Archive for the ‘Sales’ Category

Your PowerPoint Presentations: Smashing Success or Train Wreck?

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

Considered the companion of many speakers and the buddy of the board room, PowerPoint has taken the corporate world by storm.

And when done well, that storm has the potential to pack a real punch.

Unfortunately, think Sleepy Hollow meets Donald Trump. PowerPoint has become an office activity that more often than not leaves audiences sweating profusely, fighting off an overwhelming sense of doom.

And sometimes it just puts us to sleep.

Plenty has been written on PowerPoint and how to use it effectively. We’ve seen our share of good and bad PowerPoint presentations, so we’d like to share this video by Don McMillan that demonstrates some hilarious insight how NOT to use this tool.

…BEWARE, you may recognize yourself…

Dear Client: Why Your Logo Costs As Much As It Does

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

Logo Design CostThere have been times when we quoted the price of a logo design and the client was shocked. If you’ve been in sales for a while, you’ve surely seen this before: Their eyes open, lips shut, and they become very timid and reserved for the remainder of the meeting.

What went wrong?

Well, first of all, the price we were quoting was well within reasonable industry norms. In fact it was a bargain for the amount of time, effort and skill that goes into the proper design of a logo and supporting files and documentation.

But the client didn’t have the same expectations or experience, and that is totally understandable. They don’t work in our industry, have likely never had a logo designed before, and did not expect it to cost as much as it does. After all, how long does it take to sketch a couple of ideas, right?

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6 Tips for Successful Sales

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

6 Steps for Successful SalesFive years ago, if you would have told me that I’d be writing a blog post about sales, I would have laughed. Voraciously. I never saw myself as a salesperson; in fact, like many of us, I ran from salespeople!

I thought that selling was a big, scary thing. Something that I’ve learned, though, is that by paying attention to systems, understanding your client’s needs, and following through, you can feel less like a “salesperson” and more like a problem-solver. Here’s some things that I’ve picked up that might help you, too.

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Networking Secrets: Why Face Time Still Matters (Part 1)

Friday, March 4th, 2011

Business Peerson With Their Head in the SandIn an online world where with the click of mouse you can gain a friend, acquire a fan, or even get people to “like” you, it’s easy to forget the value of meeting in-person, face-to-face.

When staffing is tight—and often budgets and time as well—the convenience of sending a message through social media or by email (which is as easy as pushing “send”) might seem the sensible way to manage your schedule and resources.

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How to Be Heard Over the Holiday Buzz

Monday, December 6th, 2010

Mrs. Claus Yelling at Santa through MegaphoneWith thousands of promotional messages cluttering the marketplace, getting the consumer’s attention during this busy holiday season might seem daunting.

But findings of two studies looking at the likes and dislikes of shoppers really drive home the importance of advertising and promotions, whether you are trying to drive shoppers into your store or onto your website.

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Are you guilty of obfuscation?

Friday, November 19th, 2010

obfuscate: to make obscure or unclear; to muddle; confuse; bewilder

Sales requires you to make complex ideas simplePotential consumers are busy and sophisticated. They are surrounded every day with thousands of messages and choices in the marketplace. Trying to impress them using fancy terms can not only cost you those customers, but can cost your business in lost sales and revenue.

You might think it makes your product or service sound more appealing when you use technical talk, but it won’t. It’s a turn-off. Even worse, the consumer won’t understand what you mean. You’ll make them feel dumb.

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How to Be More Competitive… by Focusing Less on Your Competition.

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Man holding a sign saying The End Is NearDo you spend a lot of time worrying what your competition is doing? Do you toss and turn at night wondering if they have some secret weapon up their sleeve? That customers will run away in droves because of their latest promotion or product release?

If so, here’s a simple but powerful thought for you to ponder:

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