Archive for the ‘Team-Building’ Category

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Effective Cold Calling Techniques – How to Supplement Cold Calling

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007

Effective cold calling techniques are usually tips on how to do better on the phone. For example it may be things like how to get past the gatekeeper and how to effectively communicate your message quickly. But have you thought about supplementing your cold calling with other activities so you don’t have to spend so much time on the phone?

Be honest with yourself. Are you paid to be on the phone cold calling, or are you paid for closing sales? I don’t know about you but I’ve never seen a job that pays a good salary for just picking up the phone. You are paid to close sales and bring in money to the company.

So seeing that you are not directly paid to cold call, wouldn’t you want to cut back on cold calling as much as you can? Wouldn’t you want to look for effective cold calling techniques that actually supplement your cold calling and don’t require you to pick up the phone?

When cold calling you are contacting one person at a time, which means you are wasting a lot of time. You need to start using leverage if you ever want to get anywhere and increase sales. Leverage is the ability to create something once and have it work for you time and time again with thousands of people. Using leverage allows you to work while sleeping.

The ultimate form of leverage is marketing and advertising. You need to be able to get your message out there without you having to contact one person at a time. You could use things like websites, newsletters, newspaper ads, fliers, and about a million other things. Using tools like this allows you to educate hundreds of people at a time without you needing to be there. And that is the power of leverage.

Once you get several of these tools in place and working for you, you could totally stop cold calling altogether and just focus on the leads that are coming in to you. And that is the power of leverage. All these tools are easy to implement and don’t require much time to maintain. So find a marketing plan that combines all these tools for one heck of a powerful way to increase leads and your salary.

If you’re sick of cold calling and you are looking for effective cold calling techniques then go to http://www.ColdCallFacts.com right now to read my FREE report on getting hot qualified leads without cold calling.

Micah Soelberg is the owner of http://www.ColdCallFacts.com and is dedicated to providing sales professionals with the real facts about cold calling.

This article may be reprinted as long as the article is left unchanged and the links stay active.

Posted in Health-and-Fitness, Team-Building | No Comments »

Cold Calling Tips - Top Tips To Increase Sales

Thursday, August 9th, 2007

Cold Calling Tips are a great way to improve your cold calling. But let me ask you this; why would you care to improve upon a method that doesn’t work anymore and is outdated?

I could give you cold calling tips till I’m blue in the face but it wouldn’t do you any good. Cold calling tips are about as helpful as teaching you how to surf the web with a fax machine. It just doesn’t work. and it’s a waste of time.

So forget about learning all the cold calling tips and start learning how to market effectively. Because if you learn how to market effectively you won’t have to use cold calling and you won’t waste your time at work looking up cold calling tips instead of selling.

The first thing you need to do is learn how to find your target market. Who usually buys your product or service? Once you figure that out then find out how to reach them. Find out what they read, what else they buy, where they hang out, etc. See, we are already finding out much more useful information than cold calling tips.

Once you figure out how to reach them you need to put together an effective marketing campaign that will communicate your message about your product or service. Then it will bring you in hot qualified leads that you can call and close. It really is that simple. There are a lot of smaller steps of course but nothing too complicated.

So instead of searching the net for cold calling tips you should be focusing on different ways to market to your target audience and tell them how to easily contact you. This way you won’t have to waste your time cold calling and you can spend more time doing what you love and what ultimately makes you money: Selling!

If you’re sick of
cold calling tips and cold calling in general then go to http://www.ColdCallFacts.com right now to read my FREE report on getting hot leads without cold calling.

Micah Soelberg is the owner of http://www.ColdCallFacts.com and is dedicated to providing sales professionals with the real facts about cold calling.

This article may be reprinted as long as the article is left unchanged and the links stay active.

Posted in Health-and-Fitness, Team-Building | No Comments »

Silly Voicemail, Serious Business!

Wednesday, July 11th, 2007

My accountant was always telling me I need to change my phone system greeting. He said it was unprofessional. I disagreed. When my customers call me, they thinks its great. I am always hearing, “I love your voicemail by the way. Its hilarious!”

