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Posts Tagged ‘Offline Sales’

Trying to Reach a Prospect? Use the Rules of Dating

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

How to use the rules of dating to increase your sales success.

Sales Call

Sales organizations try to “pick up” new prospects all the time. When you think about the process you’ll see it’s a lot like dating. Here’s how:

  • The phone call – you must have something interesting and relevant to say. Make sure you know about the person and the company you are calling.
  • Avoid the cheesy pick up lines – have a point and state it. Save the clever lines for Larry the Cable Guy.
  • Don’t make it about you – no one cares what you want to do, they care about what they need or the problems they need solved. Focus your conversations in those directions.
  • Be considerate – never call during rush hours, at 5 p.m. on Friday or in the middle of the night (what date likes a call at closing time?).
  • Don’t compromise your integrity – no matter how pretty your date may be, don’t lie or mislead. If the situation is not right based upon truth and reality, walk away and look for a better fit.
  • Don’t go on and on – we’ve all talked to someone that didn’t know when to shut up. Deliver your message. Illustrate it and then move on to the next action.
  • Don’t beg and act like an idiot – state your case, answer the objection and make it happen…begging is unbecoming and does not position you well with the prospect.

5 Ways To Make Sales With Your Business Cards

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

How to create the perfect business card to boost your sales.

All companies have business cards yet few use them to maximum advantage.  Here are 5 tips to help you make more sales from your business cards.

1.  Include your email address

We speak to small and mid-size business owners at more than 30 events per year.  More than one out of every four business cards people give us at these events does not include an email address.  Your business card should always have an email contact address, even if it is not your personal one.

2.  Include a call-to-action

Give people a reason to shop your store or visit your website.  You do this by offering an “ethical bribe.”  The ethical bribe may be in the form of a discount offer (”use this card for $5 off your next oil change”) to an offer for free information (”visit our website for free diagnostic tools to grow your business”).  The point is to use your business card to keep its recipient involved with your company.

3.  Use the front and back

There are two sides to a business card and yet over 75% of the cards we receive have one side that is blank.  You are wasting valuable selling space and your incremental cost increase for two-sided printing is minimal.  Use both sides of your business card to fully tell your story.

4.  Include business hours and retail locations

It’s easy and a real convenience to your clients.  Let them know when you are available to help them and where you are located (but don’t worry about including a map, as it is a waste of business card space in the internet era.

5.  Feature Credit Options

Many times the statement, “We accept all major credit cards” or including credit card images on your business card makes more sales.  In today’s economic times consumers are using their plastic, make sure it’s clear to them what plastic you take.

Every time you pass out your business card should be viewed as an opportunity to create a business relationship that makes you money.  Incorporate these changes into your business cards and you’ll see a positive bottom-line impact.

 
  
 

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