Are You Selling 'til They Snooze?
With the economy doing what it's doing, even the most positive individuals are stressing from lack of customers.  It's making people revert to bad selling habits that can only backfire and potentially ruin a longer customer relationship.  Even though I'm a marketer, I've been a sales manager and we all know in small business, Everbody's Got To Sell.  Here are some observations and remedies for With the economy doing what it's doing, even the most positive individuals are stressing from lack of customers.  It's making people revert to bad selling habits that can only backfire and potentially ruin a longer customer relationship.  Even though I'm a marketer, I've been a sales manager and we all know in small business, Everbody's Got To Sell.  Here are some observations and remedies for your jangling sales nerves. 
 
Desperate Times - If you are approaching everyone you see looking for an opportunity to sell yourself, you probably reek of desperation. When have you ever bought from a desperate person, except maybe out of pity?  Desperation make some people a little crazy because they are focusing on lack.  I truly believe you get more of what you focus on. While it's wise to review the numbers, don't dwell.  Accept them and start focusing on what you're going to change in your sales process to move them up and eight. 
 
What Time Is It? - Do you look at your watch or do you launch into the history of Greenwich Mean Time?  I've said it before and I'll say it again - no one cares about your business, only what it can do for them. Almost everyone in business, particularly those with complex products or solutions has certain industry jargon and information that is way over the head of your target.  Occasionally, someone wants to learn all the details before buying but certainly not in the first meeting.  Check yourself next time someone looks away while you're talking or seems glazed over.  What are you saying right now?  You've probably launched into an overly complex description or a sales pitch before qualifying the person.  
 
Respect People's Time - Countless people feel that being granted a meeting means open season to take as long as they can keep you.  (I now make a point of sandwiching certain meetings together so I can make a clean break.)  If you are given the opportunity to pitch someone have a planned end time, remind the person that you intend to be done by that time and stick to it.  If it's informal, like a networking coffee, don't plan any sort of formal pitch.  
 
Snap Out of It - It warrants repetition:  No One Cares About Your Company!  They only care what it can do for them.  If you honestly think all people want to know the explicit details of your process, I recommend you get out of business and go into teaching. Everyone will be happier.  If you can swallow this hard pill, then figure out what you offer that is exponentially better than anyone else in your field.  
 
Benefits and results first; signed contracts later.   You know you will run into people: at lunch, networking, on weekends, online.  Plan for those encounters in advance.  You certainly can't expect to close a sale in a first meeting.  Think about these casual meetings in advance so people actually will want to talk with you at parties instead of looking for a way out of a conversation with you.
 
Paula Pollock is Director of the Pollock Marketing Group:  helping business owners attract consistent clients with less effort.  To receive her quick-read, weekly marketing tips and her Special Report, “7 Client Attraction Secrets That Will Double Your Income,” CLICK HERE and sign up.www.paulapollock.com
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