General]
Look carefully at your sales processes and all your customer interactions. When was the last time you tried to sell something more to your customers? If you're not doing it regularly,Patriots 2012 Super Bowl Jerseys, to all customers, you could be missing out on bigger sales.
So, take action NOW - this week build an offer that upsells your customers and make sure you tell them all about it AND click here for more tips to help you boost your profits,Cheap Tony Romo Jersey!
Change your mindset - this is not about pushing stuff at people, it's about giving good offers to your loyal customers who are already buying from you and probably want more anyway. Stop feeling guilty about trying to sell more!
Always make the upsell offer significantly better value than buying individual things - it has to be worthwhile if you are going to persuade people.
Offer one upsell at a time - if your customer turns that down,Cheap Arizona Cardinals Jerseys, just move to offer 2 and 3,Cheap Nnamdi Asomugha Jersey!
Offer after the initial sale - for example of you have an online business, let your customers trade up within 30 days to allow time to get comfortable with your service
Don't give up - upsell at every buying point and over time your customers will start to get used to the idea of taking more. Remember you only need a small number to take up your upsell offer to make a big difference on your profit line.
Pick your moment - there are always times when it is not right to upsell. Have you ever been on the end of a bad customer service call when the rep suddenly tried to sell you something? Don't follow this slavishly - if your customer is not happy or in a rush they won't buy more,Cheap Jerod Mayo Jersey!
Use upselling as a way of getting some feedback - if they don't take the offer,Cheap Indianapolis Colts Jerseys, ask why not? Is the offer not strong enough, is it a cashflow issue or is there simply a limit to how many of your products a person needs?
So what is upselling? Don't be put off by the sales jargon and think it's harder than it really is. Upselling is simply about persuading your customers to buy more of your services. They want to buy one of your products so why wouldn't they want two or three products? They want to use your services for a year so maybe they will commit to 18 months?Perhaps you can offer a package or bundle of services rather than just the one thing that they normally take? So how do you do all this without being too pushy and turning your customers off? Try these tricks:
Building Trust is Easy - Stop Selling!
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:25 PM
[General]
6. Say "I have some ideas...". Here is how you close the conversation, "There is lot of information here. I have some ideas that I think may be useful to you in dealing with some of the things we have talked about. I would like to sort some of this information out and get my thoughts organized. I would like to come back and talk about this at our next meeting." Obtain commitment and set-up an appointment and leave.
2. Be sincerely engaged and interested in your client's business. Learn about the client's business, issues,Cheap Seattle Seahawks Jerseys, challenges, and goals first. Focus your questions on discovering as much as you can about them and stay away from you and your desire to solve and sell. In the course of the conversation, play the information back, ask more questions, and engage, listen and learn. You want to build trust? Show a sincere interest in them. Focus your process on learning as much about their business as possible. You will have plenty of time to talk about your solution once you really understand their business.
1. Remember no one really cares how great you, your company, or your product is. Do not start telling them about your stuff. Your client deals with that type of chatter from salespeople all day long. Think about it. Even you hate it when salespeople start rambling on or advocating about their stuff. If you dislike it when other salespeople do it to you-why do you do it to your clients?
One of the realities of the valued business relationship is that people do business with people they trust. Business relationships are all about trust. In order to close that sale, the person you are talking to must have confidence in you to help them. You must be viewed as a trusted professional resource. You must be viewed as the person who has the experience, the professionalism, the confidence, and the commitment to support those needs. Your sincere interest in supporting them builds trust. Trust us not built on a one shot deal, it is long-term commitment.
Here are three things to focus on in building trust:
You have established the parameters for an information gathering meeting; here is what you do next:
3. Say, "I am not here to try to sell you something..." and mean it. What a powerful statement: "I am not here to try to sell you something today. I am here to try to learn about your business so I can explore ways that I may be able to help you in the future." Read this carefully again. It says nothing about selling anything. On that first call, make that declaration and watch the client's reaction when you say it. They will relax and engage you. The challenge is staying true to your word and spending the rest of that meeting engaging with and learning about the client.
There are no quick roads to building effective and lasting business relationships. It is hard to acquire new customers. However,Cheap Houston Oilers Jerseys, once you build a valued and trusted relationship, that customer will be a long-term customer. A well built portfolio of long-term customers is the most productive and rewarding sales model of all. Quit focusing on selling and start building a trust portfolio.
Now that we have established the importance of trust, the obvious question is "how do you build trust?" Interestingly, and sadly, trust is probably not something people easily associate with 'salespeople'. When researching "trust" in the dictionary, it is linked to words like integrity,Cheap Carolina Panthers Jerseys, strength, character,Cheap Josh Freeman Jersey, confidence, and responsibility. These are not words that most traditional sales professionals would be linked to. So if you view yourself as a great salesperson,Cheap Nick Collins Jersey, listen to me. Building trust is easy-simply stop "selling"!!
Okay, now you have potentially established yourself as a person who is interested in learning about a person's business and their business issues. Be very careful here. If you switch to 'selling mode', you will be right back where you started. Now what?
5. Play it back and learn some more. Demonstrate that you have been listening and share what you have heard. "It sounds like you are struggling with..." or "You are really focusing on accomplishing....". Summarize what you heard. Then, ask for a little more information. "What have you tried?" or "How has it been going so far?". This is how you build on a relationship. By taking the time to learn about their drivers, goals or challenges without once trying to inject a sales conversation in the mix, you have begun to build trust.
7. Provide resources that solve. If you are really listening and learning, you will come up with a lot of ideas to support your client's business, including resources outside your company's offering. Bring all your ideas to the next meeting-vendors, partners, referrals, services, etc. Be prepared to solve all the problems that you discussed. Let them decide which solutions they like and which ones are the most valuable. Make certain you are committed to helping connect them to the solutions they decide they are most interested in. Remember, it's not about you-it's about them. This is how you become a trusted resource.
4. Learn, learn and learn. Go into learn mode as discussed earlier. You are having a meeting with someone who isn't grabbing their wallet or looking for your sales pitch because you told them you would not do it. Take the time to learn about their business and listen for the vision, the obstacles, and the challenges. Make mental notes of what they have tried,Cheap Jason Taylor Jersey, what they are looking to accomplish, and what the deadlines or time frames are.
