Month: December 2014

Categories
Sales

6 Sales Practices You Must Continuously Make Time For

Sales Techniques Growth

Working in sales, there are a number of activities which should never be considered “complete”, and should be continuously worked on. The following practices will help you grow and perfect your talent in sales, and in turn close more deals. Putting time and effort into lifelong skill sets will garner you lifelong returns – no matter what it is you are selling.

Are you consistently working on these practices in order to increase your effectiveness?

1. Networking

The most important parts of sales are talking, making connections, and building relationships. Whether you’re selling a product or service, promoting a business, building up an affiliate network, or the like, having a large network of friends, acquaintances and business associates will always benefit you.

2. Building Your Pipeline

Researching exactly who you target audience is, where they are, and what has been working in the past in order to turn prospects into clients or customers is step one in keeping your sales funnel full. Once you know whom you are going after, and what has worked on similar prospects, you can begin to target those in your network that may have interest in your product. Remember, sales cycles vary extensively. Depending on your sales proposition, someone may need to be in the pipeline for two years. So, continuously moving people from stage to stage through the pipeline, and getting new prospects into the pipeline will ensure you always have a target to be working on.

Providing Value3. Providing Value

You can’t continue selling the same thing for years, to the same people, and never make any changes to the value they are getting out of it. Figure out how exactly your product or service actually benefits people, and think of ways to add onto or augment that. Is what you’re selling going to earn that person more money? Is it going to make their life easier in some way? Keep your business relationships strong by making sure your product continues to benefit your customers, and creates value for new customers.

4. Educating

This practice refers to educating yourself and educating others. Never stop reading, observing, and listening to information regarding your industry, customers, and product or service. Learn from those around you who are having success in your business. Depending on what you are selling, make sure your customer understands the product, and continues to learn about that product, and new products your business may develop. Perhaps your product or service has some difficult to understand features, or financial intricacies – blogs and videos are a fantastic way to educate your audience.

5. Honing Your Pitch

Every time you complete a pitch, you should be making notes on what resonated with your audience, how that audience may have been different than another, and what changes you should make. The more times you practice and give your pitch, the more natural it will become. Sometimes however, your pitch should be altered to be more of a networking conversation than the quintessential “elevator pitch” to a customer or investor. Work on different ways to get your point across to various audiences. Over time you will become a master of owning the room, and winning someone over no matter what their starting viewpoint.

6. Garnering Feedback

You can’t always rely on yourself alone to figure out what went right and what went wrong during a pitch. Ask your family, friends, customers or clients that are now advocates what it was that reeled them in, and what almost lost them! Simple tips here and there from peers, your role models in the industry, and even friends and family will help you perfect your sales techniques.

After reading through the tips, it should make total sense why these activities should be ongoing for your entire sales career. There will never be a time that you have finished learning or networking, for example. The more focus and emphasis you put on these activities, the more you will see the benefits of them.

Did we miss anything? What are some sales practices that you continue to build upon day after day and year after year in order to make you a better salesman? Share in the comment section!

 

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Categories
Marketing Social Media

7 Social Media Tools You Can’t Live Without

social media tools 795x390

Let’s face it: there isn’t a business today that wouldn’t benefit from the use of marketing and promotion via social media.  Whether the business you own or work for sells a product or provides a service, having branded social media pages, and employees of the business assist in promotion is bound to generate more web traffic and more leads, if done correctly.

Posting the right content, with the right image, at the right time, has become known as the science of social media success. Content (both unique and curated content) posted to your business pages on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and the like should be relevant and engaging. Images created should be eye catching, appealing, and professional. Businesses should research the best time to post based on who their target audience is, what platforms they are on, and at what time.

All of the tactics mentioned above are critical for social media success. The following social media tools are designed to help make that “social media science” a whole lot easier for the inexperienced marketer. Use the social media tools to your advantage, whether you are a social media guru, or just beginning to look for new ways to promote your business!

Curating Content

The most important part of your social media strategy is hands down choosing content that is relevant, interesting, and/or helpful in some way to YOUR target audience. The following two social media tools make it easy to find articles to post based on the subject matter you are looking for, OR give you ideas of popular subject matter you can repurpose into your own original blog post, infographic, white paper, e-book, etc.

Buzz Sumo

1. Buzz Sumo

Type in the subject matter you are looking for, use the filters along the sides to narrow by time frame, etc., then post the links of the most popular, and most shared articles from the list. It’s as simple as that!

2. Alltop

The main page shows you all of the hottest articles at the moment, in every category. Use the search function at the top to narrow down the articles to the subject matter you are looking for. Find the most popular links for you business to share.

Creating Social Media Posts

The next step in ensuring your success on social platforms is to be able to create unique and eye-catching images of your own, and to use the right language and hashtags that will increase clicks. These are especially important on your own original content, since this work has most likely already been done for you when you’re just reposting someone else’s article. These next social media tools will help you increase the amount of clicks you get on your social media posts.

Canva

3. Canva

This social design tool has tons of images, fonts, and pre-designed layouts to assist you in your mission. Many images are free, and the rest are simply $1.00 a piece on a pay as you go service. Follow the simple tutorials during sign up, and you’ll be creating professional grade social images before you know it!

