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Articles from Sam Manfer | Selfgrowth.com
- ***C-Level Selling - Large Account Plans Require Both Parties’ Participation - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2012 from Sam ManferMost sales people make two key mistakes when building a large account plans or as I like to call them relationship plans. First they build the plan by themselves or with the help of their teammates instead of with the inputs from the C-levels and influential people of the large account. ...
Views: 288(1 vote) - ***C-Level Selling Tips – Keep Competition Out of Your Key Accounts - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2012 from Sam ManferCompetitors are constantly approaching your top customers and their C-level executive staffs with offers of better, easier, and cheaper. If you’re nothing special to the high ranking staff you’re vulnerable to replacement. If any of the staff had missed expectations, you’ll be talked about ...
Views: 257 - ***C-Level Selling - The Great Customer Experience Happens When C-Level Executives Are Satisfied - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2012 from Sam ManferHow much time do you spend with the senior staff of you customers? I’ll bet not much – that’s not good. I’ll also bet that if by chance you do know them, you check-in to only say hello and see if there is anything they can give you – that’s not good again. And if you don’t know them, you only ...
Views: 286 - ***Good Work Won’t Win the Next Sale - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2012 from Sam ManferWhen people buy from you they expect good results. So when they get what they paid for, it’s really nothing special. Therefore, when it’s time to buy again, those same people will consider you because you delivered. But they won’t necessarily buy from you, because again, it wasn’t anything ...
Views: 358 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – How to Differentiate When Selling - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2011 from Sam ManferIt’s easy to differentiate if you use numbers names and details because all of yours differ from all of your competitors’. In the greater scheme of things, your products or services are similar to competitors’. But, in the finite scheme of things every competitor is different – different ...
Views: 406(1 vote) - ***C-Level Relationship Selling - 9 Active Listening Steps to Effortlessly Sell Prospects - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2011 from Sam ManferInterviewing is the most important step of sales calls and relationship development. Interviewing requires asking stimulating questions that get prospects to discuss their wants relative to what you’re offering. However, interviewing also requires active listening. That is, listening with and ...
Views: 645 - ***Selling to C-Levels - 8 Interviewing Tips to Easily Close Sales - by Submitted on Aug 09, 2011 from Sam ManferMost sales people know enough to ask questions. And every sales person has heard a thousand times to listen more than they speak. However, most sales people interrogate rather than interview. The difference is; interrogating is about the sales person, and interviewing is about the prospect or ...
Views: 688(1 vote) - ***Engaging C-Level Executives in Productive Conversations - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2011 from Sam ManferHere’s a common situation. You finally get a meeting with a senior or C-Level person. After the pleasantries you start telling how your product or service will be good for his company and/or better than the competitions’ stuff. He’s attentive for a few minutes. But you’re so focused on ...
Views: 699 - ***C-Level Selling – Conquer Self-Doubt and Attain Confidence - by Submitted on Jun 14, 2011 from Sam ManferConfidence wanes and self-doubt sets-in when your negative little voices nag at you. Those little voices stem from parental lectures and social interactions which are now programmed into you psyche. These programs are what your inner parent draws from to tells your inner child how to react. ...
Views: 707 - ***Selling Tips, 4 Steps for Closing Phone Inquiries - by Submitted on May 25, 2011 from Sam ManferTelemarketing Tips, Closing Incoming Telesales for Call Centers Interest and credibility are the keys to successfully leading incoming callers to buy your products or services. When someone calls into your business, be it your, receptionist, multi-person phone bank or home office with an ...
Views: 479 - ***Unbeatable Cold Calling Techniques for Telemarketing and Out Going Call Centers - by Submitted on May 16, 2011 from Sam ManferInterest and credibility are the keys to successful cold calling and outgoing phone selling. With cold calling, you have to develop interest within the first 7 seconds. When the prospect first answers, this is not the time to tell who you are or where you're from. You may think this ...
Views: 646 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – Gaining the Confidence Required for Selling High - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2011 from Sam ManferIt's uncomfortable selling to C-levels and influential leaders. They are hard to get-to and they are intimidating to talk with. They have an air of superiority and power. The only way to handle these C-levels and top executives is with confidence. Confidence is a sales person’s biggest ...
Views: 499 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – Establishing Credibility - The Magic of All Sales Relationships - by Submitted on Mar 09, 2011 from Sam ManferCredibility is the essence for getting to people; for having people believe you and; for drawing people into buying your products, your services, your ideas, your concepts, and you. So how does one get credibility? Well you’ve been developing it all your life. You’ve just never taken the ...
