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Sales

March 06, 2008

Brian Tracy's "How to OUTSELL your competition -- in any market!"

Outselling Your Competition + 

Bonus CDs!

An excerpt from Brian Tracy's The Art of Closing The Sale:

Click Here to Order Your Outselling Your Competition plus Bonus CDs!

Nine Objections You Must Answer:

1. Unspoken Objections

The first type of objection you will get is an unspoken objection. The customer has concerns with your offering but doesn't tell you anything. He or she nods and listens to you, but you get no feedback to tell you where you are or how you are doing.

The solution to unspoken objections is to let the prospect talk more. Ask open-ended questions, lean forward, and listen intently to the answers. The more a prospect has an opportunity to answer your questions, the more likely it is that she will tell you exactly what might be holding her back from buying.

2. Excuses, Excuses

The second form of objections is excuses. These are usually instinctive reactions to any sales approach.

"We already have all we need."

"We are really not interested at the moment."

These are just excuses. They are really not serious. The best salespeople nod, smile, agree, and then ask a question to take control of the conversation. The very best way to handle any initial sales resistance, including excuses and impulse is with these words: "That's all right.

Most people in your situation felt the same way when I first called on them. But now they have become our best customers, and they recommend us to their friends." This response immediately shifts the focus of the conversation away from your product and onto other satisfied customers. It almost invariably triggers the response you want: "Oh really, What is it, then?"

3. Malicious Objections

Then there are the malicious objections. Because you call on many different people, you will occasionally call on individuals who are unhappy or angry about their current situations. Since they cannot shout at their bosses or spouses, they take it out on the friendly salesperson.

These people tend to be negative in their demeanor and behavior. They criticize your product or compare it unfavorably to those of your competitors. They sometimes imply that you charge too much or that your product is not pf particularly good quality.

The way to deal with malicious objections is to realize that you are not the target. The person you are talking to has problems of his own that have nothing to do with you. You are just caught in the emotional crossfire between him and other factors in his life. You job, as a professional, is to remain calm, confident, positive, and polite throughout. Very often this behavior on your part will soften the negativity of the prospect and eventually encourage him to open up to you.

4. Requests for Information

The fourth most common objection is a request for information. This is the best type of objection for you to hear, because you know how to answer this as well or better than any other part of your presentation. Whenever a prospect asks for information about the results or benefits she will get from your product or service and how she can get them, you are moving into excellent field position to make a sale.

Use all your objection-handling skills. Welcome the objection. Compliment the person for asking the question. Thank her for bringing it up. And then answer it completely, ending with, "Does that answer your question?"

Click Here to Order Your Outselling Your Competition plus Bonus CDs!

5. Show- Off Objections

Another type of objection is the show-off objection. Sometimes prospects try to show you how much they already know about your product or service. They make sophisticated observations or ask you complex questions about your product, service, or industry.

When this happens, respond by taking the low road. Show how impressed you are by how much the prospect already knows. Dominate the listening and let the prospect dominate the talking. Be conciliatory and polite. Remember, when you make a prospect feel important by listening to him with rapt attention, he is much more likely to warm up to buy from you.

6. Subjective Objections

The sixth most common type of objections are subjective or personal objections. These objections are aimed at you as a person. Prospects say things such as, "You look like you are doing pretty well in this business." Ort "You seem to be making a lot of money selling this product."

Whenever a person becomes critical of you, it could be a sign that you are talking too much about yourself. The prospect is attempting to bring you down a little bit by criticizing your appearance or behavior.

When you find yourself talking too much about your company, your product or service, or your personal life, stop and ask a question. Start talking about the customer rather than yourself. Ask questions about what the customer wants and needs. Make the customer the center of attention, and the subjective objections will stop.

7. Objective Objections

You may also hear the objective or factual objection. These are directed at your product offering and the claims that you make in terms of what it will do for the customer. The prospect may say, "I don't think that it will do the job that we require." Or "It looks good, but it's not satisfactory for our needs."

