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Articles from Sam Manfer | Selfgrowth.com
- ***Relationship Selling to C-Level Executives – How to Use Entertainment for More Sales - by Submitted on Jul 28, 2010 from Sam ManferMost people conjure up socializing when they here the term relationship selling. In business relationships are all about helping each other survive and prosper in their jobs. Socializing should be a byproduct of good relationship selling. If I’m a C-Level executive decision maker, a ...
Views: 4003(4 votes) - ***Sales Management - 7 Selling Tips on Handling Price, Price, Price - by Submitted on Jul 12, 2010 from Sam ManferPrice is tricky. Price could be what s/he wants if everything else is the same. Price could be what someone tells you when they want to get rid of you. Price could be for a resell and the final seller only knows how to sell low price. Price could be what a subordinate thinks the boss wants, ...
Views: 3947(40 votes) - ***Advanced Sales Training - 8 What-to-Do’s About Cold Calling - by Submitted on Aug 13, 2009 from Sam ManferCold calling is dead, but still kicking. It's not to say that cold calling doesn't work, but everyone will agree, it's highly inefficient and very demotivating. Therefore, cold calling should go away, but it won’t. I stopped at my Starbucks today and saw a vitamin or similar sales rep ...
Views: 1692(1 vote) - ***C-Level Sales Training Tip 14 - Credibility Is the Magic for Selling to C-Level Executives - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Sam ManferCredibility is the key ingredient to gain someone’s support and to get you what you want from that person. If you’ve got it with someone, you’ll have easy access to that person and s/he will readily share information with you. If you don’t, you’ll get excuses, put-offs and go nowhere slowly. ...
Views: 3651(3 votes) - ***C-Level Sales Training Tip 2 – The Prospect Seemed Interested, But the Sales Cycle Stalled - by Submitted on Aug 25, 2009 from Sam ManferSales have a beginning and an end, and you can adjust how much time is spent in between by making the right moves. Sales begin wherever you can get in, but always end with the power executives saying yes or no. What happens in between is a lot of due diligence work with subordinates and ...
Views: 2018(1 vote) - ***C-Level Selling - Asking Sales Questions Is Easier Said Than Done - by Submitted on Aug 05, 2009 from Sam ManferLike you, I've been selling all my life and what I've learned is, asking good questions and listening effectively are the most powerful selling skills. Unfortunately, the dynamics between sales people and prospects/customers, coupled with tension and old habits makes asking questions and ...
Views: 2441(1 vote) - ***Sales Peoples' Biggest Weakness – C-Level Selling - by Submitted on Sep 08, 2009 from Sam ManferSalespeople know how to prospect -- although they hate to. Salespeople can certainly present -- and they love to. They know they should ask questions -- although most don't and the ones that do ask self-serving ones. Salespeople can close -- even though they usually let the customers do it for ...
Views: 1906(1 vote) - ***Selling Doctors - Fear of the Doctor Is a Sales Person's Biggest Challenge - by Submitted on Aug 11, 2009 from Sam ManferFears, excuses, uneasiness, rationalizations, intimidations all stem from negative projection. The doctor is too busy. The doctor doesn’t see salespeople. The doctor doesn’t care who they have selected. These, plus a whole range of other statements about this doctor, are excuses - ...
Views: 2113(1 vote) - ***Selling to C-Levels - 8 Interviewing Tips to Easily Close Sales - by Submitted on Aug 09, 2011 from Sam ManferMost sales people know enough to ask questions. And every sales person has heard a thousand times to listen more than they speak. However, most sales people interrogate rather than interview. The difference is; interrogating is about the sales person, and interviewing is about the prospect or ...
Views: 2415(1 vote) - ***The Power Of Selling In The Executive Suite - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2008 from Sam ManferSales begin from the bottom-up or the top-down. They can begin internally from a perceived need, or they can begin externally from a marketing presentation. No matter how the sale initiates it ends with the executive in charge of the decision saying yes or no. Sales can turn into large ...
Views: 1817(1 vote) - C-Level Selling Tip 9 - Overcoming Executive Intimidation - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2009 from Sam ManferAnxiety is the uneasy feeling that arises within you when thinking about approaching a senior level executive, doctor, high government official, etc. It surfaces because you are anticipating an unpleasant outcome or projecting a negative experience. So in essence, it’s your own imagination ...