Don’t we all want our customers be in a good mood when they call us? It sure helps me build rapport with my customers.

That is one of the reasons I fired my accountant. But that is another story.

Anyway, I got the idea to do a funny voicemail message from this book I read called “The Little Red Book of Sales Principles”.

The author, Jeffrey Gitomer, lists 7.5 ways (I know its really 8 ways, but that is his gimmick) to not bore your customers with your voicemail or phone system greeting.

Everybody already knows you couldn’t come to the phone, so you don’t need to tell them that. Instead, try some of these ideas:

1. Use a short message about value or profit point of your product.

2. A thoughtful quote and change it periodically.

3. Celebrity impersonation. Do it yourself or hire someone.

4. Your kids voice. “Daddy can’t come to the phone right now cause somebody made a mess.”

5. Something funny in general.

6. Something funny about your product or business. (Hey, you know there is something funny.)

7. A testimonial from a customer.

7.5 Something off the wall or crazy.

So, do you want to hear what I came up with for my business? Call 1-877-932-6246. If I answer before you hang up, let me know what you think.

Nathan Cain runs a
business card refrigerator magnets company. He tries out lots of different marketing ideas. Check out his “Magnetic Blog” to see what’s working and what’s not.

Posted in Health-and-Fitness, Team-Building | No Comments »

Bipolar Disorder and Disability Claims

Friday, June 8th, 2007

People suffering from bipolar disorder experience a myriad of symptoms, but the hallmark of the disorder is severe mood swings between a depressive state and an extreme hyperactive or manic state. For this reason, it is also known as manic depression. Regardless of what you call it, it is a mental disability that qualifies for disability benefits.

Bipolar disorder makes it difficult to function in the workplace, and as a result it may be necessary to file a disability claim. Going this route raises such questions as:

  • How do I apply for disability?
  • What are the criteria for applying?
  • How difficult is the process?
  • How can I improve my chances of winning disability?
  • What is the decision making process on a disability claim?
  • How long will it take to get a decision on my disability case?
  • What do I do if my case is denied?
  • How do I file an appeal?

The timeline for receiving Social Security Disability Insurance for bipolar disorder can last years. Any mistake in the process only adds to the amount of time it takes to receive the first payment. To help yourself, the most important thing is to become educated about the process. You will need expert advice.

The information asked on the forms may seem repetitive, but straightforward. However, don’t assume that because the space provided is an inch in width, a short answer is required. It may be necessary for you to attach a separate sheet and write a few paragraphs–or pages.

Unfortunately the average approval rating for bipolar disability claims is only about 30 percent. Most people filing claims need a specialized information source. Without this, your bipolar claim will lack vital information the examiners are looking for.

If your claim has been denied, don’t give up. There are resources available that will help you better document your claim.

© 2007, Clara Myers. Able-Mart.com
promotes disability awareness and tools to help those facing physical challenges
retain their independence.

Posted in Business, Insurance, Photography, Team-Building | No Comments »

The Call Center Myth

Saturday, May 19th, 2007

Ok let’s review… No one is going to do the work for you. There I’ve said it and we clearly understand each other right? Well, maybe not. Some people love to be in sales but they hate to sell. Gee, wonder why that is. Wonder if they would like to jump out of an airplane without a parachute? Or is it they are too lazy to learn how to properly pack their parachute and therefore they trust someone else to pack it for them? I don’t know about you but I prefer to make sure things are being done correctly. Because it could make for a hard landing!

The reason people say they hate to sell is because they don’t really understand how to do it. And they are too lazy to take the time to discover how it’s properly done. Sales is not about hype, smoke, mirrors, or empty promises. Sales is about posturing and knowledge and marketing effectively.

Some are falling for what is being sold through hype has the “Call Center”. The call center business model claims it will do all the work for you. They claim they will close all the sales for you. They claim they will then give you the sales commission. And they also claim you don’t have to do anything. Are these call centers smart? They are smart enough to talk you out of your money if you fall for it and buy in to their hype.

