POST CATEGORY : Sales

How to Pick the Right CRM Software for Your Business

Running a business seems glamorous and exciting – you are not told what to do; you get to pick who you work with; you get to pick out the look of the office; you get paid the most money; get the best office; get to connect with powerful people. The list of exciting decisions truly never seems to stop; however there are plenty of boring and mundane decisions a business owner has to take into consideration – which HR software to choose; which email marketing software to choose; employee background check hassles, and finally, choosing customer relationship management (CRM) software.

hot to pick crm software for your business

For those who are unfamiliar, CRM software helps a company manage their interactions with customers and clients.…

Continue reading →

Salespeople Need to Make Their Pitch Nicely Dressed

As an employer, do you closely monitor what your salespeople wear before they go out to meet with clients? No? Perhaps you should take a closer look now and then.

While more and more offices it seems turn a little more casual each day when it comes to clothing, sales people representing your company when meeting with clients need to dress above that.

proper business attire for salespeople

The challenge for employers has become even greater given the fact that more and more sales are done remotely due to online options. Still, your salespeople should dress the part when they go out and engage a client.…

Continue reading →

Are You Ready For American Express OPEN’s Small Business Saturday?

American Express Open's Small Business SaturdayEntrepreneurs are getting ready as everyone looks forward to the inception of a new shopping event: Small Business Saturday. The first-ever event will take place on November 27, as part of American Express Open’s plan to support the local economy.

America’s largest employers are still small businesses and it makes sense that the industry gets the attention it deserves by having a whole day dedicated to it. The national movement is getting more traction as the actual event draws near. Advocacy groups as well as the public and private sector unite to support this national campaign. This concerted effort to support small, independently-owned businesses would help to drive sales in the holiday weekend shopping traffic.…

Continue reading →

Effective Sales Question Answered by Dave Kahle

sales question answeredQ. I’ve seen you point out the question “Anything else?” as one of your “really good sales questions”. I see it as a close-ended question. Is “What else can I do?” as effective, or more or less effective?

A. What a great question. Let me applaud you for thinking this deeply about the language in the questions that you use. This “thinking about it before you do it” is one of my key commandments for success in sales. And this kind of thoughtful discussion brings out the best in all of us.

I’m sticking with “Anything else?” as a “Really Good Sales Question.”…

Continue reading →

Simple Ways To Increase Your Online Sales This Holiday Season

increase holiday salesWith the holiday shopping season fast approaching, I have read and heard many predictions of customers doing most of their shopping online this year.   So to take advantage of this opportunity, now is the time to put some extra focus into developing your online sales strategies.   David Kam, of MarketingDeviant.com, has listed some easy to implement and budget friendly tips to  increasing your sales in his article “How To Increase Online Sales“.

One suggestion he makes is to increase the security of your online store checkout.   This is a highly important tip to consider.   The last thing you want  is for your customers information to fall into the wrong hands.  …

Continue reading →

Pricing Mistakes That Can Drive Sales Away

Once your small business establishes its products and/or services, the next most important step is pricing.   Proper pricing can be the difference between a profitable business or one that struggles to survive or even gain ground.    Charge too little and chance that your profits will suffer, charge too much and  possibly drive  potential  customers away.   So how do you strike a balance and gain confidence in your pricing strategies?

Brad Sugars’  article, “7 Biggest Mistakes In Setting Prices“,  offers some good points to consider when you address your prices.   One mistake I have  personally fallen victim to is #5.  …

Continue reading →

Introducing Your Products To Wholesale Buyers

Coming up with a unique and marketable product is only half of  the battle.   Once you have your products ready for market, how do you find the right buyers?   What if your product doesn’t sell very well locally but you are confident enough to know it will sell elsewhere?   Expanding your customer base worldwide by selling to wholesale buyers is a great way to extend your reach.

Stephanie Cartwright, co-founder of MyWares.com, was the interviewed guest expert last week on Small Business Trends Radio.   Stephanie offered really great tips and advice on how to start offering your products to wholesale buyers.  …

Continue reading →

Attracting Shoppers To Your Business This Holiday Season

attracting holiday shoppersWe are not that far away from the start of the holiday shopping season.   It’s hard to believe, but in a month or two holiday shopping will be in full swing.   With the economy in the shape it is now, most consumers will be cutting back considerably.   So, have you decided how your small business will attract those much needed customers?

John Tozzi, a writer for BusinessWeek.com, gives us some idea of how small business owners can compete with the big box retailers this holiday season.   John suggests that you focus on your loyal customers instead of targeting new ones.   Give your best customers special holiday discounts and the best customer service possible to encourage increased spending within your business.  …

Continue reading →

Candle Wax + Rising Fuel Costs = Zero Profit

image010.jpgFor the past 4 years, I have had  the pleasure of turning my hobby of candle making into a full time business.   Kiski Valley Kandles was born from my own desire and need for  highly scented candles that not only smelled great but looked great also.   Let me tell you, it is not a cheap hobby to have.    However,  after  many trials and tribulations, I was able to begin offering my candles to customers locally and online.   I prided myself in being able to offer great candles at reasonable prices.  

Everyone is aware that when  it comes to your supplies, price increases are bound to happen at least yearly.  …

Continue reading →

You’re Not After Clicks: You’re After Sales!


My thanks to a special guest blogger, Caroline Melberg of SmallBusinessMavericks.com. This is a content and practical advice packed post, take your time and absorb.

It’s no secret that in today’s world, online success depends in large part on how much traffic you drive to your site. The amount of traffic you get depends on your search engine optimization. When your site is primed for search engine optimization, you get tons of traffic coming to you for free. Great, right?

Of course! You see, on the web you have a choice – you can pay Google or Yahoo tons of your hard earned cash for PPC clicks, or you can search engine optimize your site to drive new customers to you.…

Continue reading →