Helping friends and associates is the best way to build relationships, make new acquaintances and be introduced to influential others. In other words, this is the easiest, non-threatening type of business development I could possibly contemplate.
When you work to assist one another, magic happens. Before you know it opportunity comes your way that would not have otherwise occurred. Friends asked me to announce their events – please see TheWIN and PWI. Next, I have two upcoming and exciting events – should you believe these will help those you know, I greatly appreciate your passing these along!
Visit: http://www.TheWINOnline.com- The women’s internet radio station for which I am one of the show hosts featuring The Smooth Sale Success Show. The station is currently promoting to 440,000,000 people worldwide! They are having an all-day international convention for women at the Los Angeles Westin Hotel on April 17. Tickets are only $35 & $65 for all day. For those who wish to showcase their business as a vendor to 1,500 women, tables are only $350 – a fabulous opportunity to showcase your business in front of so many! Should this interest you, please contact me: elinor@smoothsale.net.
Powerful Women International invites both men and women to their Conference in Paris, France on May 14-15. For those of you who are looking to further develop business internationally, be with motivated peers and want to enjoy a business trip to Paris – this is your opportunity! Berny Dohrman, Founder of CEO Space will be the Emcee.
Smooth Sale Business Expansion Webinar Series – Begins March 29th, 6:00 p.m. PST weekly, Only $149 for all 5 classes. This series is designed to make certain you build a strong foundation and know precisely how to build out to attract new and wider audiences, your prospects, who then become your clients. Included are sales, marketing-communication and entrepreneurial skills for you to build business quickly and easily! Registration is required to reserve your seat.
Smooth Sale Write An e-Book Quickly & Easily Webinar Series
Years ago, I learned that writing a book is the single best way to build credibility for your business and reach larger audiences. This proved to be true. I self-published as well as found publishers. Each venue cost thousands of dollars. However, writing an e-book is a teensy percentage of that amount and the process is exactly the same.
Through 5 webinars, you will learn how to clearly recognize what to write, how to write it and do it quickly. Furthermore, we will develop a partner and collaborative effort to make it safe, easy and fun. You will then be ready to upload your manuscript to Amazon or, I will point your to a publishing program that will help you edit and submit for sale.
Registration is required: Call (800) 704-1499
Classes begin March 31, Time to be confirmed.
Fee: $189 for all 5 classes
Attract More Sales: Tip #260
Attract More Sales: Tip #258
Did you know your signature at the end of an email is the equivalent to your business card?
Recently, I have received a number of email without a phone number and sometimes, not even a website. At times, when a website is listed, the phone number does not appear there either. This makes it very difficult for prospects or clients to call thereby slashing your potential sales and revenue.
My secret for successful sales is to make it so easy for the other person to say ‘Yes’, they would be embarrassed not to purchase.
Some of my favorite tips:
1. Tap into the mindset of your clientele
2. Succinctly communicate and directly answer their questions
3. Never assume – always ask
4. First propose what they said they need
5. Next, add what you think they need
6. Let your clientele make the choice that’s best for them
When you lead the conversation and help your clients see the solution, you have marketed yourself as the expert in their eyes. They also see you as providing outstanding customer service. This is the point where business development becomes automatic, they refer you to their associates, and your business becomes a very Smooth Sale!
Attract More Sales: Tip #256
“Whom do you trust?”
The above question was the title of a television show many years ago. It definitely applies to business when choosing partners and helpers. Are you asking the right questions and are you able to sleep at night?
Over the past couple of weeks as well as years, I have heard one horror story after another. The brilliant entrepreneur who:
1. …wanted to expand too quickly left loopholes in their business development plan
2. …had to work 20 hours per day because not enough help was in place for what was promised
3. …gave away stake in the company to be known nationally and soon lost control of his own business
4. …and gave money to people for services badly needed but the trusted help left before the service was implemented.
You can tell all of this would be very unsettling if any of this happened to you. I am not a business plan advisor in the sense of spreadsheets nor a bookkeeper, so I know full well to hire these tasks out. I also know to look at my bottom line before taking on another project and all the implications of further services that may be required.
Another very important piece of advice I read in Loral Langmeier’s book: Separate all personal from business expense. This includes savings, checking, credit cards – whatever you use for business needs to have an account of its own. Too many people wiped out their personal savings on the dream of making it in business, but did not have the right plan in place. Consequently, not only did they lose their dream, they lost their homes.