Views: 1015(10 votes) - ***C-Level Relationship Sales Tips – Increase Sales by Stealing Competitors’ Accounts - by Submitted on Feb 18, 2011 from Sam ManferIncrease your sales by using these simple C-level relationship selling, sales tips. Steal your competitors’ accounts. They are qualified, and they buy your type of products / services. Your competitors sell to these accounts. So what’s not to like, except they are not buying from you. To ...
Views: 677 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – Lower Levels Can Sell Easily to C-Levels - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2011 from Sam ManferA CEO is working with a lot of papers on his desk. Underneath the papers there’s a sharp letter opener. As he slides the papers over to do another task, he hears the scrape of the letter opener on his beautiful wood desk. He looks and is distressed because it has left an ugly mark. He calls ...
Views: 778(16 votes) - ***C-Level Selling - Handling Purchasing, Committees, and Delegated Subordinates - by Submitted on Jan 27, 2011 from Sam ManferNever believe purchasing, delegated subordinates, or committees make final decisions. All they do is recommend their decision to their bosses. I frequently hear there’s a committee or some manager or functional person has been assigned the responsibility for the selection. The sad news is ...
Views: 824(3 votes) - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – 3 Steps to Handle the “Too Busy” Selling Objection - by Submitted on Jan 04, 2011 from Sam ManferHow many times have you heard the executive who’ll make the final decision is too busy to meet with you? C-Levels and top executives have so many things to do. Well, something is wrong here because at some time the C-Level will have to take the time to learn before s/he makes the final ...
Views: 595(3 votes) - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – 6 Tips for Overcoming Executive Intimidation - by Submitted on Dec 09, 2010 from Sam ManferApproaching a senior level executive, doctor or high government official is very nerve racking and usually holds sales people back from approaching the ultimate decision makers. That’s because we’re anticipating an unpleasant outcome or projecting a negative experience. The antidote is ...
Views: 943(1 vote) - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – 6 Actions for Handling Blockers and Gatekeepers - by Submitted on Nov 16, 2010 from Sam ManferPeople block you from their bosses and others for a whole host of reasons. For example they feel they will lose their power over you; they don’t like what you have and know that if you get past them their boss might buy what you have and they will be stuck with you; admins are told not to let ...
Views: 723 - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – Use Your Golden Network to Win Sales and More - by Submitted on Oct 04, 2010 from Sam ManferThink of the companies that have bought from you. There are powerful people in those companies beyond your primary contacts, who have benefited from what they bought from you. These are people you can ask for referrals and critical information on upcoming projects or cross-sells. There are ...
Views: 931(1 vote) - ***Networking Magic for C-Level Relationship Selling - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2010 from Sam ManferNetworking produces leads, contacts, and C-Level relationships better than anything. So use your resources. You know people that know people who can get you to where you want to be. However you have to stop and think about this for a minute because you’re not used to using these contacts. ...
Views: 680(3 votes) - ***Relationships Networking – How to Meet the People or Person of Your Dreams - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2010 from Sam ManferNetworking can connect you with the person you want to be with better than any other method. So use your resources. You know people that know people who can get you to whom you want to be with. However you have to stop and think about this for a minute because you’re not used to using these ...
Views: 1190(4 votes) - ***C-Level Relationship Selling – Identifying the Ultimate Decision Maker - by Submitted on Aug 25, 2010 from Sam ManferDetermining the final decision maker and other high level influencers is one of the most difficult tasks for a sales person. Subordinates and info gatherers claim to be the final decision maker which confuses sales people. Others guard that information for fear the sales person will try to ...
Views: 885 - ***Relationship Selling to C-Level Executives – How to Use Entertainment for More Sales - by Submitted on Jul 28, 2010 from Sam ManferMost people conjure up socializing when they here the term relationship selling. In business relationships are all about helping each other survive and prosper in their jobs. Socializing should be a byproduct of good relationship selling. If I’m a C-Level executive decision maker, a ...
Views: 1041(4 votes) - ***C-Level Relationship Selling - 6 Steps to Avoid Selling Suicide - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2010 from Sam Manfer“I’ve got a great product, and I know this prospect can use it, but I can’t get this person interested.” Sound familiar. Well the problem to this dilemma is not the competition or your price. It's the word “I”. Look how many times “I” is used. Try restating in terms of the prospect. ...
Views: 1072(1 vote) - ***6 Sales Management Drills for Relationship Selling to CEOs and Top Executives - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2010 from Sam ManferPractice is not something one does when their good. Practice is what makes one good. 1. Why is it important, for you or your sales people to get to the leaders? List at least 5 reasons why you’d like to get to top level executives in your customers’ and prospects’ organizations. If you ...
