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Statistics |
| Unique Visitors: 0 |
| Total Unique Visitors: 498 |
| Visitors Out: 1817 |
| Total Visitors Out: 2267 |
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| Can You Hear Me Selling Now? |
| 2007-09-22 17:48:56 |
What is the message that you and your company are attempting to deliver to the marketplace? Is it uniquely yours, focused and delivered with clarity? Is it indeed the same message that your customers and prospects are hearing? Are you......
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| Selling: It's All About Relationships |
| 2007-09-19 13:31:07 |
Selling is about interacting with people, other human beings. It is about connecting at a number of levels. Selling is all about relationships. It demands honesty and integrity and a perception of caring. You do not necessarily need to be......
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| Sales Commissions Earned |
| 2007-09-17 15:22:40 |
Are you a salesperson? Are you a business owner who pays commissions to salespeople? Depending upon your role, you may have a very different perspective regarding commissions. Today, many salespeople are not paid a salary, rather they are paid a......
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| The Rush to Acquire Big Blog Traffic |
| 2007-09-16 20:18:41 |
BlogRush, from the marketing genius of John Reese, is a means of easily syndicating your blog content over a growing network of participating blogs! Word of it is already spreading like a wildfire. Launched this weekend, "BlogRush works by taking......
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| First Contact: Establish Your Credibility |
| 2007-09-14 17:19:45 |
One of my favorite sci-fi movies is the prolific Star Trek - First Contact film. The Borg, perhaps the greatest threat to humanity ever conceived, travel back in time to prevent first contact, the day where the Vulcans, an advanced......
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| Handling Sales Objections and Obstacles |
| 2007-09-11 17:19:19 |
What is your strategy for dealing with the obstacles of life? What attitude have you developed to successfully deal with the obstacles that will confront you? Obstacles and objections are guaranteed to get in your way and confound your plans.......
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| The Role of Leadership in Selling |
| 2007-09-08 16:40:21 |
Leadership. Webster's dictionary defines it as the act of leading. Warren Bennis defines it as "a function of knowing yourself, having a vision that is well communicated, building trust among colleagues, and taking effective action to realize your own leadership......
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| Speaking The Language of Our Sales Prospects |
| 2007-09-03 17:46:17 |
We need to speak the language of our prospects. That particular thinking goes far beyond verbiage alone, it must include an understanding of their very philosophy and beliefs. We must get inside their heads to effectively understand what drives them.......
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| $4000 Prize Giveaway to Celebrate Anniversary |
| 2007-09-03 04:25:57 |
Thank you Jonathan Phillips for making me aware of one of the most lucrative giveaways in recent memory! This announcement is a brief departure from my sales related topics, but I think you will agree it is worthwhile. David Airey,......
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| Thwarting Your Success Nemesis |
| 2007-08-31 00:14:28 |
Each of us has an enemy, not necessarily one of a spiritual nature, but a physical being capable of stopping us at every turn. He or she has the power and ability to thwart our very success each day, to......
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| When The Heat is On, Step Up to the Plate |
| 2007-08-27 14:14:50 |
Dalton Carriker, 12-year-old little league hero, knocked out the winning home run to claim the championship for his Georgia team. He stepped up, in the heat of baseball battle, rising to the occasion, claiming victory. His expressed joy and elation......
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| Personal Development Blog List Keeps Growing |
| 2007-08-26 22:50:43 |
I am pleased that Priscilla Palmer tagged me, adding Idea Sellers to her impressive and growing list of personal development blog sites. It is an honor to be in such fine company. This comprehensive compilation already includes most of the......
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| The Vince Lombardi Sales Approach |
| 2007-08-23 02:36:24 |
As we approach another exciting American football season, I am reminded of one of the most prolific leaders of our time. Green Bay Packers football coach Vince Lombardi continuously preached the message of focusing on the basics. He would constantly......
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| Selling the Details with Pride and Confidence |
| 2007-08-21 00:11:20 |
I met an interesting and colorful engineering manager this past week. His automotive products company produces major interior components for an elite German car company. After introductions and a brief presentation, he escorted me on a plant tour and proudly......