No one is going to do all the work for you and then send you money. It just isn’t going to happen. And the sooner you realize this the better off you will be. When you think about it, what is the difference between someone at a call center claiming to close your sales and you closing them yourself? It’s simple. When you discover how to close your own sales you know you are geting paid.

Call centers use a code number system where you must place ads containing a code number or extension etc. It’s been proven that people only write down phone numbers from ads and never the code number. The code number is how the call center says they give you credit for the sale. Ok, well what happens when the caller does not have the code number to give the call center? Does the call center turn them away and lose a new sale? If you think the answer to the question is yes you are buying in to the call center hype!

Here’s a red flag. Call center sales reps are also signed up in the very same programs they claim to be closing sales for you in. Does this seem fair to you? It didn’t to me either. And that’s why I called some of the call centers up and pretended to be someone who had seen an ad but didn’t write down the code number from the ad. At no time did the sales rep ever try and tell me they could not accept my sale. So this begs the questions… who got credit for that sale?

Here’s another red flag. How do you actually track the people who call in to the call center? How do you really know what is happening with your leads? How do you know when they are being followed up with and how? The answer is you don’t know. And this is a huge problem.

The call center owners don’t want you to understand what really goes on. They want to keep you dummed down. They do not want you to smarten up because they know if you do, you will quickly realize you don’t need them.

Sales is not nearly as tough as most assume. In fact once you have a proven system in place and you are working smarter instead of harder, sales can be a lot of fun. It’s all about taking it one step at a time and discovering the proper sales technique.

About The Author

Britt Phillips is a self-made millionaire and one of the all time top income earners in the history of the Coastal Vacations business opportunity. Britt has been teaching students on his success team for eleven years. Britt devotes the time, energy, and effort into his team and works with them to ensure their success. Britt reveals the hidden facts about the Coastal Vacations Call Center. To contact Britt Phillips call him direct at 804-897-2274.

Posted in Health-and-Fitness, Languages, Reference-and-Education, Team-Building | No Comments »

Computers: Do You Need An Upgrade?

Saturday, April 21st, 2007

Have changing demands left you unsatisfied with your computer’s performance? An upgrade may be called for. But which should you get to fill your needs?

Computer repair shops make their money two ways: by selling their labor, and selling parts. The more parts they install, the more labor involved, the more profit. Most are honest, but some will try to sell you things you don’t need. If you’re going to have someone else do the work, it’s best to have a specific task in mind when you approach them.

Here are the five most common upgrades, and criteria for judging whether you need them.

RAM- The easiest, surest way to speed up your computer is to add more RAM. It will improve game play, and all graphics applications will work faster. Older operating systems, like Windows 98SE, can only accommodate up to 512MB. This won’t be a problem with Windows 2000, XP, and Vista.

CPU- Surprisingly, it may not make as much apparent difference as a RAM upgrade. It can help if you ask your computer to do a lot of multitasking, and make a big difference if you do speed sensitive work like video captures. A limiting factor will be its socket type. You might already have the fastest chip offered for that socket.

Hard Drive- You want space for all your stuff, and to be able to get at it fast. That being the case, big is better, and big and fast is better still. Considering the size of the drives that come out on current computers though, you might get by with just some housecleaning. Getting rid of junk files and programs you don’t use, plus defragmenting your drive, can do wonders. Try that first, then consider a new drive.

Graphics Card- This is the simplest of all upgrades. Just pull the old card and plug in the new. Immediately your games will have better resolution, and improved frame rates. The only trouble comes with the high end cards. Some of them require 100 watts of electricity all by themselves. This can lead to our next upgrade…

Power Supply- If you get a super fast CPU, you’ll need close to 100 watts for it alone. Add 100 for that hot graphics card. Allow 35 watts for your hard drive, and another 35 for the CD/DVD. You’ve already claimed 270 watts, not including the motherboard, RAM, modem, capture card, and anything else your rig may have. The old standard 300 watt supply can’t handle it. 400 watts or better will be needed for this kind of machine.

Michael Quarles is the author of the book “Building a PC for Beginners”. His website is http://www.monkeyseemonkeydobooks.com

Posted in Business, Sales-Training, Team-Building | No Comments »

5 Reasons Right Now is the Best Time to Cold Call!

Friday, February 9th, 2007

I love those timid trainers that try to convince sales novices that there are good, better, and best times to make sales calls.

