Diva Sales Tips

     Wow - what a week!

 I recently was in Dallas, speaking at a massive conference for http://www.ewomennetwork.com/ and it was absolutely incredible.  There were SO MANY fabulous women there who are interested in growing their business.  (If you’re not a member already - you should definitely join!)

And because I’m the Sales Diva - I love watching how people sell.

Some are good…and wellllllll…some are NOT so good!

You get to see sooooo many different types of salespeople and business owners in action.  What they are doing right as well as where they are struggling.

There was something I noticed that many women were slipping up on.

Timing.

What were they doing? Trying to close the deal 2 seconds after they had met you. 

EGAD.

 So why does this hurt you in the long run?

 There is ZERO RELATIONSHIP. 

And you come across as pushy and amateurish.  I call it “being a cheeseball”

However - you can be a GOOD cheeseball if you know how to let people try you out vs going for the KILL.

What Should You Do Instead?  Be Spreadable!

• Let Them Sample You.  How can they try your product or service? Either immediately or after the conference?
• Give Them Something So They’ll Sign Up For Free Tips!  A free report, a CD, something right there at the conference etc will encourage people to sign up for your database….which is worth MORE than a quick and little sale!
• Get Them Talking About You! If you and your service are a WOW - then people will start spreading the word about you! How spreadable are you?

I’m all about ASKING FOR THE SALE but TIMING is everything LADY.

If you’re speaking to people when they are rushed, surrounded by people and not really listening to what you’re saying - you’re going to get hit with tons of rejection.

And that’s just cheesy!

I’d love to meet you in person - I will be speaking LIVE at the following events in the next few months: (and one of them is coming up next week!)

July 10-13: E-women Network Conference in Dallas

September 23-24: Sales She Bang Conference
in Minneapolis

October 2-4th: The She-Factor Conference in Los Angeles

As a speaker, and a sales professional, one thing I know for sure is that NOT every one is going to like me or my style.

That’s OK by me.

They’re not supposed to!  In fact - as a speaker and author - if everyone loves you - you’ve got a problem as you haven’t challenged your audience enough.

And in sales - the same philosophy applies.

Don’t Die A Slow “Vanilla” Death

One of the biggest mistakes sales people make is to want to be loved by everyone. 

They want to be vanilla - loved by 98% of North Americans.

But that doesn’t work in business.  And so of course, when you’re rejected for someone else…it hurts. That’s because you had the expectation that everyone should adore you and your product or service.

Nope.

 You Need To Attract AND Repel Customers!

I’m not kidding here.

I know for sure there are definitely people who don’t like my writing style, or my speaking style, or what I have to say. 

The great thing is - they aren’t my target audience so I don’t really give a hot damn.   My brand, who I am and what I have to say are DESIGNED to attract and repel.  I don’t WANT EVERYONE as my customer.  And everything I do is designed around that fact.

Plus - the people who don’t like me represent a teeny-weeny percentage.  The customers and potential customers that I am the right fit for are the reason I love what I do. I love helping women entrepreneurs and women in sales make more money without ever making a cheesy phone cold call!

 Lady -Quit Trying To Please Everyone!

If you just accept that not everyone is going to get you - WOW - all of a sudden life gets easier!

 BE GRATEFUL they don’t connect with you. 

Just think - if you ended up getting them as a customer - they usually end up being a SERIOUS pain- in -the- you- know-what because THEY WERE NEVER THE RIGHT FIT in the first place.

So there.

I sell loads of stuff via the internet, but there are still times my HEAD SPINS from all the information that is available.

Do you relate?

Well - I stumbled across a guy who I adore - check him out at http://www.doshdosh.com/.  Trust me - he is brilliant and make sure to sign up for his RSS feed or daily e-mail.  He offers a variety of ideas for growing your blog etc (which is fabulous for all of us!)

And just GET OVER his funky pics that don’t seem to relate to the copy.

It’s good for your brain…and definitely for your bank account.

I LOVE coming up with cool new ideas that help women entrepreneurs and women in sales!

When I first started in selling years ago - there was absolutely NOTHING for women. Nada. Zip.  Everything was in your face, manipulation and ring those phones.

 Ugh.

Well - the world is slowly changing and I am determined to be someone who HELPS it to change!

 Check out my latest and greatest program - The Prosperity Cafe.

You’re going to LOVE it and how it will help your bank account grow faster.

P.S. (The best part? it is SUPER affordable so no worries - there won’t be any STICKER SHOCK headed your way)

http://tinyurl.com/2oeyld

OK - we’re in it - the first real “work week” of 2008 and your mind is probably reluctant to leave shortbread, eggnog and The Grinch!

I know it is tough to jolt yourself back into work-mode but here is your Sales Diva stiletto in the butt to get you moving lady.

 Remember - you can still eat your shortbread but you need to be stirring the pot with your customers as well.

 Here’s your action step for today:  Book Greasy Breakfast Meetings

Get on the phone and ask some potential and existing clients out for what I lovingly call ” A Greasy Brainstorming Breakfast.”

Make it informal, make sure you have done a ton of thinking/research ahead of time and remember this…

Your Clients Feel The Same Way As You

That’s right.

They are looking for a shot of inspiration to get their minds off of Santa, turkey and sleeping in.

Have fun - and you’ll discover you will stir up some business over eggs!

 So there.

I don’t work on Fridays.

It is a day I reserve for breakfast meetings with friends. One of our favorite haunts is a place called Culina which has the best breakfasts on the planet.

Besides the fantastic food - one of the main reasons we come back to the cafe is because of Sarah.  She is a mother, a lover of books, quirky and funny, warm and intelligent and she also just happens to be our fabulous waitress.

You walk in the door - get a warm greeting - and before we’ve even taken our coats off - Sarah has put down a big mug of coffee for you (she knows us!) She knows where we like to sit, will charm the chef to make something different for us if we ask and she is a wealth of info - from renovations, books and beyond.

She listens. She asks. She cares. And she delivers what we want.

Sarah understands that selling is ALL about relationships.