Tag Archives: The Art of Selling

Cold Calling, Performance, Prospecting, The Art of Selling, Winning

#TBT – WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE!

As we conclude the week of “Gatekeeper Relations/Ethics/Methods”, Thanks to Tom Tenseth @smgamesafari https://twitter.com/smgamesafari/status/780440816602845184 – I want to re-publish one of my very favorite articles – this is probably the third time I have re-published! I like it that much!

This one is from June of 2013. Enjoy!

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

I was giving a cold-calling training yesterday and my participant told me that her boss wants her to come up with two scripts….one for talking to a GATEKEEPER and the other for talking to the DECISION MAKER.

Oh, those words he is using! Gatekeeper? Decision Maker? Seriously?

Let’s talk about Star Wars for a second.

Remember those Storm Troopers – dressed from head to toe in armor and tinted face masks? (If you don’t – be sure to Google the image, you’ll see what I mean).

Know why they dressed them this way? What I’ve HEARD is so that the audience doesn’t HUMANIZE them. So, it was OK to kill them. No one would feel a shred of conscience about rooting for the Rebellion to take them all out! Dead!

 Now look.

What does this have to do with my revulsion to the words GATEKEEPER and DECISION MAKER? 

Yup! It takes the HUMAN out of the mix. So, NOW, when you are talking with one of these people, you sound like a GREAT BIG DORK, because the foul language you are using automatically puts you at cross purposes with the HUMAN on the other end of the phone.

Continue reading #TBT – WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE! →

Cold Calling, Creativity, Dignity, Performance, The Art of Selling, Winning

3 Things You MUST Know About the “Gatekeepers”

As many of you know, I despise using the word Gatekeeper when it comes to calling on the assistants of the people I am hoping to reach. Why use language that puts you at war from the start?

But, many of you have asked for more insights about how to deal with this role in your sales efforts, so I will share with you what I have learned and the approaches that have been successful for me.

Here are the top three things I think about when calling on executives who have assistants.

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

#1 Thing to Know about The Executive Assistant – They have an enormous amount of power!

They are in tune with the entire company and they wield an incredible amount of power. When it comes to knowing what their boss does and doesn’t care about, they are the expert. When it comes to navigating the company, there is no one better. Often, a request from the executive assistant is taken as if the executive made the request themselves!

Continue reading 3 Things You MUST Know About the “Gatekeepers” →

Cold Calling, Dignity, Fill the Funnel, Performance, The Art of Selling

My Three Favorite Articles (So Far) About Sales Gatekeepers

Dear Tom Tenseth (@smgamesafari)

This week’s for you!

A couple of weeks ago – you asked for more information in dealing with Gatekeepers – you said it is your biggest challenge and struggle.

While I have a lot of opinions about working with gatekeepers – which I will share in Wednesday and Thursday’s blog articles, I thought I’d do a bit of research before I weighed in.

DISCLAIMER: If you’re familiar with my stuff, you know I hate the word “gatekeeper”! Why put yourself in an adversarial position from the get-go? That said, I promised a week of articles related to the topic, so here we go!

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

In my research, I found some articles I really liked:

  1. Interview with a Gatekeeper

This interview with “Alice the Gatekeeper” is quite informative. She is brutally honest about what she does and doesn’t like about dealing with salespeople on the phone. My favorite observations include:

“I like helping people, I really do.”  and “…I am a warm soul-filled person. Let’s have a real conversation and then be done.”

Want to get into the “gatekeepers” head? Read this one.

http://www.cobizmag.com/Articles/An-interview-with-Alice-the-gatekeeper/

Continue reading My Three Favorite Articles (So Far) About Sales Gatekeepers →

Education, Goals, The Art of Selling, Top Ten Principles of Selling, Winning

The Part of Sales That is Better Than … Well, Almost Anything!

Today we are going to wrap up our exploration of learning from the true greats.

This one has a special place in my heart. In one of my favorite sales gigs, I somehow got nicknamed – “The Closer”!

It was my absolute favorite part of the sales process and it still thrills me to take a deal across the finish line.

Like it’s better than almost anything else I know.

Now, I don’t know about you – or how much you’ve read about closing. There’s tons out there and, frankly, I’m NOT a fan. There is the assumptive close, the trial close, the sharp angle close, the Ben Franklin, The Porcupine… SERIOUSLY?

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

I have no idea what these horrible techniques are or where they came from. I truly cringe when I come across them (I found these ones on Google).

Most closes you will learn have nothing to do with creating a great customer experience. They are more about getting the deal done no matter what.