Got A Severe Case Of Sales Disconnect
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:25 PM
[General]
To mention just a few of the common ones.,Cheap Daunte Culpepper Jersey
Sales disconnect involves any or all of the following scenarios;
The concept of selling hasn't changed all that much in over 100 years as buyers generally want the same outcomes as they have for decades. They want creative, workable and practical solutions to their problems,Cheap Taylor Mays Jersey, to avoid pain and be treated with respect. Yes, there are other needs and desires but these three in general have defined the majority of consumers wants for years.
What has changed over the years is how the majority of salespeople attempt to answer these needs and desires and solve their prospects and customers challenges.
- There is a lack of consistency between an organization's marketing messages and/or literature or marketing materials, website promises/statements and the actual sales message delivered by the sales staff.
Back to the question above - what is sales disconnect?
- The salesperson relies to heavily on the use of technology to sell,Cheap Arthur Moats Jersey, service or solve customer issues or problems.
There are many more approaches you can use to reduce or even eliminate customer or prospect sales disconnect but the key attitude is - to take full responsibility for any negative outcome that occurs or might occur based on your interaction with the prospect/customer.
- Never make the sales outcome about how much money you or your organization makes.
- Always tell the truth,Cheap Jonathan Stewart Jersey, the whole truth.
- Encourage prospects/customers to contact other customers to verify their experience(s) with your products or services.
Disconnect - to end, forget, or lose an emotional or spiritual connection with something or somebody. I call it a breakdown between parties due to; communication style, personal agendas, contradictory goals or objectives and the inability to deal in truth, reality or just what really is.
- Dispel customer or prospect rumors and hearsay early in the sales process.
- Use technology as a tool and not a crutch retaining the human connection in the relationship.
- If there is an inconsistency between marketing materials and what a prospect or customer actually will receive - bring it up and don't hope it won't surface.
The above can create or contribute to;
So how does all of this relate to a salesperson's approaches and their interactions with their prospects/customers?
- There is a lack of consistency between the customer's or prospect's expectations and the sales message delivered by the salesperson.
- There is a lack of consistency between an organization's mission and how the lack of integrity and congruence of that mission impacts customers through their sales strategies,Cheap Devery Henderson Jersey, techniques and approaches.
Yes,Cheap Matt Hasselbeck Jersey, there are millions of other examples that take place every day during the sales process with thousands of salespeople representing every conceivable product or service but most of them will tend to fall within the framework of the above examples.
The goal of all salespeople is to close more deals faster and easier. In an attempt to achieve these ends they often sabotage their overall results and efforts by failing to adhere to a few fundamental procedures or techniques.
- The salesperson misrepresents their product or service in some way therefore contributing to a breakdown in the relationship with the customer or prospect.
- Avoid stupid high pressure sales tactics just to close the sale.
- Always put the customer first ahead of the organization.
- Don't wait to deal with potential conflict but hit it head on early in a professional and integrity based way.
I could go on for pages about how technology has and is impacting the sales/customer relationship but I would rather address the outcome of these approaches and techniques as they contribute to sales disconnect.
- Buyer confusion
- Buyer frustration
- Buyer remorse
- Reduced customer loyalty
- Bad PR and Press
- Poor sales margins
- Less repeat business
- Buyer anger
- Higher sales costs
- Longer sales cycles
- Never stretch the benefits of any topic, benefit, service or policy to make your product or service appear better in some way than it actually is.
How can you avoid the negative outcomes due to any aspect of sales disconnect? Consider the following;
What is sales disconnect?
3 Ways to Increase Your Sales
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:25 PM
[General]
1. Prospect in New Places - As the old adage goes you can certainly "fish a pond dry." We often get stuck in what works and forget to try new things. Nowhere is that more dangerous than in our sales prospecting.
Try doing a little more online sales prospecting.
One of the biggest ones I've noticed lately is the shift to using the Internet to research and get recommendations for purchases, both online and offline buying decisions.
2. Increase Attempts and Contacts - This is a no-brainer. No one is cold calling sales people these days. Decisions to buy things are typically not people's priority in this economy. Quite the contrary,Cheap LaMarr Woodley Jersey, decision makers are being encouraged to figure out how to get things done for less or with existing in-house resources.
3. Reconnect with Past Clients - One of the best places to look for a few more sales is the one we most often overlook--past clients. These folks have bought from you before and are likely to do it again. Make sure you are staying top of mind and monitoring their changes.
Here are 3 simple ideas to get sales up--off a plateau and climbing again.
Many of our clients are getting new jobs, new responsibilities, or leading new initiatives. All of these are opportunities to get another sale. They also create excellent opportunities for referrals.
That means you need to make more attempts and contact more prospects. You can't wait for deals to come to you. Intentionally up you dials and appointments if you want to move the needle on your sales numbers.
Excelling in sales is a careful balance of discipline and creativity. You need to diligently hammer through your process, but commit to execute with passion and flare. When you hit a slump,Cheap Terry Bradshaw Jersey, which we all do you need a few simple jolts to move you forward.
Increasing sales is all about consistently looking for opportunity. You need to survey your market,Cheap Johnny Knox Jersey, look for new prospecting "honey holes,Cheap Patrick Kerney Jersey," and remind those who have bought from you in the past that you still can bring additional value to their business,Cheap James Starks Jersey, initiative, or personal objectives.
It's important to raise our heads above the foxhole on occasion and look at the battlefield. Customers needs, wants,Cheap Antoine Winfield Jersey, and behaviors are constantly changing. They hang out in new places and they make decisions in different ways. You need to be aware of these changes.
Sales Analytics
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:25 PM
[General]
Along with revenue is the concept of average sales. From the revenue numbers over a certain time period, you can determine average dollars. But you can also determine, by unit,Cheap Kory Sperry Jersey, division,Cheap David Garrard Jersey, region, or salesperson, the average number of units sold. Any comparison to an average is a helpful measurement tool, but you must remember that there are "average-breakers" who continually outperform, due to sheer skill, market forces, or product and salesperson position. One of the best ways to use average sales as an analytical tool is internal - determine which members of the sales team are below average,Cheap Dave Casper Jersey, at average, and above average and go from there. On the organizational level, be sure to benchmark averages with others in the industry.