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| Eight Random Things About Daniel Sitter |
| 2007-08-19 01:13:21 |
I was tagged by Jason Jacobsohn to provide eight random facts about myself. This is a meme that has been floating across the web for some time, but does offer us a chance to get a wider glimpse of some......
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| Procrastination Killed The Sales Star |
| 2007-08-15 15:09:35 |
I always liked the Buggles' 80's classic, "Video Killed the Radio Star," so please indulge me as I borrow from that title. "I will get around to it. We'll get back to you later. We'll look at it later this......
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| Is it Ozzie or Ozzy That You Are Selling? |
| 2007-08-13 15:18:49 |
In the late 1950's, the hit family television show was Ozzie and Harriet. In 2007, it's The Osbournes, featuring Ozzy and Sharon! What's the difference, you ask? Today, hardly anyone would notice the Ozzie and Harriet Show. In the 50's,......
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| Differentiate Your Selling Efforts |
| 2007-08-10 16:27:00 |
Australian entrepreneur, Darren Rouse of ProBlogger has produced a short video focusing upon differentiating your blog from others. Darren is a prolific figure in the blogosphere, with tremendous traffic associated with his blogging efforts. Although he is speaking about blogs,......
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| Selling Entrepreneurial Security and Growth |
| 2007-08-07 14:31:50 |
Regis Philbin told a story of his continuing relationship over a period of years with a New York City cop, Thomas Caruso. While on his beat, Caruso would frequently accompany Philbin as he walked to a gym several blocks away,......
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| It's Easy. We Do All of the Selling For You. |
| 2007-08-05 16:24:02 |
"It's easy. We do all the selling for you." Does that empty promise sound familiar? Our airwaves and business opportunity periodicals are full of them. Take a pill and lose 20 pounds! Buy these wrist bands and triple your strength.......
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| Learning an Exponential Entrepreneurial Mindset |
| 2007-08-01 15:23:01 |
Leverage is defined as the action of a lever or the mechanical advantage gained by it in a specific situation. According to Kevin Eikenberry, "When we use a lever, we use specific, correct actions to create great results. That is......
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| What is the Value of Your Selling Time? |
| 2007-07-30 13:56:30 |
Time, is our most precious resource. How are we to make the most effective use of each twenty-four hour span? Most people give little thought to the actual value of their time, possibly not even during conventional working hours. Entrepreneurs......
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| What is Your Excuse for Learning Ignorance? |
| 2007-07-29 16:46:11 |
What's your excuse for not learning, for not staying current in your industry, for not expanding your mind to new possibilities? For what reason have you stopped reading and educating yourself? Do you feel that your education concluded at high......
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| Gene Simmons Markets and Sells KISS |
| 2007-07-27 13:40:29 |
Kiss, the band, both spectacle and legend, has successfully established and maintained their position in rock music history over a 35 year presence. The driving force behind the successful business of Kiss is Gene Simmons, celebrated bassist, singer and song-writer.......
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| Selling Success with the Slight-Edge Formula |
| 2007-07-25 13:38:52 |
The Slight-Edge Formula, an adaptation of an idea first promoted by Jeff Olson, is a process by which we consciously plan to improve in a given area of our life in an incremental amount on a regular basis. Although it......
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| Todd And's Power 150 Connects With Advertising Age |
| 2007-07-24 02:35:55 |
Todd Andrlik has just announced the merging/sale of his popular and informative Todd And blog with powerful and influential Advertising Age media publications. His Power 150 marketing blog ranking system has developed into the marketing staple of the industry, garnering......
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| Selling Your Lasting Impression |
| 2007-07-23 14:42:59 |
Ladain Owens is a unique entrepreneur. Since he was a boy, he has been working in constuction. This path later led him to partner with one of our area's most prolific custom home builders. Upon his partner's death, Ladain took......
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| Selling Your First Impression |
| 2007-07-20 13:38:14 |
Approximately this time last summer, I scheduled a meeting with an executive whom I had not previously met. In fact, we didn't even speak to set the appointment, I did that with his administrative assistant. One year ago. I arrived......
