January 27, 2012

If Your Product is Really Good, It Should Sell Itself

How true is this?  In response to an article on how to promote your business without being pushy, David Morgan threw the statement, “If your product or service is really good, it should sell itself” out there. So is it true?

online income

If your product or service is really good, will it sell itself? And if so, when?

We want passive income, passive work and pay checks that come like clockwork—I know I do. But how passive can we be in the sales process?

Do products or services really sell themselves?

I see it like this: marketing is exposure. But the sales part of the process is closure. It’s the point that we decide to act on this “thing” that we now want, need and can no longer live without. And ultimately, in order for us to make the most of our customer’s experience we do have to be extremely active in both the marketing and the sales—or at least active in the plan behind the sales and marketing.

But David brings up an interesting point:

“If you produce a product or service which exceeds your customers expectations while fulfilling their needs and wants, it will basically sell itself (within reason).”

While I don’t believe that anything ever sells itself, I agree with the idea that a quality product or service can be much easier to sell. But every part of the process needs the best that we have to give.

As Gregory Berns, Psychiatrist and Author of Iconoclast: A Neuroscientist Reveals How To Think Differently says:

“A person can have the greatest idea in the world…but if that person can’t convince enough other people, it doesn’t matter.’’

It’s also true of products because convincing “enough other people” is the marketing process.  We just need to consider product development as the first part of the marketing process. Better products, better marketing, a better sales process leads to a better business.

So what do you think? I would love to know what you’ve learned from your own business. In the meantime, here is a quick “2-part,-I-almost-don’t-need-to-say-it,-but-I-will” marketing process/summary (and thanks, David, for your comments).

A Simple “2-Part,-I-Almost-Don’t-Need-to-Say-it,-But-I-Will” Marketing Process

Your marketing budget may be slashed, forcing you to use non-traditional but more cost effective mediums. That’s ok, you can still get your name out there. You just have to:

  1. understand your options;
  2. learn how to effectively use what you have;
  3. design a plan and implement it with everything that you got.

Simple Website Strategy

You need a website home that is more than just a brochure online. Have an about page that sounds like there are real people behind the business. Use a blog to have personal engagement with some of your visitors.

You can also use social media to connect and have a conversation. Act like you are talking to real people—because you are. And then give them some place to go when they finish talking to you on social media. That “some place” should be your information filled website that completely relates to your product or service and your audience.

Simple Product Strategy

Create one heck of a product or service that solves a real problem. And make it simple, or as simple as possible. When developing or upgrading the product, think like the client.  Feel their frustration and work to alleviate it.

If you have a hard time role playing, then talk to real clients and find out what they really hate. In this economy money is spent daily, but only when necessary. And oftentimes necessary just means irresistible. So design an irresistible product for your target audience and then market it like it matters.


Sales Photo via Shutterstock

From Small Business Trends

If Your Product is Really Good, It Should Sell Itself

Join us in Atlanta for “Getting Down to Social Business”

Join me, Anita Campbell, and an impressive list of the CRM industry’s leading experts and solution providers a  free 1-day information packed seminar on February 3, 2012 , in Atlanta, Georgia!

The day will focus on the need for companies to transition their approach to “social” away from a narrow, reactionary set of disconnected activities … to a full-fledged corporate culture strategically aligned to build long-lasting relationships with today’s empowered customer.

Sessions Include:

  • Keynote presentation by Paul Greenberg, author of the best-selling “CRM At the Speed of Light”
  • The Consumerization of IT (by Michael Thomas, Customer Success Manager, Microsoft)
  • Journey to the Middle of the Funnel – Connecting Inbound Marketing to Sales Conversion (Jeanne Hopkins, HubSpot VP of Marketing)
  • The Role of Community in Today’s Business Environment (panel discussion featuring Anita Campbell, Publisher of Small Business Trends and Robin Carey, CEO of Social Media Today – Moderated by Adrienne Graham, Founder of Empower Me)
  • The Velocity of Customer Service in the Social Age (Matt Trifiro, Assistly VP of Marketing)
  • Connecting the Dots Between PR and Customer Service (Jeff Nolan, Get Satisfaction VP of Product Marketing)
  • Next-Level Listening (by Cory Hartlen, Radian6 Product Marketing Manager)
  • The Realities of Becoming A Social Business (panel discussion featuring Adam Naide, Executive Director of Social Media Marketing for Cox Communications, Bert DuMars, VP of Interactive Marketing & Ecommerce for Newell Rubbermaid, and Larry Ritter, SVP & GM of Sage CRM Solutions – Moderated by Art Hall, President of the Atlanta Chapter of the CRM Association)
  • Closing the Deal – The Impact of Social on Selling, the Sales Organization and the Customer Relationship (panel discussion featuring Graham Clark , Partner of Customer Results and TAG CRM Board Member, and Judy Mod,  founder of the Social Executive Council).
Event Title: Getting Down to Social Business – The New Business As Usual in the Age of the Collaborative Relationship