Views: 855(3 votes) - ***7 Sales Management Training Drill for Handling “I’m Interested, but I’ll get back to you.” - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2010 from Sam ManferProspects lose interest in your pitch for many reasons. So before they do, use it to meet more and higher level people to generate shared interest. Prepare Yourself 1. Your attitude has to always be, “Get to the leaders.” A prospect’s interest doesn’t mean much if you haven’t talked to ...
Views: 758(2 votes) - ***Sales Management - 7 Selling Tips on Handling Price, Price, Price - by Submitted on Jul 12, 2010 from Sam ManferPrice is tricky. Price could be what s/he wants if everything else is the same. Price could be what someone tells you when they want to get rid of you. Price could be for a resell and the final seller only knows how to sell low price. Price could be what a subordinate thinks the boss wants, ...
Views: 1560(32 votes) - ***Selling to CEOs Sales Training Tip 25 - Build Relationship Plans to Capturing 100% of Clients' Business - by Submitted on May 21, 2010 from Sam ManferWhat is an account plan and why is it necessary? An account plan is a compilation of relationship plans for the key executives of that account. See, an account is a group of individual senior executives and influential people that work for that company or institution. Simplistically an ...
Views: 1096(2 votes) - ***Selling to CEOs, Tip 23-Use Selling Time to Build Useful Professional Relationships - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2010 from Sam ManferIt is 4 times easier to get business from an existing account where you’ve maintained high level relationships, rather than getting business from a new account. It’s 2 times easier to get business from an account that you’ve lost, for whatever reason than a new one. Why, because you have ...
Views: 857(3 votes) - ***Selling to CEOs Tip 22 - Get 100% of Business from 100% of Your Clients Become Preferred - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2010 from Sam ManferIt’s so much easier to get more business from existing customers when you’re the preferred vendor, and this is very easy to do. Being preferred provides an unfair advantage over any competition. You’ll get jobs without bidding and at your price. Even governments or institutions have work that ...
Views: 1099(3 votes) - ***C-Level Sales Training Tip 21- Eliminate Low Price by Differentiating - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2010 from Sam ManferYour presentation requires two key components to win. The first is to show your prospect you can give him or her what s/he wants. The second is to describe how you can do it better than any alternative. Better in an area of importance to someone is worth more money. Keep in mind, doing ...
Views: 899(21 votes) - ***Relate Immediately with People by Matching Your Chemistry - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2010 from Sam ManferPut People at Ease and You’ll Get More of What You Want To make interactions click immediately you’ll have to make CEO’s, C-level executives and people in general feel comfortable. If they’re comfortable, they will talk openly with you and give all you’ll need to succeed with them. The ...
Views: 1162(8 votes) - ***C-Level Selling Tip 19 - The Fastest Path to a Relationship and Sale Is Through Your Ears - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2010 from Sam ManferListening is the key to establishing relationships and selling. If you learn what your prospects want, and/or forgot to mention, and/or don’t know about, and what they mean by the words they used to describe what they want, you’ll have a complete description of what it will take to win these ...
Views: 1029(4 votes) - ***C-Level Sales Tip 18 – Good Interviewing Leads to Great C-Level Presentations - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2010 from Sam ManferThe best way to capture the attention of a C-Level executive is to interview him. Senior exec’s loved to be interviewed. Additionally interviewing serves many other purposes. 1. It puts the focus on the executive and high level people like to be the focus of attention. 2. They get to do ...
Views: 778(3 votes) - ***C-Level Sales Training Tip 17-Win-Over C-Level Decision Makers with Effective Communications - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2010 from Sam ManferWin-Over C-Level Decision Makers with Effective Communications Learn to Find and Push the Execs’ Hot Buttons/ Engaging Executive Conversations Capturing the attention of a top level person is extremely difficult. Holding it is even tougher. However, top level people do like to talk about ...
Views: 1094(2 votes) - ***C-Level Sales Training Tip 16 – Conquer Executive Intimidation – Eliminate Sabotaging Self Doubt - by Submitted on Feb 12, 2010 from Sam ManferIntimidation is why most people avoid pursuing others they want to meet. In the quest for sales this would mean C-levels and top decision makers. Sure there are those that storm the C-Suite only to be thrown back like undersized fish. These rouges are not intimidated, but they’re not too ...
Views: 1171(4 votes) - ***Create the Confidence Necessary to Win-Over C-Level Executives - by Submitted on Jan 29, 2010 from Sam ManferConfidence is what C-level decision-makers want to see in their selling partners. Yet, it's uncomfortable selling to influential leaders. Big ego's come with big titles and these people can be intimidating. Therefore a salesperson’s biggest asset is confidence. If you’re confident you ...