If you can answer an objective objection, you can often get the sale. The very best way to do this is to provide testimonials an other proof that make it clear that your product will do what you say it will. Assure the prospect that she will get the benefits that you promise and you have just made it easier for her to buy from you.

8. General Sales Resistance

The eighth most common form of objection is what we have called general sales resistance. This always occurs at the beginning of a presentation. Until you neutralize the general sales resistance, the customer will be listening to you with a closed mind.

Lower initial sales resistance by using the approach close. Say, "Mr. Prospect, thank you very much for your time. Please relax. I'm not going to try to sell you anything today. All I want to do is ask you some questions and see if there is some way that my company can help you achieve your goals in a cost-effective way. Would that be all right?"

When the prospect relaxes and gives you permission to ask him questions, you immediately begin your preselected open-ended questions to qualify the prospect and find out what he really needs that you can provide for him.

9. Last-Ditch

The final most-common objection is called the last-ditch objection. You have make your presentation, and the prospect clearly sees how she would be better off with your product or service. She knows and understands what you are selling and how much you are asking. She is on the verge of making a buying decision, but she still hesitates.

"How do I know I'm getting my money's worth?" she might say. Or "Are you sure this is the best deal I can get?" Listen with respect; then assure the prospect that yours is an excellent product or service, at a good price, and that everyone else who is using it today is very happy with their decision.

You have then overcome the last-ditch objection.

Click Here to Order Your Outselling Your Competition plus Bonus CDs!

February 19, 2008

What Defines Success As A Salesperson?

AchievementRadio.com's

What Defines Success As A Salesperson?
By Garry P Pierrepont

Are you considering a career in sales?

What do you think makes a successful salesperson?

If you're going to be a successful salesperson, it is up to you. The answer is: What YOU think makes YOU a successful salesperson.

In other words, you determine your own success.

If you join a company and the top salesperson is selling £30,000 of product a month, could you expect to beat him/her in your first month in your overlong suit at 18 years of age? Doubtful!

If you joined a company and made ZERO sales in the first month, would you consider THAT successful? Doubtful!

However, if you followed up that first month by making sales of £250 in your second month, then £500 in your third month, you might consider that successful!

You might be set some targets by your boss. They might be quite unrealistic. You might still have to reach them to keep your job, however, so that might be one criterion for success.

As well as those, set your own goals.

• I want to increase my sales EVERY MONTH

• I want to be able to buy a Porsche in five years time - for cash

• I want to be able to out down a deposit on a house in three years time

• I want to reach the sales targets set by my boss so I can keep my job!

Without your own personal goals, how can you know whether you are successful?

Don't judge yourself by "Flash-the-cash" Larry down the corridor. As John Hulme, author of the ebook, The Truth About Sales, says: "They would swan around the office, writing their latest profit figures on the BIG white board, high fives to all the other salespeople, and showing off about how much money they earned last month. You will soon realise that these types of people are small minded morons who gain self importance by showing off about how much they earn."

Think of REALLY successful people. Do they shoot their mouths off? Or do they quietly get on with the job of achieving more success? To their own objectives and targets.

So set yourself some goals. Translate those into shorter term targets, and try and hit those. Don't be afraid to modify them upwards or downwards, but always bear in mind that you are trying to achieve YOUR goals for YOUR success.

Author: Garry Pierrepont

Interested in selling? Want to make it a career? Before you do, find out more about the truth behind sales. See http://www.thetruthaboutsales.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Garry_P_Pierrepont
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Defines-Success-As-A-Salesperson?&id=995124

January 30, 2008

I'm So Busy I Don't Have Time To - The Killer Thought To Increasing Sales

AchievementRadio.com's

I'm So Busy I Don't Have Time To - The Killer Thought To Increasing Sales

I'm So Busy I Don't Have Time To - The Killer Thought To Increasing Sales
By Leanne Hoagland-Smith

Have you ever thought the following when sales were really, really good:

  • I'm soo busy; I don't have time to follow up on new leads?
  • I'm soo busy: I don't have time to keep track of all of my marketing and sales activities?
  • I'm soo buy; I don't have time to stay organized with business and personal paperwork?
  • I'm soo busy: I don't have time to plan my work and work my plan?
  • I'm soo busy: I don't have time to attend any more business networking events?
  • I'm soo busy: I don't have time to learn more to further my own professional growth?

