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It is a known fact that companies are not doing well and require more attention to the item that keeps them in business – selling. The concern here is that while the recession continues to drudge its way through the economy many organizations (large and small) have drastically decreased budgets for training.

Training is not the pivotal answer to creating revenues but it is a start. In a recent report from CSO Insights, 53% of those companies that conduct sales training close more business and build more value than those that do not. Simply put, investments in the sales department offer return.

However, training is vacuous if not part of a process. To compete in today’s global economy requires multiple components such as business intelligence, customer service, coaching, mentoring and facilitation. Athletes spend immense amounts of time honing their craft and organizations require similar with frontline staff. The competition is simply too intense.

With over 6 billion individuals to market to and hundreds of thousands of firms, organizations need to not only be at the top of their game but top of mind. Investing time and money in those that create relationships and illustrate the firm’s value helps to commit the strategic intent of the firms long term success.

©2010. Drew Stevens PhD. All Rights Reserved.

Drew Stevens is one of the world’s leading authorities on Sales Marketing & Business Development Solutions . Drew is the author of the successful sales process book Split Second Selling. He is also the creator of the Sales Leadership Certificate one of only 14 programs in the United States offering an accredited degree in the profession of selling and has a top ranked podcast called Sales Acceleration. To discover how Dr. Drew can assist your organization visit his marketing and sales website.

In a competitive business environment the one advantage that a business will have is business intelligence. With our knowledge-based economy, knowledge is power. Business Intelligence empowers business users to make more informed decisions by providing timely, relevant, and accurate information wherever, however and whenever they need it.

Business intelligence is highly important for organizations that desire to be more strategic amongst industry and individual competitors. The use of information allows organizations that are malleable to make the immediate changes necessary to be innovative and competitive. In addition erratic changes in the marketplace enable organizations to meet the needs of increase customer demand such as labor, production or delivery.

With computers and mechanization now entering a sixth generation, the increase in large databases and mobile devices positively affects how organizations can react to market needs. Real time information immediately enables organizations to run analytical reports and scenarios to gain competitive advantages. So where then are these places to obtain some of this pertinent data?

• Company information – There is gold in them hills. Discover the gems that already exist in your corporate databases. It is ironic when those that need information forget to look at the light in front of them.
• Annual Report. There is a major concern that with the amount of work and effort involved, many do not read these treasure troves of data. The content from executives and directors is invaluable.
• Mystery Shopping and Consumer Feedback. Customers are the lynchpin to competitive data. Meet with them often to discern your organizations strengths and limitations.
• Daily and Weekly Periodicals. At one time a manual position but the convergence of technology has eliminated the public relations department. Public Relations epitomize the success of any organization. The use of RSS readers and other business intelligence software enables organizations to understand what stakeholders and publics say.
• Research Journals. Wall and Main Street constantly report on company information and the data is very helpful in understanding company position.
• Real Time Feeds. The prowess of Dow Jones, Reuters, Bloomberg and other feeds capture real time information to enable spontaneity to current events.

Knowledge is power and content is king. Business intelligence is the strategy to success, if your organization seeks to be more competitive. Do not allow the firm to be a pawn. Create the information necessary to trump your competitors and become an industry leader.

©2010. Drew Stevens PhD. All Rights Reserved.

A bothersome factor of selling is the notion for organizations to corrupt selling. Nothing happens to organizations unless something is sold. However over 92% of many organizations never invest in their sales departments. To avoid this issue:

1. Stop sales training. Training is an event not a process. Nothing happens in a seven-hour day. The desired output is to alter behavior, this does not happen in a day.
2. Create KPI. Selling requires measurements. Sellers need to measure their success and sales managers need to inform them constantly.
3. Conflict. Mix it up. The problem with sales managers today is the inability to confront employees about workplace issues.
4. Accountability. Create measurements of success and hold individuals to them. Stop the procrastination; they are the frontline to your revenue destiny.
5. Hire Correctly. Stop hiring bodies and employ individuals with innate talents that can handle your frontline. Nothing substitutes passion, conviction and talent.
6. Self Mastery. Good selling professionals provide methods of constant improvement. Always question the sloths that expect your organization to provide their education.
7. Create a selling culture. Everyone in the organization must become involved in the effort. Refrain from compartmentalization.
8. No contest. The best selling professionals do not require contests and challenges they are constantly motivated.
9. Seek best practices. Emulate the best practices from the best people stop trying to correct those that cannot be altered.

