sales: Lessons from Your Insurance Agent by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 03/07/10 11:56 AM
Selling insurance is not easy. It's a highly competitive business filled with a confusing array of products. Consumers don't like to think about insurance, and they usually believe the price is too high. Many people believe that they don't need it, or they're simply willing to put off purchasing a policy until they have more time and/or money. Additionally, buying a policy can be confusing for the uninitiated consumer.
You've rustled up five leads from a topnotch online service. Ready to sell each and every one of them. At least, you think you're ready. Here are some tips to help you … (2 comments)
sales: Smith Barney Selling by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 03/07/10 11:13 AM
How often do people try to sell us something before we have expressed an interest, have a desire, or are in the market for what they have? It seems the standard for many salespeople is to try to sell to anyone and everyone regardless of the interest level. When someone attempts to sell us something before we have expressed an interest, the initial thought may be, "Why would I buy from you? You haven't earned the right to sell to me!" The fact of the matter is that selling, both online and off, is about determining if there is a need … (0 comments)
sales: My Case Against Perfection by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 03/06/10 06:45 AM
In OZ, after Dorothy's house is relocated to unsuitable soil, she was asked by the Lady in the Bubble, "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" The same question goes for mother-in-laws and the answer is not a coin toss!
Maverick: "Yes your honor, I represent the defendant. The plaintiff, a mother-in-law is making statements about perfection. Yes being perfect" Judge: "Is that the young man there?" Maverick: "Yes your honor. " Judge: "Does your client wish to make a plea?" Maverick: "Yes he does your honor. Guilty as charged" Judge: "Before I sentence the defendant, councilor … (3 comments)
sales: "Jack London: Writer or Marketing Genius" by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 02/26/10 03:47 PM
"Jack London: Writer and Marketing Genius" The Call of the Wild, Mr. London's most famous book is one that you may remember from your high school days. Mr. London wrote over 50 books in his short lifetime. Some of them non-fiction and a few autobiographical. Jack London is a Marketing genius because he always . . . Before I explain, let me point out that Mr. London was a power writer. He wrote adventure stories and tales packed with energy, conflict and character. The lead character maybe man or animal, but you always identified with them. Jack London was a He-Man. … (3 comments)
sales: "Toot Sweets" by Dave Park "The Maverick Builder"
- 02/26/10 03:28 PM
"Imitation Sugar is Sweet, Too!" Imitation isn't only the sincerest form of flattery; it'salso a power way to learn new business skills. Mark Twain learned how to write by imitating other writers. As a youth he set newspaper stories in type for the newspaper.Tedious work, but it gave him the chance to imitate writers. He learned the fundamentals of great writing by copying. I hear the skepticism, "Mark Twain was a great author." Well you're a great inspector.Your a professional inspector.And you drive a lot. Have you ever walked down a street you normally drive? Did you notice that you saw, heard … (2 comments)
sales: Machete Innovation Part 2
- 08/02/09 08:20 AM
Machete Innovation to Jungle Growth Part 2 The Maverick Builder 2. Where is the purchase or buying decision made? This is a great question because unless you have researched this question or brought in focus groups, you are probably not sure of the #2, #3, #4, and #5 answers. Please re-read the question. I did not say "Who" made the decision, but "Where" was the decision made. Now go ask everyone you know. Whether it's a Realtor, a Vendor, a Leeds Group or online. Find out where the purchase decision is made. In the Car, at the Realtors office, in … (0 comments)
sales: Have You Thought About Selling Fashion?
- 08/02/09 07:38 AM
EBay has been referred to as the fashion capital of the internet, and with good reason. According to one ratings website, EBay's Clothing, Shoes & Accessories category is the #1 website for fashion. The site attracts well over one million buyers a month who are specifically looking for fashion-related items; these same buyers spent $2.4 billion last year alone on items from the CS&A category. EBay is often the first port of call for buyers looking for unique, rare or limited edition fashion items that no one else has. So if you're thinking of expanding your business into another area, … (3 comments)
sales: Right!
- 07/12/09 02:30 PM
Last week I made an early morning trip to a seminar/book promo breakfast. After breakfast I decided to check out other areas of the facility and I caught a few moments of a morning with Jack Welch, the former CEO of GE. As I stepped through the door, a question and answer session was in progress. A woman stepped up to the microphone and asked "Is the client always right?" Jack smiled and said, "You might not think so, and they may believe so, but if you don't make it so, you're dead!" That is a pretty strong consequence. . . … (2 comments)
sales: Welcome to the Jungle!
- 06/08/09 09:58 AM
Machete Innovation to Jungle Growth Part 1 When Procter & Gamble first championed brand management, astute marketers quickly boiled it down to four things: •· Superior understanding of the consumer •· Product or service differentiation •· Strategic marketing •· Innovation Great strength resides within the simplicity of these core principles. Service providers (home inspectors/Realtors) need an understanding of consumer relationships with the brand (The Company) within the context of their everyday lives, as well as how they - or someone shopping for them - relates to the brand. This means gathering and applying insights at every touch-point along the path to … (0 comments)
sales: Find Your "Groove Thing!"
- 06/08/09 09:42 AM
Many inspection businesses are in an awful "groove" these days. They don't know the steps it takes to tap into "bad economy wealth." There's much more economic activity going on, even now, in the midst of what many are calling the worst economic downtown since the 1930s. I am going to share with you 7 ideas, real things that successful businesses are doing in order not just to ride out the recession but to grow and flourish as never before. •· Break down your numbers. Not just month to month, year to date, and year to year, but also into categories … (0 comments)
sales: Where is the Opener?