If you have had any of these thoughts, just wait for in a very short time you will not be busy and wait a little longer you will have plenty of time to:

  • Follow up on new sales leads
  • Track all marketing and sales activities
  • Be every organized with paperwork
  • Work your strategic business growth action plan and plan your work
  • Attend a plethora of business networking events
  • Enhance your professional and personal growth such as sales skills

Because you will not have any sales at all. Your financial bank account will be quickly dwindling and along with your emotional one.

At least once a week when speaking with small business owners'; sales professionals such as new car salesmen, new car saleswomen, insurance agents and real estate agents; entrepreneurs and even C-Level executives, I hear the I'm soo busy rationale to justify current behaviors.

This rationale is really a self fulfilling prophecy for disaster. When you convince yourself that you are sooo busy, you will not focus on the other tasks at hand such as working your business growth action plan. The activity of the moment or moments will keep you in a very reactive state instead of a proactive one.

New sales will plummet and you will enter the sales throes of quiet desperation. Have you even been there? And did that feel and more importantly did you like it?

To avoid this self fulfilling prophecy means that you must be committed to taking care of those daily actions that support all of your sales. If you do not have time you can:

  • Delegate some of these activities to others if you have other employees
  • Hire a virtual administrative assistant if you are a single office/home office business owners
  • Hire a part time administrative assistant

Whatever solution you take, you must decide now that I'm soo busy is the killer to growing your business especially if your goal is to increase sales

Want to improve your sales skills?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leanne_Hoagland-Smith
http://EzineArticles.com/?Im-So-Busy-I-Dont-Have-Time-To---The-Killer-Thought-To-Increasing-Sales&id=912391

Using Special Times And Events To Boost Sales

Using Special Times And Events To Boost Sales

Using Special Times And Events To Boost Sales
By AJ Dowell

Driving traffic to your website is easy when you take advantage of certain times and dates on the calendar. Although this is seasonal marketing, it can build a large following.

When I realized the capabilities of specific dates and activities to promote, I was a t-shirt designer making Christian apparel. I had a particular t-shirt with Praying hands that said, "Did You Pray Today". National Prayer Month was coming up and I decided to use that to boost sales. The results was staggering. I simply asked folks, "Being National Prayer Month, I thought you might buy a Prayer t-shirt from me. They only cost $10.00, and part of the proceeds go to charity." Don't use the charity part unless you actually give to charity. For each t-shirt I sold, I donated one dollar of that to my local fire department. Arranging proceeds to go to charity is a huge selling point. More people will buy knowing proceeds will benefit the community.

The first rule in using a specific activity or time is letting people know that it's National whatever. If there isn't an activity or time to take advantage of, find one or invent one yourself. Create your own holiday. National Be Nice To Your Neighbor Month, or day, or week, can boost sales tremendously, depending on what it is your selling and the approach you use.

Another event that can generate sales is a tragedy. Look for news stories or a huge national crisis you can take advantage of. This is not unethical. When 9/11 happened, I was one of the first to market t-shirts with God Bless America and the American flag on them. People needed to feel patriotic and I made a good living at it. People want things like that and it makes them feel better. I feel more like a Proud American when I wear my flag shirt. Don't underestimate the power of a tragedy to bring people together. The world needs people like us to introduce a way to make individuals feel better about them. When this is implemented, you are essentially taking a tragedy and producing something good from it. You are making the best out of a worst-case scenario.