4. Pic Monkey

Another awesome social deign tool that allows you to edit, re-size, and add text and logos to pictures. This social media tool is fantastic for editing the colors, features, etc. or already existing pictures. For $10/month, you can use the “Royale” features, which are highly recommended if you will be using this service often.

5. Hashtagify.me

Adding hashtags to your post can dramatically increase your reach and clicks, if used correctly. Once you have the content and image you are going to post, you want to make sure you are using the most relevant hashtags possible.  Type the most relevant subject matter into the search box, and switch your results into table mode. The results will be returned to you by popularity of the hashtag, and relevance of the original term you typed in. For example, let’s say you are an affiliate marketer for Domain Cost Club, posting the most current domain news. You may find that “#domain” is way more likely to be clicked than “#domains” – in which case you would want to choose the more popular tag!

Scheduling Your Posts

The most efficient way to make sure your posts go out at the right time, and give you easy to understand analytics is to use a social scheduling application. These last two social media tools will save you time and energy, while giving you accurate tips on how to optimize your social efforts!

Buffer

6. Buffer

Buffer allows you to quickly choose a schedule by day and time of when you want your posts to go out. Once your schedule is created, you can simply link each of your social pages to the app and quickly paste your links and/or posts in the box to go into the queue. The analytics function gives you an overall view of your top performing posts, ReTweets, shares, and more.

7. Hootsuite

The Hootsuite platform allows you to schedule each individual post as you go, throughout the week. You can set up different feeds based on mentions, shares, ReTweets, scheduled posts, and posts that have gone out – all on one easy to understand dashboard. The analytics function allows you to turn your results into charts and graphs to see your success.

No matter what kind of business you are in, these social media tools will make finding, creating, and posting social media content an absolute breeze. Even beginners will be able to do it. Although professional social marketers often use these social media tools, people that own a small business, or earn money from home with an online business will find these tools extremely beneficial and easy to use.

What about YOU? Do you have any social media tools that you just couldn’t live without? Share them in the comment section!

 

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Categories
Sales

9 Tips for a Flawless Elevator Pitch

hand shake

If you are in sales, have worked for a startup, or are an entrepreneur, then you have definitely heard the term “elevator pitch.” For those of you that don’t know, an elevator pitch refers to the ability to sell your product or service to someone, and hopefully pique their interest in it, within the time it takes to ride in an elevator with them (less than a minute).  The elevator pitch, which is obviously not always going to happen in an elevator, is useful when explaining your business to an investor, a potential client or customer, or a potential partner.

The truth is, having an elevator pitch prepared when people ask, “what do you do?” is crucial for any person working at any business. You never know when a casual conversation could turn into a business deal, so being prepared when the time comes will most certainly benefit you.

The following 9 tips will help you to convey your “pitch” clearly and concisely, without coming across as a “salesman.”

1. Short and Sweet

As mentioned above, this description of your business needs to be under a minute long, while still being clear about what it is you are offering. Don’t use jargon related to your industry – assume this person knows nothing about your business and spoon-feed them the idea.

For example, if you’re an online marketing agency, don’t say “we have expertise in SEO.” Instead, say “we help businesses get their websites on the first page of Google’s search results.”

2. Clear Benefit

Speak in terms of what this product or service will do for THEM. You will have to tailor this to your audience; whether it is a potential customer or client, a potential partner, or an investor. Regardless, let them know how this product or service will make their life easier, better, or solve a problem for them. Explain this right away in simple terms.

For example, let’s say you are an affiliate marketer for Domain Cost Club, and you are trying to get a potential new member to join. You would want to let them know about the flexibility of working from home, the exponential earning value, and of course the overall value of the DCC membership in terms of discounted domains.

3. Differentiation

So you’ve explained the benefit of the product or service, now it’s time to integrate your unique selling proposition into the pitch and explain why this person should want to buy from or invest in YOU instead of your competitors.

Going back to our example above, there are many companies that offer affiliate marketing programs. You would want to explain why DCC is the best place to become an affiliate marketer. Perhaps you would want to mention how easy it is to get started, the stellar support offered in building your network, or the top-notch level of the actual product you are selling.

Make money with affiliate marketing4. Greed Factor

Everyone wants to make money, and everything relates back to ROI – it’s as simple as that. Quickly explain how your product or service will either make or save this person money. If your business doesn’t directly do that, figure out an indirect way to integrate this concept.

Someone who is potentially interested in an affiliate marketing opportunity, for example, will be most interested in the possibility of, ease of, and length of time it will take to start making money.

5. Credentials

Explain who you are, and your affiliation with this product or service. What do you do for the company and why are you qualified to be speaking about or selling it? This would also be a great time to include some recent success stats.

If you earned $15,000 in your first quarter as an affiliate marketer, that would be a great selling point to a potential new member you are trying to close. Relate to them and let them know you have been where they are.

6. Easy to Join

No one wants to go through a long, overdrawn process to get involved with or join something. If all they have to do is fill out a simple form, some short paperwork, or view a 10-minute slideshow to get started – point that out.

