We have a long-term relationship with a well-known firm. Our sales representative does a great job, and the overall product and service quality are excellent. The problem is invoicing. We cannot get our invoices in a timely manner. We have complained about this issue and had meetings about it, and yet our invoices still show up months after the order …
By the Numbers: 3 Powerful Ways Women in Sales Will Catch Up
Who do you think of when you think of a sales professional? If you’re reading this blog, you might think of yourself, but most people will imagine a man. This isn’t just based on old-timey stereotypes and media; women are still vastly outnumbered by men in sales. While women have been making progress in the field, the percentage of women …
Client Motivations: How to Gain Understanding and Drive Results
Are you struggling in sales? Are you looking to increase your closing rate? To succeed in sales, it’s vital that you know who you’re selling to. How well do you understand your clients? How well do you understand buyer motivation? Make sure you know what your client wants (what they really, really want) before you make your sales pitch. Thinking …
4 Tips to Improve Internal Communication & Engagement
Acquiring the skill to effectively communicate with your internal team is a juggernaut for sale success. Every sales woman, including the one-woman consultant, works with a diverse group of individuals to accomplish desired client outcomes. How you interact with this village will help or hinder your sales efforts. In sales, we are so focused on our client relationships and communication …
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Get”: How to Ask for the Sale
This past week, during a conversation with Terri Tinker at KNKX, I took the opportunity to share our recent Petite2Queen press release. During the discussion, I jokingly made the comment, “You have to ask or you won’t get a yes.” Her reply struck an instant chord between us. Terri said, “I know exactly what you mean. My grandfather always told …
How to Super-Charge Your Referrals
My clients never give me referrals. I’m doing great business with them with outstanding performance reviews. Why won’t they voluntarily recommend me? – Blessing in Huntsville, Alabama Answer: Blessing, this is a great question. As with asking for the sale, you must ask for the referral. This is a simple answer, but there is an art to asking for referrals. …
How to Start Cold Calling with Confidence
Cold calling in sales can be intimidating. Disinterest and rejection can make practicing cold calls disheartening. Fear not! You can gain confidence from our advice on doing your research, creating a good elevator pitch, and being yourself while letting the conversation flow naturally. No matter how shy or inexperienced you may feel, you can and will develop this skill. With this webinar, …
The Importance of Patience to Close the Sale
You may have heard that patience is a virtue. Not only is this a good antidote for everyday life, it is especially true in professional sales, as patience can pay big dividends towards closing the sale. This is not the same thing as letting a sale cool down and drop off your radar. Rather, it’s an integral component of every …
4 Sales Basics You Really Need to Know
Whether you’re new to sales or have been at it for some time, it’s important to get back to the basics from time to time. This enables you to refresh and revisit your skills and get reenergized for the day-to-day. So, what do I consider sales basics? At the core, this is what I identify as the foundation of all …
Women, This is the Secret to Gain Valuable Career Skills
Here’s the secret to advancing your profession and learning invaluable career skills: sales training. Sales training teaches women key attributes needed to overcome obstacles and achieve our objectives. It’s a game changer, even for those who aren’t in a sales position. Core sales training covers conflict, negotiation, relationships, presentation, persuasion, and the ask. Each of these are foundational building blocks …
How to Promote You and Your Business, Pt. 2
Believe it or not, a large part of sales success is in the art of self-promotion. For many people, this can be difficult, especially if you’re shy or simply don’t like talking about yourself. How do you overcome the feelings of awkwardness so you can focus on your true objective? How can you get out there to promote you and …
How to Manage Your Sales While on the Road
Business travel can bring a nice change from the usual office routine, but it also comes with its own set of difficulties. How do you keep up with your sales and workload when you’re on the road? How do you stave off jet lag and travel exhaustion and get the most out of your business trip? With a little self-care …
The Basics of the Quote-to-Cash Process
There are many processes that you use to track your business’s well-being and future possibilities. One of them is something that you should be more familiar with: the quote-to-cash process. This is a more holistic process than some in the business world, because it includes multiple departments and multiple steps in the customer fulfillment journey. It takes in sales and …
How to Promote Yourself, Build Relationships, and Grow Your Sales
Believe it or not, a large part of sales success is in the art of self-promotion. For many people, this can be difficult, especially if you’re shy or simply don’t like talking about yourself. How do you overcome the feelings of awkwardness so you can focus on your true objective? How can you get out there to promote you and …
How to Promote You and Your Business, Pt. 1
Believe it or not, a large part of sales success is in the art of self-promotion. For many people, this can be difficult, especially if you’re shy or simply don’t like talking about yourself. How do you overcome the feelings of awkwardness so you can focus on your true objective? How can you get out there to promote you and …
How to Handle Pay-to-Play Clients
In sales, you meet all kinds of prospects and clients. Depending on your industry, you may run into so-called pay-to-play clients. As the name suggests, these are potential clients who require some form of payment before you can participate in a particular business activity. But isn’t that shady? It depends on who you ask. Lynn and Tina have both dealt …
Recovering From a Misstep
Sales is a tricky business that requires excellent people skills as you build trust with your clients. But no matter how much you’ve mastered the art of sales, you’ll still make mistakes from time to time. What kinds of missteps can occur during the sales process? What about client relationships – are missteps more serious and harder to overcome? Moreover, how …
Focus on Customer Needs
In sales, your customer needs should be important to your organization. While this should go without saying, it’s easy to lose sight of your customer focus. How do you improve your customer focus and relevance? How do you talk to your customers and truly listen so you can ensure you’re fulfilling their needs or providing something they lack? Sales experts …
Sales Success Exhibiting at Conferences
We recently shared an Achievement in Sales webinar on attending conferences. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. What should you do when exhibiting at conferences? How do you find sales success? Along with Marketing Executive Debbie George, we dive into the different types of exhibitions you’ll prepare and the diverse range of events at which you’ll exhibit. From planning …