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| Congress and the Sales Conversation |
| 2007-07-18 17:21:02 |
As I jockeyed the talk radio stations and perused the news stories this morning, I noticed that our wonderful national leaders were meeting in an extended overnight session last night, debating the Iraq war policy. In what appears to be......
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| Idea Sellers Celebrates 100th Article! |
| 2007-07-16 16:47:01 |
Thank you so much for your interest in my work and our conversations over these last several months of growth here at Idea Sellers. It's hard to believe that 100 articles have now been published here! My intent is to......
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| Secrets of Multi-Tasking Success |
| 2007-07-16 13:59:59 |
Let's face it, we all multi-task. There have been numerous articles written on the validity of this effort and the net work result attained, however, multi-tasking will not ever go away. There are advocates on both sides of the argument.......
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| Marketing and Sales Must Meld |
| 2007-07-14 22:51:40 |
Although it may appear at times as though marketing and sales are at odds with each other, the two business functions actually share synergy, possible even a symbiotic type of relationship. One's energy feeds the other. One thing is for......
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| Successful Selling Is Not Confrontational |
| 2007-07-12 15:31:50 |
One of my favorite mentors, Zig Ziglar, tells a wonderful tale of a small boy who was being harassed by three much larger bullies. One day, the bullies confronted him with the clear intention of beating him up. The smaller boy confidently took a couple of steps back, and with a small stick, drew a line in the dirt directly in front of him. Once again, while backing up a few steps, he made searing eye contact with the largest of the bullies and said "Now, you just step across that line!" Looking at each other in amazement, then laughing, the biggest brute did as instructed. The smaller boy confidently grinned and said, "Good. Now we're on the same side!"
Professional selling is much the same way. It does not matter whether there is a tangible product or service involved, or a revolutionary new idea designed to get our associates to adopt a new paradigm. Sales is not at all a contest of us versus them. A winning sales presentation is not ever given with a goal of be...
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| Cold Calling Sales Magic |
| 2007-07-10 14:55:43 |
In the world of sales, few tasks turn the stomach of the entrepreneur as much as the thought of cold calling. It is often perceived as the the most difficult, most feared activity in their day. Why is that? For men, does it conjure up awkward memories of teenage years, asking for a date? For women, might it be the now-fading societal rule that women do not make the first move or initial call? For whatever reasons that I will leave for psychologists to explain, we are often uncomfortable with making that first move, that cold call.
We often tend to make almost any excuse for not picking up the phone. We will busy ourselves with any task at hand, justifying to ourselves that we are simply too busy to call now and will do so later. Procrastination is not in the dictionary of the winner. The successful entrepreneur takes action, even when it is uncomfortable. As Mark Twain once said, "Do that which you fear and the death of fear is certain." A more modern vernacular is "f...
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| Sales, Marketing and Conversations |
| 2007-07-09 00:05:46 |
Everybody is talking! It seems like that phrase has been around for some time. It is so true, more so today than ever before. Everybody is indeed talking. Our society and technology have made it easy, effective and inexpensive. We talk on the land phone, cell phone, conference call, voice mail, email, letters, notes, signs, radio, television, the web, direct mail, blogs and seemingly countless other means. We talk directly, indirectly and covertly, behind someone's back. Our communication is both positive and negative, and operates at a wide variety of volume levels from the sublime to the skywriter. It seems that everyone has something to say.
Salespeople, marketers and companies are listening too! We are all paying attention. In a day where the viral action of a mere blog post can reach more people than almost any other form of media, we are more aware than ever that there is real conversation going on at every level imaginable. Consider the RSS phenomenon. I have RSS feeds keepi...
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| Talent Alone is Not Enough. You Must Sell. |
| 2007-07-06 15:47:49 |
Do you know what your strengths are? Where do your talents lie? Do you have a secret dream that you have never shared but are haunted by daily for expression? Many of us do. You may have a dream of taking your stellar idea to market, but have never pursued it. Why not? Often, the reasons are ignorance and fear.