7. Leave them Wanting More

Remember, this first encounter is just a door opener to a more in depth conversation. Keep the upper hand in the conversation and pique their interest just enough for them to want to learn more. The more you talk, the less interest your garner. Stop when you know they seem interested, and then suggest getting together another time to go more in depth or show them more facts and figures.

8. Be Conversational

No one – I repeat, NO ONE – likes to be “sold to”. Do not sell your product, service, or yourself to this other person. Keep it casual and conversational – this works great in a social setting. Get your point across, and don’t push.

9. Practice, Practice, Practice…

You already know practice makes perfect! Practice this elevator pitch on your family and friends. Do they automatically understand the points you’re trying to get across? Would it make them interested in learning more? The more you repeat your key points, the more casual it will come across when this moment occurs in a natural setting.

Including the factors above in your elevator pitch will not guarantee that you get your investment, or close the sale – it is only meant to open the door to a secondary conversation.

With a large focus on #7 and #8, you give yourself the upper hand in this sales-driven conversation. Acting natural, as though you would be helping THEM achieve success by allowing them to participate in your offer will help draw the other person in, and give you leverage to hopefully close the deal in the secondary meeting you are bound to set up!

 

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Categories
Work From Home

10 Ways To Be Unbelievably Productive While Working From Home

In this digital era, the amount of ways to make money on the Internet, from the comfort of your own home, are seemingly endless. However, in this game of opportunity, the unproductive, unorganized, and unprepared can be easily left behind.

For example, companies that need affiliate marketing services to help push their products out, will allow you to work, network, and promote from home, then send you your commission payments after they see your results.   Easy as pie, right? Well – as long as you are the type of person who can actually be productive while working from home.

Here are a few tips to ensure your success in getting your work done right on a daily basis:

1. Get Up and Get Ready for “Work”

Even though you’re working from home, pretend that you are actually getting up to go to a job that requires you to be in on time. Set your alarm, get up early, get dressed, work out, and eat breakfast. Create a morning routine that gets you going, and one you stick to day after day.

2. De-clutter

No one likes working in a messy, cluttered environment. It’s distracting and causes anxiety. Make sure your workspace is clean and ready to go by the time you sit down. Have everything you need for the first part of your morning on your desk – notepad, coffee, water, pens, laptop, etc. No excuses to get up and wander around the house.

3. Have a Designated “Office”

This one is VERY important. Designate a room with a desk and a door. Don’t work where you sleep, got it? Close the door, and make sure any family members or family pets nearby know that when the door is closed, it means you are currently operating a business.

4. Make a To-do List by Priority

Make this list every single morning, without fail. Physically write down the projects and tasks you need to complete by the end of the day. Get as granular as “responding to emails”. If it needs to get done, write it down – and prioritize by importance.

5.  Decide on Your “NUMBER ONE” Task for the Day

This “NUMBER ONE” should also be the number one item on your “To-do List”. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world contributed to an article that stated their productivity comes from focusing their day (or week, or quarter, etc.) around ONE specific goal – and not starting another until that one is complete. The mindset being “those who multitask fail – those who focus succeed”.

Productivity work from home6. Book Appointments in Your Calendar for Work and Breaks

Use your “To-do List” to time your activities and tasks throughout the day. Allow time for every activity you need to realistically complete, including posting on social media and lunch. This overall calendar should also be used when scheduling calls and meetings in advance. Then, you should incorporate your daily “To-do List” around your pre-scheduled events.

7. Set Aside Specific Time to Plan and Brainstorm

Rest, freedom, and creativity can actually make you more productive. Set aside time in your calendar for “free thinking”. Use that time to research and plan things, come up with new ideas, and innovate. Just don’t waste that time checking your phone, or changing the laundry.

8. Try Incorporating Theme Days

Some people work best when their entire day revolves around one particular “theme”. For example, let’s say you are an affiliate marketer for Domain Cost Club. Perhaps your Monday is geared towards Cold Calling, Tuesdays are for activities that grow your social media following, Wednesdays are for all activities that support email marketing, Thursdays are for team brainstorming and networking meetings…you get the idea! This concept also lends itself to the “NUMBER ONE” task of the day.

9.  PUT. THE CELL PHONE. DOWN

Lock it in a drawer and put it on silent. Don’t open the drawer until the designated time in your calendar for phone checking, and returning calls. Encourage people to schedule calls in advance, so that it is already factored into your schedule for the day.

10. Give Yourself a Grade at the End of Each Day

You will be surprised at how affective this last tip is. Obviously you are on the honor system here, but give it a try. See how many things from your to-do list you accomplished that day. Was everything done to the best of your ability? Are you proud of what you accomplished? Give yourself a letter grade for the day, and see how many “A’s” you can get each week. You could even assign yourself a prize for a good “report card”!

Opportunity for success will never be the issue when it comes to working online from home.  The challenge comes in continually learning your craft to the best of your ability, perseverance, and actually doing the work at hand. Make a conscious effort to try these tips, and see how much more you can accomplish in a day!

 

 

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