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.
You could be generating 50% to 100% more sales with your marketing. How? By working with basic human nature to convert more of your prospects to customers.
Each week 100 or 1000 people visit your web site or read your small business marketing materials but only a handful of those are contacting ... Views: 1203
In the retail industry, it seems as though we are constantly faced with the issue of trying to find new customers. Most of us are obsessed with making sure our advertising, displays, and pricing all “scream out” to attract new customers. This focus on pursuing new customers is certainly prudent ... Views: 1202
When I was growing up I lived in a small town. There was a real community to the town. My family’s community included rural and town people, church members, schoolteachers, community business and political leaders and friends. Everyone looked after and kept an eye out for members of the group. ... Views: 1202
"This sales training will increase your sales."
How often have you heard that when looking for sales training? Whether it’s a book, a CD, DVD, or a live course by a well known sales trainer, how do you know if it will work for you. If you’re investing money into improving your sales skills, or ... Views: 1200
Going back to the basics in sales tips is like starting a new exercise program. Muscles working out in an established routine may no longer respond to toning or strengthening. Sales skills in your regular routine may never get a tune up. Like physical exercise, why not tune-up your sales skills? ... Views: 1199
‘Gunk’ is usually what that nasty stuff which collects in the engine and other car parts is called if you don’t change car fluids regularly. But gunk can also refer to bird poop, splattered insects, even some soap scum that sits on the surface after washing a car. Just like this wide variety of ... Views: 1199
Saving the Lost Sale
There is a powerful technique you can learn called the "I Want To Think It Over Close." This is the only way I know to save this kind of lost sale. You know by now that when the customer says, "I want to think it over," he is really saying "good bye." You know from your own ... Views: 1197
Motivating your sales team is just one aspect of the job of a sales manager, but it is all encompassing in that it also includes all of the other things that you do as a sales manager. Sales managers are not only coaching and leading, but there should also be an undercurrent of motivation in ... Views: 1197
A sales professional’s success is determined by your willingness to invest in yourself. There are two areas for personal development that most will invest in, and one area only Top Producers invest in. Those who aren’t Top Producers never even think to invest in themselves in this ... Views: 1196
My dog, Chanel, is awesome. With a petite size tennis ball in her mouth she stands at my office door when she is ready to go out and play. She stands there with eyes on me until I say something like, “Let’s go play!” Many salespeople are mystified about how to get a prospect to listen to them to ... Views: 1196
The best sales people never sell. They never sit over you and shove a contract and a pen under you nose wanting you to sign. They never encourage you to buy the outfit that they know and you know you don’t really like. They don’t lump you with a “once in a lifetime opportunity”. Quite ... Views: 1196
It is an unspoken dream of every sales associate to be the manager of a sales team later in their career. To accomplish this feast, sales professionals work long hours and leave no stone unturned; unfortunately, due to lack of exposure and time being a constraining factor in skill upgrade, many ... Views: 1195
Cold calling is a fact of life for most people in sales. Sure, the vast majority would prefer to rely on referrals, word-of-mouth, or some other lead source that reduces or eliminates their need to make cold calls. However, unless you deal with an established set of accounts, you will, at some ... Views: 1195
When you send sales literature in the post your job is only just starting not ending. Make sure you know how to develop this to make the sale.
All too frequently sales people spend an inordinate amount of time posting out literature to prospective clients and customers. Generally it is ... Views: 1194
Many sales are lost because salespeople assume they know what the customer wants. Sales people like to made assumptions of knowledge about what the buyer wants and needs, or sometimes more important why the buyer might be motivated to buy. Using one’s instincts and sixth sense is fine in ... Views: 1193
The 80/20 principle is also know as the Pareto principle after the economist who developed it. It is an almost universal principle that can be applied to business and life. It generally shows us that 80% of your return comes from 20% of your effort. We use this principle right throughout our ... Views: 1193
Despite our best efforts, some of the deals we work on will at some pint in the sales process stall. How can you extricate yourself from the land of no-decision for those cases in which - despite your best efforts - your deals nevertheless grinds to a halt.
There are three points in the ... Views: 1192
A colleague of mine who’s a young serial entrepreneur has a sign over his computer. It reads, “Goal: Own the San Francisco 49ers.” And it has a date that’s not so far away.
When we talk I always ask about progress. Last week I asked him, “Can you at least buy the 22ers yet?”
Interestingly ... Views: 1191
Many sales people, from those with experience to newcomers to the industry, go to sales seminars hoping to learn the tricks to get rid of the many struggles associated with selling.
The more hopeful amongst them are aiming to find the holy grail of selling techniques which will close every ... Views: 1191
The analysts are, in increasing numbers, starting to tout the end of the recession, but for most of us, it still seems quite slow out there. Even if you’re the most talented salesperson, you probably have noticed that an annoying number of your prospects are stuck in your pipeline. Ok, it’s not ... Views: 1191
”It won’t be easy, but …it could be the most challenging, most rewarding thing you’ve ever done”, reads a recent ad for State Farm Insurance. It could apply to nearly every business opportunity ad you’ve ever read or considered for any service business. ... Views: 1191
We’ve all been exposed to the notion of the business cycle: customer has need/problem, determines solution to need/problem, makes decision & commitment to purchase, and finally goes through the implementation process. For the B2B salesperson, this cycle must be repeated effectively and ... Views: 1191
How to Read the Cards
Now that we have a general idea of each social style (previous article “Build Rapport Quickly and Drive up Your Closing Ratios!”), let’s look at how to spot styles in others. Remember that we’re all complex, unique individuals – made up of aspects of all styles. What we’re ... Views: 1190
Not long ago, I was planning a party with my friends. We wanted a big party, something boisterous, something people would talk about. So, we set out to create a guest list and invite as many people as possible.
