December 3rd, 2008 admin
In response to the demand for low cost quality information to gain more business in rocky times, I’m excited to announce my FREE Teleseminar on Thriving in a Volatile Economy.
I have been living and teaching accelerating business growth for over 30 years; the principles in this program have allowed me to operate five successful businesses during three recessions. Now, I will show you how to thrive in economic uncertainty and where to find hidden treasures of gold.
Remember, to be on the field of play you need to take action. I have reserved a spot for you to be one of the first to learn about this program. Take action and join us on Thursday December 18, 2008, learn the “Secrets” and start your New Year in blazing speed.
If you would like to make a reservation, please visit:
Click here to Register or follow this link: http://TinyWebLink-001.com/?pid=4542695
You need to register today, my lines are limited and the last one was completely sold out.
Wishing you success,
Drew Stevens
P. S. For the first 50 registrants I am offering my FREE Special Report - “Thriving in the Current Economy”. This 15-page report provides techniques and strategies to find business now!
Posted in Drew Stevens, Sales Management Training, Sales Training, Sales marketing, Selling in a Bad Economy, Strategic Selling, sales and marketing, sales coaching, sales effectiveness, sales help, sales selling, sales skills, sales strategist, sales strategy, sales success, sales techniques, sales trends, self development, self help, self mastery, selling, selling effectiveness, selling skills, selling skills sales seminars, selling strategies, selling strategy, selling techniques, selling tips, small business, small business success, small business techniques | No Comments »
November 26th, 2008 admin
If you need sales skills and methods to grow your business then you must join Fast Track Sales Clubs. The unique blended learning provides immediate access to innovative and time tested techniques from Top Sales Expert and Business Growth Specialist, Drew Stevens.
No business grows without acquiring new customers. In fact, nothing happens to your business without a sale. Utilities do not function, employees do not get paid and you do not receive compensation without a sale!
To grow business, acquire and retain clients and gain financial prosperity requires a single focus and most important accountability. Coaches assist elite individuals uncover underutilized strengths and hide weaknesses. Coaching helps provide a single focus and work towards the tip of the arrow rather than just the target.
In addition, in a time pressured world and multi generational environment modalities of learning change. Professionals desire assistance wherever, however and whenever they need it. Using the power of technology coaching is available throughout the day!
Finally, Athletes practice, attorneys practice, students practice and musicians practice. Business professionals must practice! . Too many individuals attempt things once and quit. Whether a diet, gym membership or other life altering experience, individuals try one time and leave without moving forward. The key to self-mastery is continuing. You must practice everyday. Just like you body is an investment, so is your mind!
Join our Fast Track Selling Club and watch your business dramatically accelerate!
For additional information click here…
Posted in Business Communication, Communication Training, Customer Relationship, Customer Relationship Management, Customer Service Training, Drew Stevens, Drew Stevens PhD, Management, Positive Selling, Public Speaker, Public Speaking Skills, Sales Management Training, Sales Training, Sales marketing, Selling in a Bad Economy, Strategic Selling, Tips and Techniques, Training, account management, brand recognition, branding, business building, business development, business selling, cold calling, customer service, customer service consulting, customer service ideas, customer service seminars, customer service skills, effectiveness, efficiency, great customer service, lead generation, lead inquiry, lead management, life balance, make money, marketing, marketing help, marketing techniques, marketing tips, marketing tools, productivity, productivity techniques, sales coaching, sales effectiveness, sales help, sales manager training, sales selling, sales skills, sales strategist, sales strategy, sales success, sales techniques, sales trends, self development, self doubt, self help, self mastery, selling, selling effectiveness, selling skills, selling skills sales seminars, selling strategies, selling strategy, selling techniques, selling tips, small business, small business success, small business techniques, tips on marketings | No Comments »
September 29th, 2008 admin
Cures for Building a Physicians Practice
Today’s market requires differentiation. Year’s prior finding a good physician was easy. Approximately 20 years ago, the number of physicians was less than today. In addition, many physicians were General Practitioners, not requiring the specialization in present markets. With the proliferation of competition, diversified practices, and healthcare changes, profitability for physicians is difficult.