10. Lead Generation. This is the most prevalent portion of selling. Do not worry about supplying leads to the sales department. All professionals must create pipeline opportunities.

11. Share the wealth. Stop paying selling professionals so much. Lethargy is created when professionals believe they have a “cushion” and little upside potential.

12. Pre-Board with Onboarding. Create a process that quickly encourages knowledge of the company, competition and the industry.

13. A view from the bridge. It is great to sit behind the desk and command all but to create a selling culture you must lead by example. Move away from the desk and partner with your sales people. Leaders must meet with customers too.

14. The new economy. Recent surveys show that companies cut back on their sales force when they need the help the most. Why invest in new computers, or new logo when your front line is more important.

2010. Drew Stevens PhD. All rights reserved.

Drew J. Stevens Ph.D. (Dr. Drew) is the author of Split Second Selling and the soon to be released Ultimate Business Bible and six other business books on sales, customer loyalty, self mastery and business development solutions. Drew helps organizations to dramatically accelerate revenue and outstrip the competition. He conducts over 40 international keynotes, seminars and workshops per year. Dr. Drew is the founder of the Sales Leadership Certificate one of only 14 programs in the United States offering an accredited degree in the profession of selling and has a top ranked podcast called Sales Acceleration. To discover how Dr. Drew can assist your organization visit his marketing and sales website or call 877-391-6821.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? This is not a trick question. Yes you see you. I am often amazed by the amount of individuals that own and operate businesses that constantly look in the mirror and only see themselves. The world of sales and marketing doesn’t operate from selfishness and conceit. Consumers today demand value and most importantly respect. Therefore several issues are most prevalent

1. Operate from the other side of the mirror. Stop thinking about yourself and your business and think from the customer perspective.
2. Provide value. Refrain from the folly of features speak from what is most imperative to the consumer.
3. Stop speaking. Start questioning. You discover more when you are not talking.
4. Stop the tactics. Operate from a strategic perspective and the driving force of your organization.
5. Engage the client. Seeing from the customer’s eyes means providing them abounding customer service.
6. Surprises. If you do not want any, mystery shop your own organization similar to a customer. Ensure service and support permeate the organization.

If you take just a few moments each day to envision issues from the client perspective you will create better returns and more revenues. Seeing things from the eyes of the customer alters perspective and initiates better value. What do you see when you stare into the mirror?

©2010. Drew Stevens PhD. All Rights Reserved.

Drew J. Stevens Ph.D. (Dr. Drew) is the author of Split Second Selling and the soon to be released Ultimate Business Bible and six other business books on sales, customer loyalty, self mastery and business development solutions. Drew helps organizations to dramatically accelerate revenue and outstrip the competition. He conducts over 40 international keynotes, seminars and workshops per year. Dr. Drew is the founder of the Sales Leadership Certificate one of only 14 programs in the United States offering an accredited degree in the profession of selling and has a top ranked podcast called Sales Acceleration. To discover how Dr. Drew can assist your organization visit his marketing and sales website or call 877-391-6821.

Many years ago while participating in track and field my coaches typically spoke of cadence. In fact, many athletic events use cadence in their respective performance. Football players have a cadence before each play, dancers have a cadence in their performance and coincidentally those that sell require a cadence.