Views: 2891(1 vote) - ***C-Level Sell to Develop Large Accounts - by Submitted on Jul 14, 2009 from Sam ManferLarge accounts are cash cows for any business. We all wish we had more. We all go crazy if we lose one. However, large accounts require the most powerful selling skills –getting-to and selling profit center leaders and their staffs. Two points of clarification: 1. Selling the C- level means ...
Views: 2829(1 vote) - ***C-Level Selling Tip 3: Sales Rejection, What You Didn’t Learn in College - by Submitted on Aug 31, 2009 from Sam ManferMost training for salespeople comes from corporate marketing which sends the message that your mission is to tell prospects about us, convince people to buy, and discuss why you are superior to competition. This is marketing – trying to generate interest. Once the prospect says, “Tell me ...
Views: 2057(2 votes) - ***4 Quick Tips For Cross-Selling - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2008 from Sam ManferIs cross-selling in your 2008 future? If not it should be. It is the easiest way to make more sales. That’s because you have relationships and if you know how to use them, it translates to easy sales, better pricing, elimination of any budget issues, and no competitive involvement. Now for ...
Views: 2258 - ***5 Tips for Getting Meetings with Corporate Leaders - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2009 from Sam ManferC-Level Executives are tough to meet with – even if it’s a small company. Unless you’ve built up credibility with someone close to this C-level executive you’ve got a 95% chance (almost certain) of being rejected. Worse yet, of the ones fortunate enough to get meetings, most are never able to ...
Views: 1845 - ***6 Actions To Get You Prepared For Networking - by Submitted on Jul 23, 2008 from Sam ManferWhen prospecting or getting to higher-level people, most sellers suffer the rejection and futility of cold calling because they hate to ask people they know for help. Resulting Problem People lose motivation and waste time making cold calls. They get nowhere slowly. Even worse, the ... ...
Views: 1434 - ***7 Advanced Sales Training Skills Required For C-Level Selling – Part I, Interviewing - by Submitted on May 15, 2008 from Sam ManferEverybody knows that to present, ask questions, and listen are the basics of selling – not necessarily in that order. However, most sales people do not know the finesses associated with these basics because they never learned them. Selling typically is not a destination career. But when ...
Views: 3750 - ***7 Reasons C-Level Relationship Selling Eliminates the Need for Low Price Bidding - by Submitted on Jun 18, 2008 from Sam Manfer1. I learned long ago the only way to use low pricing as a strategy is if you are the low cost producer. In this way you can outlast your competitors by losing less. Once they are out of business, you’ll own the market and can charge what you’d like. 2. The other thing I learned ...
Views: 1775 - ***8 Ways to Get C-Levels and Gov’t Exec’s to Start Spending in this Depression - by Submitted on Mar 10, 2009 from Sam ManferRight now corporate and government officials are keeping spending and capital investments to minimum. Even if government projects are funded and have nothing to do with budgets, they are still being put on hold. Why, because it’s not right to spend now. It looks badly and ultimately the fear ...
Views: 2019 - ***Accurate Sales Forecasting - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2009 from Sam ManferForecasting can be simple and accurate, and if one uses a consistent, creditable selling process it can be even more reliable. Here is a simple way of forecasting. Try it on some outstanding business. Try it also on some opportunities you closed and others you lost. The simple system ...
Views: 1672 - ***C-Level Relationship Sales Tips – Increase Sales by Stealing Competitors’ Accounts - by Submitted on Feb 18, 2011 from Sam ManferIncrease your sales by using these simple C-level relationship selling, sales tips. Steal your competitors’ accounts. They are qualified, and they buy your type of products / services. Your competitors sell to these accounts. So what’s not to like, except they are not buying from you. To ...
Views: 2428 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling - 10 Tips For Developing C-Level Relationships - by Submitted on Jul 03, 2008 from Sam ManferDevelop professional relationships with senior managers responsible for P/L and competition will not exist, price will be a benchmark only, business you never thought existed will surface, budgets will be created, and you will increase your sales and market share tremendously. 1. Use your ...
Views: 1673 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling - 9 Active Listening Steps to Effortlessly Sell Prospects - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2011 from Sam ManferInterviewing is the most important step of sales calls and relationship development. Interviewing requires asking stimulating questions that get prospects to discuss their wants relative to what you’re offering. However, interviewing also requires active listening. That is, listening with and ...
Views: 2486 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling During This Recession Requires More than Getting People to Like You - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2009 from Sam ManferGetting someone to like you is not going to close sales - especially during a business recession. It is amazing that this misconception is embraced by so many sales people as the essence of relationship selling. Hopefully this will clear up why liking doesn’t make a relationship nor put money in ...
