When was the last time you offered an idea to one of your clients?
Many times (actually too many times) we only offer our ideas when there’s an active order on the table.
When the proverbial meter is running!
Even then, we might only think within the confines of our product or service.
Don’t ever underestimate the power of an idea . . .
Offered with no strings attached!
It has the ability to make your client look like a rock star with their team . . .
And the ability for you to differentiate!
Think I’m kidding?
Ask anyone who does the purchasing on behalf of your company how many ideas they received from their vendors this year.
One more thing . . . calling your client with an idea sounds so much better than “calling to check in” 🙂
To find out how you can work with Paul as your personal coach or hire him to train your team . . . click here
To download a copy of my new E-Book . . . click here
Very good message, Paul. Wondering something. Suppose you have an idea for someone who’s not your client? I don’t even have “clients” in the traditional sense. But there is an established business that I’d like to partner with in ways I’ve thought about. One thing I’ve sensed about them, over many years, is a big tendency to stick with what they know. And what I have in mind extends beyond that.
So I’m wondering how to approach them. Over the years, I’ve established a couple of contacts there (I’m a big customer). Wondering if you have any thoughts on how to proceed.
Best,
Susan
I think its a great idea and its something I do all the time so my calls aren’t “cold”
There are many ways to do this. One way is to tie your idea in with things that are going on in their company that you have either experienced or that you have discovered in your research.
Shoot me an offline email Susan and we’ll discuss this in greater detail paul at yoursalesplaybook
By the way, I visited your website and you have impeccable musical taste 🙂
Thanks, Paul. I will email you.
Nice that we have similar musical taste. I’m thinking you might like this Led Zeppelin post I did http://bit.ly/kRvUR7
… it’s gotten more attention than any other 🙂
Talk soon. Thanks. Susan
Great “idea” Paul, no pun intended. As a added benefit I think this forces us to think and shows our customers we truly do care about whats best for them.
Good morning Uncle Paul
Really good thoughts, compadre!
As you know, I wear a couple of chapeaus: I am an estate planning attorney, aka the loopy leprechaun lawyer. I am, as someone called me last nite on Facebook, the Social Media RingMaster for the printing industry. And I am an occasional public speaker with a power point phobia, i.e., an allergic reaction to PPT. 🙂
In my legal work, I have been honored the past few years to counsel with members of the greatest generation, folks now in their late 80’s and early 90’s who fought WWII for us and are now in the sunset time.
Providing their kids a sheet of info on veterans benefits and associated programs with no other purpose than trying to be helpful and respectful of that amazing generation has been rewarding in the soulful sense.
So here’s my ‘idea’ for you and all your marvelous minions of the Sales Playbook. If you live in the US and your Mom or Dad is alive, perhaps they have a health care directive or a living will or similar. Good, but not enough! Go to http://www.polst.org and learn about Provider Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment, and talk with your parent(s) about making sure a POLST order is on file with their preferred hospital.
The holday season tends to remind us of our family connections. Do this for them, and do it for you. Peace of mind will ensue.
God Bless ya’ll, each and every one. And Paul, my connections on Facebook and Linked In are now north of 4,000 folks, I want to strongly recommend to them that they purchase a copy of your Social Networking Playbook and want to make sure that is OK by you and won’t break your distribution center and cause your Castain elves to go out on strike!
Hey Paul, I have an idea for you…While I love the idea myself, I’m early in the “bloggosphere” and don’t have the following. I think too many sales people lack a true sense of service. Not truly caring about their client’s needs, but only feigning interest in order to serve their own needs…one of my favorite quotes is, “The true measure of a man is how he treats someone that can do him no good.” That should be our mentality…or as good ole Zig puts it, “You can get everything in life you want, when you help enough other people get what they want.”