Sales analytics can be rooted in the numbers or in the subjective. The point is to use a variety of measurements to determine the effectiveness of the entire picture, that is, salespeople, sales presentations, the process, and after the sale.
Another ratio used as an analytic is new accounts to return customers. Most sales managers measure effectiveness of their divisions and salespeople based on the number of new accounts generated in a certain amount of time. But if you have a product line or industry that can generate income on a repeat basis,Cheap Brandon Graham Jersey, you should be measuring this. Out of the new accounts, how many become repeat customers within a particular time period? If this is a measurement that works for your organization and your product, use it. You may find that the sale is becoming the last point of contact instead of one of the first contacts. Or you may find that account management needs to be stepped up. But on the other hand, you may find that customers are returning again and again - which is a great measure of sales effectiveness.
For more detailed sales analytics, consider a ratio of closed sales versus what is in the sales pipeline. This measurement can tell you if the sales process is breaking down at the point of sale. For example, if a salesperson or unit has strong sales but consistently has an even stronger pipeline, they should be increasing sales by increasing the number of closings. This measurement can also point you back to issues with the product and competitors. As a matter of fact, you can take this measurement a little further and try to find out which clients in the pipeline have,Cheap Santonio Holmes Jersey, in fact, gone to a competitor.
One of the most common sales analytics is revenue. For a business with only a few products and a few salespeople, it's also a relatively simple leap to determine how much of the revenue was brought in through the sales force. But as products become more complicated and as the sales force spreads geographically, this determination is harder to make. The idea of using revenue as a sales metric is to take the total revenue and then break it down to relevant units, such as division, product, region, or salesperson. Once you have a hold on the numbers, you can determine how much revenue is generated by each product - and by each salesperson.
It's easy to say that a great salesperson is that person who continually closes, and this is true to a great extent. But in a new economic environment, a closed sale is not necessarily the sole measure for effectiveness of the salesperson and the sales presentation. There are several ways to measure sales and all of them can be used together to get a good picture. In addition, you can use a combination of metrics to determine how to set goals - and how to coach salespeople in the meantime.
What about subjective sales measurements? There is argument in the sales arena about using analytics that are not based in the numbers. But why not see what happens to perceptions, customer service, and overall effectiveness of the salesperson before, during, and after the sales presentation? A customer survey is not necessarily a numbers-based analytical measure, but the client is going to be completely honest based on their feelings at the time. For example,Cheap Nathaniel Allen Jersey, a customer who is happy with the product will give a glowing review within 30 days, but what happens to that "high" after 60 or 90 days? What happens to their perception of the salesperson when the customer perceives that he or she is always around to help or that he or she has simply vanished? Subjective surveys, although not related to the bottom line, are a great way to measure effectiveness in both the long and short term.
Busting Through the Sales Stigma
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:25 PM
[General]
I could talk for days about what the sales function really is and go on and on. But what I do know is that when a person is really good at sales or selling something, it is not the product that they are selling,Cheap Joe Flacco Jersey, they are selling three things.
Will the stigma just disappear with these few tips? I think not, but what it can do is lessen the piercing deep into your heart when they do give you an attitude. Just kidding.... well then again,Cheap Patrick Robinson Jersey, maybe not. Always remember Business is Business.
So how do you bust through the sales stigma of someone that only sees just another salesperson? Do you tend to put up your defenses and get frustrated? How about hanging your head in defeat? Is that you?
Ask for a referral from said nay sayer. If they are not interested in hearing about your product,Cheap Jason Witten Jersey, by gosh, they may know someone who is. If you don't ask,Cheap T.J. Yates Jersey, they will not volunteer that tidbit.
*They are selling the need for the product.
*They are selling themselves
*They are selling their passion and belief in the product.
I would venture to say that most people trust one another. Sales professionals count on that. I know in my business I could not sell my product if my clients did not trust me. I sell the need and I sell a product that people do need. But sometimes getting someone to understand that what I am offering is the best product out there is difficult.
Understand that timing is everything. A "no" today may not be a "no" next month. Keep the nay sayers on your radar. Ask if you can follow up in 6 months or so, just in case. If they say yes,Cheap Bears Jerseys, then you had better be there, or be calling or whatever method you contacted them on the exact day 6 months from now.
Send a card thanking them for their valuable time and include your business card. They may throw it away, but then again, they may just keep it,Cheap Osi Umenyiora Jersey, just in case. I know I would.
So where did this stigma come from? Was it years of bad used car salesman that killed us? Was it old MLM days that left a bad taste in peoples mouths? Or what about the cranky salesperson at the department store?
I have met a lot of people in my sales days and many times I have gotten a cold shoulder when people think I am going to "sell" something to them. I have also met a lot of people that do not want to work in an industry that "sells" anything.
Always be professional and on your best behavior. Being rude or acting self defeated will not help you in anyway and will just reinforce their belief in "salespeople" in general.
We can't really trace back where the stigma started as it may be different for you as it is for the next guy. But what I do know is that "sales" doesn't have to have a stigma at all.
Jimmy Buffet's Storytelling Tip
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:24 PM
[General]
Ever listen to Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffet?
Another great way to get a story idea, is to look at your own experience with whatever product or service you sell. Let me give you an example. One time, I sold a line of medical nutrition product that helped repair pressure ulcers. And since the product I had was great at repairing a pressure ulcer, I decided to take it after my workouts.
What happened?
Do this and you'll be on your way to selling success.
Smell those shrimp they're beginnin to boil
The deeper... more painful... more interesting the problem (and how you overcame it) the better story you'll have on your hands. There are many places you can look for this "problem" that will help drive your story.
And you better believe I told this story when I was in front of a prospect trying to sell this product.
All of those tourists covered with oil
It helped me put on five pounds of muscle.
It doesn't matter if you sell bookkeeping services... rusty used lawnmowers... fine furniture... butt cream for wound care patients (like I once did)... or whatever...
Much of this crosses over to sales and marketing too.
Why does this song get me like this?
And every story starts with some kind of juicy problem.
So back to my point which is if you want to be very good at selling then you should really work at becoming a master storyteller (like Jimmy Buffet)... and... work to link your story to your main selling point.