Views: 1656 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling Requires Differentiating Your Company to Your Customers’ C-Level Managers - by Submitted on May 16, 2008 from Sam ManferCustomers choose vendors based on the perception that something important is better from one company than another. “Better” simply boils down to three (3) factors – more benefits, less risks, and/or least effort. Many believe selection is based on price. I say not really. A “better” deal ...
Views: 2065 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – 6 Actions for Handling Blockers and Gatekeepers - by Submitted on Nov 16, 2010 from Sam ManferPeople block you from their bosses and others for a whole host of reasons. For example they feel they will lose their power over you; they don’t like what you have and know that if you get past them their boss might buy what you have and they will be stuck with you; admins are told not to let ...
Views: 2803 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – Gaining the Confidence Required for Selling High - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2011 from Sam ManferIt's uncomfortable selling to C-levels and influential leaders. They are hard to get-to and they are intimidating to talk with. They have an air of superiority and power. The only way to handle these C-levels and top executives is with confidence. Confidence is a sales person’s biggest ...
Views: 1927 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – Identifying the Ultimate Decision Maker - by Submitted on Aug 25, 2010 from Sam ManferDetermining the final decision maker and other high level influencers is one of the most difficult tasks for a sales person. Subordinates and info gatherers claim to be the final decision maker which confuses sales people. Others guard that information for fear the sales person will try to ...
Views: 2976 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling: Selling at the Executive Level -The 5 Elements - Part II - Focus - by Submitted on Aug 18, 2008 from Sam ManferEveryone knows that “Those with the In, Win”. Sales people want to be connected at the top, but usually struggle. Sales managers to presidents hope their sales people are connected and schmoozing with their customers’ top executives. So this five part series is intended to ...
Views: 1870 - ***C-Level Sales Training – It’s Not a Sale Until the C-Level Sings Yes - by Submitted on Jun 15, 2012 from Sam ManferLet me tell you something you know, but chose to ignore, avoid, and/or make little effort to accomplish. That is, to sell more, become a selling super star and to move to a higher income bracket in your selling career, get to the C-levels, GMs or the one who wield the ultimate power for the ...
Views: 3396 - ***C-Level Selling - A Sales Person's Best Resource - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2009 from Sam ManferUp and out -- that is my motto. Whenever I'm pursuing a contract, project or deal, I find out who all the top level people are in the organization. Then I focus on how I'm going to spread like a virus in an organization and get to them. But the leaders who are always the most helpful are ...
Views: 1611 - ***C-Level Selling - Generating More Sales - by Submitted on May 20, 2008 from Sam ManferSales growth will come from (1) existing customers; (2) old or lost customers; (3) new customers; (4) existing products or service; and/or (5) new products/ services. Based on the options above, the chances of success for making more sales are: • Existing Customer – Existing ...
Views: 3168 - ***C-Level Selling - The Great Customer Experience Happens When C-Level Executives Are Satisfied - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2012 from Sam ManferHow much time do you spend with the senior staff of you customers? I’ll bet not much – that’s not good. I’ll also bet that if by chance you do know them, you check-in to only say hello and see if there is anything they can give you – that’s not good again. And if you don’t know them, you only ...
Views: 1817 - ***C-Level Selling -- The First Rule for Handling Gatekeepers and Blockers - by Submitted on Jun 17, 2009 from Sam ManferAlways assume you'll be blocked and rarely will you be incorrect. Suppose you meet with someone -- your initial contact – and you get along well. She or he likes what you have to say. She or he sees the benefits. Everything seems fine. What typically happens next? Well, you might ask for ...
Views: 1830 - ***C-Level Selling During This Recession - The Low Price Issue - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2008 from Sam ManferI was at an association meeting the other night doing some networking. As I talked with people, it was amazing how inefficient people are in their selling and business development. So I have five stories, each with a lesson that could help you develop business better. . As I introduced ...
Views: 1965 - ***C-Level Selling Tip 4 -- Relationships with C’s Produces Business, but You Don’t Have a Relationship - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Sam ManferRelationships are a powerful way to get business. A relationship will be established when each party feels the benefits for him or her self. C-Levels and senior executives are primarily interested in business benefits you can deliver that serve their careers. Deliver the benefits and secure ...
Views: 2558 - ***C-Level Selling – Conquer Self-Doubt and Attain Confidence - by Submitted on Jun 14, 2011 from Sam ManferConfidence wanes and self-doubt sets-in when your negative little voices nag at you. Those little voices stem from parental lectures and social interactions which are now programmed into you psyche. These programs are what your inner parent draws from to tells your inner child how to react. ...
