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Surviving In The World Of Sales

The world of sales can be a brutal place. The fast pace of keeping up with competitors and improving sales methods can be both frustrating and exhausting. Individuals in sales know how impossible it can be to have an improving or even consistent sales record. In some form or fashion, sales are a part of almost every industry and business. From direct distributing to providing a service, it is important to consistently sharpen and improve a company’s sales approach.

One of the most important aspects to consider is the connection with the customer. Improving the customer/client relationship can be the key to improving sales. It is also beneficial for an individual to personally evaluate their sales approach from time to time. This could be done by asking any of the following questions:

  • What is the purpose?: Clients want to feel that they are more than just a number. The ultimate purpose of sales is to make a profit, but there should be a “heart” behind this purpose. Do you care about your clients? Do your clients feel that they are important to you on a personal level?
  • What are your specific goals?: Failure to have specific goals in sales is like taking a road trip without a map. Individuals in sales need to have practical, clearly defined goals. This can help you track progress, as well as compel you to keep moving forward toward the next small goal.
  • Do you listen to your customers?: Ask your customer for honest feedback. Are you meeting their needs? Is your website user-friendly? This extra effort communicates genuine concern and can set you apart from competitors.
  • How do you use your time?: Time management is a vital key to sales success. Maximizing every minute of the work day can allow for more communication with existing customers and contacting potential clients. Sales is a job that can easily follow you home, making it important to have a clearly defined schedule and specified work hours. This is easily accomplished with proper time management.

Small, consistent steps can improve productivity in sales, along with any other aspect of business. Essentially, every company is in the business of sales, or at the very least, customer relations. Any effort poured into evaluating and improving this facet of business is a step toward success. Surviving sales can be a difficult task, but fortunately, it is not an impossible dream with the proper perspective.

 

 

How To Make A Strong First Impression

A first impression can have an incalculable impact on the future relationship between a client and a business. Like a firm handshake, good website design is often the first impression of a business. When potential clients visit your website, what do they perceive about your company? Every aspect of a website, from the font choices to the “user-friendly” factor, sends a message about the professionalism, attitude and reliability of a business.

Web design is an often overlooked component of the success of a business. Customers will not revisit a site that is confusing, visually overwhelming or poorly designed. In an age where most client/provider interaction occurs online, this can be problematic. Monitoring web traffic and customer feedback can be a useful tool in evaluating the success of current web design, but there are certain questions that should be asked, including:

  • Is the company logo easily and immediately seen?
  • Does the home page seem “cluttered” or busy?
  • Is the color scheme clean and visually appealing?
  • Can customers easily identify links and visit other pages on the site?
  • Are there any “dead-end” links on the site?
  • How long has it been since the site has been updated?

These questions can help determine if it is time to improve your website. Most businesses can benefit from professional assistance when evaluating and revamping web design and improving search engine optimization (SEO). When improving or building a website, the following are some benefits of employing an experienced web design team:

  • SEO service: Improve search results, ensuring that potential clients are more likely to see the site
  • Navigation: Improve navigability of the website, making it easier for customers to connect
  • Logo: Design an easily identified logo as a focal point of the page
  • Social media: Integrate social media links for easy access to other lines of communication
  • Visual design: Colors, fonts and graphics should be professional, yet inviting

Websites should be visually appealing, yet functional. It is a difficult task to effectively accomplish both of these aspects, because design is a fluid concept that can be difficult to grasp. This is another reason that it is important to continually improve your website. Not only does this keep the “handshake” fresh and relevant, it conveys a positive message to potential clients.

Gone are the days of scrolling text and flashing pop ups on websites. When visiting a new site, people do not want to be accosted by a “Vegas-style” visual assault. A business site should be clean, professional and easy-to-navigate. It is estimated that a company has about five seconds to communicate their message when a customer visits the site for the first time. This five seconds can make the difference between a new client relationship or a potential sale/customer/client clicking the back button.

Make your five seconds count by revamping your web design. We can help you evaluate your current site and pinpoint how you can improve your site for sales and SEO purposes. This is a positive investment tailored to your specific needs and budget. Web design is the introduction to your company–be certain you are making a good first impression.