Heck,Cheap Kevin Greene Jersey, the lyrics are freaking addictive:
Why?
Just run any of his lyrics through your head,Cheap Green Embroidered Jersey, and you'll see what I'm talking about. The guy can tell a simple,Cheap Aaron Kampman Jersey, fun and yet powerful story.
And look:
On my front porch swing
Strummin my six-string
And his fans (also known as Parrot Heads) love Buffet for this.
Because Jimmy Buffet is a master storyteller.
In fact,Cheap Plaxico Burress Jersey, the number one rule when you're giving any kind of sales presentation is to lace it with stories that lead back to your main point. This is a much better (and more effective) way to sell than using boring facts and figures.
They can all sound exciting with the right story.
Watchin the sun bake
And wouldn't you know, every time I hear Margaritaville I immediately imagine myself lounging on a sunny beach in Mexico where I'm sipping icey margaritas in a T-shirt and a pair of board shorts.
For example,Cheap Dez Bryant Jersey, you can look at how your product or service came to be. Was there a struggle making it? And if so,Cheap Barrett Ruud Jersey, how the person who invented your product overcome this problem?
Talk about a cool song.
Everything can be made interesting with a story.
Because the human brain absorbs a story like a sponge soaking up spilled milk.
Nibblin on sponge cake
Business Manipulation - The Battle For Clients
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:24 PM
[General]
When thinking about this example, it's hard not to ask ourselves how many other such cases are out there that we don't know about. How many of the hundreds of products we use every day are a result of shameless business manipulation? The answer would probably depress us. How can we be sure that what we read in the press or what we see on television is not simply a paid advertisement? We cannot. Somehow, over time, being a consumer has started to mean being lied to, manipulated or indirectly robbed.
Business manipulation is an art. Art mastered almost to perfection. Nowadays, buying equals existing and in that sense the power of business is paramount. And so, companies become manipulators.
The scam produced by companies in order to sell their products can be more outrageous than you can possibly imagine. In fact, the bigger the company, the higher the probability that it will try to acquire a monopolistic share in its market by using well-disguised manipulation.
Drug companies can be notoriously shameless when speaking about business manipulation. One of the most striking examples was the scandal with the big pharmaceutical company Merck which had paid a well-known publisher to create a medical journal. The articles in this journal were, understandably, very positive about Merck drugs,Cheap Ed Reed Jersey, but nobody had mentioned that the articles were written by Merck itself. This story is almost too hard to swallow, namely because, the company had been manipulating not only ordinary people to buy its products, but also doctors and other professionals who had been reading the journal - people who are trusted and can have influence on their patients.
The world is controlled by money and business manipulation keeps the winning cards. Today, one country belongs to those who control the big companies in it.
How do companies use advertising - to manipulate or inform people? Yes, it gives information about what exists on the market,Cheap Matthew Stafford Jersey, where and on what price,Cheap Victor Cruz Jersey, but it still remains the most powerful manipulative machine. Everywhere we go, we are bombarded by advertising slogans,Cheap Otis Sistrunk Jersey, posters,Cheap Chiefs Jerseys, flyers, billboards. Each one of them offers us something off the price,Cheap Mike Singletary Jersey, make gifts and for what purpose? To convince the buyer to buy the product, to go on a holiday, to use a company. One customer will lead to another and so the ultimate goal of advertising will be achieved - increasing profits.
A Simple Old Fashioned Way to Make Good Decisions and Succes
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:24 PM
[General]
Use it to help make seemingly easy and seriously tough decisions.
If there's a chance, based on what you know or don't know that it could hurt your prospect- you need to have a real conversation to explain your position and to understand his perspective.
+/+ You always choose a decision that could help and couldn't hurt...and act on it quickly. And,Cheap Brandon Flowers Jersey, remember that you do not operate in a vacuum...
In 2000 I was a sales rep for an internationally known U.S. Fortune 500 IT Company selling human resource software and services selling to equally known Fortune 500 companies.
+/- Sometimes you have to take a chance if something could help but could hurt.
Use it to help gain consensus and commitment.
It's much more powerful than "Trust me".
Making more good decisions quickly the first time means you waste less time correcting bad decisions. Minimizing the risk inherent in every decision greatly increases the chance it is a good decision and seriously reduces the time and resources it takes to correct bad decisions.
Now, no one gets it right the first time every time. However, my manager at the time had a track record of making an overwhelmingly number of good decisions quickly.
Review this list with the stakeholders to see if the decision is weighted more or less towards 'could help'.
The premise is simple.
Here's the ridiculously simple tool he used. Use this tool internally with your people, when you are working with your prospects, and when you decide what to include in your copy.
+ /+ could help and couldn't hurt
+ / - could help and could hurt
- / - couldn't help and could hurt Use it to help your internal and external customers move past their fear.
Use it to help support decisions. Your decisions and your customer's decisions.
This is your risky decision. To minimize the risk, make a chart and review everything you know about the situation,Cheap Paul Posluszny Jersey, the stakeholders, the decision makers,Cheap Giants Jerseys, and more importantly make a realistic list of everything you do not know.
Here's a sales consultant and copywriter's story about Rule #9: "Take only calculated risks."
-/- You never make a choice that couldn't help and could hurt.
Just because a decision could help and couldn't hurt you,Cheap Derek Hagan Jersey, does not mean that it could help and couldn't hurt your prospect. Look at the decision from your prospect's point of view.
I heard Dennis Ross, U.S. envoy and negotiator,Cheap Jack Ham Jersey, speak a while back and purchased his book,Cheap Terrell Owens Jersey, "Statescraft And How to Restore America's Standing in the World". He lists twelve rules of negotiation.
Selling - Help Your Customers Decide Between Price and Value
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:24 PM
[General]
Despite a written apology from their State Manger we resolved never to deal with that company again and placed our home and contents policy in the capable hands of our broker. We've had one small claim since and the difference was amazing. No hassles, everything handled smoothly.
Thinking over what our broker had said,Cheap Indianapolis Colts Jerseys, we looked back on an occasion four or five years ago. At the time our broker looked after our business policies but our home and contents policy was arranged separately,Cheap Chuck Howley Jerseys, with an insurance company linked to the finance company that arranged our mortgage.
