Matthew G. Sikich II is The Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to "Sales Training". You can find complete information on Matthew G. Sikich II and his products by visiting The 5 Buying Habits.
Ascending to a new level of performance in any endeavor is a matter of taking intelligent risks well. Sales is no exception. Having written a book on intelligent risk-taking called The Power of Risk and often speaking to sales professionals, I’m regularly asked by ambitious sale people what ... Views: 2290
You hear the decision has been delegate and you believe it is no longer necessary to get to higher levels of influence. It’s common for senior managers to delegate or set-up committees to determine project scope and select vendors. However, senior managers never delegate or give-away final ... Views: 2286
The other day, my amazing copywriting director, Michele PW, shared something that really got me thinking.
She told me that the tide has turned and that beauty has finally come into its own.
The reason? Women.
Ugly Used to Sell
In the old days, copywriters, like Michele PW, who ... Views: 2282
Ten Steps to Persuasive Sales Presentations
By Diane DiResta
Selling is the life blood of any business and we are all in sales. Are your presentations as professional and persuasive as they could be? Follow these simple guidelines to make your sales presentations sparkle.
1. Start with a ... Views: 2274
Have you ever been in an . . . . intimate relationship? Yes, INTIMATE!
Let me ask you this, “HOW do you know?”
I know, stupid question and what’s this got to do with sales? Well, nothing really. Unless you’re a mover and shaker. Then you understand the psychology of seductive sales. Or ... Views: 2259
A short time ago, I was listening to co-workers discuss the current state of our economy, how it will effect people’s purchase decisions and the concern that our product and service prices are too high. The discussion reminded me of an old adage: If one person tells you, “You are a horse”, ... Views: 2254
As a professional presenter for over fourteen years, I’ve seen PowerPoint used well and poorly. Unfortunately, is seems to be used poorly more often that well. Here are some suggestions for making PowerPoint a positive part of your presentation.
The secret to using PowerPoint successfully ... Views: 2252
Jim Miller, an entertainment industry sales rep, burst into the room. He couldn’t contain himself, "I pitched a client today and actually walked out with a signed deal for $50,000! I couldn’t believe the confidence and the way that it works."
Confidence is a curious thing. We know it when we ... Views: 2249
A sales professional without desire is like an engine without fuel. Even the best engine will fail to perform when it is lacking the necessary fuel. An idle engine creates no momentum. Your sales efforts need momentum, not only to get things started but to keep things moving. Desire is your ... Views: 2248
Is there an alternative to cold calling in sales prospecting? There is and it's good old Google! Ah, Google! Possibly the greatest invention of the 20th Century. What did we ever do without it? I know what I did without it because I was selling before it existed. I can remember spending a whole ... Views: 2248
Interviewing is the most important step of sales calls and relationship development. Interviewing requires asking stimulating questions that get prospects to discuss their wants relative to what you’re offering. However, interviewing also requires active listening. That is, listening with and ... Views: 2241
I was in the depths of a major depression. As a third year sales person with a good company, I was doing well, and was on my way to becoming the top sales person in the nation for that company. But business had slowed down a little, and I didn't have my usual number of proposals out for ... Views: 2241
It's been said many times that prospects must feel they can trust you before they will buy from you. But what does "trust you" really mean? It's simple. Prospects need to know you and your company will do exactly what you tell them you will do, when you said you will do it.
Every time you ... Views: 2234
The best way to capture the attention of a C-Level executive is to interview him. Senior exec’s loved to be interviewed. Additionally interviewing serves many other purposes.
1. It puts the focus on the executive and high level people like to be the focus of attention.
2. They get to do ... Views: 2216
Do you remember the Lone Ranger? Everywhere he went he would leave something behind. No, it wasn't Tonto. It was a silver bullet.
He would be riding off into the sunset and invariably someone would ask, "Who was that masked man?" The response always went something like, "I don't know, but he ... Views: 2212
Like so many things we learn on all types of training courses to improve our skills, sales is no different. The answer to the old age question of ‘are salespeople born or taught’ in my opinion is obvious. Definitely sales people can be taught.
