Total thread drift and hopefully not a rant . Feel free to bypass…..
I hate to see sales people or selling in general being criticised or a scapegoat. Poor sales people should be criticised and some industries may deserve it.
This really is not about blowing my own trumpet but I’ve lived it and some aspects sadden me, like wrong info?
Selling is fundamentally exposing yourself to the risk of doing business.
Don’t go out, don’t call people, don’t make appointments and you will never sell anything.
Always tell the truth
If you cannot do something the client wants or needs, tell them why you cannot do it.
If a potential or existing client says no to a proposal, accept it having moved as close to their needs as you can.
If you say you are going to do something do it and do it to the agreed timescale . If you have a problem be honest, explain it and a client will more than likely accept it. Give them the option to make their decision to.
I was once in a multimillion buying role for an oil company . I could have been exposed to bribes but if your demeanour was fully professional that rarely happened BUT equally stupid often a sales team would present and at the end just leave the meeting, thinking their job was done and never ask ‘for an order’
My father was a wonderful businessman and his words to me were,keep going back to see the potential client and one day, they may have been let down, whatever and you will take an order.
My sole life after 15 years in the oil industry mainly in marketing roles has been about selling, marketing., People say I am a born salesman, ice to Eskimos etc but following those simple principals just came naturally .
Selling was simple Business was simple but hard . In the 35 years of design and printing my wife and I can count on one hand the number of times we missed a deadline which could have been costly as our clients were serious well know brands and companies.
The profession is not all crap….
MM
