Answer Upon - Business

Success Strategies For Landing Your Dream Job!
It’s Inevitable sooner or later your going be faced with the daunting and sometimes confusing tasks of interviewing for a job. Whether it’s for just a job to keep your bills paid, or if it’s the dream job you’ve always wanted, there are many steps that you must accomplish in order to lock yourself in as the best candidate for the position.Most assume that the most important part of a job interview is showing up well groomed. But there is much, much more to the process than meets the eye. Everything you may have ever wanted rides on how well you have prepared and if in fact you have covered and mastered every step in the process.By far, your Resume and Cover Letter is the single most important part of your arsenal and doing the necessary research on the company is also important so you’ll able to sit in front o

work with customers who only bought small items. They just wanted the fat commission from the bedroom set. I, on the other hand, treated all customers equally. I just didn’t care. Interestingly, the customers who bought small items from me loved working together so much, that they often returned six months later with their kids to buy the bedroom set. And who do you think they wanted them to sell it to them? Damn right.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What truths do you tell the customers right away?

The Art of Selling - The Presentation
So you’ve done your homework and studied your customer. You know their industry, business, and have a plan for the call. This brings you to the meat of the matter. Once you have judged that the timing is right and you’ve given the client enough background information, it’s the moment to move into action. You have to make the presentation. Whether it’s selling a line of shoes, tires, or insurance, you will be putting your proverbial cards on the table. It’s the show and tell portion of the sale.Over a period of 25 years, I saw an average of 300 customers a year when I was a sales consultant for the Yellow Pages. That’s 7500 sales calls and therefore 7500 sales presentations. You might assume that I should have learned something over that time period. I did and I will share some of that wisdom with you right now. Here

My first job out of college was at a discount furniture warehouse.

I hated it. Every day was a perfect combination of boredom, back pain and complaints from frustrated customers. The store was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Most of my coworkers with were twice my age and my boss was a grumpy old jerk.

Fortunately, the pay sucked and there were no benefits.

Nevertheless, I needed money and I needed experience. Fast. So, I sucked it up and did the best I could.

I spent a year there. And although I didn’t realize it at the time, I actually learned a lot about business, sales, service and life. So, here are nine business lessons learned from a job that sucked:

Make a Friend in 30 Seconds
First thing I learned. My boss said it was the key to retail sales. And since he’d been in the business since roughly the 1850’s, I figured he was right. And I think it applies to retail, general sales and networking too. After all, people do business with their friends.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
How long does it take you to turn a stranger into a friend?

Don’t be a Typical Salesman
I shadowed several veteran salesmen for the first week. I studied their approaches, opening lines, closing lines and the like. Then I studied their customers: non-verbal behaviors, emotions and responses. And what I realized was: customers hate salesmen. So, I made it my goal to be the atypical salesman in every way I could. (More on this later.)

LET ME ASK YA THIS: Are you like everyone else you work with?

Think like a Chess Player
I’ve been a customer before. I know what it’s like. So, one afternoon on a slow day, I sat down and made a list of every possible feeling, emotion and assumption made by customers walking through the store. For example: “God I hope the salesman doesn’t talk to me…” and “I just want to browse, go away!” By predicting their behaviors, I was able to disarm their concerns. Instead of approaching them, I enabled them to approach me with my sense of attraction.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What are your customers thinking about when they walk through the door?

Bring a Soda
I don’t know why, but by carrying a bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper wherever I went, customers seemed to feel more comfortable. The soda made me appear friendly, approachable, casual and not goal oriented. As if I was saying, “Yep, I’m just hanging out, drinkin’ a pop. If you need anything, I’ll be around.” Interesting, huh?

LET ME ASK YA THIS... What object could help you appear more approachable?

Be Upfront and Honest
I wasn’t on commission. So, I told customers that right away. Most of the time it made them feel comfortable, less intimidated and more willing to work with me. This strategy helped me become an atypical salesman because most of my coworkers refused to work with customers who only bought small items. They just wanted the fat commission from the bedroom set. I, on the other hand, treated all customers equally. I just didn’t care. Interestingly, the customers who bought small items from me loved working together so much, that they often returned six months later with their kids to buy the bedroom set. And who do you think they wanted them to sell it to them? Damn right.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What truths do you tell the customers right away?

Joint Ventures - Part II
Sell an Idea – A lawyer knew how to make a million dollars in a year with one person and three associates. Since many attorneys don’t make that much, he codified his knowledge and had someone sell it. A realtor had a list three times better than anyone else, so she trained other realtors for a fee. A lumber mill knew how to kiln dry wood and get greater quality wood in less time with half the energy cost, saving him millions of dollars. He taught his techniques to other lumber mills. If there’s something remarkable about your business, or something you know how to do better than 99% of everyone else, you have an opportunity to license or teach your skills to others.JV With Your Suppliers – Your suppliers generally want you to be more successful, since it means more sales for them. They may fund sales people, mailings

Seconds
First thing I learned. My boss said it was the key to retail sales. And since he’d been in the business since roughly the 1850’s, I figured he was right. And I think it applies to retail, general sales and networking too. After all, people do business with their friends.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
How long does it take you to turn a stranger into a friend?

LET ME ASK YA THIS: Are you like everyone else you work with?

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What are your customers thinking about when they walk through the door?

LET ME ASK YA THIS... What object could help you appear more approachable?

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What truths do you tell the customers right away?