Thankfully, physicians can undertake several items for their practice. Each principle is holistic and requires little time and energy but changes can reap rewards. If there were a way to increase your profits with less labor, would you be interested?
1. Customer Service. So much is written about the topic, but such empathy exists. Recently I visited a physician only to be greeted by the “Glass of Death”. You know what I speak of; there is a glass partition at the reception counter. Behind the smoked glass, you can view silhouettes of nurses complaining of the rude, unhealthy, or foul mouth prior patient. Why is it imperative to play a Springer rerun? To increase client experience and help with referrals it is imperative that physician ensure the following 1) all staff greet patients with a smile, 2) all rumor and office gossip remains in the break room not the reception room and 3) remove the barriers. Clients desire accessibility and empathy not a prison.
2. Sales. If physicians think they are not in the sales business-, think again. Every time you are with a patient, you have an opportunity to reinforce your relationship and provide additional services. A recent chiropractor spends 10 minutes with each client enhancing his relationship and encourages his patients to take advantage of his new healing center. He offers nutrition advice, biofeedback, and massage therapy. His center has one thing in mind- the patient.
3. Marketing. Physicians constantly rely on luck to fill their waiting rooms. If you desire more patients then you must do things to brand the name and let others know who you are. Write articles, provide seminars, produce personal brochures, write an Internet blog etc. If you want to create attraction, you need conduct activities that provide a return on time and investment.
4. Referrals. For over 26 years, I have conducted research with thousands of medical practitioners and less than one percent ha a referral program. New patients are the fruit from your current patient tree. It is prudent to nourish and fertilize the tree to maintain your waiting room.
Medical practices are no different from other profitable ventures. Business requires sales, marketing, customer service and accountability. Business also requires a focus on the most imperative asset- the patient. A physician gains a profitable practice by integrating this principles into the practice for the purposes of having phones ring, schedules filled, waiting rooms busy and staff busy. Successful practitioners are working their business. Are you working yours or is it making you ill. Seek some cures today and gain new insight, new revenues and more discretionary time!
Copyright 2008. Drew J. Stevens Ph.D. All rights reserved.
Posted in Drew Stevens, Drew Stevens PhD, Sales Management Training, Sales Training, Sales marketing, Strategic Selling, marketing, marketing help, sales and marketing, sales coaching, sales effectiveness, sales help, sales manager training, sales selling, sales skills, sales strategist, sales success, sales techniques, sales trends, self development, selling effectiveness, selling skills, selling skills sales seminars, selling strategies, selling strategy, selling tips, small business, small business success, small business techniques | No Comments »
September 17th, 2008 admin
Dr. Drew Stevens puts forth some contrarian opinions in this interview that points the finger at not company, not the sales manager but the sales rep. His research suggests there are at least 11 areas where reps are culpable. He details four of these areas in this podcast. Drew goes on to offer specific suggestions on how sales people can reset their internal GPS. Are you employing your CEO personality? If not, take a listen.
Click here to listen to the Podcast
Posted in Drew Stevens, Drew Stevens PhD, Sales Management Training, Sales Training, Sales marketing, Strategic Selling, Success, lead generation, lead inquiry, lead management, marketing, sales and marketing, sales coaching, sales effectiveness, sales help, sales manager training, sales selling, sales skills, sales strategist, sales strategy, sales success, sales techniques, sales trends, self development, self help, self mastery, selling effectiveness, selling skills, selling skills sales seminars, selling strategies, selling strategy, selling techniques, selling tips, small business success, small business techniques | 1 Comment »
July 31st, 2008 admin
We are in the throes of major political campaigns in the Americas. In less than 100 days, the American people will vote for Governors, Attorney Generals, Treasures and most importantly the next President of the United States. Given the power of present multi media it has become increasingly difficult to open a newspaper, listen to a radio or watch television without some candidate pitching their services. If you thought the profession of selling was ancient, the world of political controversy dates just as far in time.