Not true with James Muir. I can attest that this guy is the real deal and brings MORE than a dash of dignity to the art of selling!

Want to be a true pro and create a great reputation for yourself with your clients? Want to get the deal done in the most professional and effective manner?

You must get this book. Plus, James’ style of writing makes this an easy and fun read (when did you last hear THAT about a business book?)

The truth is – you can have the best sales processes and the best prospecting techniques, but if you can’t close the deal – you’ve got nothin’!

Do not pass go, do not collect $200, go directly to Amazon and pick up this book for you and another for someone you care about.

James Muir’s The Perfect Close:  http://amzn.to/2dMIFav

(Do NOT send this to your competition! Send them to the Porcupine close instead – you can Google it!)

Invest in yourself and don’t forget to…

Love CLOSING your deals UP!

The Irreverent Sales Girl

Should you be a salesperson? Take the 100% Reliable Mostly Fool-Proof “Should I Be A Salesperson?” QUIZ here: http://bit.ly/TheISGQuiz

Education, Goals, The Art of Selling, Top Ten Principles of Selling, Winning

Who Loves Prospecting? Can I hear a “NOT ME!”?

I promised this week would be about some of the best in the biz to learn from! Great salespeople are not born – they learned how to be that way!

Thank Goodness, because I am anything BUT a natural.

But, I was committed. I learned, and I learned, and I learned. And I got really good!

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

But only because I was learning from the greats!

Today, I want you to check out Mark Hunter’s new book – High Profit Prospecting!

It’s a little like the great tips you need for making the most of your workout at the gym.

I mean – who wants to go to the gym and work really hard, just to find that they exercises they are doing are getting them nowhere near to their goal?

Same thing with prospecting. Nobody thinks it is easy or comfortable, but your success as a salesperson depends SOLELY on your ability to prospect and have plenty of the right people to call on!

This book takes you there fast!

Here’s Mark talking about the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtaurUelIqQ

And, here’s how to get the book! http://amzn.to/2d901gv

Make an investment in yourself and …

Love your prospecting UP!

The Irreverent Sales Girl

Psssst….want to get the really good stuff? The stuff you can only get in my Totally Irreverent Tuesday newsletter? Sign up here: http://bit.ly/IrreverentTuesday

Education, Goals, The Art of Selling, Top Ten Principles of Selling, Winning

The Only Sales Guide You’ll Ever Need

I have made a solid career in selling – Not because I was born a great salesperson.

In fact, my first forays into selling were an absolute disaster!

I mean what little girl can actually go door-to-door with fundraisers for school selling Christmas cards or wrapping paper or GIRL SCOUT COOKIES, for Pete’s sake, and FAIL.

I could. That’s who.

But, I was determined. I read every sales book I could get my hands on (even the terrible ones). I listened to tapes of the greats. I made sure I was in the room whenever I could get to a live training.

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

I learned, learned, learned, learned, learned.

From David Sandler, Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar. And I got better. I had coaches, and mentors, and people who would give me a chance with hands-on training.

And I became one of the best! It turns out that selling IS a learned skill. Thank the heavens!

Today, I learn from the greats and this week I’m going to highlight three of them. If you read these guys’ stuff and apply their teaching, it will elevate your sales game in ways you’ve never imagined!

We’re going to kick off the week with Anthony Iannarino. The guy who gave me one of my first boosts as The Irreverent Sales Girl.

His book, The Only Sales Guide You’ll Ever Need, will of course be terribly mis-named when I finally write my Guide To Wild Success! But, in the meantime, I put my full weight of recommendation behind this book.

Here’s a video about Anthony – you’ll see how exciting he is! (Watch the part about David Coverdale).

http://thesalesblog.com/speaking/

Here’s how to check out his book! http://amzn.to/2dmVwSw

Want to learn from the best. Here’s my first suggestion – read Anthony’s book and …

Love your sales career UP!

The Irreverent Sales Girl

P.S. Should YOU be a salesperson? Take the 100% Reliable Mostly Fool Proof “Should I Be A Salesperson?” QUIZ here: http://TheISGQuiz

Authenticity, Creativity, Dignity, Irreverence, The Art of Selling, Wisdom

#TBT – Can We Revisit This Know, Like, and Trust Thing?

I wrote this back in 2013. I love it because it reminds us that we are doing business with HUMANS after all, and it makes us so successful when we remember that!

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

Here’s the article:

I hear ALL THE TIME…”People do business with people they Know, Like & Trust” from sales trainers and sales experts.

Here’s what I wanna know…

WHY IS THIS A REVELATION?

