D-WORDSLAYER

An Everest I looked up and my heart was filled with pride and at the same time I was in awe. Here I stood beneath the silver ceiling, cool and comfortable, looking at my project. The first big one undertaken some years ago has stood the test of time. There was a lot of movement in the warehouse. The forklifts and people were busy moving in and out. The place was filled with activity and action, and I felt that sense of accomplishment one can only feel when they have climbed an Everest. Happy customers What are you prepared to do to ensure your customers are happy, not just for the short term, but for a long time?  As I gazed at the ceiling, someone touched my shoulder. From the moment I entered to the present the workers were coming up and asking when will the other parts of the warehouse be insulated and ventilated. Without words they seemed to understand it was not as simple as it appeared, and were grateful for the relief they experienced daily within the area....

Why sales as a career? I’ve been searching through my thousands of pictures from over the years for a post. Its taken me down memory lane. I’m quite pleased to have done so much, seen so many places, and experienced a life full of changes. I’m thinking about sales and how wonderful a career it is, for those brave enough to jump in! Sales .. what makes a man wake up every day, and go out to work? Why do you shop  at the same supermarket, and go to the same green grocer weekly? Why do you dream  of the car you are not driving or the house you saw on the corner of your street? There is one thing which happens daily as we hustle to wake and get a move on it – Sales. As a child I swore I did not want to be a sales woman. No way. I was going to be an accountant or a lawyer. Something that sounded traditional, and filled with money & success! It seemed to find me – this desire to promote, persuade, coax and ultimately sell. As a child I discovered folks liked...

A favorable place…. Negotiations need time!  This is important to gain an advantage or to be on even footing during negotiations. Desperation is the initiator of loss! The dance If you’re waiting on someone to ask you to dance and he just does not take the bait as you give him the eye, or try to show off your great visual assets, the temptation to be forward is unbearable. Wait. The person making the first move shows their hand, and is open to rejection. If you possess the skill and can get the first move in without scarring – go for it! Most can’t unless there has been an indication of interest by the target of the deal. In business, negotiation works  in a similar way to showing interest in a man or woman. You target a customer and test the waters with some details to stir interest. If that’s accepted, you go a bit further with discussions and then the proposal. Never, try to get that first kiss while on the dance floor. That is similar to going into a negotiation...

Negotiation – a subtle art of marketing Let’s take an everyday look at negotiation. When you negotiate you are trying to get something for the best deal you can. As the initiator or seller the best deal where both parties gain can help in repeat business. Have a look at the clothes you’re wearing. You saw it in a store and decided to purchase – now think back. The garment was probably well displayed or was something you wanted at a particular price. Maybe it cost a little more than you wanted to spend, but that ‘water resistant’ lining sure made the difference. Then you saw the tag and it said 20% off today, and you said “yes”. Its a great deal because now you can save on what you would have to spend and get an additional value. This instantaneous process, was in fact the subtle negotiation initiated by marketing! When you settled the bill, the seller received his benefit from that negotiation – immediate sale! Tip Negotiation for mutual benefit while securing the best deal ...

"Make the best of your opportunities when you see them!" Opportunities are not hidden from us. They are there waiting to be discovered and we just have to be ready to find them. The world sends us adventure disguised as challenges so being intuitive and a risk taker helps. It is a process of awareness 'discovering opportunities' and can be quite rewarding when found! This week D-Wordslayer  continued with two minute daily tips to help focus on an essential part of any business- Customer Service. Getting the tips to be relevant to a wide spectrum of industries and people was interesting. Tapping into my seemingly  limitless box of experiences was the biggest challenge. Nothing went as planned but everything was better than expected. When the unexpected happened  I was not  ready, and not consistent with timeliness. My daily posts went out late, because the artwork was not ready on one day and I did some substituting. The final review before publishing most da...

Being the best You to win! Competition is the other people , who want to be better than you at what you do. Maybe they are – so let’s keep it real and focus on improving our position in our chosen field or market! The road to being ahead of the rest means giving more than expected continuously. Or to say it differently – doing it so well no one wants to look around! What makes you different?  What makes your company, its products & services different? These are questions we should be able to understand and have a response for. The ability to stand out in a crowd can help attract attention to you  – both positive and negative reactions. Let’s be real ; if the competition has positioned their product on price maybe they will attract an initial big audience. If quality, service, accessibility and reputation can back them up, you have to find an area of uniqueness to gain your own market share. It’s a lot easier when the competition is not great at anything – but do y...

Decisions, decisions...who/what to choose? We all have choices and it's the same for customers. Making decisions is a distinct art and can be influenced by external factors and personal preferences. That decision to choose one thing over the other can be based on methodical comparison or impulsive reaction. Can you influence  the decision making process and sway it to your favor - of course you can! Appealing to the customer's needs or desires will take some relevant persuasion. Buying a car and buying a pair of shoes may take a lot of consideration based on the individual and what's important to them. The customer's resources, relevance  and awareness of purchase are key in the final decision. The value to the customer is what matters in separating him from his money!   Tip Technology has made it easy for customers to know and make a decision before getting to the store - retail or virtual. Find your customers before they find you to gain an advantage in the...

Customer Service has to start somewhere – and that’s with you! How do you feel about your customer? Do you enjoy dealing with others and helping solve problems, meeting needs, or finding solutions which will satisfy the customer? If your answer is ‘yes’ – you are off to a great start! Customers, like all of us, like to feel appreciated  and not taken for granted. Greetings are important – and not simply the ‘get it over with'”good morning”. It takes a warm engaging smile and a greeting with a personal touch to send the message, “Good morning its great to see you, how can we help you today?” During the transaction  process gently inquire on satisfaction expected from the business decision to ensure the product or service matches up. If they insist on the wrong match – be sure to highlight the necessity and benefits of the right choice  or advise against purchase. This ensures your  company’s service and reputation are safeguarded. Do not be quick for a ‘bad h...