 

 

Making The Most Of 24 Hours

Everyone is allotted the same 24 hours in a day, the same days in a week and the same months in a year. Although every person is given the same amount, the main difference is in how time is used. The most successful people, from stay-at-home moms to CEOs, understand that some of the main components of success lie in time management and wise use of every second of the day.

William Penn once said, “Time is what we want most but use worst.” This rings true for many people as they are lying in bed at the end of the day, staring at ceiling and wondering where their day went. Instead of wishing for more hours in the day, perhaps it is best to aim for a paradigm shift toward using time in a more productive manner. Time management can allow an individual to accomplish more and meet career demands with less stress.

Effective time management is a goal that can be reached through organization, focus and patience. This task is especially important in the business world. Imagine if you, as a business owner/operator/manager could go home at the end of the day, knowing that you had completed all necessary tasks and had a completely productive work day. The ability to effectively manage every hour of the day can result in higher productivity, higher profits and more family time.

Time management is not a skill that always comes easily, but the following are certain tips that may be useful:

  • Make a calendar of all appointments and important dates. It is useful to see a visual representation of a schedule.
  • Schedule every task, including time to check email, eat lunch and return phone calls. This may help you see which tasks take too long and where time is wasted throughout the day.
  • Include a “Do Not Disturb” time every day for a concentrated period of intense focus in order to complete small tasks in a short amount of time.
  • Determine that mundane distractions, such as Facebook or text messaging about non-important issues, do not take away from valuable work time.

There is immense value in using time wisely. It can provide for a more productive relationship with clients and can dramatically improve the quality of your time spent at work.

Do you “bring work home” almost every night? Are you overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks on your “to do” list? It  may be useful to seek assistance from a professional who can not only provide an evaluation of your schedule, but provide time management training. You are gifted with the same amount of time as everyone else. Set yourself up for success by using your time fruitfully.

 

 

 

 

The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media

It’s a familiar story: A customer has dinner at a restaurant and has a less-than-pleasant experience. Before the meal is even finished, a complaint is posted on his or her Facebook page, perhaps even accompanied by a photo. Now that many businesses have Facebook pages, these complaints are not reserved to an individual customer’s account, but can be posted for the general public to see.

Social media is a double-edged sword that business owners must learn to manage. While Facebook pages and Twitter accounts can garner positive attention, it can also be catalyst for negative publicity, if even one customer or client is unhappy.

One excellent example of the power of social media comes from one customer’s experience with a well-known airline. The woman perceived her treatment from flight attendants to be unnecessary and in violation of her personal rights. Instead of a phone call or visiting a customer service desk, she voiced her complaint on Twitter by using the company’s handle. Within a few hours, this one complaint had sparked a national debate about the rights of nursing mothers, reaching national media outlets. The airline had to then deal with the fallout of an exorbitant amount of negative attention–all from one tweet from one unsatisfied customer.

Not every customer will be satisfied nor will every complaint be handled in a way that will reverse the feelings of a displeased client or customer. However, there are ways that businesses can manage their social media accounts in a way that convey the following:

  • Excellent customer service
  • Concern for customer problems
  • Fast response to social media comments
  • Relevance in a digital world

The importance of good social media management cannot be understated. From maintaining a strong relationship with customers, to understanding how to use media platforms to boost business growth, it may be time to reach out for help. Customers appreciate prompt assistance from a company that is engaged with their customer base on a personal level.

Fortunately, businesses do not have to delve into the world of social media alone. Even the smallest business can benefit from professional experience when developing their social media presence. We can offer both large and small business owners assistance as they navigate the many aspects of digital and online marketing, including using Facebook, Instagram and Twitter advantageously.

Allow us to help you with the following:

  • Use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to generate more website traffic
  • Properly handle customer service issues through social media
  • Develop Facebook ads for business growth
  • Build a strong and professional Twitter presence

In order to be successful, businesses must learn to harness the power of social media and use it positively to further the goals of the company. Failure to do so could result in a business that is unconnected with the needs of their client base or perceived as “out of touch” and disconnected. Social media is often the “hook” through which successful companies find new clients and maintain continuing relationships with previous customers. The relationship between business success and social media management has grown rapidly in recent years, and there is ample evidence pointing to continual growth. Do not get left behind in this race.