An Often Overlooked Strategy for Getting Your Foot

An Often Overlooked Strategy for Getting Your Foot in the Door

by: Kathleen Gage

Most companies are constantly seeking efficient and cost effective marketing and promotions strategies. It’s likely they are also seeking strategies to increase sales through obtaining key information. Regardless of the industry, almost everyone has heard or read arguments saying sales and marketing are separate, while at other times hearing and reading they are interconnected.

The fact is that you have to market your product or business in order to find prospects to sell to. On the other hand, your level of professionalism as a salesperson will directly impact your marketing message. Simply put, everything you do is a part of your marketing. Without effective marketing many people won’t know what you are selling. The two go hand in hand.

In the process of selling you must be able to address the question most prospects will ask: ขWhat can you do for me?ข This question can be answered by the content of your marketing material as well as your responses while meeting with a client.

While you can tell your prospects and customers how absolutely wonderful you are and all you can do for them, an even more effective strategy is for someone else to ขblow your horn.ข A customer who is willing to answer that question for your prospect oftentimes adds to your effectiveness and credibility in the sales process.

One of the best ways to do this is with written customer testimonials. Testimonials can be very effective in positioning your product or service and may give that extra little push when a potential client is trying to decide on whether or not they will be doing business with you.

The easiest way to get a testimonial is to do a great job. The second easiest way is to ask for it. When a customer or client tells you how happy they are with what you have done ask them if they would be willing to put that in a letter.

It is a good idea to have a cross section of testimonials you can use in your sales and marketing process. This way, regardless of your clients’ situation, you have a testimonial that will address their needs.

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Asking for a testimonial is not arrogant or egotistical. When you go above and beyond, most people are willing to let others know how much they appreciate you or your product.

A short time ago my most recent book was released. Myself and my coauthors have enjoyed increased daily sales with 101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door. Although many people are telling us how fun, creative and useful the book is, I knew if we could get testimonials from readers we would be able to use them in our marketing and promotions efforts.

I sent an email out to a few dozen folks who had purchased the book asking for written feedback. Within minutes I began receiving testimonials. Here two of the dozens I received:

ขI was pleasantly surprised reading 101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door. I was so impressed that I am requiring my sales staff to read it and we are getting together to discuss how we can implement some of these ideas into our marketing campaigns. Great job!ข

Michele Michalewicz, CTP, President, Western Leisure, Inc.

ข101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door was full of great ideas to separate sales people from the ordinary. This is a must have book for those that want to be remembered and stand apart from the ordinary sales person or marketing company. This book has been referred back to often and will be a permanent addition to our business library. Thank you for putting these ideas into a book.ข

Craig Watkins, Owner, Premium Exteriors and Coatings of Utah

www.WhyKeepPainting.com

What Craig and Michele have said is a greater testament to a potential buyer than me telling them how great the book is. And notice what it is doing for them… their testimony is added visibility for their company. A win/win situation.

Although testimonials are great to use, keep in mind that they do not replace the simple act of asking potential clients for the business. Testimonials are simply another key aspect of an effective success strategy.

Copyright © 2004 by Kathleen Gage

Web address: www.kathleengage.com

Publishing Guidelines: You may publish my article in your newsletter, on your website or in your print publication provided you include the resource box at the end. Notification would be appreciated but is not required.

About The Author

If you are in any form of sales and are tired of cold calling visit www.101waystogetyourfootinthedoor.com to receive fr*ee tips on getting your foot in the door and staying ahead of the competition. Author Kathleen Gage is a business advisor, keynote speaker and trainer who helps others increase revenues and decrease costs by gaining dominance and visibility within their market.

[email protected]

This article was posted on January 31

by Kathleen Gage

Out door Sign

Out door Sign

by: Paula Jones

Many business organizations that needs to disseminate latebreaking information to a large number of people. Out door sign boards are the perfect solution for them that command the attention of all who pass underneath.

Out door sign boards utilize LED lights, which is immensely more efficient and brighter than standard incandescent lighting. Fluorescent lamps give off heat as a waster byproduct, while out door sign boards do not. In fact, they are considered a ขcold lightข technology, which means that all of the energy going to the lamp is directed to making light, without any wasted heat. Out door sign boards are thus very energy efficient as well as very bright.