Due to so much of this recently occurring, I am writing this morning to hopefully forewarn you in time to develop your business s-l-o-w-l-y with all pieces in place before you add new revenue streams. Once you become familiar with the process, you will then be able to steadily move in a variety of complementary areas at a quicker pace.
When you develop a carefully thought out plan, your clientele at large will be attracted to your professionalism and leadership charisma and soon prospects will become clients. It’s all part of enjoying the Smooth Sale!
P.S.
Entrepreneurship is one of the most difficult tasks I ever undertook, learning how to sell was easy in comparison. I do have a new upcoming webinar series that will take you step by step through the process of building a solid foundation, progress to developing multiple streams of income and how to expand your message and brand to the world in easy, logical steps. For more information please visit Smooth Sale Webinars
Attract More Sales: Tip #255
As an entrepreneur, I learned that marketing communication skills are the predecessors to making effective sales.
My belief is that in public we all need to take precaution to be diplomatic which requires careful choosing of words. As I matured, I learned not to send out verbal or written messages hastily that I later regretted.
Another strategy I learned is to consider input from all angles whether you agree, disagree or become just plain angry. There is always something to learn. Case in point – it took me a year to self-publish my first book. By the time it was ready for market, I proudly felt as if I had just given birth. Yet someone meanly told me the second week it was out, “If your book were any good a publisher would have picked it up.” Of course I was angry inside, but I told the fellow “You are right”. That’s the how and why Sourcebooks received my manuscript and turned it into “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale” which now sells worldwide.
Moral of the Story: Anger is a waste of energy; find a solution instead.
Lastly, I still believe that when there is some fairly reasonable discontent, it is best to find a mid-way point to ensure a high level of satisfaction and good word of mouth to spread. Your business depends upon your customer service policies. Working to ensure client satisfaction brings many benefits: building of relationships, business development is a breeze bringing about additional prospects and clients, you are perceived as a leader, deeper respect comes about, and referrals and testimonials are readily given.
Adapting the right mindset toward customer service will have you soon enjoying a very Smooth Sale!
Attract More Sales: Tip #254
Are you balancing your free time with time spent working?
The past few months I have been guilty of working quite long hours but know of others who extend themselves even further. However, everything comes to a screeching halt when my children visit so we may enjoy precious family time.
The quantity of time spent on my business recently has been weighing on me. Timing was perfect when the following words were received in an email:
“I had been working non-stop since October ’09. I was putting in on average 16 hour days 7 days a week. On February 3rd, I was having heart trouble. With that, I energetically STOPPED everything I was doing, focused on my health and basically slept for a month. …Only normal office hours from now on…”
I share this to hopefully prevent my readers from having to go through something similar.
Our clients enjoy us best when we are rested and cheerful. The positive mood serves us best for building relationship and attracting sales. Prioritize what is important to you and enjoy life – make it a Smooth Sale!
Attract More Sales: Tip #251
Do you embrace change?
We have all heard getting out of our own way is the biggest obstacle for entrepreneurs becoming successful. What does that mean? Fear sets in when it comes to trying a new idea, they refuse to try so consequently do not grow.
The opposite is true when you are ready to accept change and run with it. So much more learning takes place that soon opportunities arise that would not otherwise have appeared.
When you embrace change, others begin to take note. Your learning curve quickens and you achieve success far more quickly. Rather than becoming one in the high percentage for failure, you set yourself apart in the very low percentage for success. You communicate the message that you have become a leader in your field and soon attract new audiences far and wide. Adding in the element of building relationships builds a larger pipeline of prospects and clients.
Whenever fear begins to creep into your mind, change your mindset from stopping in your tracks to seeking qualified help – this is the most reliable path to success. Your business development will soon take off quickly and easily making for a very Smooth Sale!
Attract More Sales: Tip #247
A University violated the marketing creed: know your audience!
As the story unfolded, it was clear that greed got in the way. The University was offered $20 million to establish a new campus for the envisioned MBA program. The only stipulation was the program take place in Palm Desert!
How many candidates for a graduate student program do you believe already live or wish to live in Palm Desert? “Not too many” would be the correct answer. It was only after the project got under way that the University stepped back to recognize the error of their ways.
Education is a business. All businesses must know where to find their target audience which will soon become their prospects and clients. The school is now re-thinking their promotion, fund-raising efforts and need to sell the benefits to attract and convince their scholarly candidates to move to the desert.
