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Sales Professionalism

What An MBA Didn’t Teach You About Sales

The sales profession is challenging. You need to work hard at it to succeed. You need to learn from the best. You need to improve your skills continuously. If you think you can sell since you are a hit at parties and have a lot of friends, you may soon find that you are a failure as a salesperson. Blunt truth:

because the sales profession is so hard, you have to focus on doing everything in sales very well, or you will be considered a failure.

I call this blog, Skinned Knees because I try to relate all of the learning that I have done over the past 4+ decades (while skinning my knees in the learning process).

I hope that you learn from my mistakes so that your business will grow!

Tip #7 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Check in with current clients

Sales is about finding the best ways to reach new customers and grow your business efficiently. However, it’s essential not to overlook what you already have. Your current clients are one of your most valuable resources for growth – by serving them better than ever, you can open up a whole world of possibilities for expansion and success. In this video, I will challenge you to leverage your relationships with existing clientele to maximize opportunities… Tip #7 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Check in with current clients

Tip #6 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Embrace new technology

New technologies are dramatically changing how businesses operate across all industries, from analytics to artificial intelligence and from automation to social media. As our world becomes more technologically advanced, so does the competitive landscape for salespeople looking to grow their organizations. To stay ahead of this curve, salespeople must learn to embrace these growing technological trends and leverage them for competitive advantage to remain successful in today’s marketplace. In this video, we’ll explore how these… Tip #6 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Embrace new technology

Tip #5 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Know your customers better

Whether you’re a salesperson or manager, understanding how and why prospects make and lose money is a crucial element in helping them make intelligent business decisions. Knowing this can help you hone in on the solutions you offer that will benefit their bottom line, making it easier to close more deals. In this video, we explore the following: This is the 5th video of 12 that explores how you can start the new year strongly.… Tip #5 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Know your customers better

Tip #4 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Improve Time Management

As we turn the page on a new year, it’s time for salespeople and sales managers to put their best foot forward by establishing efficient and practical time management habits. Every successful salesman knows that prioritizing goals correctly, staying ahead of deadlines, and honing in on your target audience are hallmarks of a successful selling approach. By beginning the new year off with practical strategies for better utilization of time spent working, you can create… Tip #4 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Improve Time Management

Tip #3 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Be (more) curious

The New Year is almost here. If you are in Sales, life is easier if you get out of the gate with incredibly strong revenue. One of the best ways to do that is to plan ahead for the activities that will influence your revenue production. We have all heard of the 12 days of Christmas. This post is part of my series of 12 posts on how to strongly start the new year and… Tip #3 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Be (more) curious

Tip #2 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Set a big goal for the year ahead

We have all heard of the 12 days of Christmas. This post is part of my series of 12 posts on how to strongly start the new year and drive revenue for your company and you. In this video, we discuss the following: GOALS MATTER! Always start the New Year committed to making 100% of your quota! In fact, you should set a goal of OVER 100% of your quota! You can check out all… Tip #2 of 12 – How To Start The New Year STRONG! – Set a big goal for the year ahead

The Benefits of Sending a Newsletter to Your Customers and Qualified Prospects

A newsletter is one of the best tools you can use to maintain a relationship with your existing customers and qualified prospects that are uninterested in buying your product or service at this time. By sending out a newsletter quarterly, you can keep your brand top-of-mind so that when they are ready to make a purchase, they will think of your company first. You can reach an even wider audience by posting your newsletter on LinkedIn.

There are several benefits of sending a newsletter to your customers and qualified prospects, including:

  1. Keeping your brand top-of-mind: By sending out a quarterly newsletter, you can keep your brand top-of-mind so that when your customers or qualified prospects are ready to make a purchase, they will think of your company first.
  2. Developing a relationship with customers and qualified prospects: A newsletter is a great way to establish a relationship with your customers and qualified prospects. You can build trust and credibility with your readers by providing valuable information in each issue.
  3. Reaching a wider audience: Posting your newsletter to LinkedIn provides you with an opportunity to reach an even wider audience. When you post your newsletter on LinkedIn, include a call-to-action so that your readers know what you want them to do next.
  4. Generating leads: Including a call-to-action in each issue of your newsletter is a great way to generate leads.
  5. Increasing sales: By sending out a quarterly newsletter, you can increase sales by reminding your customers of the products or services they’ve purchased from you in the past and introducing them to new products or services that they may be interested in.
  6. Building customer loyalty: A newsletter is also a great way to build customer loyalty. By providing valuable information and helpful tips, you can show your customers that you value their business and are invested in helping them succeed.
  7. Enhancing customer service: In each issue of your newsletter, include contact information for customer service so that your readers know how to reach someone if they have questions or need assistance.
  8. Boosting morale: A well-written and informative quarterly newsletter can boost your employees’ morale by keeping them up-to-date on company news and developments.

Let’s explore these concepts even more.

Read the rest of the article…

Do You Have A Great Sales Plan?

Are you experiencing any of the following common sales issues? Inability to take sales “to the next level” Difficulty finding the “right” salesperson for your company Not sure where to start – “I don’t know what I don’t know” Lack of a formal sales process Stalled out proposals Not being able to effectively articulate the value proposition, solution or service Great companies deserve a great plan You have developed incredible offerings. You have solid leadership… Do You Have A Great Sales Plan?

happy black woman laughing on street

The Pay Is High and Jobs Are Plentiful, but Few Want to Go Into Sales

According to ZipRecruiter and the Wall Street Journal, people are hesitant to go into sales for a career. ZipRecruiter shows the number of sales roles advertised has risen steadily this year, up 65% to more than 700,000 open positions around the U.S., after big layoffs decimated the field at the outset of the pandemic a year ago. Many young workers erroneously assume that sales work means convincing customers to buy with high-pressure tactics and are… The Pay Is High and Jobs Are Plentiful, but Few Want to Go Into Sales