Ignorance can be overcome with education. You may lack the knowledge of the necessary legal and financial steps required, but you can learn how to source this expertise. Your idea may involve products or service processing that will require skills that you lack. Those things can be located and activated. Ignorance is usually dismissed quickly. Fear however, is the biggie. It may be fear of failure or even the fear of success. Both are common. Our entrepreneurial spirit must entail courage. Remember that fear is often simply the acrostic False Evidence Appearing Real. If we review our FEAR, we may often see that their is no real justification for it. Challenge your fear. Mark ...
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| Champions Never Quit, Never Surrender |
| 2007-07-05 17:41:20 |
What makes a champion? An unrelenting attitude, belief in yourself, focus and determination? A champion is a strong competitor who never quits, never surrenders. A true champion would rather fall down while striving and exerting maximum effort, than to sit down because she is tired. I remember maintaining a wide horse-stance in karate class for what seemed like hours while our instructor often repeated that it was acceptable to collapse to the ground, but forbidden to stand up to find relief. Quitting is never an option for winners. Remember the words of Tim Allen's Captain Nesmith character in Galaxy Quest, "Never quit. Never surrender."
At Wimbledon, we witnessed a true champion in action: According to the Associated Press, "Hobbled and hurting and essentially playing on one leg, Serena Williams managed to gut out a three-set victory." At one point, Williams fell to the ground, experiencing a crippling leg cramp. "I thought about not finishing, but very bri...
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| Celebrate Independence Day |
| 2007-07-04 15:41:15 |
Today is not just the 4th of July, as many only know it as, but it is the commemoration and celebration of our American Independence Day! Today is a great day to fly our Colors with pride. Many will celebrate with parades, fireworks, backyard barbecues and so on. It is a great day to get together with family and friends. or simply to relax.
Years ago, I researched and further refined a recipe for one of my favorite foods that will go well with hot dogs, hamburgers and every other summer food we might eat today. Here is my refinement on an outstanding salsa recipe. If you like yours chunky and bold, this is for you:
2 large cans of Contadina crushed tomatoes 1 large can of Contadina diced tomatoes 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro (stems & all) 3 - 5 jalapeno peppers 1/2 of a medium size Vidalia (sweet) onion 1 1/2 tsp. ground Cumin seed 1 1/2 tsp. coarse ground black pepper 1/2 tsp. sea salt juice of 1 fresh lime
Chop the cilantro, peppers & onion separately (food processor works gr...
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| Selling Against a Superior Product Campaign |
| 2007-07-03 14:42:31 |
Imagine the following scenario: One of your strongest competitors introduces an incredible product that has the entire marketplace buzzing! Everyone is talking about it! The media coverage is intense. Everyone wants it, including you, if you would dare to admit the truth publicly! What do you do! How do you respond? How do you cope? How can you compete?
A good example is Apple's incredible new iPhone. I doubt that there is anyone who didn't salivate when they first saw it perform. I like great hardware with lots of "buttons & knobs" as much as any guy, and the exciting, new Apple i-Phone is as hot a product as I can remember seeing. From a sales and marketing standpoint, it's going to be hard to beat! So... what do you do?
As with any announcement, movie introduction or new product entry, there will always be the expected hoopla prior to and shortly after introduction. This will eventually subside however. Regarding the iPhone, the fact of the matter remains, t...
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| Play Host to Gain Networking and Selling Skills |
| 2007-06-30 05:12:03 |
How many times have you attended various functions feeling quite uncomfortable because you did not know anyone there? Has this gripping fear and discomfort ever prevented you from attending an event? Have you ever found yourself leaving shortly after you have arrived because you did not know anyone else in the room? These are common occurrences. Consider those times when you have toughed it out and stayed for a while... what helped you get cozy enough to stay? It was likely a person who bumped into you, smiled or politely began a conversation with you. At that moment, the entire atmosphere changed from chilliness to warmth.
These functions and events provide a unique opportunity to practice and perfect a wonderful sales and personal development technique, as well as an opportunity to simultaneously expand your networking skills. Learn how to play host! Whether or not you are the official host is not important. Take it upon yourself to help make others feel comfortable, helping them t...
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