The most popular Apr posts here at SalesTactics.org begin with a bit of an anomaly. A post on the potential price of success that had been fairly popular since its publication in February was listed on Reddit. This lead to well over 600 views of the post alone. That's great, but most of the people who saw it were kids interested in Transformers; not adults with life experience. Nor were most of these viewers looking for success or sales advice. So they weren't interested in other articles. Still, a high number of people who otherwise would not have visited this site were attracted here, and I appreciate that.
I considered lopping this result off our list as an outlier. However, it legitimately did get many views and is worthy of the attention it received. Additionally, a comment by a Reddit viewer prompted me to add more detail to my analysis.
Most Popular Apr Posts at SalesTactics.org
We look at an example not of success itself, but rather the price you might have to pay for your definition of success. Megatron is a cartoon and a "bad guy", so he never really wins. However, he is a clear symbol and leader of his movement. And he has a huge price to pay for being so: he can't take a day off just because he feels like it.
What Megatron is mirroring here, and what I'm talking about, is a real-world situation. The leader has worked their way into becoming a symbol, and their public behavior cannot vary from the mental picture their public has of them. If they do, they'll lose all their power.
My purpose in writing this article was to get you thinking about what success means to you. As I said in my follow-up piece below the original text, I've worked with many coaches. From that experience, I can tell you that when people find out what their life purpose is, often they do not like it. They have to do it, but pursuing that purpose is going to be an awful slog without much in the way of redeeming feedback. Is that what you want? On the other hand, can you stand turning your back on your purpose?
#2 - Negotiating Is Bad And Here's Why
If you find yourself in negotiation, you've made a mistake in your sales process. The prospect doesn't see you as unique, or different in any way. They've lined up you and your competitors in a spreadsheet to figure out how to get the most for the least. And they will be coming to use the quotations you and your competitors so cheerfully provided against you.
#3 - How To Sell More Girl Scout Cookies
In this article, we look at the relentless and well-composed marketing machine behind the sales of Girl Guide cookies. If your business had its sales & marketing system together as well as the Girl Scouts do, you'd be in a much better position--and you'd know what to do. Their site is a great example of how to provide organized marketing tools to front line sales staff.
My Take On the Most Popular Apr Posts
I believe we're continuing our search for the building blocks of selling. People want to see and know what works, and beginning with the questions of, "What am I aiming for?" and "How do I know when I get there?" is a useful beginning.
Recognizing the peril and error that has put you into negotiations is a powerful realization. If you don't know what's happening to you and why it happened, you are the victim. In selling we must be in the driver's seat; otherwise, the prospect is in control. Since it's our responsibility to communicate effectively, ceding that control to the prospect--accidentally or on purpose--is giving up your integrity as a salesperson.
Early in April we also looked at Qualifying. Spending energy on, giving price quotes to, and inviting into our business prospects who are not a good fit is a huge mistake. Allowing unqualified prospects to become clients will result in badly-behaved, financially unsound customers upsetting you emotionally and damaging your business. Don't let that happen: qualify effectively...and mercilessly.
Yes, that's a strong word. This is your business, your livelihood, we're talking about.
PS. Really LOOK at that Norman Rockwell painting above. Something's going on there; it's not just a bunch of heads. Once you've figured out what's happening, imagine how this same process occurs between you, your prospects and your competitors.
>> Jason Kanigan is a sales force developer. Was there a post you think should be on the list that I missed? Comment below to let us know! And if you're operating an established, profitable business earning over $250K in revenue but want to take it to the next level, come visit with me to figure out the whole detailed plan on how you're going to reach your next income goal over the next 12 months. <<
You should see the relentless marketing machine behind how to sell more Girl Scout Cookies.