Ok, I suckered on this thing – I registered my cell phone on the do-not-call list due to an email I received. Well, apparently you do not have to do that. From SalesHQ.com: Despite Re-Circulating E-mail, It is Still Not Necessary to Register Cell Phone Numbers. As the number of phone numbers on the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry surpassed 125 million, the Federal Trade Commission today reiterated that despite the claims made in e-mails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers at any time in the near future. In addition, according to the agency, it is… Read More
Continue ReadingPrep vs. Admin Time
Oh does this Selling Power article hit close to home – In 2009, Increase Sales Prep Time. I have seen numerous companies place onerous admin tasks on their salespeople to the point where there is a real loss in revenue. Inefficiency is the main culprit, but department structure, sales tools and antiquated technology are typically the pieces of the inefficiency. Here’s the pull quote from the article: Prep Time: The number one complaint among tech buyers is that sales reps are coming in unprepared. They don’t know the account, don’t have an agenda, and do not have good product knowledge. To combat this problem and move more sales beyond that… Read More
Continue ReadingRecession-Thriving Industries
Ok, that title probably caught your eye. This information is from the JustSell.com daily email: Some of the sales news is good news. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following industries actually thrive during recessions: rental real estate discount retailers DIY industry for hardware, supplies education and training healthcare energy criminal justice/ police/ security accounting pharmaceuticals debt management consulting Criminal justice, pharmaceuticals, debt management…it is all a bit macabre, don’t you think? I actually chuckled at the list since I think it is quite accurate in a sad way.
Continue Reading3.5 Years
That is the average length of a job in the U.S. according to The Career News newsletter (sorry, no link). I find that number almost shocking, but the newsletter does not call out the criteria for their average. I’m thinking part-time, minimum wage, seasonal and other positions could drag that number down. At any rate, it does provide a bit of an eye opener to how our job market is changing. Gen Y is typically not a generation to be known as “lifers.” They begin their work career without discussions of pensions and retirement. Those days are long gone. Instead, they are focused on skill development, jobs that interest them… Read More
Continue ReadingSloppy Speech
Is there anything more annoying than listening to someone use non-words in their speech? Well, there probably is, but this speech habit is a real pet peeve of mine. Saleshq.com provides a great article that calls out different sloppy speech habits. The article focuses on interview etiquette, but these patterns are applicable to all sales situations. One of the suggestions: 3. Grammatical Errors: The interviewer may question your education when you use incorrect grammar or slang. Expressions such as “ain’t” “she don’t,” “me and my friend” and “so I goes to him” aren’t appropriate. Be sure you speak in complete sentences and that tenses agree. The interview is not the… Read More
Continue ReadingTop Unusual Jobs
I’m surprised blogger didn’t make the list! CareerBuilder offers up an entertaining list of odd jobs: Hurricane hunter Wallpaper peeler Kitty litter box decorator Video game tester (”Grandma’s Boy,” anyone?) Nuclear electrician on a submarine Turkey wrangler (get yours now!) Parachute tester (yikes) Romance specialist Yawn counter at a sleep clinic (my personal favorite) I have been a yawn counter at some training sessions, but I’m not proud of that fact. I was presenting.
Continue ReadingThey Are Not Local
All politics are local according to the late Tip O’Neil. The same can be said of hiring which is why this employment ad is a mistake. The location listed for the sales position: Minnesota, MN I know they probably mean the entire state, but that is not the way to list it. It seems like a small detail, but it does make a poor first impression. My immediate thought was that the hiring company is not familiar with this area.
Continue ReadingMistake-Prone Inspiration
We often tell sales managers to allow salespeople to make mistakes, to stumble through a low value opportunity. These “bloody nose” lessons (as my father calls them) are just as valuable as huge successes. I often learn more from mistakes than successes. In that spirit, I stumbled across this article thanks to the JustSell.com guys. The article details different products that literally came about via mistakes. Some examples – Coca-Cola, Scotchgard, Silly Putty, car tires and many more. This one caught my attention: Yellow sticky notes, officially known as Post-it Notes, got their start in 1968 when a 3M researcher tried to improve adhesive tape. What he got was a… Read More
Continue ReadingLame Buzzwords
JustSell.com has a fantastic list of lame buzzwords to avoid when selling (or speaking in general as far as I am concerned). Here is the setup straight from the article: A buzzword is “an important-sounding usually technical word or phrase often of little meaning used chiefly to impress laymen.” –Merriam-Webster Think about it… do statements full of buzzwords communicate anything specific to your prospects and customers? Do you like hearing buzzwords? Amen. And now for just a partial list of the buzzwords: benchmark best in class best practices change agent core competency cross-functional dynamic empower growth initiative interface metrics optimize paradigm shift partner proactive streamline synergy user-friendly Metrics? Now… Read More
Continue ReadingQ4 Hiring Stats
I think it is safe to say that predictions in this economy are difficult AT BEST to make accurately. However, CareerBuilder has come out with their Q4 hiring forecast that contains some interesting information: HIRING IN Q4 2008 Going forward, 23 percent of employers plan to add full-time, permanent employees in the next three months, a slight decline from the previous quarter. Ten percent plan to decrease headcount while 63 percent anticipate no change and 4 percent are undecided. I always find the “no change” group as being rather esoteric – I assume that means no expansion or contraction. But what of replacement? If their company has normal attrition, will… Read More
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