If you're a writer like I am, use Literature Awareness Month, and other great events to boost sales for your project. This is an untapped resource every person in business needs to be aware of. If you're a web designer, use Own Your Own Website Month, or something; anything that boosts sales as long as it's legal, moral, and ethical. Realize that ethics involves treating people with respect and you are simply showing them a way to obtain something that they might want.

Profits are all around us. Salesmen are not the enemy, for without salesmen, we wouldn't have the things we enjoy now.

Copyright © 2007 - AJ Dowell

AJ Dowell offers writer resources such as office supplies, novel software, writing classes, web hosting, tax services and more at http://linksforwriters.com

AJ helps people become independently wealthy with the help of his mentors and website http://www.dowellandassociates.com/

Never confuse motion with action- Ernest Hemingway

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=AJ_Dowell
http://EzineArticles.com/?Using-Special-Times-And-Events-To-Boost-Sales&id=910781

Expected Sales - Forecasting Revenue

AchievementRadio.com's

Expected Sales - Forecasting Revenue

Expected Sales - Forecasting Revenue
By C. Worrall

Looking out over the year and trying to build a budget, the best place to start is with the revenue. Forecast revenue seems to be a very difficult process for most people. In the start-up world, forecasting is difficult because the companies either don't know what they are selling or don't know how to sell it.

If you can't describe your product, how it will be priced, sold, and delivered, then you are still in the development phase and will not have a sales forecast. If you are raising venture capital, you will probably have determined your five year revenue forecast using market size, market share and penetration rate. If you do not have a bridge between this top-down approach and the bottom-up approach, you will probably have a pretty low valuation.

Once you have a product to sell and know the appropriate price, you can complete a bottoms-up approach towards forecasting revenues.

  • How many sales people do you have?
  • Are they at full capacity? New salespeople will need at least six months to get up to full capacity.
  • What is each salesperson's expected contribution? Early stage companies and new sales reps may only be expected to bring in $1 million per year. A more mature sales rep in an established company should be able to generate $2 million per sales.
  • What is the total sales force productivity? In general, not every sales person will bring in his or her full quota every year.

Let's say you have two mature sales people and one new sales person. Each salesperson is expected to bring in $1 million. Experience or market research has shown that productivity levels are 80% in your industry.

  • Sales booked = 2.5*1*.8 = $2 million

Using the $2 million revenue number assumed that all sales are recognized when the sale occurs. If you are performing long-term contracts, you will have to spread the sales over the length of the contract, meaning not all of that revenue will happen in the year the booking occurs (revenue recognition). This is how you determine backlog - what is leftover after recognizing the revenue that belongs in this year.

If you are unsure as to how your revenue should be recognized, speak with your accountant. Being able to get a good handle on your revenue projections will give you a good handle on your business. You will be able to estimate what you can spend and still make a profit. You can use the number to track the performance of your salespeople. If your revenue projections are strong, they will lend credence to your story when you are raising venture capital or trying to get a bank loan.

Written by C. Worrall. Please visit my website for more small business finance advice: http://cfoyourself.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=C._Worrall
http://EzineArticles.com/?Expected-Sales---Forecasting-Revenue&id=919149

Ideas Sell

AchievementRadio.com's

Ideas Sell

Ideas Sell
By Daniel Sitter

All great sales and marketing strategies begin as a fertile idea. Entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and fresh ideas go hand in hand. My new Idea Sellers logo reflects this thinking. The "swooshes" capture and highlight the words "Ideas Sell" in an effort to remind us that all of our ideas are important and worthy of our further scrutiny. Ideas do indeed sell. The action we undertake on a valid idea is critical to the success of our goals.

Consider the word "change." It might be associated with any number of thoughts. If you think of money, it becomes the coins received back from your dollar after a purchase. If you have a baby, change involves a nasty diaper. It could refer to replacement of one thing for another. Change could refer to a transfer, such as changing planes. It might also reflect transformation such as a change of seasons or perhaps an alteration of circumstances.