- 05/18/09 09:22 AM
A home inspector friend and I were talking one afternoon about how to improve his selling skills. He has been an inspector for 13 years, but as of late his business has been slow. He was telling me how bad he felt because he wasn't getting many appointments. People weren't returning his phone calls. In addition, the few people he was speaking to weren't interested in hiring his services. In the next sentence, however, he sparked up and said - with a great deal of pride, 'I'm a great closer. Just put me in front of a prospect, and I'll walk … (4 comments)
sales: You Sell Like a "GIRL"!
- 05/18/09 09:01 AM
Yup, it's Girl Scout Cookie time in our part of the world. [And, yes, my English teacher DID tell me never to start a sentence with the word "Yup."] For those of you who are unfamiliar with the sights, tastes, and overall experience of helping your daughters sell Thin Mints, Samoas, and Do-Si-Do's, you're missing a fundamental and wide-ranging education about the dynamics of sales, selling, and salespeople. Here are some points I've garnered while helping my daughter, Nicole, age 12, and Troop 429, make their sales numbers. These pointers are hard-earned, field-tested, and as applicable to you and your business … (8 comments)
sales: Talk'n 'bout My Generation!
- 03/16/09 02:09 PM
When Mick Jagger belted out this tune for the Stones, I do not think he could have envisioned anything like the kids of today! I've heard them called by many names as of late: Generation Y, Gen Y, The Plug-and-Play Generation, The Gotta-Feel-Good Generation. What they're all referring to is the new young generation - our current 20-somethings. Every generation "deals" with the generation who comes after them. Their different views, their different ways of doing things, and so on; this generation is no exception. Why is everyone talking about this new generation now though? They've been coming along for years. … (8 comments)
sales: Pushy Purveyor Problem!
- 03/16/09 01:51 PM
I'll bet you can't say it three times real fast! And I'll be you can't stand pushy salespeople. How often do people try to sell us something before we have expressed an interest, have a desire, or are in the market for what they have? It seems the standard for many salespeople is to try to sell to anyone and everyone regardless of the interest level. When someone attempts to sell us something before we have expressed an interest, the initial thought may be, "Why would I buy from you? You haven't earned the right to sell to me!" The fact … (2 comments)
sales: Don't take these to the Bank!
- 03/05/09 12:24 PM
Bad Sales Tips! 1. Not being punctual: being on time is very important to a customer. First impressions are lasting ones and sales people need to make a good impression. Being on time will give a good impression to the client and increase their confidence in your company. 2. Poor presentation: some sales people just do not have all their ducks in a row and simply do not present well. A presentation is the first thing a customer will know about your services. If your product is not shown correctly to the customer he is very unlikely to list or buy. … (6 comments)
sales: Dynamite!
- 03/05/09 11:45 AM
Some of the most effective things in life are the simplest. Marketers spend a lot of time trying to understand the psyche of consumers, discover ways to predict economic trends and a million other aspects of business that can determine success. It pays to remember that some things are just basic, common sense and as easy as pie. Let's look at some tactics that just might be the key to the success you've been pining for. 1. Keep An Eye On Your Best Customers Wouldn't be great if all of your customers were just like them? ...easy to please, loyal, and … (2 comments)
sales: Marketing ABC's
- 03/05/09 11:27 AM
Winning Sales Strategies You Can't Market Without! 1. Attention-Getting Ads Get Results Think about it...how many advertisements do you hear every day...how about every hour? Let's face it, we're bombarded with magazine ads, newspaper ads, TV ads, radio ads, and the Internet is plastered with ads on every site. Not many of the astronomical number of advertisements stick with us, and make an impact. How can you make your ad STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD? * Make a dramatic statement: "Even my dog knows ...." * Surprise them with the unexpected: "Use for 30 days totally free..." * Ask a thought … (0 comments)
sales: Maverick Mindset
- 01/18/09 06:16 AM
Sometimes we can all use a friendly reminder to keep us from backsliding into old ways of thinking about selling that lead us down the wrong path with potential clients. New Thinking = New Results Maybe it's time to take a different approach. Maybe we need to seriously analyze our sales thinking so we can identify why we're not making more sales. Take a look at the table below and think about your current selling mindset. How would your selling behaviors change if you changed your sales thinking? Traditional Sales Mindset Vs Maverick's Mindset 1. Always deliver a strong sales pitch. … (0 comments)
sales: Negotiation Ninja
- 01/16/09 12:42 PM
Real Estate negotiating is a skill that like warfare tactics must be honed. (Honed is a funny word but right for the context.) It is important to be mentally prepared to win. Do the ground work well before your reach the negotiating table and decide on the "path" you are going to take. You need to set aside any doubts you may have and stride forward prepared to win at all costs. The four cornerstones of successful negotiation skills are placing emphasis on common points. •1. Presenting clear arguments (price, options, financing, condition, etc) •2. Being innovative and open … (5 comments)
sales: Filthy Stinking Rich!
- 01/15/09 08:47 AM
What do the rich and powerful people in business have in common? They live life with a strategy and exhibit characteristics that not all that different from other not-so-successful businesspeople. What's their secret? They train themselves to keep these characteristics in mind. One thousand Four Hundred (1400) people across the world turn into millionaires every day. Want to become one of them? Of course you do. Everyone wants the freedom to do business in the way they choose. There is so much power in running your own business - and having a business that runs itself, which for many people … (21 comments)
Mentoring by creating business platforms and structures that foster ideas and innovation.
Advice on Real Estate sales strategy development through visualizing innovation and streamlining its implementation.
Sales and Marketing tips for the Home Inspection Industry.
Selling insurance is not easy. It's a highly competitive business filled with a confusing array of products. Consumers don't like to think about insurance, and they usually believe the price is too high. Many people believe that they don't need it, or they're simply willing to put off purchasing a policy until they have more time and/or money. Additionally, buying a policy can be confusing for the uninitiated consumer.
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