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[Truean]

The idea of this topic is to educate people new to the practice of these ideas. It can be a place to share wisdom and experience you might be willing to. Many of us have found ourselves in a position of having to sell things for a living, products, services, etc. It's a whole different thing that they never really teach you in school. If you share, please give the basics of your background (no need for specific companies, etc). How did you get that book of business?

Also, in some instances, certain professions have restrictions on their marketing activities. Lawyers, for example cannot "solicit," but can "advertise." Solicitation is limited to in person, live telephone or live electronic communication where the lawyer knows the person needs legal help. I imagine other professions have similar restrictions. Anyone with knowledge on how to deal with these is welcome as well.

Any constructive contributions welcome. Thank you for your time.

Topics:
Socializing and Conversations: Join Toastmasters. I'm not sure what else to say on topic. Ideas?

Sale through associations and organizations: If I want to sell to/have clients from a certain group then I wouldn't mind having a group of them all together. In the case of law, that means putting on a free seminar that's not so boring they actually care. The idea is to get their respect or at least have their eyes glaze over when they realize this stuff is complicated and they need someone who knows what on earth they are doing. Like... me...?

Getting past gatekeepers: Secretaries, Receptionists, etc. All of them screen calls and if you can't get past them, then you're screwed--never have a chance to sell jack or even talk to anyone.
The goal is to get in front of someone who has the interest and authority to actually close a deal. Preferably, you want to get in front of a large number of them.

This is the sometimes awkward stage of things. You may likely be dismissed as a "sales call." It's a problem. Not entirely sure how to work around this. Ideas.

Mailings Often expensive and at risk of being thrown away, mailings are an interesting option. Same applies to e-mails, except you have the "delete" feature. Unfortunately halfway decent offers are often deleted with spam and that letter from the African Prince who "Just needs your help to deposit a $Million Dollars." *Sigh*

Additionally Lawyers must have "Advertising Materials," stamped on the envelope. How to avoid the trash bin?

[Footkerchief]

The first item you have to sell is your soul.

[Truean]

The first item you have to sell is your soul.

Unfortunately true and at a low price. Alright, honestly though...? Comments, Ideas?

[Truean]

Ok, how about I throw something out there.

I work in law ( as a clerk, not yet a lawyer), but I'm sure there are other professions in sales it might work for too....

Establishing yourself as an expert:

If you want people to trust you when you're selling anything, you have to know your product. I just bought a Sump pump for $50 more than the next comparable brand, why? Metal parts. The salesman took apart 7 sump pumps and showed me the plastic inside his competition. I will pay more for metal parts that will not break, especially when my basement will otherwise flood, ruin my water heater and cost me $4000 to replace that....

So, how do you show that you're an expert in your field without coming off as a self promoting jerk? My idea; speak at trade groups or other interested groups. Also, write articles (in a blog perhaps); if good enough they might make it into a trade publication. This is complicated for me now because I need a license to practice law; I can't do it until then. I have some gems stored on my hard drive though, waiting for the day I'm sworn in....

I got this idea from sump pump guy. He's not highly educated in any formal sense, but he radiates knowledge about sump pumps. He has a blog about, you guessed it--sump pumps. He will show you every damn thing you never wanted to know about them in a language you can understand before you get bored.... It is blatantly obvious he gets it. The dude even hangs out at home depot and home repair stores (he talked his company into making it part of his job) after it rains (when people go out buying sump pumps because their old one died.

Dude makes 80K a year selling sump pumps, lots of 'em.... Given the amount of time he travels and hoofs it out there, he earns it.

Questions, comments ?