Change is possibly the most utilized word and projected idea in this early presidential political season. It is becoming clear that most people want to see political change in Washington. What does the word mean in this context? Change in this instance means the dissolution of special interest groups that dictate policy, reform in health care and social security, an end to the war and the end of doing business as usual. Change is virtually synonymous with "successfully shaking up Washington."

Change is a potent idea. It creates tremendous emotion and stimulates action. Change is a powerful idea that sells; just ask Barak Obama and John Edwards! Ending the "business as usual" policies is the core of their campaigns. What about your sales campaign? Is it business as usual or are your prospects and customers demanding change as well? If you are paying attention to them, and you had better be, they will tell you how to do business with them and explain how they want to be treated. Are you listening? Do you think our "red and blue" presidential candidates are listening?

Ideas need work. Whether your strategy for developing great ideas includes the development of mind-maps, the use of mastermind groups or simply dreaming, the creative process must prevail if you are to be successful in selling your ideas. Being intangible, your ideas come to fruition when they are painted and constructed in the mind's-eye of your customer. The successful sale of your ideas is more likely to occur in a relationship context.

If your customer believes in and trusts you, they will accept your ideas as valid. So, the successful sale first occurs when you sell yourself. Your ideas sell as a result. Selling is synonymous with "creating ideas for finding solutions." Selling your ideas is a winning strategy that pays dividends.

Daniel Sitter, author of both Learning For Profit and Superior Selling Skills Mastery, has garnered extensive experience in sales, training, marketing and personal development over a successful twenty-six year sales career.

Read his blog http://www.idea-sellers.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Sitter
http://EzineArticles.com/?Ideas-Sell&id=919176

I Play To Win But I Am Not Afraid To Lose

AchievementRadio.com's

I Play To Win But I Am Not Afraid To Lose

I Play To Win But I Am Not Afraid To Lose
By Atul Bahl

Mental Toughness - Game Theory "I play to win but I am not afraid to lose"

The difference between "playing to win" and "playing not to lose" - there are the thoughts of fear and defeat and the thoughts of victory and happiness - its these very thoughts that direct or misdirect us; there is a tremendous relationship between fear and success.

While negative thoughts create an aura of gloom around us, the energy radiated by the positive thoughts is reflected in our actions and body language.

So when you play to win, you play with an inspiration and when you play not to lose, you play out of desperation - and the results are different in both the cases.

I would apply the same to our professional lives - do you love your work or do you work just to meet your monthly bills - because the results would be tremendously different in both the cases and I won't be wrong in saying that to a very large extent, it is this factor only which makes a successful professional.

For a sales person, when you start your typical day, there can be two scenarios:

A] another morning - have to rush to office; once at office - Oh my God, I've to meet ten new prospects today - face this heat outside, drive in this mad traffic, carry my heavy office bag, wait for my clients, maybe the client wont meet me, maybe my client will shout at me, maybe my efforts will go waste.

B] another morning - a big smile on your face as you start your day and reach office - once at office - today I'll meet ten new prospects today - I'll help them to know about my products/services and this shall help them in their businesses - I'll actually help them succeed in their (professional) lives - the waiting time: thank god I've time to recollect my previous discussions and today's communication with the client.

That's what makes all the difference.

http://bahlatul.googlepages.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Atul_Bahl
http://EzineArticles.com/?I-Play-To-Win-But-I-Am-Not-Afraid-To-Lose&id=914385

The Selling Strength of Influence

AchievementRadio.com's

The Selling Strength of Influence

The Selling Strength of Influence
By Daniel Sitter

I was recently struck by a comment made by a panelist on a television news program. He made the statement to the fact that it was a weakness for candidates to hire advisers who were less intelligent than themselves. He felt that the candidate should be the most intelligent person on the team. Come on... how realistic is that? Is not the point of having a team of advisers to surround yourself with ultra-intelligent and highly informed individuals with various backgrounds to provide valuable insights and advice based upon their expertise?