To perform at a higher level in selling products and services, one must have a certain cadence in delivery and building relationships with clients. Here are some of the things required to assist with your cadence:

1. Confidence. Consumers invest in those they know and trust. However, they also invest in the conviction from the selling representative. Your cadence will be affected by the highs and lows of your confidence.
2. Presentation Flow. Presentation is where it all begins. Know what you want to say, how you are going to say and but most of all listening is more important then speaking.
3. Preparation. One cannot have cadence if there is a lack of preparation. Understand how your services can assist the buyer. Look at issues from the perspective of the buyer; think output. What can you deliver that can aid the client?
4. Presence. When you look good, you feel good. Sellers need to dress the part. Invest in good clothes, and groom well. Be noticeable when you walk into a room.
5. Poise. Buyers implicitly affect tempo with questions and concerns. Remain neutral during volatile periods with proper research and preparation. The better you plan the less likely impact to your poise.
6. Equality. When you formulate equality with the buyer there is better conversation. Your interaction should be a meeting of peers, anything less is a vendor.
7. Labor Intensity. Relationship building is must easier, and you have more swagger when you meet only with decision makers. Gatekeepers waste time and affect your confidence. Meet and greet only those that understand your value.

The concept of cadence is formulated from continuous learning and practice. Athletes and dancers practice daily to broaden their strengths. They understand the value of self-mastery, learning all they can to heighten their performance. Take the first step and before you know it you will be swaying with the music.

2010. Drew J. Stevens PhD. All rights reserved.

Drew J. Stevens Ph.D. (Dr. Drew) is the author of Split Second Selling and the soon to be released Ultimate Business Bible and six other business books on sales, customer loyalty, self mastery and business development solutions. Drew helps organizations to dramatically accelerate revenue and outstrip the competition. He conducts over 40 international keynotes, seminars and workshops per year. Dr. Drew is the founder of the Sales Leadership Certificate one of only 14 programs in the United States offering an accredited degree in the profession of selling and has a top ranked podcast called Sales Acceleration. To discover how Dr. Drew can assist your organization visit his marketing and sales website or call 877-391-6821.

During my workshops I frequently speak of the need for selling professionals to be prepared for every selling situation. With the lack of selling methodology and training amongst 92% of the selling population there are a number of gaffs during the sales day.

After a relaxing Independence Day weekend, I returned to several emails. One of the most striking included the following, “I realize that your company may be too big to have a need for our training materials, but I liked what I saw on your webpage and I thought it might be worth having a conversation.”

While I honor the selling representative for having the gumption to connect, their lack of knowledge for my firm is alarming. Worse yet, there exists the typical bromide of “what you can do for me approach”. Selling professionals must refrain from selling products and begin to realize the need to invest in and develop relationships. Consumers buy from those they know and trust and this begins with intellectual dialogue based on objectives and values.

If there is a desire to invest in a relationship then:

1. Conduct fundamental research on the company and establish need.
2. Get introduced to the economic buyer through a third party.
3. If a cold call is required, ensure the focus is on objectives and measurements of success.
4. Conduct research on the true economic buyer, blind messages to gatekeepers will only get lost.
5. Stop thinking of input; consider how your product or service will benefit the customer. Think of external value end the selfishness and focus on the prospective client.

Before you pick up the phone or key a letter:

• Know the customer.
• Know the industry.
• Know the competition.
• Know your value.
• Know your differentiation.
• Know your value proposition.
• Know your output.
• Know your decision maker.
• Know your time frame.

Customers are too busy and not inclined to have their time wasted on the folly of sales commission. The only methods of competitively selling today include differentiation, value and output. Anything less is simply a waste of the selling professionals time. How much do you know?

© 2010. Drew Stevens PhD. All rights reserved.

Drew Stevens is one of the world’s leading authorities on Sales Marketing & Business Development Solutions . Drew is the author of the successful sales process book Split Second Selling. He is also the creator of the Sales Leadership Certificate one of only 14 programs in the United States offering an accredited degree in the profession of selling and has a top ranked podcast called Sales Acceleration. To discover how Dr. Drew can assist your organization visit his marketing and sales website.