Day in and day out the skills of sales are taught ... Views: 2212
Perhaps one of the greatest myths about selling is the idea that a good salesperson is born not made. Many still believe the old idea that if you have got the gift of the gab, and can talk to anyone at any level, then you could probably sell sand to the Middle East. Unfortunately in the modern ... Views: 2209
Increase your sales by using these simple C-level relationship selling, sales tips. Steal your competitors’ accounts. They are qualified, and they buy your type of products / services. Your competitors sell to these accounts. So what’s not to like, except they are not buying from you. To ... Views: 2192
A CEO is working with a lot of papers on his desk. Underneath the papers there’s a sharp letter opener. As he slides the papers over to do another task, he hears the scrape of the letter opener on his beautiful wood desk. He looks and is distressed because it has left an ugly mark. He calls ... Views: 2188
Whether you’re in sales as a professional, an entrepreneur or a service professional these 10 quick tips from Vanessa Simpkins author of “From Bankrupt to $900 a Day Selling Mops” will make a HUGE difference to your bottom line.
1. Make an Intention for Your Day
Get into the habit of ... Views: 2183
Recently I’ve shown you how to get comformation product, mentorship, etc.
Today I’m going share with you three principles for a powerful close so that you can inspire on-the-spot action in your ideal clients—those people who are perfectly matched to you—without being salesy. You can give them ... Views: 2174
Most sales people know enough to ask questions. And every sales person has heard a thousand times to listen more than they speak. However, most sales people interrogate rather than interview. The difference is; interrogating is about the sales person, and interviewing is about the prospect or ... Views: 2161
Telemarketing Tips, Closing Incoming Telesales for Call Centers
Interest and credibility are the keys to successfully leading incoming callers to buy your products or services. When someone calls into your business, be it your, receptionist, multi-person phone bank or home office with an ... Views: 2155
Pump up Your Persuasive Powers!
Arnold Sanow – www.arnoldsanow.com
The art of persuasion is the ability to gain trust. It’s cultivated when someone believes you’re honestly communicating with them, and that you understand their needs. This is influenced by a complex combination of factors, ... Views: 2148
So many people tell me that they feel “yucky” when attempting to close a sale. They don’t want to feel that way and they don’t want their prospects to feel yucky either!
The key to erasing that concern is what you do before you make your irresistible offer. And this is: Give them a ton of ... Views: 2147
Two Keys for using oscillation in selling
Now you’re talking with a potential customer and looking for the closing opportunity. You have used the same approach many times and sometimes it’s an automatic “yes” and other times it’s a stall. You may have asked at the “no” end of the oscillation ... Views: 2135
Chances are, as a job requirement, you must submit a weekly sales report to your sales manager. Some sales representatives, normally those not at quota, perceive these sales reports as a policing action. “The boss is only checking up on me to ensure that I am doing my prospecting calls.” ... Views: 2123
Ahh the dreaded gatekeeper. For most salespeople, gatekeepers just might be the most emotionally frustrating and professionally challenging of all sales encounters. They can say “no” but they can rarely say “yes” to a value-oriented relationship with you.
While getting to the decision maker ... Views: 2122
Your presentation requires two key components to win. The first is to show your prospect you can give him or her what s/he wants. The second is to describe how you can do it better than any alternative. Better in an area of importance to someone is worth more money. Keep in mind, doing ... Views: 2119
It's a well-known sales technique to create urgency in order to get prospects to make a decision. For instance, a salesperson might say "Buy in the next 30 minutes, or the price will go up!"
The reason why creating urgency works so well in sales is because very often, people won't make ... Views: 2119
Did you watch the Dancing with the Stars finale this season? Yes, I admit it; I watch that show. I love the waltzes that are so graceful with the beautiful dresses and flowing fabric.
Hines Ward, of Pittsburgh Steelers fame, won. The cool thing about Hines is that when he danced, it ... Views: 2106
You are a professional sales person, you generally reach on or about target, and life is good.