What is incredible in all recent campaigns and many will agree continues as long as memory serves is the callous and daunting display of smear tactics and malice in most campaigns. Prompting this article was yet another attack on one political candidate from another. What is most interesting is that each candidate is trying to “sell” voters. However, more poignant is that rather then spend time on benefits the campaigners spend more time attacking the competition! Great sales professionals never engage in such technique so I thought it helpful to those politicians seeking office to offer Success Techniques for the Electorate.
1. Success Technique Number One – Honesty – Voters desire a politician they can trust and they can respect. Two factors are vital here: 1) there is a need to build rapport and relationships with voters. Politicians need to get out and meet the people individually; they must refrain from the myriad of multimedia. Great sales professionals are always with clients and they will tell you the only method of relationship building is face to face. 2) Give voters an opportunity to engage by producing factual information about you, do not hide information. Voters like to decide based on solid evidence.
2. Success Technique Number Two– Competition –Lose the smear tactics. Great sales people never talk about the competition. Why? Simply because there is competition because someone offers something that you do not have. That is not bad, nor is it good, it is merely a competition position. There is a desire by candidates to prove themselves based on political history. Use these features to display your talents; focusing on the competition only illustrates fear.
3. Success Technique Number Three– Benefits –The profession of selling hinges on the client desiring to understand the value that professionals bring. Politicians need similar strategy. Focus on the benefit to the voter not the nebulous facts. This country and all consumers buy based on emotion not logic. It is vital to answer the question, “What is in it for me?” Take the time to change your features into solid benefits for those you desire to attract.
4. Success Technique Number Four – Passion – Emotion is what sells along with conviction. Some of the recent messages appear as if spoken by a corpse. Some of the best leaders in World History were terrific orators, speaking with passion in every sentence. Captivate your audiences with great presentation skills.
5. Success Technique Number Five – Audience – It is intriguing to see how politicians speak to audiences. A great selling professional would never walk into a room or open their mouth unless they were prepared. They understand audience demographics and psychographics. Yet numerous politicians appear on television and in live crowds without a hint of the audience outcome. Never walk into a room without proper preparation. An athlete would never compete without preparation; a concert pianist would not do so, why then would not an elected official.
There are a myriad of other success factors that drive this report and space and time do not permit the additional 10. However, if politicians can follow some of the rules that selling professionals live by perhaps voters can easily filter the bad and focus on those that are truly the best for that office at that time.
© 2008. Drew Stevens Ph.D. All rights reserved.
Posted in Business Communication, Drew Stevens, Drew Stevens PhD, Performance Management, Public Speaker, Public Speaking Skills, Sales Management Training, Sales Training, Sales marketing, Strategic Selling, business building, business development, business selling, effectiveness, marketing, marketing help, negativity, negotiation, passion, politics, sales coaching, sales help, sales selling, sales skills, sales strategist, sales strategy, sales success, sales techniques, sales trends, selling, selling skills, selling skills sales seminars, selling strategies, selling strategy, selling techniques, small business success, small business techniques | No Comments »
July 22nd, 2008 admin
There are four primary steps in the selling process for fitness professionals.
1. Prepare to Present
2. Uncover the needs1.
3. Manage Rapport and Objections
4. Provide Closure
Here is a just a brief synopsis of each.
1. Unless your are asking provocative questions and your illustrate concern for the prospect they will go elsewhere. Uncovering needs means asking the difficult questions to understand their needs.
2. It is vital for our to keep you prospects attention so they are interested. If prospects are interested in your offer and they “hear” the benefits they are more apt to listen and invest the time with your offer.