I arrived home the other evening and started thumbing through the mail, which included a few bills. One was for our home and contents insurance policy.
We were broken into and had a number of items stolen. The way we were treated by our insurers and their investigator had me thinking at the time that I should write an article about it. If I had, the headline would have been "We've been robbed so why do I feel like the criminal,Cheap Sedrick Ellis Jersey!"
"Hold on",Cheap A.J. Green Jersey, I thought. "It can't be that much!" I immediately found last years account and got out the calculator. It worked out to be a 22.6% increase. Well in excess of inflation.
We've now renewed our home and contents policy. And despite my Scottish upbringing I managed to smile as I wrote the cheque to our insurance brokers. Peace of mind is worth a lot to me. In this case an extra $204.35.
As we discussed what we would do, I couldn't help but think of my favourite Richard Denny quote: "Never apologise for your prices. Your product knowledge and the service you give demonstrate that your prices are fair."
Our broker listened. She was sympathetic and understanding. She dealt with all Gwen's questions. But no,Cheap Giants Jerseys, she didn't recommend the change to a cheaper policy. And no, she couldn't arrange a lower price without reducing our cover.
We discussed what to do. My wife Gwen said she would shop around and do some comparisons. After making a few phone calls Gwen got onto our insurance broker. She challenged her on the price explaining the difference between hers and some other quotes, particularly one that seemed to be $204.35 cheaper. Why the difference? Were we comparing apples with apples? What could she do about it?
People like our insurance broker are worth their weight in gold. By that I mean, people who are well trained,Cheap Lyle Alzado Jersey, who genuinely care about their customers and use proven selling skills.
IT Firms' Edge Is the Team-Up of Telemarketing and Telemarke
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:24 PM
[General]
Well, this problem has, of course, many solutions, but, two of the most important answers to this is to obtain a contact list and to employ a one-tone-marketing medium. Let us first concentrate on calling list. There is no reason why a telemarketing list is very important other than the fact that phone calls will not be made unless there are phone numbers to dial. Aside from that, information contained in the data bank can be optimized for other purposes. Other contact information like mailing and email addresses can be used to energize mailing campaigns and support telemarketing processes. Aside from that, the archive pertains to the key contact person of every company, which means that your people will be calling directly to the decision-makers.
This is truly an advantage since you will not be wasting any time with gatekeepers or call receivers who are not in the managerial position. You can even purchase a list for executives if you like. Other relevant information like name, position and the likes are necessary in building trust and confidence while making a conversation over the phone.
On the other hand, when you run your own telemarketing campaigns, you will be able to maximize every benefit you can get. Furthermore,Cheap Gabe Carimi Jersey, you have the absolute control in the entire operations. In addition, you can train your telemarketers with specialized selling techniques. Since they know your goods and services well,Cheap Gary Brackett Jersey, they can provide good answers to every question of sales lead, making positive impression. And you can also make use of telemarketing for other services like following up and nurturing leads.
When it comes to large volume of sales opportunities, the Information Technology (IT) sector is one of the leaders. Be it hardware or software products, every good that the industry creates is always selling like pancakes. The myriad services (IT consulting, ISP, web hosting, web design and development) have been patronized by millions of consumers and businessmen. And it is not surprising to see them multiply in the years to come. But the again,Cheap Daunte Culpepper Jersey, this fact alone does not always follow directly to a specific IT company. Yes, there are many fish in the water, but unless you know how to fish, you will never have those fishes to eat and start your own livelihood. Meaning to say,Cheap Brian Westbrook Jersey, the IT sector is filled with a lot of opportunities, which refers to high-quality and fresh B2B sales leads. Unless they know how to generate these potential prospects they will not get a chance of bringing them to their sales pipeline.
Truly, telemarketing is the ideal approach that will make your B2B lead generation programs productive, fast and accurate. But, like I have repeated all over again, it is nothing without the valuable information in a telemarketing list. So, when you fuel B2B lead generation with telemarketing, be sure that you already have bought an updated contact list from a superstore of specialty lists.
On the other hand, telemarketing is certainly the best partner of a contact list. Nowadays,Cheap Andy Dalton Jersey, businesses are compelled to operate their marketing campaigns as fast and as interactive as possible. No one knows what the competitors are thinking, so it is important to do the first move and be ahead of the race. This is what your instrument should do. It has to reach your prospects quickly in order to establish the first connection. Then, it also has to make a quick follow-up. You know that all direct marketing channels can easily reach the leads, but only one, the telemarketing,Cheap Brandon Marshall Jersey, can make them respond right away. You just cannot let it happen that rejoinders will be send after weeks or worse month/s. There should be an immediate two-way communication, since not all of your prospects will be deemed qualified. This is where telemarketing is best.
10 Things to Increase Sales Right Now
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:24 PM
[General]
5. Use your clients in your marketing. Use co-operative marketing by placing a reference to your clients on your website. Ask them to do the same using a pre prepared 30 word introduction.,Cheap Reggie Bush Jersey
10. Give people a guarantee and risk free options. Make it an easy choice for people to purchase products from you.
1. Define who you want to sell to. At least define who you want to sell to the most. Work out how much these customers are worth for the lifetime of their patronage. You should be allocating about 10% of total revenue to marketing activities.
9. Make it easy for people to buy from you. Allow for sales to occur over the phone,Cheap Washington Redskins Jerseys, over the web and in person.
3. Testminonials. Ask your most loyal clients for a testimonial of about 3 sentences in length. Ask if you can use this on your website and if you can use parts of it. Also cut it down to 10 word pieces for use in marketing materials.
4. Finders' Fee. Allocate a percentage of each sale to a finders fee. Use this on the back of business cards to promote your business through existing contacts.
6. Create brand ambassadors. A program we have found works well is allowing your customers to try products for free in return for writing reviews about them online.
8. Give people a voice. Allow students/schools/community groups to use your premises/expertise/products for free.
2. Develop standard marketing templates that anyone in the organisation can use to promote your product/service. Have these readily available on the web.
7. Develop a network of companies that sell products in the same space. Offer referral fees and conduct joint marketing exercises.
Below are 10 quick things you can do to increase sales right now,Cheap Rashard Mendenhall Jersey! Best of all they,Cheap Devin McCourty Jersey, mostly,Cheap Jason Taylor Jersey, will not cost you a cent.