Description: There’s no doubting the impact social and mobile technologies are having on all facets of human interaction.  But what impact is it having on the sales process, and on the expectations customers have on sales professionals as they move through their buying cycle?  And how are sales organizations leveraging new tools to help sales professionals close deals and grow strong relationships with social customers?

These topics and others will be addressed by a panel of experts as they take on the important question of how to leverage social tools and strategies

Date:  Friday February 3, 2012,  8:30-4 pm

Place:  Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center

                250 14th Street NW, Atlanta GA, 30318

Cost: FREE, with online registration

Registration Link: http://gettingdowntosocialbusiness.eventbrite.com/

Contact: Brent Leary, brent@socialbizatlanta.com

A Production of Social Biz Atlanta, organized by Brent Leary, partner of CRM Essentials (who is also our Host of the One on One interview series here at Small Business Trends, sponsored by BlackBerry).

From Small Business Trends

Join us in Atlanta for “Getting Down to Social Business”

100th Year Anniversary of the BBB

Believe it or not, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has been around for 100 years. Their latest infographic provides a highlight of their biggest events from the first BBB in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1912 to the release of their app in 2011.

In 1930, BBBs developed Truth in Advertising Standards, something most consumers can appreciate. According to the inforgraphic, Harry S. Truman said of BBBs, “They have gone to work to clean out the shady areas in the commercial world.”

Eleanor Roosevelt said in 1951, “it’s a service I think we’ve all taken for granted.” In 2010 they helped resolve one million consumer complaints and provided four million reviews of businesses. With over 88 million instances of service in 2010, that statement may no longer hold true.

BBB 100th Anniversary [Infographic]
BBB 100th Anniversary [Infographic] compliments of Better Business Bureau


January 25, 2012

Google: From Grad School to $150 Billion Company

A lot of tech companies often start out with the most humble of beginnings – in this case: Google. Now standing as one of the most powerful companies in the world, their journey has been chronicled since the conception of “Backrub” – the first search engine for the world wide web.

The interactive infographic you’re about to see sheds some light into the world of Sergey Brinn and Larry Page’s brainchild we’ve all come to know, love, and respect.


Created by Online PhD


January 24, 2012

21 Tips in 21 Days to Get You Into Selling Shape for 2012

By Jim Domanski
Are your 2012 sales a little sluggish? Need a little momentum?

Here are 21 tips that you can apply one day at a time over the next 21 days to help kick start your sales for 2012. These tips are in addition to your normal everyday selling activities. Why 21? Because 21 is approximately the number of business days in a month and because it is roughly the amount of time it takes to create a habit. If you get into the good habit of doing something a little extra to improve your skills or enhance your productivity and effectiveness your sales are bound to grow.


The 21-Day Get Sales Fit Program

Day 1 - For the next five business days, arrive 15 minutes earlier and use the time to prospect. Sometimes earlier in the day is the best time to reach decision makers. Of course what it really does is translate into 75 minutes of business development. Focus exclusively on dialling. Don't get distracted.

Day 2- Send out 10 thank you cards to your top 10 clients. Simply tell them 'thank you' for all the business in the past. Tell them you don't take them for granted. Hand write the card and envelope. Use a real stamp. Go here for more information on this simple but highly effective task.

Day 3- Ask your manager to monitor five of your (completed) calls today and provide feedback on how you can enhance and improve your approach to a call. A good coach means good results.

Day 4 - Identify 15 inactive clients (a customer who has not bought something in the last 12 months) and give them a call. Ask them questions to get a feel for their current situation. Identify needs. Pay attention to them. Groom them. Reactivate them.