People go to prom with people they know, like & trust.
People travel great distances at great expense to visit people they know, like & trust.
People like to give gifts to people they know, like & trust.
Let’s face it, people like to hang out with DOGS they know, like & trust.

It’s pretty common sense, isn’t it?

SO I CHALLENGE YOU…

If it is some kind of revelation to you that people do business with people they know, like & trust, WHERE ELSE are you not bringing common sense to your sales?

Things like:

People do business with people who deliver excellent service
People do business with people who have a sterling reputation
People do business with people they hold on a pedastal
People do business with people who do what they say they are going to do
People do business with people who have similar values
People do business with people who ….. I mean, we could keep going here, couldn’t we?

BUT THE BIGGER QUESTION IS: 

If learning that “People do Business with People they Know, Like & Trust” is a revelation to you, then what is going on with your sales? 

Do you not believe in what you sell?
Do you not believe that your customer needs what you sell?
Are your goals different from that of your customer?
Are you trying to meet quotas instead of make a difference with people?

And here is my favorite…

~DO YOU THINK DOING BUSINESS IS DIFFERENT THAN DOING LIFE? ~

This week, I want you to bring common sense to your business. (Sorry, this will require actual THINKING)

FIRST:
Are you doing the work that you know you should do to connect with the people who need what you sell?

If yes (and be honest with yourself about that one),

THEN:
Who are the people that “should” be doing business with you?
Why?
Do they know about you?
Do they agree that they need something that you offer?

Reach out to THEM. Be clear, simple, concise. Offer them something yummy!

Go be a great human being. Period. THEN, see what shows up!

Love ’em UP! (And the rest will follow)

The Irreverent Sales Girl

Want the REALLY good stuff? The stuff I only share in my newsletter and never anywhere else (unless I end up writing a book). Get my Totally Irreverent Tuesday Newsletter: http://bit.ly/IrreverentTuesday.

Fill the Funnel, Performance, Presentation, Prospecting, The Art of Selling

Four Cold Calls Called Me Back!

How fun is that?

Maybe you’re way better than I am, but I find that it’s pretty tricky to get people to call you back from leaving a cold voice mail. Right?

telephone-586268

Now! That does NOT mean that voice messages aren’t important. They are!

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

Voice messages are an opportunity to share your style. Your voice. Make a connection. Demonstrate who you are and that you care.

As Anthony Iannarino says, calling on a person and hanging up if they don’t answer is a bit like ringing someone’s doorbell and running away. Why wouldn’t you take the opportunity to give them a flavor of who you are – so that they remember you when you email them or get them on the phone?

At any rate, I was curious about this success.  What was new? What worked so well?

Continue reading Four Cold Calls Called Me Back! →

Cold Calling, Creativity, Dignity, The Art of Selling, Winning, Wisdom

What I learned about Gatekeepers from Clint Eastwood

clint-eastwood-394536Last week, I was watching the Katie Couric interview with Tom Hanks, Clint Eastwood, and Aaron Eckhart about the making of the movie Sully.

Start watching at the 9 minute mark: https://socialfeed.info/watch-katie-couric-chat-with-clint-eastwood-tom-hanks-and-aaron-eckhart-3971287

Notice something very interesting…

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

Continue reading What I learned about Gatekeepers from Clint Eastwood →

Authenticity, Goals, Prospecting, The Art of Selling, Winning

#TBT – THIS ARTICLE COST ME A JOB OFFER

phone-1209230About a year ago, I was testing the waters. Should I go work for another company as a rock start salesperson, or should I heed the call to go full-time as The Irreverent Sales Girl?

In some ways, this article helped me with that decision. I was deep into an interviewing process and about one minute away from a job offer, when the Global VP of Sales called me and asked if I really believed what I had written in this article.

Wondering how to go from 5 to 6 figures in sales? Check out this Free eBook: http://ebook.solidsixblueprint.com/solid-six-ebook/

By all means! In fact, I’m pretty sure this exact kind of outlook has made me a top producer for nearly 20 years of selling.

“Well, it won’t work here. We don’t allow cold-calling. Only social selling – you can set an appointment and talk on the phone with a prospect, but you can’t pick up the phone cold and reach out to them.

WOW! Would I love to work for his competition! While I’m walking in the door with an appointment I’ve set with the CRO, ready to do business with me, his guys are going to be knocking themselves out trying to get someone to connect with them on social media!

Needless to say, a year later and beyond happy in my business. And, I owe much of the success I’ve had this year to this article.

Love it UP!

Continue reading #TBT – THIS ARTICLE COST ME A JOB OFFER →