Granted, decision-making rests with the leader, in this case the candidate, but the role of adviser is a critically important one, providing insights and advice filtered through their unique expertise and experience.

It has been said that "we are a product of the five people we hang around with the most." That includes all influences, not simply personal ones. It infers that we are shaped by what we read, what we listen to, which philosophies we accept, the people who are close to us and so on. That being said, those persons and entities we choose to surround ourselves with will become our closest advisers. Although we want and need diversity, those in a position to influence us need to share common values and beliefs, otherwise their positions may provide more confrontation than a beneficial common strategy.

I believe that a person, whether he or she is a political candidate, entrepreneur, parent or salesperson, demonstrates superior intelligence and wisdom by choosing influencers that are smarter and wiser than themselves. Otherwise, what would be the point? We do not need yes-men, rather people who will challenge us and help us to maximize our potential. Choose your friends wisely and be aware of media and other inputs into your life. Subtly yet surely, those closest to us do indeed influence us. The question is; will those influencers have a positive or negative impact?

Professional salespeople and ordinary entrepreneurs suddenly propelled into the world of selling need to learn from and be advised by influencers that share common values and beliefs, offering superior and relevant advise and teachings. The books and magazine articles we read, the movies we watch, the web sites we visit and those we listen to all have a direct path of input. Assemble a team of trusted advisors from which you can derive beneficial and effective counsel.

Fortunately, we do indeed have a choice. Unfortunately, we are all constantly bombarded by negatives permeating from every aspect of our society. Our responsibility as human beings is to filter out those influences that are harmful, allowing positive and constructive influences to take root. In this manner, we become the person we were created to be and are best able to serve others.

Those people we interact with, our customers and prospects in particular, unknowingly become exposed to those factors that influence us. If we have processed and absorbed a philosophy that is in opposition to our core values, the resulting tension will become evident in our communications, especially our sales message. "A confused mind does not buy" and a person, a customer, who senses our resulting incongruity will not accept or buy from us either.

The lesson is this: Fill your mind with positive, uplifting, inspirational and informative material that is designed to move you to the next level. Learn new skills, develop your potential and expand your comfort zone. Your self-esteem and work performance will benefit accordingly.

Others, your customers and prospects specifically, will desire your presence in their sphere of influence. They will sense that you are the kind of person that will benefit them, opening the door to your sales message. People buy from people the like and feel comfortable with. They will then want to buy from you.

Daniel Sitter, author of both Learning For Profit and Superior Selling Skills Mastery, has garnered extensive experience in sales, training, marketing and personal development over a successful twenty-six year sales career.
Read his blog http://www.idea-sellers.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Sitter
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Selling-Strength-of-Influence&id=925900

The Selling Strength of Influence

AchievementRadio.com's

The Selling Strength of Influence

The Selling Strength of Influence
By Daniel Sitter

I was recently struck by a comment made by a panelist on a television news program. He made the statement to the fact that it was a weakness for candidates to hire advisers who were less intelligent than themselves. He felt that the candidate should be the most intelligent person on the team. Come on... how realistic is that? Is not the point of having a team of advisers to surround yourself with ultra-intelligent and highly informed individuals with various backgrounds to provide valuable insights and advice based upon their expertise?

Granted, decision-making rests with the leader, in this case the candidate, but the role of adviser is a critically important one, providing insights and advice filtered through their unique expertise and experience.

It has been said that "we are a product of the five people we hang around with the most." That includes all influences, not simply personal ones. It infers that we are shaped by what we read, what we listen to, which philosophies we accept, the people who are close to us and so on. That being said, those persons and entities we choose to surround ourselves with will become our closest advisers. Although we want and need diversity, those in a position to influence us need to share common values and beliefs, otherwise their positions may provide more confrontation than a beneficial common strategy.

I believe that a person, whether he or she is a political candidate, entrepreneur, parent or salesperson, demonstrates superior intelligence and wisdom by choosing influencers that are smarter and wiser than themselves. Otherwise, what would be the point? We do not need yes-men, rather people who will challenge us and help us to maximize our potential. Choose your friends wisely and be aware of media and other inputs into your life. Subtly yet surely, those closest to us do indeed influence us. The question is; will those influencers have a positive or negative impact?