Mortgage Leads For the Professional Loan Officer
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:24 PM
[General]
If you are a loan officer that continues to make a living in today's economic climate,Cheap Mike Ditka Jersey, than you are considered to be a true professional, a good sales person, and more than likely you are someone with the vision good enough to anticipate the ups and downs in the mortgage industry.
But please, when researching mortgage lead companies take your time and do your research. Time is money. And,Cheap Ronnie Lott Jersey, as you know, good quality leads turn into money.
For starters, find a mortgage lead company that generates their own mortgage leads through lead generation web sites that they own and operate. This is the only way that you can obtain a good quality mortgage lead.
Anticipating what is coming next in any industry not just the mortgage industry is critical when it comes to surviving in your profession.
A lot must go into surviving a down market and it begins with hard work and determination.
Mortgage leads also play a role when it comes to conducting your day to day business. Mortgage leads can come in more than one form but what I am getting at here is internet mortgage leads and how a serious mortgage professional can find a good quality mortgage lead.
Also,Cheap Nnamdi Asomugha Jersey, look for low minimum deposits without minimum order requirements. This way you will have the ability to take their leads on a test run without the large monetary commitment, and at your own pace.
Make sure you take a moment and speak with a sales representative and verify everything that you have read on the companies web site. As you know, having a contact is very important.
I could go on about refund policies and stuff like that but I know that I am preaching to the choir since you have survived the mortgage industry crisis and are still around to read this article.
Also, it doesn't hurt to be a seasoned loan officer with years of experience under your belt,Cheap Steve Smith Jersey, and a lot of mortgage resources at your disposal. And,Cheap Torrey Smith Jersey, from a referral stand point,Cheap Antonio Bryant Jersey, the more people you know or have helped, the better.
Turning Customers Into Confidants
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:23 PM
[General]
I have many friends that are in business for themselves and some of these friendships started out as me being the customer. Recently I had a conversation with Jason Sheffield of WNC Realty about basic business philosophy. We were lamenting about a real estate deal that an associate of his lost because this other agent (who lost the deal) was very interested in hard closing the potential customer. The potential customer was turned off by the old school aggressive sales techniques that were being employed. Instead of asking many questions to really pin point the customer needs, the other realtor kept trying to close, close, close. It cost them that deal and likely many more. If this high pressure realtor had taken 10 extra minutes to really figure out what the needs of the potential customer were it would have made a big difference. By simple asking a few extra questions about the customers needs and the specific way the customer needed to approach the transaction it would have been clear to the realtor how to best close the deal. It really does not take that much more time to be a professional salesperson so that the potential customer wants to do business with no one else. Jason and I agreed that a business relationship was always more important than one real estate deal or any single transaction. You can always make another real estate deal or sell another product, but close business associates, and ultimately friends, are irreplaceable.
The basic way to describe a person that buys a product is as a "customer". Once a business establishes repeat transactions with a specific customer, and earns a customers trust,NFL Camouflage Realtree Jerseys, the customer then becomes more of a "client". Building strong client loyalty by offering a high quality experience and top of mind product and brand awareness will hopefully result in clients then becoming "confidants". Once you transition customers to confidants you not only have a loyal customer but you also have a confidant that will go out of their way to share your companies story with their friends, family,Bo Jackson raiders Jersey, and even strangers. Confidants take time and energy to acquire, and those business relationships are likely formed over time,Cheap LeGarrette Blount Jersey, but there is no better way to get business. Word of mouth and personal referral beats out advertising and marketing every time. When I can I always do business with my friends. Typically business relationships develop over time and sometimes the business people end up becoming personal friends. It simply starts out as a typical transactional business arrangement and over time the relationships can evolve. Some of my closest friends are a direct result of business transactions. Some have been customers of mine and with others I have been the customer. The local coffee shop owner where I buy my coffee beans typically asks me about my family and how everyone is doing before he asks me what I want to buy. We will chat about art or music before we get into the flavor of the day or how many pounds I am interested in purchasing. This is the way I like to do business when I spend money, particularly when it is my disposable income. I could buy any number of coffee beans at the grocery store, and sometimes I do, but it is a more enriching experience when I go to my guy at Jongo Java. You can see more about this entrepreneur in an interview with him, Dan Smith.
Building a successful business is not an easy task. Entrepreneurs are a brilliant breed of business people that I respect immensely. I see many businesses make a fatal mistake that could cost a start up or established business everything. In order to be successful a business relationship should come before the business transaction,Cheap Jamaal Anderson Jersey, and if done properly customers transition to clients and ultimately to confidants. If multiple companies offer the same product, and the price is relatively competitive, I tend to do business with companies and people that I like. I believe this is simply human nature. A business owner should attempt to attract customers and offer products and services that turn a one time transaction into a long term business relationship. Repeat business is the absolute key to a successful business model and if customers are repeating their business with a particular company the odds are high that they are referring new customers by word of mouth advertising.
Passing on a deal, even when you could close the customer, can be much more fruitful over time. Sometimes by holding off on the hard close and fostering a long term relationship,Cheap Bill Posluszny Jersey, the potential customer will become an instant confidant and the business will certainly follow. You can always pass on one deal, and work hard to replace it,Cheap Fred Biletnikoff Jersey, but a relationship with a confidant is almost impossible to duplicate.
Why Sales Success is Directly Connected to Daily Habits
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:23 PM
[General]
So what is a behavior? Simply speaking, a behavior is an action. Repetitive actions can be described as habits. In either case whether the action is singular or repeated on a regular basis, it is the beliefs of the individuals driving those actions.
This leads to the question what beliefs are driving the habits? For some in sales,Kellen Winslow charger Jersey, they may believe the current economic situation is terrible. This belief keeps them from making the necessary calls. Another belief may be that when a potential customer (a.k.a. prospect) does not return a phone call,Jonathan Vilma jets Jersey, then that individual is not interested. A habit develops of making just one or two phone calls or even contacts before abandoning that potential customer to find a new one.
If you goal is to increase sales,Cheap Jarret Johnson Jersey, then take the time to look at your daily habits. Are you doing what you need to do (consistently) to achieve sales success?