Baloney!

There are several reasons this advice is utterly bogus:

(1) Are you a mind reader? Can you always psychically detect when the best moment has arrived to call a particular prospect? If you’re this clairvoyant, better take your gift to the racetrack, place some timely bets, and retire while you’re young.

(2) There are top executives that arrive at their offices at 6:30 in the morning and don’t leave until 8 at night. When is the best time to reach them? There’s just no way to know.

(3) You’re never going to be in a better mood to make calls than right now. If a prospect crosses your mind, don’t hesitate. Call them, and if you must, simply use the “I just thought of you” or “I was just reminded of you,” opener.

(4) Salespeople are notorious for believing in superstitions and fabrications. The idea that there are good, better and best times to call, is one of them. Don’t buy it. It’s just another excuse to be inactive, and you’re better off without it.

(5) What if you called someone at the VERY WORST TIME IMAGINABLE? What, then. Pat yourself on the back. Laugh it off. Use it as a fun war story to tell over a beer with your pals. And then move on!

The most important thing about selling, and especially about cold calling is to start and to never stop.

I don’t care how rich or successful you become.

Believe me, if there is one truth that works in all circumstances, it’s this one:

RIGHT NOW is always the best time to call!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman is a top trainer, conference and convention speaker, and sales, customer service, and negotiation consultant. A frequent expert commentator on radio and TV, he is also the best-selling author of 12 books, more than 1,000 articles and several popular audio and video programs. His seminars are sponsored internationally and he is a faculty member at more than 40 universities, including UC Berkeley and UCLA. Gary brings over two decades of sales, management and consulting experience to the table, with impressive academic credentials: A Ph.D. from USC, an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School of Management, and a J.D. degree from Loyola Law School, his clients include several Fortune 1000 companies..

His web site is: http://www.customersatisfaction.com and he can be seen on CNBC at: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=417455932# and reached at: gary@customersatisfaction.com His blogs include: YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE SUCKS! and ALWAYS COLD CALL! at: http://www.alwayscoldcall.blogspot.com

Posted in Health-and-Fitness, Self-Improvement, Stress-Management, Team-Building | No Comments »

African Tribe Secrets That Will Shock You: The Masai And White Women Tourists

Wednesday, January 17th, 2007

There is a well-known African tribe called the Masai who have managed to retain a lot of their culture in spite of various pressures to abandon them like many other African tribes have.

Some of the well-hidden secrets of this warrior tribe found in East Africa has attracted hoards of white women tourists who go to Africa with only one mission in mind, and that is to find a real Masai warrior for a companion.

And even as authorities in these poor African countries begin to take note of this morally disturbing development the practice is still thriving, as these governments are very reluctant to do anything that would interfere with their precious tourism cash cow.

But even more shockingly disturbing is the trend where women who manage to accomplish this weird objective are hooked for life and some have even left their families, husbands and financial security, to settle for life with their new-found penniless Masai lovers.

What is it about this primitive African tribe that is so irresistible to those who have discovered it? Is it linked to some sort of voodoo practice as some people say?

Actually the answer is to be found in some practices and culture that the Masai tribe has retained which make this warrior tribe irresistible to those who have had any contact with them. I actually came across it all almost by accident in a well written article by an African expert on the Masai tribe. The rather fascinating information left me in numb shock.

But surely there can be no other explanation why so many women, mostly from Britain, Germany and a few other European countries are risking so much to be with the primitive Masai African tribe of East Africa. Or can there be?

Read the fascinating Masai African tribe secrets article for yourself. Or discover how you too can fulfill the dream of an African lion safari in Masai country.

Posted in Business, Communications, Team-Building, Writing | No Comments »

Limousine Service for Your Prom Night

Tuesday, January 16th, 2007

Prom is a very exceptional night for teenagers, so it is very important that everything will run well.

