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The Center for Sales Strategy Blog

Does Your Sales Process Turn the Prospect into a Spectator?

sales strategyThink of the last family wedding you attended. Did you sit at a table with Aunt Nelda, picking at your salad? Or did you get up and mingle and dance? Did you do the funky chicken?

Topics: Proposal setting expectations Needs Analysis sales strategy Sales

One Simple Question That Can Change Business Relationships

customer serviceAn article called “Tasting Menus” in the New York Times caught my attention last week. It was about a new concept sweeping fine dining restaurants in America—lengthy meals with many delightful menu choices. What intrigued me was not the description of the food or the menu—it was the care the restaurant staff took to make the diners feel like partners in an experience. 

Topics: customer satisfaction Sales

The Hit That Knocks You Out

sales processImagine if a Pro Football QB had their most effective off season of their career from a training and conditioning standpoint, but wore no equipment in the first game of the season. It would take one hit, and they could be out for the season!

Topics: Needs Analysis Sales

Einstein Wasn't that Smart

sales strategyHe said so himself. 

“It is not that I'm so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.”


—Albert Einstein

Topics: sales strategy Sales

Jargon Shmargon

sales jargonYour valid business reason was rock solid, you’ve done your research, and you’ve secured an appointment for a needs analysis. But a few jargon-laden sentences into the meeting, you see it:

Topics: Needs Analysis Sales

Out with Account Managers, In with Priority Managers

Time Management“I know that I should be doing more _________________ right now, but it’s just that I have so little time these days!”

Topics: sales performance Sales

Parenting and Coaching Salespeople: Two of the Same

coaching salespeopleLife teaches you things that you just can’t learn by being told or by reading in a text book. I believe very much in coaching salespeople to their fullest by utilizing their natural strengths. It doesn’t mean we ignore their weaknesses; it just means that we have to find other ways to get things accomplished sometimes.

Topics: Sales

A Leading Cause of Death for Sales: Donuts

customer renewalsIt started innocently enough. You had a planning meeting with the client that you knew would take a better part of the morning, so you stopped at the donut shop on the way to the appointment. A couple of weeks later, you wanted to make-up for failing to return a phone call, so you grabbed a bag of bagels. And before you knew it, you were hooked on the stuff.

Topics: customer satisfaction Needs Analysis sales strategy sales performance Sales

What Does Your End Zone Dance Look Like?

CelebrateWhen football players score a touchdown, it’s not unusual to see them celebrate in the end zone. Long-term traditions include player renditions of the dirty bird, the “dunking” the ball over the goal post, or the famous (infamous, if you’re from Minnesota) Lambeau Leap. In recent years, the NFL has become more strict about excessive end-zone celebrations, because of their potential to be interpreted as taunting, poor sportsmanship, and… well, class-less.  (Do I need to spell it out with a Sharpie?)

Topics: sales performance Sales target persona

How is Being Hospitalized Like the Sales Process?

sales strategyAs it turns out, there are several similarities! After a recent 48 hour stint in the hospital, I had a number of observations on how the selling process is perceived from the prospect or customer's point of view.  

Topics: setting expectations sales strategy Sales