Have you ever wondered just how some people become a sales legend? What secret do they have that is not common knowledge? Why do the same people win the competitions and make club year after year, ... Views: 2090
In his great military treatise, The Art of War, Chinese general Sun Tzu laid the plans for victory in any battle. Whether you’re a real estate investor, a top salesperson or anyone who goes to work for a living, we are all on a missions field. To be ready for that mission on a daily basis, ... Views: 2088
Telemarketing, just the mere word sends shivers of fear through many people. A lot of people consider this to be a pretty thankless job, but it is still one that has to be done. If you have a business, you have customers, as well as potential customers, and you probably have a calling list. It ... Views: 2077
Do This and Lose Sales
Focus on products lose sales, solutions make sales
The North Country is dumped on, 17 inches worth of the white cold stuff. Procrastination has hit, those slick road-hugging sports tires still on the car prove to be highly useless in the slick and hard packed ... Views: 2072
Do you wonder how you can be more persuasive? If you’ve ever experienced a top salesperson you recognize that these folks are very persuasive, but never manipulative. Many salespeople try to be persuasive, but end up being manipulative and don’t earn many sales.
One of ... Views: 2063
There was a moderate crush of people, but it wasn’t the fans; it was the pit crews. Watkins Glen soon enough would be filled with 50,000 cheering NASCAR aficionados for the afternoon race. The crews were there now.
They moved quickly and with purpose to their team’s designated position on ... Views: 2061
Prospecting leads is really the only part of your network marketing business that is going to make you money. This is the biggest reason why you want to become really good at it. The only way to do that is to practice a ton. Over the past 4 months I've picked up some really great tips that I ... Views: 2060
In some cases the best solutions would be the simplest. Concentrating on relationships when doing cold calls is one. It maintains us genuine, and eliminates our dread of doing phone calls. We’re real individuals dealing with real things. We are thinking about the dialogue, and it ... Views: 2052
How many times have you heard the executive who’ll make the final decision is too busy to meet with you? C-Levels and top executives have so many things to do. Well, something is wrong here because at some time the C-Level will have to take the time to learn before s/he makes the final ... Views: 2044
Your buyers from the top C-level echelon to lowly subordinates will stick buy you if you continue to meet their needs. Likewise, they will switch to competitors if you don’t. This means, if you want your competitors’ accounts, get to the c-level leaders and show them you can satisfy their needs ... Views: 2043
The reason for C-Suite selling is to attain the final yes on a contract or sale. Additionally, C-Suite selling is the most effective way to generated excitement to start a project or sale.
So what excites C-Suite executives to buy and/or initiate projects? It’s the expectation to eliminate ... Views: 2043
We have identified 5 separate sales rep motivational profiles. We have discussed a few in previous shows. As we continue on our motivational, leadership and coaching series on personality types and motivational profiles, today we are going to talk about the sales people that are primarily ... Views: 2040
Today's sale, this month's target, your yearly quota -- this is the game of your life. Why, because you're only as good as your last accomplishment. If you win, you're praised and rewarded. If you lose, you pay a toll no matter how bulletproof the excuse.
More importantly, it carries you ... Views: 2036
Re-kindle the Motivation Fire
“Today, take responsibility for your life. Have the courage to live it to the best of your ability”. Frank Richelieu, the Art of Being Yourself
One of the hardest challenges we all face in our lives is staying motivated. Whether it’s our job, work, staying ... Views: 2036
Now we’ve all had them.
If you haven’t had them, then you will have them.
If you have had them, then you know exactly what I am talking about.
And those are the most difficult sales people, the ones that are motivated through a variety of different motivations, but the biggest ... Views: 2033
Years ago, I heard Zig Ziglar say, “It is your attitude … more than your aptitude … that will determine your altitude.” When he said it, a lot of people saw it as a bit of fluff from a mere "motivational speaker." After all, Zig was a salesman. What did he know?
Apparently quite a bit. The ... Views: 2028
Spirituality, religious beliefs, and a sales career can oppose each other and cause internal conflict. One of the people I recently coached had a clash of beliefs when he moved from a customer service job to a role in direct sales. His beliefs about using selling techniques to influence others ... Views: 2026
All Sales professionals want to improve their sales skills. They are also on a hunt for a new sales tip, or a fresh thought to motivate themselves to achieve more sales this week. This article outlines the best, quickest, most accessible and cost free source for excellent sales tips and ... Views: 2023