In Direct Sales - Embrace the Possibilities of Parties
Each year, as the fall colors appear and the air takes on a bit of a chill, certain direct sellers begin their day with a fresh sense of anticipation and excitement for the opportunities that await them. What’s their secret?While many are pleased with the dazzling new products their companies debuted at summer convention, that’s not the only cause of their renewed enthusiasm. And although you can sense a collective sigh of relief as millions of direct selling moms get their children settled back into school and prepare for a productive day – it’s not that either. What is creating the renewed excitement is the knowledge that in addition to “Back to School” and cooler weather… “Tis the Season To Hold Parties!”No matter what you call them; in-home shows, product demonstrations, workshops or parties, the truth of

salesman in every way I could. (More on this later.)

LET ME ASK YA THIS: Are you like everyone else you work with?

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What are your customers thinking about when they walk through the door?

LET ME ASK YA THIS... What object could help you appear more approachable?

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What truths do you tell the customers right away?

Oh, the Places We'll Network!
If you are determined to crack the networking code and build priceless business relationships it is important to research the various networking options and commit to a networking strategy. Get out and about and reach out. Be proactive. Open relationships everywhere. On Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. On Golden Pond and even on the Bridge on the River Kwai. (Sorry, I got carried away and my movie references got a tad silly.) Anyway, you get the point.To make connecting easier and more focused, look for groups and events where networking is encouraged. People expect to exchange cards and meet new people at these types of gatherings, so go expecting to make some contacts. It is best not to consider joining any business organizations unless you are committed to being an active member for at least one year. Th

LET ME ASK YA THIS... What object could help you appear more approachable?

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What truths do you tell the customers right away?

NOT Available to Public
If you are ready to start your business and become successful, do some research on marketing techniques and use the various internet tools that are available. You know you have an effective marketing campaign when you bring the traffic to your site and the traffic converts to sales. A clear sales strategy is the most effective path to success and profits in the private label business. New marketers also make the mistake of thinking that one marketing strategy will do. There are many ways to create a winning brand for your business, but remember this is only part of the strategy that you will need for success. Internet marketers continue to promote ineffective ads or in websites that don't work. A successful internet marketing strategy is just like its non-internet business counterpart. When you are able to convert the t

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What truths do you tell the customers right away?

Product Knowledge
During my first few weeks, I walked around the store and made flashcards of every piece of furniture we sold. The cards included descriptions, prices and the like. Over time I was able to speed up my learning curve and memorize every item we offered to better help the customers. I’d even quiz myself on the various products when we were slow. Hell, there was nothing else to do.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
Are you the expert?

Help Customers Participate
As one of the few young salesmen in the store, I was always assigned the task of moving various couches, loveseats and tables. (Damn it!) But, although it was tough on my back, I used the moving process as a sales tool. For example, if I were sliding a couch into a corner, I’d ask customers walking by, “So, does this look good with that maple table?” or “Could you help me slide this chair around the couch please?” They were almost always happy to help. We’d often end up talking about the decorating process, sore muscles and the like. Instant friends! Also, in many instances, instant sales.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
How do you get your customers involved?

Unique Openers
I hated phrases like, “Can I help you?” or “Are you looking for anything special today?” And I knew customers hated them too. So, here’s a list of some of my favorite opening lines that enabled me to make a friend (and often a sale) in 30 seconds:

• While sitting on a couch I’d say to customers passing by, “If you guys have any questions, just wake me up!” or “Don’t tell my boss I’m here.”

• If someone was looking at the Big Lips Couch (yes, we actually sold stuff like that!) I’d say, “See, when you buy this couch, everyone who comes over to your house will get their ass kissed!”

• Lots of kids came into the store. Instead of trying to sell the parents, I sold the kids. I sold them on ME. This included offering them free donuts or taking 50% off or HOT DEAL stickers and putting them on their shirts. They loved it! The kids AND the parents.

• Because we offered donuts on the weekend, I’d always look for customers who were eating them. Then I’d offer such lines as, “Are you all hopped up on sugar yet?” and “If you spill jelly on this couch, you gotta buy it!” They loved it. Good times.

LET ME ASK YA THIS...
What’s your unique opener(s)?

Unique Closers
I’m not talking about closing the sale. I’m talking about the last thing you say to a customer in your opening conversation that reminds them who you are and that you’d be happy to help. So, instead of saying, “I’m Scott if you have any questions,” or “Here’s my card if you need me,” I’d say:

• “If you need anything, I’ll be over by the donuts.”

• “Well, I’m Scott. If you have an questions, I’ll be in the back corner sleeping on the $3000 Italian Leather Sofa.” (SIDE NOTE: one out of every five customers then asked me, “Ooh! Can we see that sofa?”)

• “I’ll let you guys go have fun. If you need me, I’m the only salesman under 50.”

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The rates of international mergers and acquisitions continue to increase yet the success rates do not. Intercultural synergy is now being acknowledged as one of the reasons behind the failure rate.

Since the beginning of business, methods for operating and developing the business have been refined into the conventional methods used today. We improve management and effect business change by adding new conventional methods on the methods in place. But, there are problems with those methods in place that will never be solved by adding on more conventional methods. We need to take a complete new look at the way structure the enterprise in order to solve fundamental business problems.

Three time management traps to avoid as a small business owner, solo service perfessional or entrepreneur. Strategies to produce personal productivity as it relates to time and effective organizational skills.

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