3. The prospect might be interested and you might have their attention but your inability to build a relationship impacts moving forward. To that end, prospects object to your offer. You must understand how to move forward to create further interest so they trust you!
4. The most fascinating yet most daunting part of any sale is closure. Procrastination and indecision are a part of like. Moreover, many professionals are afraid to ask for the business. The best way to make money and get more members is to ask
Keep the PUMP full
Cold calling, direct mail and other traditional selling methods do little to build relationships- they simply anger and frustrate. When was the last time you took a call in the evening after a lengthy day from a cold calling maven? And when was the last time you spoke with a million dollar insurance agent that cold calls?
Today’s professional requires techniques that help to accentuate and differentiate from others. Further clients require methods so that there is less work to gather business. Successful professionals keep a full pipeline of activity to help build their nest egg. Here are some examples.
Networking
Review your local paper for functions that interest you and attend as a guest, but go. If do not attend your competitors are. Others cannot know your business with just a shingle hanging in the breeze.
Referrals
The best way to seek referrals is when you are first engaged with the client and they are at that emotional high.
Follows up on referrals
A rule of thumb is twenty-four hours from receipt to contact. Ensure you mention the person that referred you and mention their enthusiasm for working with you.
Speaking
One of the best methods to introduce your expertise is to tell others about what you do. Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis, and Chambers of Commerce are constantly in need of experts.
Writing Articles
There are more newspapers in circulation today than ever before. There are a multitude of newsletters, web sites, regional business magazines, and local newspapers starving for decent material.
Booklets
Typically focused on one topic, these small content-rich pieces feature your advice on health, fitness and exercise technique. Booklets can be used as handouts for potential clients or as products to be sold at special events.
The key to business building and success is doing things others don’t. One needs to discover methods to rise above the din and become visible. With global competition increasing and a shift in industries requiring selling professionals there exists the need to become outstanding. Refrain from tired non-functioning sales methods that don’t work and take time. Reduce your labor, work smarter and watch your sales grow.
c2008. Drew Stevens Ph.D. All rights reserved.
Posted in Sales Management Training, Sales Training, Strategic Selling, lead generation, lead inquiry, lead management, sales and marketing, sales coaching, sales help, sales selling, sales strategist, sales strategy, sales trends, self development, selling, selling skills, selling skills sales seminars, selling strategies, selling strategy, selling techniques, selling tips, small business | No Comments »
July 8th, 2008 admin
A recent report by Selling Power indicates that corporations spend over seven billion dollars per year on sales training. The vital issue, with an investment this large many companies do not provide a means to understand whether it leads to a return on investment. And, many sales representatives do not adopt the sales methodology! In present economic times, the cost of capital is to high not to have measures.
Our firm has spent over 25 years in the field and we have seen this trend too often repeated. There is simply no reason to measure productivity, manufacturing and talent management, and not measure training return on investment.
When the concern is for both sales and growth there is a vital need to form a link. We have found that there are several issues that break the connectivity:
• The sole metric used is new sales or new clients.
• While many companies conduct sales training, it is event based.
• Many selling representatives do not adopt the prescribed methodology.
• “Eighty seven percent of training is lost within one month.”
• Training is not tied to the corporate business strategy.
• Executive buy-in is narcissistic.
Conventional wisdom says people change jobs for pay and morale, but lack of training leaves a chasm of frustration. The sales department is the most important asset of any organization. Executives are unpaid, vendors are unpaid, products are not developed until something is sold. End the training gap and begin to invest in the most vital asset of any organization- selling!
©2008 Drew Stevens Ph.D. All Rights Reserved.
Posted in Sales Management Training, Sales Training, Sales marketing, Strategic Selling, sales and marketing, sales help, sales manager training, sales selling, sales skills, sales strategy, sales success, sales trends, self development, selling, selling skills, selling strategies, selling strategy, selling techniques, selling tips, small business, small business techniques | 1 Comment »
April 23rd, 2008 Drew Stevens
Through trial and error we understand that the more issues remain the same the more they must change. Research in a myriad of periodicals mentions numerous challenges for organizations especially in the selling process. New issues abound daily impacting how selling professionals meet buyer’s needs.
