Archive for call to action

Sales Questions And Solutions

Time To Answer Your Questions

I promised to to do a video response – and here it is.  My editor (and best husband ever) was out of town today and I decided to post this as is – just me chatting with you about a sales question.

 

More questions?  I’m happy to answer yours.

Post them here in the comments or email them!

SoundAdvice SoundBite Sales Mind Shift

Take a listen to today’s SoundBite. It’s a quick sales mind shift that will change the way you look at making your offer!

SoundBiteMindShift

I’d love your feedback and questions!

The Sales Number And Your Marketing Happily Ever After

You can’t sell your products and services to everyone.

As a solopreneur there is a limit to how many people you can reach, sell to and serve.
If you offer services this is especially true.
Your time and creative ability are limited.
You can hire others to help and automate steps to make things more efficient.
You can package services to streamline your offerings.
Creating an information product, book or reproductions are also a great way to add revenue and sell what you do to more people.

It’s critical to know your numbers.

I know you’re creative and big picture and spreadsheets aren’t your thing.
Which is why it’s even more important to understand this concept.
Here’s a way to start.
Get some paper and a sharpie and a calculator.

Write down how much you’d like to make each month.

Is it more than what you make now?
Maybe it’s a lot more.
How much do you charge per hour or per piece of art, or web design or per page of copy written?
Your current rate.
Is it physically possible to work the number of hours each month? (for now just assume the customers will be there)
Could you actually do it?
If you’re like most, the answer is no.
Now what? Raise your rates? Contract out? Add additional revenue sources?
Maybe all of the above.

Put a plan in place and start implementing.

You won’t get to that number you just wrote down without a game plan.
Let’s get back to the whole idea that you can’t sell to everyone.
The fastest, easiest way to get to your number is by knowing who is looking for what you do and marketing to them.
A bunch!
With options.
Multiple ways for them to hire you, or buy what you have.

But it means you have to decide exactly who those people are.

Your marketing will get so much better when you talk to just those people.
Don’t be afraid to be specific.
Do you have lots of designers or doctors in your client list now?
Start there.
Talk to them – address the issues their industry faces in particular.

Here’s an example: Let’s say you design websites.
You’ve worked with a few financial planners and people who work with high wealth individuals.
They have tons of regulations about what they can and cannot say.
You learned this from your previous clients.
You can address their fear about compliance, keeping things legal and still being unique and original.

You talk their language.

You understand the restrictions about what they can and cannot do.
Your marketing talks about how to attract high wealth individuals with design.
You offer a free resource that tells people in the financial industry how to brand themselves starting with great web design.
You have relevant social proof in your portfolio and client testimonials.

See how that works?

Now deciding how to write and talk about what you do is easier.
Finding the people who understand what you’re talking about is easier.
Learning where to reach your audience becomes so much clearer and less time is wasted broadcasting to the those who aren’t going to “get” you.

I promise if you start here and get really clear about who you want to work with – really understand this part, the other steps will become so much easier to take! You’ll be hitting your goal in no time!

What about this works for you?  What doesn’t?  I’m here to help.

It’s time to hit your number! Schedule your one hour session to jump start your sales.

How To Show Your Sales Confidence

SoundAdvice Sound Bite

Click to hear the audio – 2:20

SalesConfidence

Text Version

Today’s SoundAdvice Sound Bite is about Sales Confidence.


This is an issue that solopreners and business owners bring up when we’re talking about sales results or the lack of results.

Being confident in what you’re offering is key if you want people to opt in, hire you, buy your thing.
If you’re not sure about what you’re offering – how can your customer be sure?
Let your confidence come from a place of service and value.
I’ll explain.
This is what I like to call quiet confidence.

It’s not about being arrogant or pushy.

Quite confidence is about being helpful – offering hope – offering solutions.
Because it comes from a place of value and service.
If you know you deliver value, your products and services deliver and clients will feel better, look younger, be happier, lose weight, see real results – Then it isn’t just a good idea to share that – it is part of your mission – to make sure that those who need what you have can find you – get access – and get results.
When you are selling from a place of service – the focus and emphasis is always on the customer.
What will they receive?  how will they feel? what will they learn?
What results can they expect?

Remember, people buy results.

Have that conversation – and give them the chance to say YES!
When you sell with this kind of confidence, your customers will be confident about working with you or buying from you as well.
That’s todays SoundBite – let me know in the comments if you have any questions or thoughts about your sales confidence.

While you’re here please sign up to receive my newsletter, it’s the best way for us to get to know each other.

Thanks for listening  and have a great day!

 

Take The Next Step

It’s Monday.
A good day to start something.
Or finish something.

What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.
C.S. Lewis

A good day to make progress or sit down to tackle that one thing.

You know which one.
The one that keeps nagging at you.
The one that keeps tugging at you when you’re trying so hard to ignore it.
It won’t go away for a reason.
You are meant to take action.

That’s why you’re here doing your thing.

Make the phone call.
Send the email.
Ask for the sale, the meeting, the referral.
Write your book or post or manifesto.
Take the ideas and make the outline.
Put the buy button on your site.

Make today the day.

If your thing is scary, or hard or complicated that’s okay.
Decide right now that there is one little part that you can totally manage.
Then do it.

There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risk of comfortable inaction.
John F. Kennedy

Help, support and confidence is yours. Share your next step in the comments!

SoundAdvice Sound Bite: Make The Offer

 Looking for a little inspiration? Today’s Sound Bite is all about making the offer. 

SASB_MakingTheOffer_030211

 

Questions about your offer? Leave them in the comments and we’ll tackle them together.

Would a chance to talk about your offer help?  We can make that happen here.

Is Selling Time On Your Calendar Or Just On Your To Do List?

SoundAdvice Sales Rx:

I often use time on Sunday’s to look forward to the week ahead. You know, plan ahead and make sure I have things like paying bills and sending invoices all done. One thing that I also schedule is sales time.

Income Producing Activity. It’s easy to get busy doing lots of other things. Important things too. It’s not like you’re spending all day sitting on the sofa eating bon bons. But you know how things happen. You really mean to make the phone calls or follow up on your proposals and then you get busy, and then it’s time for lunch and the next thing you know, Monday is pretty much over so you decide to do it the next day. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

So – take the time. Now. Put some sales time on your calendar for whatever your income producing activity is. When you get a new client, or make a sale/sales, you’ll be glad you made time for it.

I’d love to know how you plan your week. It’s nice to share.