3 Keys to Being in Control of the Sales Process: Even When You Feel Out of Control

Sales can seem difficult and out of control unless you know the keys to making the sales process easy. Always be in control. Here are the 3 keys: 1. On every sales call, before the call is over, you must agree on next steps. You can never assume your prospect will follow up. You must discuss…

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Speaking Your Customer’s Language: How We Talk to Promo Buyers

I’m not suggesting you need to learn a foreign language. What I am referring to is learning your client’s vocabulary tendencies and professional lingo to better understand their mindset, along with their industry pitfalls and challenges as promo buyers. Doing so will open the door to more opportunity. Let’s be real: Sales is predominately a…

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It’s Simple. Be Nice. It’s Good for Business

Good communication leads to good relationships, and good relationships are good for business. This applies to both our personal and professional lives.

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Taming the Monster

Today, we’re going to look at something very small, but also very important. It’s unseen by many, lurking in the shadows. If left alone, it will mushroom and infiltrate communication channels everywhere. Like a virus, it is contagious. For those who recognize its quiet fury, there is a look of sorrow and shaking of the head. No hazmat suit can protect us, however, a dictionary can.

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Going Direct

I thought that would capture your eyes today because it’s a perennial hot topic in our industry. Today, we’re going somewhere else–interpersonal communication—that thing where a message is sent from one person to another, and another message returned. Interpersonal communication can be in-person, over the phone, through email or text–you name it.

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Accountability Begins with You


Accountability—the very mention conjures up feelings and thoughts of stress, being under a microscope or micro-managed. Accountability is imperative to running any organization. Whether it is a business, a household or a team—everyone needs to be accountable. So where does it begin?

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7 Truths About Electronic Communication in the Promotional Products Industry

Suppliers and distributors are finally moving forward in improving electronic communications. While there are plenty of hurdles still to overcome, the industry is finally moving forward and making real progress.

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Maintaining Profitability—Part 1

The news of a well-known supplier with a long history closing their doors stunned the industry recently. This isn’t the first of such casualties and it certainly won’t be the last. There also will be losses of distributors and more consolidation. Strong suppliers will buy smaller suppliers and strong distributors will absorb smaller distributors. Some companies will just close their doors.

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