What we know are the following:
➢ Decision Makers are hard to find. There are so many responsibilities for people that trying to find the time for discussion is difficult. Additionally, since organizations tend to focus on lean, more people are making decisions rather than management. A recent Wall Street Journal Report states that personnel without authority to purchase a laptop can plan a regional meeting with a budget of $500,000!
➢ Competitive Neutrality. The proliferation of the Internet and information is challenging. Buyers comprehend more of your organization than your own sales force!
➢ Organizational labyrinthine. Globalization, rightsizing, mergers and multitudes of organizational transformation are as perplexing as discovering the DaVinci Code. Reporting lines and decision processes are difficult.
➢ Financial Planning. The one constant is decreasing divisional funds. Agreement is reached only to discover the unavailability of funds.
➢ The best defense is unclear. 15 years ago, training your sales force was mandatory. With tightening budgets and productivity issues, selling professionals are sent into battle without armaments.
➢ CRM. The sales tool offered to assist selling professionals is underutilized and mis-understood.
➢ No Teamwork. Sales require more collaboration with the marketing department.
With over 27 years of research and analysis with numerous organizations we constantly hear about sales excuses- no return calls to numerous voice mails. I have made return calls to interested parties only to never hear from them again. The world has become more complex and navigationally difficult.
Read any present newspaper or periodical and you will begin to acquire the phraseology of the “knowledge economy”. This is defined as an economy based on creating, evaluating, and trading knowledge. In a knowledge economy, labor costs become progressively less important as opposed to the amount of knowledge acquired by individuals and organizations to become more effective. Simply put, the more information one has the more knowledge one gains. Content is king! This is the key differentiator.
Selling professionals similar to your clients must be content experts. Clients desire trust and respect and they desire intellectual conversation. Drop the features and benefit discussion- these left when public seminars did. Your clients crave illustrious council. Selling professionals must be advisors, consultants and experts. This is vital to your business success.
There are some rules about sales:
1. There are simply four techniques of selling that are vital. One does not need numerous methods and training. Learn the four simple steps and you will sell more than you realize.
2. There is no basic selling rule or principle that has been discovered in the last hundred years.
3. One needs to take these principles and use them daily. Practicing these rules and making them a habit in your daily life will make you better.
4. Do not rush learning. Rome was not built in a day. You must learn daily and practice daily but without haste and impatience.
5. Evaluate yourself. Be critical and learn by what you are doing and not doing to become better. Be honest in your assessment.
The one issue of selling never expressed in training or research is that it is not event based or linear. Selling is a process, it takes time, it takes effort and it takes patience!
© 2008 Drew Stevens PhD. All Rights Reserved.
Original sales article published here.
Posted in Drew Stevens, Sales Training, Strategic Selling, sales strategy, sales success, sales techniques, selling skills | No Comments »
April 8th, 2008 Drew Stevens
Many people ask me about trends in sales and marketing. While watching and reviewing recent research I have determined the following trends for the next several years.
1. Lead Generation – Recent research illustrates that sales representatives generate 50 percent of their selling leads. As work progressively gets busier, representatives will turn to other avenues to generate leads. The true survivors will be those to rise above and create their own business advocates.
2. Training – Currently their exist a proliferation of sales training firms. The large issue, nearly 45% of corporate training dollars are spent on sales versus updating skills in management, technical applications, or finance. The preponderance of evidence suggests that many firms train in fundamental skills in one-day increments. And, those that do- train once per annum. Training is a process not an event.
Training in sales is a necessity and a proper return on your investment. Do not train for training sake. Ensure success with metrics and continual functions to aid effectiveness.