Now, for those teenagers who wanted to hire a limousine service, there are some things to consider before renting and making a deposit. Though parents are typically the ones who make some arrangements for the prom, it is high time for the teenagers to handle this to be more responsible, But of course, parents should also be their to assist and help out with the process.

Better to get a group of fiends to share with the limousine service in order to lessen the costs for the transportation in the prom night and to lessen the worry of the parents in driving alone to the prom. Once who have come up to the group of friends you will be with, it is needed to talk with parents of course about the plan of choosing the limousine service to hire with. There are lots of limousine companies out there to choose from, most of them offer prom packages that will fit to your needs and budgets. And it terms of choosing which limousine company to choose from, it is better to make the group vote, and the majority wins.

It is advisable to write down questions you wanted to ask when looking for the right limousine service, this could help you in choosing the right one. But of course, the group should settle the amount that they are willing to spend for the limousine service and stand with that budget. Also they have to come up to the decision whose home will be the pick up point of the limousine. It is better to come up to one pick up point than picking each, since it will add to the costs of the limousine service if they are oblige to pick each person.

As soon as you have decided which limousine company to hire, it is wiser to ask if the particular limousine of your choice is available on the date pf the prom night itself. If you have been decided, be firm to that decision; do not let the company to get you to change your mind. Better to stick to the group’s decision.

The next thing to ask about is what the exact minimum rental time the company offers. It is also advisable to know about the company’s cancellation policy, deposit policy and all there is in the packages. It is wiser to see the vehicle to be use, make sure that the driver the vehicle are licensed and insured.

It is better to check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) online to confirm the consistency of the limousine company. BBB can give you all the problems that the company had before if there is.

Considering all this tips can give you much work, but it is still important to come up with a smooth running process. But this time and effort will come up to a enjoyable prom night.

There are heaps of people who had come up to ruined prom because of not asking the important details and questions before renting a limousine service.

As an advise, better to bring your parents when making deposits and when signing a contract.

Article Author Eliza Maledevic from http://www.Jump2top.com, a SEO Company. Visit our Limousine & Airport Service website at
http://www.browardlimousine.com

Posted in Business, Home-Based-Business, Team-Building | No Comments »

Cold Calling Strategies For Beginners

Sunday, January 7th, 2007

Cold calling is not an enjoyable task. Most people dislike having to call up new prospects because you never know how the person on the other end will react. Rejection is a hard thing to take. There are ways to make your cold calling tasks easier and a little more effective.

Research and Target Your Prospects
You’ll want to know which businesses can use your service or product. Once you have a list of target prospects, do your homework and research each business. You don’t want to go into your call not knowing anything about the company. The more you know, the easier it will be to ask questions and make conversation. You want to differentiate yourself from the usual telemarketers that they get bombarded with on a daily basis.

Choose a Good Time to Call
Not only do you want to be in a good mood before you make your calls but you want to call at a time during the day where your prospects are available. If they don’t begin their business until after 10 a.m., there is no point calling earlier. Don’t call too late in the evening either, as most people are ready to leave work and enjoy their family or free time. I also feel that Monday calls are worse than say a Friday call. Friday means the weekend is near and people tend to be in a better mood.

Have a Script Handy
Having what you want to say written down on paper as a guide will help. You don’t want to read your script verbatim, but rather have it available to keep the flow of the conversation going in the right direction. Practice over and over how you will make your pitch and practice on a friend so that they can throw rebuttals at you. The better you get at handling rebuttals, the better prepared you will be for any question a prospect throws your way.

Be Nice to the Receptionists
They are the gatekeepers and being rude to them will get you no where fast. It’s a good idea to learn their names and be very cordial. The nicer you are to them, the better your chances of speaking to the ones who make the buying decisions.

Cold calling is never easy, that is unless you have the gift of gab and feel comfortable talking to anyone. Just remember to believe in your service or product and that you are providing something that can help. The more you practice the better you will become!

Eartha Haines is the author for http://www.selfemployedblog.com and http://www.homebasedbusinessbliss.com. Both are web sites which share ideas, services, products, and opportunities that may help others move closer to their dream of working for themselves.

Posted in Cancer, Health-and-Fitness, Team-Building | No Comments »

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