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3 Easy Tips to Increase Q4 Promotional Products Sales

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011
If you’ve been reading my blog posts for awhile you know my mantra is “nothing beats personal contact.” If you’re ready to skyrocket your 4th quarter sales it’s important to get out there in a big way. Contact your most wanted prospects and clients and tell them you have great ideas for increasing their business that you want to share. Consider offering a free end-of-year marketing check-up. In short, give your most wanted clients and prospects a reason to want to meet with you. Here are three proven strategies to do just that.
1. Provide free tastes. Baskin Robins made this famous with their little pink spoon. You could taste the ice cream flavors before you purchased. Gourmet food gifts are a top seller this time of year. Many of our top suppliers are now offering delicious food items that your clients may be purchasing in the retail market. Why not let them know you can provide these
too! Want an easy way to get orders for food gifts? Bring your clients tasting samples. Many of our suppliers offer free tasting sample programs. Let your top prospects and clients know that you have a delicious surprise you’re bringing
to the meeting. Supplier Admints provides  tasting samples from their gourmet food line.
2. Be tech savvy. Smart phones, tablets, MP3 players and flash memory are the products we use every day. Let your clients know that not only can you provide many of these products, you can also personalize them with their logo, or provide enhancements to the products such as carrying cases and screen cleaners. Supplier Direct Connections has a cool new holiday card with a paper web key that can be programmed to go to your client’s website and programmed to show the ROI.
3. Be different. Looking for a different idea to suggest this year, or to use as your own holiday gift to your best prospects and
clients? Think books. There are thousands of titles to choose from to accommodate just about any type of client. Last year one savvy promotional products distributor sent her best clients a gorgeous, beautifully illustrated Williams Sonoma cookbook at Thanksgiving. Sending a gift around Thanksgiving will make your gift stand out and will make you look like one in a million
instead of one of many. Check out supplier The Book Company for more book title ideas.
One more important tip…
When meeting with your prospects and clients emphasize that you want to make this easy for them. You’ll do all the legwork, take care of all of the details and make them look fabulous. These days, ease of purchase goes a long way in securing more business!
Follow any of these strategies and watch your 4th quarter sales soars.
Looking for more ideas to easily increase your 4th quarter promotional products sales? Get a free Skyrocket Your Spring Sales audio download with non-stop ideas to increase your promotional sales, plus supplier discounts and my new special report “10 Big Mistakes Promotional Professionals Make and How to Avoid Them and Double Your Sales” at www.promobizcoach.com

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Lost a Big Promotional Products Account…? 7 Steps to Get Back on Track…

Thursday, July 28th, 2011

By: Rosalie Marcus, Rosalie@promobizcoach.com

At one time or another, it may happen to you. I know it has  happened to me.

A big order or steady promotional products buyer that you thought was a sure thing went to someone else. Maybe you’ve gotten complacent and you weren’t nurturing the relationship as much as you should. Or… maybe the company changed hands. It could be any one of numerous reasons. Regardless of the cause, the reality is, in today’s highly competitive promotional products business environment you can’t take anything for granted.

Here are 7 things you can do now to get back on track and win more sales.

1. Analyze what went wrong. You can’t get every sale, but you can learn from the sales you lost. Learn from your mistakes; everyone makes them. Is there anything you could have done differently?

2. Ask for feedback.
You may learn something that will help you with the next big sale. Asking questions such as: Is there anything I could have done differently that would have helped me keep your account? What went into your promotional products buying decision? You may wish to schedule an in person meeting at a future date.

3. If appropriate, apologize.
You may get feedback that you acting inappropriately or made a major blunder. Accepting responsibility and a sincere apology can go a long way in winning your customer back.

4. Provide value that is meaningful to your customer. This goes with tip # 2. Without an understanding of what is truly valuable to your customer you will always have a hard time winning sales. Promotional products buyers  needs change over time, stay on top of what is most important to your most wanted customers and you’re sure to win more sales.

5. Make your customer aware of all the services you can provide. It’s not uncommon to lose a sale because a customer didn’t know you could provide an additional service they were seeking. List your services in all your marketing materials. And when you can’t provide a service, seek to form alliances with businesses that can.

6.  Don’t burn bridges.
Keep the door open for more sales by always being professional, courteous and upbeat. Keep in touch with the client via newsletters, articles of interest  special offers and virtual and spec samples. You never know when another opportunity will present itself. Companies change hands frequently, the next person in line may give you another opportunity, or your lost account may get back in touch with you.

7  Upgrade your selling skills. Work with a business coach or mentor or join a coaching group. Attend sales training classes at industry trade shows. Stay current with the latest trends in promotional products sales. The top sales professionals are always learning and upgrading their skills.

Above all, never give up. Learn from your mistakes and keep on selling. Instead of feeling discouraged because you lost a sale, follow these 7 tips and get back on track. Your next big sale is around the corner!

What have you done when you lost a big account? Have you ever gotten the account back? Comment below.

Ready to upgrade your promotional product selling skills the fast and easy way? Want to stay motivated no matter what?  Want a mentor that really cares about your success?

I recommend the FAST TRACK to Promotional Products Sales Success. You’ll get instant access to everything you need to succeed in promotional products sales. Why reinvent the wheel? I’ve done the work for you.

Get a 1-1 sales-strategy session to catapult your success AND Free shipping when you invest in your success this week.  Learn more at http://www.promobizfast.com

Questions? Contact: Rosalie@promobizcoach.com

 

An Easy Way To Increase Referrals

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
An Easy Way To Increase Referrals
By Rosalie Marcus, The Promo Biz Coach, TM
http://www.promobizcoach.com
http://www.promobizwoman.com
Rosalie@promobizcoach.com
I’m sure you know that referrals are the best way to increase your sales, and you’re most likely getting some referrals, but how can you get more?
One of the best ways to increase your referrals is to reach out to referral partners. Referral partners are people who serve the same target market that you do but are not direct competitors. Examples of good referral partners for the promotional products consultants are:
  • Meeting Planners
  • Printers
  • Trade Show Display Companies
  • Graphic Designers
  • Sign Companies
  • Sales Professionals
These are people who routinely come in contact with buyers that need promotional items. Ask your friends, colleagues and relatives if they know anyone in these types of businesses. Then take the time to make contact with the principal people in these companies. Set up a breakfast or lunch meeting. Look for people and companies that share your values and vision. Chances are you can help each other increase sales and referrals.
One savvy promotional professional set up a reciprocal referral business with a digital printer. The results: A twenty percent increase in her sales within six months. She also hosted an open house with her referral partner. The results: more business for everyone and one stop shopping for their clients.
What do you think? Do you have any referral partners? How has this strategy worked for you? Share your comment on this blog and I will send to you a FREE Special Report. Just click on the comments link at the bottom of this page.
Have a great day!
Rosalie
Rosalie@promobizcoach.com
www.promobizcoach.com
www.promobizwoman.com