4. CRM denotes crude relationship mechanism. Contrary to many pundits nothing replaces selling then a relationship. The proliferation of the Internet and its tools enables personnel to research and develop consultative sales ideas not augment the relationship. Refrain from hiding behind computers and get selling professionals where they need to be- in front of the consumer.
5. Globalization – There is a vital need to understand culture, dialects and linguistics. Selling professionals must comprehend how to bridge the gap between the western world and those of our new neighbors.
6. Multigenerational Selling – Veterans, Baby Boomers and Generation X’ers are giving way to the millenials. This strong group of over 78 million people is entering the sales force. Generation Y as they are often known as are high in technology, quick to impress and move quickly. It is essential for sales professionals to understand how to communicate effectively to cross-generational groups.
7. Research is essential – Recent research from the 2008 CSO Insights discovered that 47 percent of sales leaders found that their professionals lacked good research skills. Sales leaders understand the value of information and know where to get it. Pundit believe research is a waste of time, nothing is more imperative than truly understanding customer needs.
8. Value versus Features and Benefits – Refrain from the selling stereotype. Sales professionals must sell value. Research shows that over 70 percent of selling professionals value selling. CRM, the internet and other software devices will not help. Professionals must ask the difficult questions to seek improving the client’s issue.
9. Professional Selling. There are too many organizations and associations that seek certification and sales development. The fact is that every facet of the organization is a selling process. That said, sales must be taught to everyone. More importantly, selling is the very nature of entrepreneurial success. World Class leaders will send all employees to a sales program. More importantly, just as marketing is taught in universities so too is the need for selling.
©2008. Drew Stevens Ph.D. All Rights Reserved.
Posted in Drew Stevens PhD, Strategic Selling, sales selling, sales strategist, sales trends, selling strategy, selling techniques, selling tips | No Comments »
January 14th, 2008 Drew Stevens
Recently a myriad of announcements made the news that Starbucks is making changes due to increased competition from of all competitors- McDonalds. This brings to mind the importance of brand and brand equity. Branding is value, the value of your product or service and more importantly the perception clients have of your business. A brand is often worth more than the business. Think of the brands you consume; Coke Cola, FedEx, Kleenex to name a few of many. Branding positions your business and makes consumers desire your offering.
The value of a brand creates an allure to the business. Consumers simply want to conduct business because of its power. Exemplars are Kleenex for its quality, Rolls Royce for its luxury and Harvard for its education. Building a useful, titillating and valuable brand produces a cachet. Prospective customers will find you, hear about your brand and value your offerings based on perception. The value of a brand enables the business to differentiate itself from competition.
So the real question- what happened to Starbucks? Simply put, they diluted their brand. This was not a single-handed choice nor intentional but brands do get diluted. Dilution has happened to a myriad of companies such as Coke Cola, Federal Express and others, even McDonalds suffered from product dilution. In the case of Starbucks there have been several factors but two of the most prevalent concern growth and the customer. Ironically there is a certain reciprocity affecting both. Starbucks desired to increase profits with continual and incredible growth, however in doing so they forgot about their most important asset- the customer. Yet in order to appeal to clients that crave Starbucks, there is a need to grow in markets.
However, in growing Starbucks forgot about core. Similar to fitness, core is the foundation of all business. Core is necessary to remain true to strategic direction and mission. In the case of Starbucks their core is coffee and the pleasant experience of capturing the aroma, excitement and attitude of relaxing in an Italian cafe. Starbucks got lost in commercialization, competition and lust for revenue. This is not to say that greed is bad, but when an organization fails to retain core and operates with only revenue in mind, failing to maintain client allure, then business, revenues and clients will be lost.
Is it possible to regain competitiveness and allure? Certainly, for Starbucks it is a return to basics and a return to customer attention. It will take time and for now time is on their side.
Posted in Customer Service Training, Sales marketing, Strategic Selling, brand recognition, branding, customer service, internet marketing, selling techniques, selling tips, value | No Comments »
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