When the receptionist offers to send you into a person’s
voicemail, politely accept the offer–not with the
intention of leaving a message, mind you, but to learn
what you can. If this is a person you haven’t met, you
can find out how they pronounce their name. This is
gaining more importance as Asian, Eastern European
and Arabic immigrants move up the U.S. corporate
ladder to the role of decision-makers.

The message may tell you they are out of the office for a
while, so you’ll know when to call back. They may give a
cell phone number or refer you to another person in their
absence.

You’ll also learn whether they use their given name or a
nickname. (Your lead form may say Richard Conrad Reynolds
IV, but he may go by “Buddy” or “Junior” or Conrad.) When
you phone again, you’ll sound more professional when you use
his nickname.

~Lois

One of the specialties of the company that my husband and I own, Marketing Idea Shop, is helping women business owners and women sales reps learn techniques to help them close more sales and make more money.

We’re always looking for tips and ideas to share with our ezine subscribers and clients.

If you have an exceptional sales or marketing tip, or a good sales, marketing or publicity story, post it here or contact us at ideas@marketingideashop.com! If it’s a good tip, we’ll include it in our next book or our Brainy Tidbits ezine. It’s a great way to publicize your business and gain credibility.

Send us your stories and tips today.

~Lois

I just found a list of sites that take press releases online. I haven’t tried them. If you do, please let me know which ones you favor!

http://technoflak.blogspot.com/2005/08/press-release-websites.html

~Lois

Ruth Furman of ImageWords Publicity & Writing writes:

Hi Lois…

I’m curious if you or your readers have any favorite programs for eblasts. Results Mail seems to be the best I have researched so far.

My criteria:

1. User friendly and easy to use with limited design
skills/HTML skills

2. Capable of inserting downloadable images (photos, pdfs)

3. Option of visiting a website if recipient can’t see
the image

My clients want something easy so they can send out professional eblasts about their offerings complete with images.

I was going to have a graphic designer program a template for them, but some of these products on the market seem better than having them send out an image pasted in their Outlook. And Results Mail seems better to me than Constant Contact.

And Lois Says…
I have, of course, heard of both of these systems, but I haven’t used them. I save my money and use my shopping cart to send all of my newsletters, handle my products, and send out my autoresponder messages. It’s a great program with lots of bells and whistles. You can get a free trial of KickStartCart. Check it out. It’s a very robust program.

Another program that I’ve heard good things about is AWeber. It also allows a free test drive.

I’m sure my readers will have lots of ideas for you, too. How about it, readers? Post your comments here and I’ll include the best ones in next week’s Brainy Tidbits ezine.

~Lois

Michael Green, founder of the HowToCorp, has a terrific
video about writing better sales copy and you can watch it
for free.

He’s a master at writing good email copy, and with this short
video he talks about how you can do it too. He walks you right through the whole process.

Watch the video.

~Lois

Sales is a great way to make a living. If you’re good, you
can make a lot of money and enjoy plenty of free time. But
when you’re working, stay focused!

Remember:

• Idle conversation with coworkers doesn’t pay the bills.

• Casual Friday doesn’t mean “relax your sales
commitment.”

• The day before a holiday can be a great time to generate
leads and close business.

• Prospects are everywhere! Let people know what you do.

• Don’t spend too much time with nonqualified prospects.
Close the file and move on.

• Increase your activity level during focused selling
time.

• Do not hide behind “administrivia.”

Yes, that’s right…I said “administrivia.” Administrative
work can be a lot like the game of Trivia—a lot of useless
information. While you do have to do some administrative
work to do your job properly, make sure you don’t spend so
much time on this that you forget to SELL! Keep your
administrative work to a minimum and do it during your least
productive selling time.

This tip is from the ebook I cowrote with Jim Wilson,
Sales Success! Strategies for Women.

For more tips like this, subscribe to our free “3 Day Sales Course.” It will be delivered by autoresponder when you subscribe.

~Lois

It seems like everywhere you go online where people are talking about sales copy and copywriting, there’s just so much hype. People talk about being able to “sell sand to a man in the desert” because they’re so persuasive in their copy.

Come on. What value is there in that? For me, I want customers who actually need my product and will be satisfied with what I have to offer.

There’s one copywriting teacher I’ve always turned to for great advice on how to sell better, but how to also ensure I have satisfied customers who will buy from me over and over again. That teacher is Alice Seba—a one-time copywriter for hire, turned Internet marketing teacher.

She’s released a great training package that I know you’ll love. Here’s to integrity in effective online selling!

~Lois

Dale Carnegie said, “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”

~Lois

Do you spend time on the phone talking to clients or prospects? Does your enthusiasm make your voice sparkle? If not, what can you do? Here are a few tips:

• Make sure you’re well rested and ready for the day.

• If it’s going to be a long day on the phone, keep some tea with lemon on your desk to sip. Keep some water handy, too.

• Put lip balm on your lips so they don’t get too dry. This will prevent you from sounding like you’re smacking your lips.

• Try putting a mirror in your office and watching yourself as you speak on the phone.

• Smile when you talk.

• Record yourself as you speak. Listen and learn!

• Practice, practice, practice.

• Go to Toastmasters and learn to speak better. Use the techniques you learn to improve your voice.

• Do things that make you happy. When you’re happy, your voice will show it.

• And if you’re not happy, pretend you are. Fake it ’til you make it.
  

Take care of yourself, improve your voice, and watch your sales grow. You can find more helpful hints and sales techniques to help you grow your sales in an ebook I wrote with Jim Wilson of Selling Strategies, Sales Success! Strategies for Women.

~Lois

My husband and I are writing a new book. We’re focusing on women selling products or services to men. It’ll be a comprehensive book on the process, techniques and personal aspects of selling.

And we’re looking for stories about women who have successfully sold to men. Send yours in and if we include it in the book, you’ll get a link to your website included in the book! Let us know your problems, too. We’ll do our best to help you find a solution.

Tell us all about your sale(s), and include your two favorite sales tips. Let us know what you did differently when you sold products or services to men compared to what you do if you are selling to women.

But this isn’t only for the women. Men can join in, too. Has a woman ever sold you a product or service? Why did you buy from her?

Or do you have women sales reps in your company? Are they more successful than the men? Why?

Post your comment and stories here and I’ll include the best ones in next week’s Brainy Tidbits. (It’s free if you aren’t already a subscriber. Subscribe today.)

~Lois