In or On?

I'm writing this early Wednesday morning from a secret hotel location - OK, Didcot if you must know :-) 

By the time you read this I will be deep into day 2 of developing our company strategy for the next five years and beyond - all part of the fabulous business development mentoring programme we're part of. I'm just so excited at the possibilities! 

And you?

So my challenge to you this week is...

What are you doing to develop your business - and develop YOU? 

It's an old business cliché - but how often are you ensuring you're working ON your business rather than IN it? How much of a plan do you have to resolve your current business challenges? What have you done so far? What will you do? What's stopping you? Who can help you? How can they help you? 

It's often about time NOT money... 

There's so much stuff available now FOR NOTHING that you don't have to break the bank. Let me remind you what help you can get from The Sales Consultancy - at NO CHARGE 

Firstly, have you downloaded my report yet "The 9 Biggest Sales Mistakes"? This is a 20 page report that identifies the mistakes you could be making - and offers ways to easily eliminate these errors - and make sure they're not repeated. Click on the link below and you can be benefitting from this report within 15 minutes from NOW! 

http://www.sales-consultancy.com/static/the_9_biggest_sales_mistakes?inf_contact_key=08f314df0557454a6b0d15e3bdfee731bf9600a0e0794098c76622c52290b2b6

Next - let me point you to our newsletter archive. Here you get access to our weekly sales tips going way back. Here's the link "Tricks of The Trade Archive" 

Of course there's lots of stuff you can buy - I should know, I've been selling for 29 years - but why not find out what's out there for nothing. Which evermore results in something for you! Increasing Sales is just the beginning.

So what are you going to do today to develop your business - and develop YOU?

Here's those links again 

"The 9 Biggest Sales Mistakes"

"Tricks of The Trade Archive" 

Until next time.

Leigh

PS: Don't miss my March Workshop "Love Your Business...Hate Selling?" CLICK HERE 

results@sales-consultancy.com

www.sales-consultancy.com

020 7903 5426

Power in The Feminine?

There’s been an uprising this year and it’s brought a smile to my face and a warm fuzzy feeling to my heart. What is this uprising I hear you ask? It’s the surge of feminine energy that is going for gold, success, power, the millionaire mindset…you name it and they are going for it.

Not only have I spoken at TWO big women-only events already this year, I’m also speaking at “International Women of Power” this weekend and attended my own ladies only event…

The One Retreat that focused on us as women as well as the success of our business.

What I’ve found is that something very special happens when women come together…they nurture and help each other. They want other women to feel good about themselves and offer support and advice in a gentle way that is more easily received. They have a willingness to share contacts and an open heart to hear what is being said.

Now before you guys get up in arms about my observations…there are many men out there that would also do this. In my experience it’s not ever so obvious in a male only group. Maybe that’s the competitive edge in guys. The competitive edge is different in women…it’s more “we can all be successful…there’s enough to go round…together we are stronger”

So maybe we can all adopt a more open and collaborative approach regardless of what sex you are. One that is more curious, supportive and giving. I know that this approach works brilliantly for increasing sales. The more of these qualities you display when communicating with your customers, the more they want to buy from you. So let’s get feminine and show that there is power in that too!

Until next time.

Leigh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DO2Aa8DNco&feature=youtu.be

PS: Download my complimentary report "The 9 Biggest Sales Mistakes" here

results@sales-consultancy.com

www.sales-consultancy.com

020 7903 5426

Networking not working?

Despite the onslaught of social media and on line networking, 'real life' networking is still a crucial element of many companies' sales and marketing strategies.

Rightly so. There are massive benefits to be had from attending networking events.

Providing you do it well.

Many people I speak to don't enjoy networking. Is it the fear of approaching total strangers? Is it the boredom of being cornered by someone who is determined to tell you everything you don't need to know about their new range of widgets?

Relax!

Think of a networking event as an opportunity to explore.

