Are you wondering what the New Year might bring for new business and closed sales?

If the above question is on your mind, then it is time to make new business for next year happen now. Make a list of people and organizations with whom you can partner on a project; review past contacts with whom you were supposed to follow-up but did not and give them a telephone call; and create two new projects for early 2009 that will make a difference: one monetary and the other community service oriented.

By putting your plan together early in December, you may close added business in December and for certain will be well on your way in January for improved customer service, relationships, new business development and more closed sales.

You will be headed for developing the Smooth Sale!

Have you ever been disappointed with client services?

You owe it to yourself to think about how disappointed you really felt when services promised were not delivered for two reasons.

The first reason is if the situation is current, you have an opportunity to turn the disappointment into satisfaction. Have a frank talk with the service provider. It will be important for you to take the lead. So after expressing disappointment, offer possible solutions. Tell the other person, “Don’t tell me what you can’t do but tell me what you will do.” This methodology usually turns the situation around to a positive outcome.

The second reason for review is it will serve to remind you on how not to conduct business yourself. Learning comes from observation of those strategies that work as well as those that do not work. By locking in your learning, you will improve your customer service, business development will be easier and relationships with your clientele will blossom. They will be far more inclined to provide you with repeat business, referrals and testimonials – all leading to a full sales funnel and closing sales easily.

You will be headed for many a Smooth Sale!

The door was open to close more sales but…

Talk about shooting oneself in the foot, let me explain what happened:

Over several years, one handyman did exceptional work for us. He showed up on time, followed through on promises, did excellent work and checked in afterward to make certain everything was functioning as promised. In fact, he was working his business to perfection.

Eventually this same man decided to try his hand at becoming a contractor. Early in his new game, I introduced him to a favorite real estate agent in the same area. He called her afterward asking if she had clients needing work on their new homes. She said “Yes, call me when I return from my trip, I have lots of clients needing your help.”

Our handyman/contractor did everything right in his process of business development and building relationships. He had the mindset for success until… He NEVER called our real estate agent friend back. She saw me the other day and was dumbfounded.

She said, “I have a long list of people needing his help. But if he is this unreliable in getting names of clients, I can only imagine how poor his customer service will be if he were to get the work. I no longer have any interest in working with him.”

Take a pledge today to follow up with everyone on every verbal and written commitment you have made. This demonstrates your professionalism, willingness to work hard and will generate a full sales funnel feeding you more closed sales. In fact you will be enjoying a very Smooth Sale!