Views: 1203(6 votes) - ***C-Level Sales Training Tip 14 - Credibility Is the Magic for Selling to C-Level Executives - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Sam ManferCredibility is the key ingredient to gain someone’s support and to get you what you want from that person. If you’ve got it with someone, you’ll have easy access to that person and s/he will readily share information with you. If you don’t, you’ll get excuses, put-offs and go nowhere slowly. ...
Views: 1056(3 votes) - ***Your Next Sale Is the Game of Your Life - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2010 from Sam ManferToday's sale, this month's target, your yearly quota -- this is the game of your life. Why, because you're only as good as your last accomplishment. If you win, you're praised and rewarded. If you lose, you pay a toll no matter how bulletproof the excuse. More importantly, it carries you ...
Views: 826(36 votes) - ***C-Level Selling Tip 12 – Level to Level Selling Is a Myth - by Submitted on Dec 17, 2009 from Sam ManferCEOs and upper level people don’t refuse to meet with people because of their level or position. They reject them because there is no credibility. Titles indicate credibility, and that’s why it may seem easier for a senior executive to get a meeting with another senior manager. However, title ...
Views: 950(5 votes) - ***Selling to C-Level Executives Sales Training Tip 11- Handling the Committees Obstacle - by Submitted on Dec 09, 2009 from Sam ManferYou hear the decision has been delegate and you believe it is no longer necessary to get to higher levels of influence. It’s common for senior managers to delegate or set-up committees to determine project scope and select vendors. However, senior managers never delegate or give-away final ...
Views: 908(4 votes) - C-Level Selling Tip 9 - Overcoming Executive Intimidation - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2009 from Sam ManferAnxiety is the uneasy feeling that arises within you when thinking about approaching a senior level executive, doctor, high government official, etc. It surfaces because you are anticipating an unpleasant outcome or projecting a negative experience. So in essence, it’s your own imagination ...
Views: 1065(1 vote) - ***C-Level Selling Tip 8, Getting Past Gatekeepers and Handling Blockers - by Submitted on Oct 26, 2009 from Sam ManferSubordinates, administrators, purchasing, etc. keep you away from their bosses and the real decision makers because they fear losing something – power, ego, job, recognition, authority, etc. However, don’t assume to know what it is because you could be wrong. Get them to tell you why they ...
Views: 992(1 vote) - ***C-level Selling Tip 7 – Leveraging Your Golden Network - by Submitted on Oct 16, 2009 from Sam ManferGet support if you want to sell faster and easier. Selling is a team sport. Use the people with whom you have a professional relationship to get to know others. Build relationships with them and keep moving up and out. You have a golden network of people. I call this your info/intro ...
Views: 914(1 vote) - ***C- Level Selling -- Subtleties Make Big Differences in C-Level Selling - by Submitted on Oct 14, 2009 from Sam ManferOver the course of a year I talk with thousands of complaining sales people. Some complain about getting to the right people. Others complain about making pitches that stick; others about competition; some about the support they get from their company, etc. etc. When I suggest what they ...
Views: 791(1 vote) - C-Level Selling Tip 6: Networking, Use Your Resources - by Submitted on Oct 01, 2009 from Sam ManferIf you want to get to people, no matter who they are, network to them. You know people. You also know people who know people who can get you through many doors. These are your resources. However, you have to stop and think, and search your mind to realize who and how many people you really ...
Views: 932(2 votes) - ***C-Level Selling: Are You a Tiger, a Phil or Struggle to Make the Cut - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2009 from Sam ManferI can't help but compare Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to selling. Tiger Woods came in second place at the Tour Championship, yet walked away with $10 million as the FedEx Cup champion and $800,000 for his second-place finish. Phil Mickelson walked away with $3 million for the FedEx Cup and ...
Views: 666(3 votes) - ***C-Level Selling - A Sales Person's Best Resource - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2009 from Sam ManferUp and out -- that is my motto. Whenever I'm pursuing a contract, project or deal, I find out who all the top level people are in the organization. Then I focus on how I'm going to spread like a virus in an organization and get to them. But the leaders who are always the most helpful are ...
Views: 759 - ***C-Level Selling Tip 4 -- Relationships with C’s Produces Business, but You Don’t Have a Relationship - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Sam ManferRelationships are a powerful way to get business. A relationship will be established when each party feels the benefits for him or her self. C-Levels and senior executives are primarily interested in business benefits you can deliver that serve their careers. Deliver the benefits and secure ...
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