•   Wear your name badge on your right. Most people are right handed so when you extend your right hand out it's a short and easy journey for their eyes to make up to your name badge. It helps them remember you and your name.

•   When introducing yourself, look at their name badge and say something like"hello xxxxx, pleased to meet you, what do you do?" (Appearing suitably curious!) This will open up the conversation and crucially, you get to do the listening and not the talking. This will get you the information you need for you to be exploring, via their answers, how useful a relationship this could prove to be.

•   If they get in first and ask you what you do, be very pleasant and brief and say "I'm in xxxxx" - and then immediately go back with "and what do you do?" as in point 2 above.

•   If you're in a circle chatting and listening and you see someone on their own, beckon them to join you. They could be the golden nugget of a contact that makes the whole event worthwhile!

•   If you're looking to join a circle of potential contacts just ask "do you mind if I join in here" or similar words you're most comfortable with. In 29 years nobody has said no to this question!

•   Don't pitch! Many people throw a business card at you then launch into a sales pitch. They probably know nothing about you and all they talk about is I can do and we, we we - and "weeing" all over everybody is never good sales practice anywhere!

The art of networking can't be fully covered in 400 words but there's some tips here that will definitely help you generate more success at your future networking events leading to more sales success in your business!

Let me know how you get on.

Until next time.

Leigh

PS: Download my complimentary report "The 9 Biggest Sales Mistakes" here

results@sales-consultancy.com

www.sales-consultancy.com

020 7903 5426

Beware of RSS – Reluctant Seller Syndrome

Was it Burt Lancaster who came out with those immortal words “If you build it they will come” in that excellent film ‘Field of Dreams’?

But in business it’s increasingly clear that if you build it they probably won’t come. Apart from those who would have shown up anyway – and they are often not that many.

It often starts like this; A business idea is born - through a fabulous sounding idea, or because the timing is right to realise that life dream. Perhaps the money is there at last. Maybe a redundancy or other life changing event has forced the issue. Or a combination of all of the above.

The passion is there. Unbridled enthusiasm is unleashed as the new entrepreneurs start to ‘live the dream’.

Then suddenly it dawns – they need more sales to survive! And increasing sales is certainly not their speciality.

I’ve met some brilliant people in my line of work. Name a business sector and I’ve probably had the joy of meeting brilliant people within it.

That’s brilliant at ‘what they do’. But, sooner or later they have to get good at what they don’t do – Sell.

That’s when many develop that well known condition RSS – Reluctant Seller’s Syndrome. Sometimes I think it’s catching!

The symptoms?

·       They associate the word “selling” with those nasty high pressure sales tactics you hear about. This belief embeds itself over time – and ultimately inhibits their sales performance.

·       They view selling as “persuading people to have something they don’t need” (it certainly isn’t by the way) – so they shun practising this sordid discipline!

·       They freeze at networking events – speaking only to those they know and staying much too long talking to the friendly person next to them. They avoid breaking the circle and ‘interrupting’ a group nearby.

·       They end up heavily discounting their services because deep down they didn’t believe their product or service was worth the initial price – and it showed.

These are the common symptoms – there are others too.

What to do if you’re exhibiting ‘Reluctant Seller Syndrome’?

CELEBRATE!

Because there are lots like you. It’s a big club.

Then what? Grab the nearest pen and paper.

Ask yourself “What Stops You?”

Dig deep. What REALLY stops you? And be very honest with the answers. Write down everything that comes into your head – even if it makes no sense. When you’ve written everything you can, WAIT. There will be more to come. That first gap was called a blank spot. Go past two blank spots and when you’ve finished writing the third time, then you probably are finished.

Now I don’t know what your answers will tell you – but you will. There will be some true nuggets in there. Nuggets which will, with a little thought, tell you exactly what you need to do next.

It’s all about the psychology of selling!

Until next time...

Leigh Ashton

PS: Download my complimentary report "The 9 Biggest Sales Mistakes" here

results@sales-consultancy.com

www.sales-consultancy.com

020 7903 5426