Traffic management system, passenger information system, advertising, public notices, health and safety, time and temperature displays, company promotion are some the areas where outdoor sign boards are used most efficiently.

The out door sign boards come in multilingual and in one line, biline or multiline versions up to around 40 characters per line, which one colour, two colours or multi colours options and full colours in addition.

Out door sign boards are connected to local power supply and can switch on and off automatically at preprogrammed times. The specially used ขantireflective acrylicข allows the displays to be read clearly by passersby, even through a shop window on a sunny day. These sign boards can be mounted anywhere and manufacturing department of Jayex Technology also takes very much attention on the buyers need for mounting the sign board and its related accessories.

These out door sign boards are easy to set up and operate as they can be operated remotely, they allow the outlet to simply and clearly present the content; these contents are changeable and/or updateable.

Dynamic presentation of information, effective public communications, rapid and easy updating of information, enhancing company image, low maintenance are the features provided by the leading manufacturer of Outdoor sign boards – Jayex Technology, a pioneer company in manufacturing LED signs even offers customized options all along having large range of out door signs.

About The Author

Paula Jones

Jayex Technology Limited, based in London specialise in advanced information display systems. Established in 1978 we have pioneered the development of the LED display market and now have over 18,000 customers worldwide. We offer, probably the largest range of models from small single line signs to big screen Megavision screens that can display live video and action replay in stadia.

jayex.co.uk

This article was posted on September 28, 2004

by Paula Jones

The 3 C’s of Getting Your Foot in the Door of a Pr

The 3 C’s of Getting Your Foot in the Door of a Prospect

by: Kathleen Gage

Are you frustrated with cold calling because of all the rejection, phones slammed in your ear and being told to never call again? Wondering how some sales professionals seem to always be at the right place, at the right time? Feeling like you just can’t seem to get your foot in the door of any new prospects? You’re not alone. These seem to be universal concerns for many sales professionals.

Getting your foot in the door of a prospect often reaches beyond what most have been taught in sales training seminars and books. It is a state of mind, emotion and action.

As you think of prospects you want to meet and connect with consider the following…getting your foot in the door takes courage, creativity and consistency.

Courage – It has been said that courage is not the absence of fear. It is the ability to identify one’s fear and walk through it anyway. Where does the fear come from when you try to get your foot in the door? Perhaps it is fear of rejection. Maybe it is fear the client is too busy. Perhaps one fears the client won’t want or need the product or service that is being offered.

A powerful way to overcome fear is to take action. The action can be to gain a greater understanding of the client’s needs and situation. Perhaps you need to know more about your product or service. Maybe it is simply to pick up the phone and make the call. It is in the willingness to take action the fear will lift.

Creativity – Many people read a book on the ขskillsข of cold calling and selling. Do Step A and you get Result B. Fact is, there will be times getting your foot in the door is about trusting your creativity.

How often have you gotten an intuitive thought or a feeling to try something different? And how often does reason take over intuition? Some of the most successful sales professionals trust their intuition and inner knowing to lead them to step through the door of the unknown.

It is in the willingness to explore unique methods for approaching any given situation the magic of selling will occur. The next time you ขget that feelingข be willing to explore the creativity of your idea and watch the magic happen.

Consistency – Success is often not the result of big actions, but rather one tiny action at a time. It is in the consistency of our actions on a daily basis; making the call, following up on a regular basis, inputting the names into the database, and having a system that allows us to free our minds of unnecessary concern and clutter. When the mind is clear, there is more opportunity to be creative and walk in a place of courage. This allows for truly serving the needs of your customers and clients.

Selling is not about closing the deal. It is about the desire to serve others through the products and services we provide. Serve well.

Copyright: © 2005 by Kathleen Gage

Web Address: www.kathleengage.com

Publishing Guidelines: You may publish my article in your newsletter, on your web site, or in your print publication provided you include the resource box at the end. Notification would be appreciated but is not required.

About The Author

Kathleen Gage is the coauthor of ข101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Doorข quite possibly the most creative book on lead generation and sales you will ever read. For FR*EE tips on Getting Your Foot in the Door visit www.101waystogetyourfootinthedoor.com. To receive Gage’s FR*EE report ขLearn How a Salt Lake City Base Business Consultant Make over $100,000 from One Ideaข visit www.kathleengage.com.

[email protected]

This article was posted on January 31

by Kathleen Gage