Views: 2590 - ***C-Level Selling: Executive Relationships - The Primer - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2008 from Sam ManferFor people new to C-Level Selling getting to executives, knowing who the right executives are is a problem. This is followed by getting to the executives and then developing professional relationships with them. The right executives are the profit-center leader and his or her staff. These ...
Views: 2085 - ***C-Level Selling: Fear Is a Sales Person's Biggest Challenge - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2008 from Sam ManferFears, excuses, uneasiness, rationalizations, intimidations all stem from negative projection. The executive is too busy. The executive doesn’t see salespeople. The executive doesn’t care who they have selected. These, plus a whole range of other statements about this executive, ...
Views: 1728 - ***C-Level Selling: Move From Vendor To Preferred Supplier by Relationships Selling Corporate Leader$ - by Submitted on Aug 15, 2008 from Sam ManferPurpose, Focus, Confidence, Credibility and Performance are the path to the executive suite. Once there, sales come easily and continuously. Then you’ll move from vendor to preferred supplier and have a successful large account. The sad truth is that most sales people believe they are high ...
Views: 1577 - ***C-Level Selling: How TCreate And Manage Large Accounts - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2008 from Sam ManferLarge Account Management requires knowledge of where the account is going with respect to it's customers, competitors, industry and the economy. This knowledge is housed in the heads of the profit-center leader and his or her staff. So anyone that wants to manage a large account has to get to ...
Views: 2120 - ***Capturing C-Level Quality Leads - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2009 from Sam ManferQuality leads, especially those of C-level executives, generate sales. These leads will come as the result of effective passive and active marketing. Part I -- Passive Marketing Since we live in an Internet world, if you don't have Internet presences, you're behind your competition. ...
Views: 1458 - ***Choosing the Right RFP’s and Avoiding the Wrong RFP’s - by Submitted on Mar 23, 2009 from Sam ManferIn this article we will focus on selecting the types of clients and the types of projects where you have the best chances of winning. Keep in mind all RFP’s, clients and projects are not good for you. Knowing what RFP’s you can win before you bid is critical to your success ratio. Keep in ...
Views: 2314 - ***Developing Positive Self Esteem and Confidence - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2009 from Sam ManferLack of confidence, self-doubt and low self-esteem stem from negative talk within yourself. This negative talk was programmed into you as a child. Yes, it was your parents or friends or role models that messed you up. However, that was then and there is nothing you can do to change that. But ...
Views: 1608 - ***Eliminate 2 Common And Critical Selling Mistakes by Using C-Level Relationship Selling - by Submitted on Jun 13, 2008 from Sam ManferThe New Account Syndrome The biggest handicap to increasing sales and market share is the inordinate amount of time sales people feel they have to spend getting new accounts. These are tough sales, second only to the toughest - trying to introduce new technology or new services to new ...
Views: 1549 - ***Engaging C-Level Executives in Productive Conversations - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2011 from Sam ManferHere’s a common situation. You finally get a meeting with a senior or C-Level person. After the pleasantries you start telling how your product or service will be good for his company and/or better than the competitions’ stuff. He’s attentive for a few minutes. But you’re so focused on ...
Views: 3918 - ***Getting Hired During A Recession - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2008 from Sam ManferGetting a job is a sale and requires the skills of a top sales person. Unfortunately most people never learned how to sell, even most sales people. To complicate the matter further this sale is about you, which is very emotional. The good news is that your product knowledge is second to ...
Views: 1572 - ***Good Work Won’t Win the Next Sale - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2012 from Sam ManferWhen people buy from you they expect good results. So when they get what they paid for, it’s really nothing special. Therefore, when it’s time to buy again, those same people will consider you because you delivered. But they won’t necessarily buy from you, because again, it wasn’t anything ...
Views: 1863 - ***Hiring Super Sales People And Sales Managers - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2008 from Sam ManferHiring successful sales people and sales managers requires a scientific process, not a resume and interview ritual. You’ve probably been fooled many times from a great impression at the interview, and then the person didn’t cut it. S/he either quit, got fired or worse yet, s/he is still with ...
Views: 2382 - ***If You Want More Sales, Then You Need Advanced Sales People - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2008 from Sam ManferOrders are lost (or not obtained) not because of price, or better performance, or delivery, or …., but because you or your sales person has been out sold. When a prospect doesn’t commit to you, that prospect has out sold you. When a competitor wins, that competitor out sold you. I hear every ...
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