40 to 70% of all targets not achieved 48% of all leads not followed up Almost 66% of all sales people stop at the 3rd contact
Sales research reveals a lot of poor behaviors such as:
In the selling arena,Cheap Toby Gerhart Jersey, success is truly about engaging in those behaviors that will increase sales. Conversely,Cheap Demaryius Thomas Jersey, poor behaviors will not deliver the desired results.
"I'd gladly pay you on Wednesday for a hamburger today." This statement made by the character Wimpy in the cartoon series Popeye surfaced from my memory banks when I read and heard this statistic: 70% of all health care costs are directly related to behaviors. For those who are no familiar with Wimpy, he was overweight and always eating hamburgers. Not exactly the healthiest diet,Cheap Titans Jerseys!
Are your daily sales behaviors at the level necessary for sales success? Do you remember Wimpy in the Popeye carton? His come today and see you tomorrow attitude reminded me of why some sales professionals fail to achieve their sales targets.
Excellent Way to Boost Sales in Bad Economic Times
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:23 PM
[General]
Unfortunately for those who have chosen not to adapt to the growing changes that have been sweeping through the world of business they will likely not be in business in the next five years. If they don't put their ear to the railroad track they will surely miss the train that's bearing down on them right now.,Cheap Joseph Addai Jersey
Having the correct vendors in place is an excellent thing unless those excellent vendors are not needed. This is why knowing what your company stands for is the most important item of company success. What are you selling and why is it important. Take a look around, if no one is at your door looking to buy it could simply be because you can't be found or it could be that once you are found,Cheap Brandon Jackson Jersey, no one likes your product. In times like these, it's more important then ever that the product you are putting out is of need and of value to your customers. Otherwise you are sunk in the water before ever beginning.
Although times are tough not only for business and consumers there are companies out there redefining the way they do business because they are listening to those who pay the bills; the consumers. Companies have been looking to SEO optimization over traditional methods of advertising. If you've paid attention over the last few years you would have noticed that Satellite radio and DVR have taken the world by storm.
Although just about everything has changed for the way businesses communicate with the consumer many things have stayed the same with how businesses communicate with vendors and partners. Ensuring that you are prepared to impress vendors will mean that you put forward the best face of your company.
Every chief operating officer in the world is feeling the growing pinch of a shrinking economy. Smaller work forces,Cheap Limas Sweed Jersey, tighter research and development budgets and a finicky consumer base have done its share to provide sleepless nights to many a corporate executive.
Success is around the corner for any business that wants to embrace the changes that the world of digital has brought and to anyone who is willing to understand the economic situation that they not only find themselves in but their customer's as well. In these trying times,Cheap Antonio Brown Jersey, keeping your eyes open to the changes before you will help you with being a successful business owner.
The traditional hard copy newspapers and magazines have given way to soft copy,Cheap Thurman Thomas Jersey, news as you want it internet that's faster then the speed of light. What does this mean for business? The revenue streams and conversion rates once contributed to these long traditional outlets are no longer productive ways to communicate your business to the masses. Search Engine Optimization or SEO has become one of the most have ways of being found on the fasted growing most powerful medium in history; the internet,Cheap Dwayne Bowe Jersey! That's right, if you are not accessible and able to be found on the web, you're existence in the world of business will be rather short.
The old adage "you have to spend money to make money" will always be true and trade shows will always remain a productive way to build bridges so making sure that you focus on professional exhibit company will help you with putting that best face forward. Take a look around, flashy sets that get people excited to do business are all the rage these days. With vendors offering tighter credit it's important to get connected with the right people that will work to put you into the best position to succeed. If you want to succeed you need to look like you've already succeeded!
Is a Career in Sales Right For You
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:23 PM
[General]
Targeting new clients is typically easier when you have a well-known name behind you. However, this is not a rule of thumb. There is also a seemingly inverse correlation between the size of the company you work for and the amount of outbound, cold prospecting which you have to do. More people are going to call into a well-known firm which allows you to take more incoming leads as opposed to having to cold-call for them.
Daily Tasks of a Sales Professional - this various by industry, though as a whole, it is the job of a sales representative to do one thing and one thing only: make the company money by bringing in business which would have otherwise not been available to the organization. Sales involves a lot of prospecting. This could mean targeted email blasts, phone calls, following up with old leads, bringing back lapsed clients and a lot more. Prospecting is the sales work which many find mundane (some like it, or they claim they do). Every profession has these types of responsibilities and prospecting is the work in the sales profession which is a necessary evil.
Since it is my job to recruit sales professionals on a daily basis, I have a very firm grasp as to what a sales career consists of including:
The daily tasks of a business development professional,Cheap Daunte Culpepper Jersey, what it takes to be successful in sales, the misconceptions that young people have about sales, the industries you want to get into, which industries you want to avoid,Cheap Jacoby Jones Jersey, base compensation for entry level candidates, expected earnings or OTE after sales commissions,Brett Favre packers Jersey, future earnings if you succeed in business development, how to properly interview for a career in sales and much more.
Though, the smaller the company you work for, the more chance you have of making six figures two or three years out of school. If everybody is selling a lot at any large firm,Cheap Roger Staubach Jersey, the company is less likely to give out raises as this alludes to the fact that the product is not too difficult to sell, and therefore employees can quickly be replaced if they are not happy with the current compensation structure. If you prove to a smaller company that you can sell their product, you can quickly negotiate a large increase in your base salary. I've seen this done up to 45% in 3 months.
Though, to command this kind of money, you have to be top notch at prospecting. When you get a decision maker on the phone, you have to be lightening quick to engulf interest as you're going to get answering machines a lot. Similarly,Cheap Deion Branch Jersey, you must be able to talk your way in to getting conversations with some very hard to reach people. I remember that during college, I was working as a software sales rep in New York City and used to be able to reach people like that not many people could. You have to be very resourceful when prospecting and, if you're successful at it, you're worth your weight in gold.
On a daily or weekly basis,Cheap Laveranues Coles Jersey, you will also be updating and maintaining what is called a CRM system. CRM is an acronym for "customer relationship management." More or less, a CRM system is a database of current clients, prospective clients whom you're speaking with and a list of industry relevant clients to cold-call. I was lucky as I never had to work for somebody too long because I was very disorganized with these systems and didn't like them. However, companies have you maintain them as a form of risk management. If you were to ever leave the company, they would have all of their leads ready and waiting for the next sales employee.