Then we got to one particular person. There was a pause. Then finally, my friend ... Views: 1190
Negotiation and Negotiating Skills are some of the most sought after sales training courses. People seek out negotiation tips, negotiating strategies and scour the web for processes to win against the 'other' person in a negotiation. It may come as a surprise to you but your own worst enemy in a ... Views: 1190
For every business, training is an important part and it is highly essential if it is a big business concern. Sales team are important part of any company and one could see immediate results in the growth of the company after making them to undergo training with the help of professionals. It is ... Views: 1190
It doesn’t matter if you are in an auto sales training, TV and radio sales, estate sales or time share sales in my conversations with sales management over the years, I’ve found that top producers all have one thing in common: they’ve taken the time to sit down and create goals for themselves ... Views: 1189
THE 5-LETTER WORD THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR YEAR AND FUTURE
By Aaron Schulman: Long on Life
This could be perhaps the most basic, but the most important letter you read all year, because it can turn a would-be bankrupt year into a profitable year, and a mediocre year into an exceptional ... Views: 1189
Cold Calling - It Can Make or Break Your Sales Success
How to cold call. Cold calling is slowly becoming a lost art. However, it is still one of the most powerful tools that a sales and marketing organization can enlist. For starters, a lot less companies untilze cold calling these days. That ... Views: 1188
The drawn out recession has snapped many salespeople back into reality. Regardless of the industry, the days of fast and easy sales are over. So-called sales professionals who have forgotten or never learned basic proven selling techniques are now realizing that they better ramp up their efforts ... Views: 1188
Top salespeople have similar habits to collector car enthusiasts. A car collector or enthusiast can have what is referred to as a ‘daily driver,’ or an every day driving automobile. A ‘trailer queen’ car simply goes from a heated and air-conditioned garage to a trailer for transportation to a ... Views: 1188
As I was riding down the road last week, I noticed a billboard. As I sat waiting on a stoplight I kept staring at it. I couldn’t help wondering what those people were thinking when they created that thing. It made no sense to me whatsoever. The focus was completely off. They were spending ... Views: 1185
The Internet has changed how people do their business. Even small business owners are able to reach global market inexpensively nowadays, selling anything from apparel, collectibles, to computer software, service and coaching.
The core of every business is sales. Many of the strategies to ... Views: 1185
Are you selling at the right level?
One of the common mistakes salespeople make is they fail to recognize at what level they should be selling their products or services. There are 5 possible sales levels where you can direct your energy, time and talent in the sales process. They are selling ... Views: 1184
Steve called from Minneapolis to ask how to attract new clients for his auto repair shop. He has been in business for two years and has four trained technicians to keep busy, but he was having difficulty attracting enough new customers.
Steve wasn't just waiting for people to show up at his ... Views: 1183
Rollup banners are becoming increasingly popular amongst businesses that wish to effectively promote their goods or services in a cost effective manner. Today, you can find rollup banners everywhere from your local grocery store to the doorsteps of large supermarket chains. A rollup banner is ... Views: 1182
Many of us often wonder how a particular businessman fares better than other in spite of recession or stiff competition. How often have you as a customer walked into a store second time just because your previous experience was pleasant. How many of you have changed your service providers on ... Views: 1181
In order for internet marketers to be able to earn a long term income they must be willing to evolve with any changes they encounter! It's very easy to get comfortable with the way you're marketing your business or even the products you offer but changes will and do occur that you'll need to ... Views: 1181
Warren Buffett says, “You don’t have to swing at everything -- you can wait for your pitch.” Buffett is fond of baseball and often uses the game to illustrate his philosophy. In deal making you get to stand at the plate all day, and you never have to swing. A business leader can wait for the ... Views: 1180
Smile and the whole world smiles with you – well, possibly your banker will! Having a positive and optimistic attitude helps you bring in business as new customers connect with your message and are filled with excitement over the opportunity of working with you. The secret is to educate your ... Views: 1179
Reform translates as change. The newest Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) requirement of 80% for the individual and small business market along with 85 percent for large business coverage established by healthcare reform could have increasingly long-term implications for many insurers.
Approximately ... Views: 1178
In the world of business, selling and negotiating with your clients or customer is not easy. Your intelligence cannot always help you. Sometimes what help a lot are your charm and your wittiness. Use your intelligence, charm and wit and empower it using the power of persuasion.
I believe that ... Views: 1178
Every day we’re hearing about how tough it is out there. Prospects won’t take calls. Budgets are on hold. And yet, I remain optimistic, seeing opportunity all around us. While many clients are halting spending, others are getting creative and looking at their businesses from new perspectives. ... Views: 1177
One disadvantage of selling by telephone is the lack of face to face contact.
When you are sitting with a prospect it is much easier to read there body language. You can see the look on their face when they are confused about something you said. You can see the delight when you hit a hot ... Views: 1177
Unfortunately, many average salespeople leave the closing of a deal purely to chance. Sure, they make some sales but if you compare their end results with those of a professional you will find there will be a massive gap. Professional and successful sales people always have a plan in place ... Views: 1176
Sales People fall into 3 categories.
Can't afford to lose them
Can't afford to pay them
Can't afford to leave
Can't Afford to Lose Them
There are certain individuals who deliver so much value, that it usually takes half their working life for the pay structure to catch up with ... Views: 1174
Over the years I’ve read a hundred sales books with all kinds of different approaches and ideas. Some were very good and others left questions about their authors understanding of selling.
When ever I found myself in a slump or things just didn’t seem to work the answer always seem to be in ... Views: 1174
By most predictions 2010 is looking like a better year for business and the economy. Your company has probably cut expenses to the bone and there is no budget for sales training programs that don’t produce results.
So why not start your New Year off on the right foot by setting goals and ... Views: 1174