Professional salespeople and ordinary entrepreneurs suddenly propelled into the world of selling need to learn from and be advised by influencers that share common values and beliefs, offering superior and relevant advise and teachings. The books and magazine articles we read, the movies we watch, the web sites we visit and those we listen to all have a direct path of input. Assemble a team of trusted advisors from which you can derive beneficial and effective counsel.

Fortunately, we do indeed have a choice. Unfortunately, we are all constantly bombarded by negatives permeating from every aspect of our society. Our responsibility as human beings is to filter out those influences that are harmful, allowing positive and constructive influences to take root. In this manner, we become the person we were created to be and are best able to serve others.

Those people we interact with, our customers and prospects in particular, unknowingly become exposed to those factors that influence us. If we have processed and absorbed a philosophy that is in opposition to our core values, the resulting tension will become evident in our communications, especially our sales message. "A confused mind does not buy" and a person, a customer, who senses our resulting incongruity will not accept or buy from us either.

The lesson is this: Fill your mind with positive, uplifting, inspirational and informative material that is designed to move you to the next level. Learn new skills, develop your potential and expand your comfort zone. Your self-esteem and work performance will benefit accordingly.

Others, your customers and prospects specifically, will desire your presence in their sphere of influence. They will sense that you are the kind of person that will benefit them, opening the door to your sales message. People buy from people the like and feel comfortable with. They will then want to buy from you.

Daniel Sitter, author of both Learning For Profit and Superior Selling Skills Mastery, has garnered extensive experience in sales, training, marketing and personal development over a successful twenty-six year sales career.
Read his blog http://www.idea-sellers.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Sitter
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Selling-Strength-of-Influence&id=925900

To Increase Sales, Are You a Lion or a Gazelle?

AchievementRadio.com's

To Increase Sales, Are You a Lion or a Gazelle?

To Increase Sales, Are You a Lion or a Gazelle?
By Leanne Hoagland-Smith

There is an old anonymous proverb, probably African in its origins that speaks to everyone in sales.

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It know it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion also wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It does not matter where you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you had better be running.

The real issue is not who you are, but rather what you do.

  • What actions are you taking to increase sales? What sales skills are you using to realize business success?
  • Are you expecting sales to drop from the skies and land at your front door step?
  • Are you so busy attending civic meeting, chamber meetings and not walking away with at least one new lead at each of these events?
  • Are you confusing motion with progress and activity with results?

Sales is 24/7 especially with the advent of the Internet. Your sales goals must be constantly in front of you. You should reviewing these goals each and every day. Do you set aside 12 minutes each day to review today's results and tomorrow's schedule?

At the end of the week, you need to return to your sales action plan, marketing action plan and if you have one an overall strategic business growth action plan. Do you set aside 12 minutes at the end of the week to review this week's achievements and look to see where your goals to results are specific to your action plans?

What I have observed in working with sales professionals including financial advisors, insurance agents, realtors, real estate agents, new car salesmen to new car sales women along with a plethora of small business owners is that many of them do nothing. My first clue is that they lack the necessary plans from which to work.

Lions have a plan when they go after a gazelle. Gazelles have plans to avoid the lion. Yet most sales people do not have a sales action plan. They live by spraying their actions all over the place and praying that they will stick. This is a recipe for disaster.

Yes, they think they are doing something, but at the end of the day, they have no new leads, made no sales appointments and have no new commitments to purchasing their products or services. President Theodore Roosevelt said:

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing; the next best thing is the wrong thing; and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

Let us be honest. Not having the results (increase sales) equates to nothing. At least the gazelle and the lion know the results from waking up running - staying alive.

Are you a gazelle or a lion? Do you want to increase sales? Then register for free professional sales skill assessment.

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