Obviously, to cover all of these facets, it is going to take more than one article. Though, by the time we're through, you should have a firm understanding as to all the aspects which encompass a career in sales and you should have enough information as to make an educated guess as to whether a career in sales is for you.
An Important Sales Tip I Learned At Starbucks
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:23 PM
[General]
So when you're ready to take your sales to the next level, realize that YOU are the one with tremendous value to offer,Cheap Israel Idonije Jersey, and think about whether you really want the stereotypical high-maintenance Starbucks customer as one of your own,Cheap Russ Grimm Jersey!
It's a scary thought at first - walking away from potential sales to find better customers - but in the long run, when you only deal with people who you want to deal with,Cheap Jack Lambert Jersey, your sales numbers go up exponentially. You don't waste nearly as much time closing them,Cheap Eric Weddle Jersey, or dealing with their customer service nightmares, and you'll find that nice friendly customers will be a HUGE source of referrals. (Forget about getting any from high-maintenance customers.)
Why?
At Starbucks we've all seen the people who hold up the line ordering "non-fat this, double-this, soy that, blah blah blah." But at the real gourmet shop,Cheap Warren Moon Jersey, you never see that. Ever. People simply order off the menu.
About a year ago an incredible new coffee shop opened up here, and before that, my only exposure to "gourmet" coffee was Starbucks.
I once read in a sales book about having a "velvet rope policy" for acquiring new customers. Like an exclusive nightclub, you should realize that you have value to offer, and as a result, only sell your products or services to customers who DESERVE to receive that value!
Why?
I'm willing to bet it's a huge amount.
But, one thing about experiencing truly gourmet coffee really threw me:
Because they won't tolerate any of that crap. They're not going to bastardize their superb beverages just because of someone's silly whims.
It reminds me of when I sold large business telephone systems many years ago. Now and then a prospective customer would sign the contract but cross out and modify some of the terms & conditions printed on the back. (Law firms were especially guilty of this.)
And think about the customer service headaches and nightmares those high-maintenance customers cause after the sale, causing you to lose even more time and more sales down the road.
Those people can take their business elsewhere, and they do.
Because all the time I'd waste trying to close that one sale was costing me at least 1 or 2 others, from people who were easier to deal with!
After some experience I stopped doing that and told those customers to take a hike.
Even when I visited Seattle recently I couldn't find anything as good.
Now ask yourself: How much time do YOU waste chasing after prospects who take so long to close that you could bang out a few other sales instead if you walked away?
As a rookie I'd take it back to the manager and go back & forth trying to get it approved so I could get the sale.
I was blown away when I finally tasted the real thing,Seattle Seahawks Jerseys, instead of the mass-produced stuff cranked out by a chain. It's like tasting a $60 steak at a high-end steakhouse after eating McDonald's all your life.
Are You Insane Unique Sales Letters
Thursday, June 14, 2012, 12:23 PM
[General]
This type of connection and understanding of human nature, motivation and buying psychology is what separates a $500 sales letter writer from a $5,000 or even $15,000 dollar sales letter writer, with a corresponding increase in response.
There is NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING, more powerful than a well-written letter,Cheap Desmond Bishop Jersey! By well-written I don't mean spelling, grammar,Cheap Bill Posluszny Jersey, punctuation and all the things I seemed to have missed by quitting school at age 15. What I mean is a letter that connects with a PROSPECT at the soul. A letter that speaks the language of your prospect, not the corporate speak language that some Madison Avenue type THINKS your prospect speaks. And very possibly, NOT THE LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK!
Always make your piece readable on three levels to accommodate the skimmer, the bobber and the studious. That is to say, for the skimmer: the headlines,Cheap Jonathan Stewart Jersey, underlines and captions alone MUST tell your story. The studious will read the whole thing, while the bobber will zone in on subheads of interest and ignore the rest.
It's that connection that makes your copy work and it's the lack of that connection that makes it fail, whether in a letter, brochure, postcard or Web site.
The reason this letter has been so successful is simple,Cheap Michael Crabtree Jersey, the concept and the copy resonates with the readers. The idea that doing the same thing again and again and yet expecting different results is, in fact, INSANE,Cheap Jeff Reed Jersey!
Here are ten tips for connecting with your audience; check your copy to see how it rates:
Amazingly the most common mistake in marketing literature of all kinds is simply failing to provide clear action steps on what you want the prospect to do next!
Well, there it is sports fans; how to connect with your prospects. Oh, I know that someone at the club will still sabotage your next brochure or letter with well-meaning corporate speak. But, at least, when you read it, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing in advance, why your results will be so predictably poor!
That was the headline of perhaps the greatest letter I ever penned, my famous "Insane" letter. This one page letter alone is responsible for over five million dollars in income but here's the REAL beauty of it. I have used the same letter for almost 15 years with the same staggering results in a number of different businesses from selling franchises in the karate industry, to software in the golf business.
For example, if you were advertising Loch Lommond Golf Club in Scotland,Cheap Steve Breaston Jersey, you could say that the course was designed by noted player Tom Weiskof. A fact, but of little impact. However, if you say, Loch Lommond was very nearly the last course Tom Weiskof ever designed; you lead right into the story... While wandering around one morning in the gentle Scottish mist, while designing the course, Weiskof stepped up to his neck in quicksand and remained there for several hours before being discovered. Is there any wonder the 17th hole is so special for him?
Always use visual, aural and feeling references to reach people of different information processing persuasions. (How many copywriters do you think even know this critical fact, let alone use it? Exactly, not many but it's great little tricks like this that makes the difference.)
* Always write like you are writing to a friend.
* Never use complicated language, keep it simple!
* Avoid the overuse of superlative words.
* Every headline and subhead MUST have maximum impact and interest to the reader's SELF INTEREST or curiosity!
* Don't say what everyone else says; be different, ASTONISHINGLY DIFFERENT, if at all possible.
* Paint a picture with your words and make the reader want to jump into that picture with you!
* Engage the readers with a story; don't just give them the cold, hard, FACTS.
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