July - The Sales Myth

Welcome to winter - "at last" the Skifields are saying. At Challenge Marketing we try to take the optimist viewpoint - without experiencing cold how could we ever appreciate being warm!

Over the years I have heard so many people say how much they dislike selling or marketing. "I could never be a sales person" you hear. They think they have to try to force customers to buy something that they don't want. Nothing could be further from the truth on both counts.

Firstly, selling is not trying to make customers buy. A good sales person will create the environment where the customer wants to make a purchase because what you are selling will be of benefit to him/her. Plus the most important thing is to always give more service than for which you get paid. In other words, go the extra mile. This need not cost you anything - it can be as simple as a phone call the next week after their purchase checking all is OK. Or a quick thank you note in the mail. These small actions will make you memorable and ultimately lead to repeat business and/or referral business (my favourite!)

Secondly, you (and I mean pretty much everyone) are already a sales person. Do you have kids that eat their veges and/or clean up their rooms? Do you have loyal staff from a conscious team building effort by you? Do you have people coming to you for help or advice (business or personal)? Then pat yourself on the back - you are a great sales person! Our whole life is based around selling; be it concepts, a product/service or more especially ourselves.

The other "funny" thing I hear business people saying is that they get tired of travellers coming to see them. What they fail to realise is that these travellers are more often than not providing the product that their business is selling! Plus the business owner is a sales person anyway as they are providing a product or service to their own customers. So where is the difference between the two? Being a sales person is a noble profession as well as one of the highest paid professions globally. It is also very necessary.

So happy selling to you all!

Finally on a personal note, recently I went Auckland to see the show "Walking with Dinosaurs". This was truly a brilliant event and it is now confirmed (as if I didnt' know before) that I am still unashamedly a "kid" and always will be!

PS  Challenge Marketing is happily donating every month to the MALCAM Trust. Remember it is your order for Printed Pens or Promotional Products that make this possible. It is a numbers game - the more we sell, the more we can donate. Plus the real upside is that you get a product to give to your customers to show you care - going that extra mile! Click here to view the many MALCAM Trust initiatives that are helping our youth and our community.

                                      "Your Success is our Focus"

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