Day 5 - Today, implement a "passive referral" program i.e., a means of soliciting referrals from clients (and prospects) using a variety of methods (e.g., e-mail). For more information on this process go here.

Day 6 - For the next 5 business days, stay 15 minutes longer and make cold calls and develop new business opportunities. Sometimes later in the day is the best time to reach your decision makers. Try it and see for yourself.

Day 7- Today you want to get "some skin in the game" and invest in yourself. Go to a books store or visit Amazon and buy a book on selling. Find something to enhance your approach to selling. When you invest in a product you are more apt to read and apply the techniques in order to get an ROI. (See the Book recommendation following this article)

Day 8- For today, identify your top 5 selling products and list 2 add on sales for each these products. Jot them on a sheet of paper and when appropriate cross sell or up sell on these products. Do this today and for the rest of the 21 days. Watch the average value of your sale increase.Go here if you'd like more information.

Day 9- Swap five of your prospects who are not returning your calls with 5 prospects from a co-worker. Sometimes a new voice and new approach generates new sales.

Day 10 - Scan the internet and find an industry or product related article that you can send or e-mail to 25 clients. Add a little note that says, "I thought of you when I found this article. Enjoy!" This creates value. It positions you as a 'resource' and not just a 'source.'

Day 11 - Call 10 of your "B -level" customers and ask them if there are any projects / sales three to six months down the line. Not only are you scoping out long term opportunities, you are staying 'top of mind.'

Day 12 - Eat lunch at your desk and spend the time making cold calls - maybe to a different time zone. That'll give you an extra 50-60 minutes of business development opportunity. See what happens.

Day 13 - Call your top 10 clients (the same ones to whom you sent the thank you cards on Day 2 and who probably got your industry related article on Day 10.) Ask them for a referral.

Day 14- Today, create an e-prospecting letter and send them to 15 prospects. For tips on e-mails go here.

Day 15 - Make follow up calls to the 15 prospects who got your e-mail on Day 14. Timing is everything.

Day 16 - For the next five days, come in 10 minutes earlier and stay 10 minutes later. That means an additional 100 minutes of business development activity. Ten minutes on either end of the day? Heck, that's easy.

Day 17- Monitor 5 calls from three of your co-workers (15 calls in all). Get a feel for what they do. Maybe you'll get some fresh new ideas or approaches.

Day 18 - Call five clients and ask them for a testimonial quote that you could use in an e-mail or letter or presentation. When you get them, be sure to leverage them!

Day 19 - Call or e-mail those who have given you a referral and given them an update on the status of the referrals you received.

Day 20- Send a thank you card - not an e-mail- to those who have given you a testimonial quote.

Day 21 - Evaluate all that you have done over the past 21 days. What has been the net result? If you've missed anything implement it. Now, build your 'little extra' plan for the next 21 days. Keep the momentum going.


The above tips are easy to implement and take very little time. Do the extras. The extras will give you the edge and make things happen.


By Jim Domanski of Teleconcepts Consulting. Please visit Jim's web site at http://www.telesalesmaster.com/ for additional articles and resources for tele-sales professionals


George Torok Host of Business in Motion Business Speaker
Listen to Business in Motion audio PodCasts On iTunes Business in Motion on Facebook

Share/Save/Bookmark

Social Media Advertising for Small Businesses

According to Cassino, social- media marketing offers local businesses an easy way to sidestep expensive local-media advertising channels and deliver their offers directly to potential customers.

In the latest survey of more than 4,000 small firms conducted by Borrell, local business owners on average said they expected to devote about 14 percent of total online-ad spending this year to social media. That is more than double the 6.6 percent social-media allocation by local businesses in 2011.

Put that into dollar terms and it represents a spending increase from about $1.1 billion last year to projected spending on social media this year of over $2.2 billion by local businesses.

complete article

January 23, 2012

Mobile Business Apps

While recent trends indicate that many of us are opting to use cloud-based and mobile software, businesses rely on software that can reside on a variety of platforms: cloud, mobile, and yes, on-premise.

We have picked 25 small business apps—some of which are clouds services, others for mobile devices and some are standard on-premise software installs. What they all have in common are ways to enhance your business and your business success.

complete article