When you take the time to observe the errors the larger companies make, you will avoid them yourself and save a lot of wasted time and dollars. Business development takes vision and working backwards while setting in motion your plan of appropriate actions to make the vision a reality.
Careful planning, analyzing intended growth from all angles and moving forward in a deliberate manner without the temptation of greed, plus building relationships will work to your advantage for achieving a Smooth Sale!
Attract More Sales: Tip #246
Are you finding yourself in overwhelm?
Most entrepreneurs in their first 5 years of business find such is the case. They quickly realize there is so much to learn and do but not enough hours in the day so they do find themselves in overwhelm.
A number of strategies may be implemented to overcome the sinking feeling. The important point is to know full well you can overcome the challenge using these ideas:
1. Follow your vision and chart out a course for projects and due dates
2. At every moment of each working day, have a running list of what must be done – be sure to work on the bigger projects
3. On a yearly basis, at least, hire a coach for the areas on which you need more insight
4. Find people with whom to collaborate who share your customer service policies and approach to business
5. Don’t Give Up – but keep finding ways to improve!
Communicating you need help is not a sign of weakness but one of smarts. When you admit what you do not know and seek advice, partners and coaches – others see you as a leader and soon an expert in your field.
The next step is to build relationships with everyone you encounter. All combined, this is how your business development will progress more rapidly allowing you to attract more prospects and clients.
Very soon you will be enjoying the Smooth Sale!
Share on FacebookAttract More Sales: Tip #245
Did you realize writing a blog is “SO last year?”
Such was the announcement in this morning’s newspaper according to polls taken from a variety of age groups. I began to contemplate this because I encourage others to write a blog for a variety of reasons mainly from an easy-way-to-go marketing-communications and potential sales standpoint.
I should first acknowledge the antiquity of writing a blog. It may be similar to writing a diary as people did years ago. However, the blog is a wonderful way of immediately capturing your insight very quickly and can easily morph into other venues for additional audiences:
1. Articles
2. MP3s
3. Workbooks
4. eBook
5. Book
Please know I am not suggesting you duplicate each model in its entirety. Instead, consider using one as a launching pad to tweak, embellish and expand upon for the next venue. This in itself is similar to being in a collaboration. If you work on one area – you have one audience. Should you use three models for communication – you then have six potential audiences due to the inherent combinations involved. As you add additional streams for attracting prospects and clients, your exposure will grow exponentially and so will your revenue.
Entrepreneurs tend to get into overwhelm thinking about implementing all of these suggestions. The idea is to take one baby step at a time – implement one. Soon you will realize that with only a little more effort you can adapt it to the next model. Soon you will see that being anxious is only a waste of energy. Instead set clear goals and know what you need to work on every single day. At the same time, continue to build relationships with everyone you encounter and you will be amazed by the results you see.
You will soon enjoy a very Smooth Sale!
P.S. If you would like more information of how to apply this concept in more detail and to social media, please consider the DETAILS of our next class Feb. 8, 6:00 p.m. PST
Share on FacebookAttract More Sales: Tip #231
“We’re all Students and We’re All Teachers.” – Malathy Drew
This morning, I heard those words uttered and related 100%. As I began my corporate sales career and then my entrepreneurial sales training business, Smooth Sale, I kept my eye on others. The quickest path to success is recognizing what is not working and what works best. I sharpened all of my communication skills in order to succeed quickly in both endeavors.
At the same time, I share everything I have learned along the way in order to help others coming up behind me. I view myself as the messenger.
Tips for moving forward quickly:
1. Question those ahead of you to find their secrets for success
4. Market everything you do through a variety of mediums
5. Build relationships and make it easy to conduct business
6. Pay attention to your customer service policies that they are in alignment with what you portray
7. Help those who are coming up behind you
When you incorporate these tips into your everyday activities, new audiences will be attracted to you. You will soon take the leadership position and be seen as the expert.
Should you desire to learn more about the systems I have learned over the years to move quickly to the forefront and expand your business, I created an all-new Webinar series beginning January 11. Registration is required. Playbacks will be sent in case you must miss any of the classes and due to All of the information shared in the series.
Please email me, elinor@smoothsale.net or call (800) 704-1499 should you have any questions.
When you implement these tips with your clientele in mind, business development becomes automatic and sales flow in without feeling you “sold people” but instead knowing you attracted them. In other words, you experience the Smooth Sale!
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