Posted November 30th, 2012 by Mary
Selling yourself to businesses can certainly be a nerve-wracking experience.
Whether this be a boardroom-style pitch or simply a face-to-face meeting when applying for director jobs or other high-profile positions, you need to get your pitch right to create the best impression possible.
This is especially true in the current economic climate when work may be thin on the ground.
Know your target market
Learn everything you can about the business with whom you wish to do business. Learn about their products and services and figure out how you can best appeal to them. Learn about their values and culture and what exactly they want in a client.
Find the angle that will emphasise the positive things that a deal with you will bring.
Dress to impress
What this means can differ wildly according to the industry you’re in, but always dress appropriately and professionally.
Plan, plan, plan
You might have planned everything to the nth degree, but business people are prone to throwing curve balls into the mix that can throw off your pitch and ruin your chances of success. Make sure you know your figures and that you have everything covered adequately.
Confidence
If you don’t have confidence in yourself and in your pitch, then there is little chance that seasoned professionals will have any confidence in you or your ideas. Know your strengths and emphasise them to the maximum.
Set your goals…
… and keep your goals in mind at all times. Know your price, and leave room to manoeuvre in the midst of negotiations.
Posted August 9th, 2011 by Mary
As a small business owner, you’ll need to be prepared to conduct sales meetings with prospective clients on a regular basis. If your background is in sales, you’re surely prepared and ready for this part of your entrepreneurial venture. However, if you haven’t worked as a sales professional in your career, chances are that this is one of the entrepreneurial roles that you’re not quite comfortable with just yet.
Taking the time to prepare ahead of time is key to getting comfortable making sales calls. You also want to make sure that you have all of the must-have tools for sales meetings in your possession before you show up for your first appointment. Here are a few items that you’ll want to make sure to carry along when you meet with prospective customers.
3 Must-Have Tools for Sales Meetings
Business Cards: Make sure that you have high quality, attractive business cards to leave behind with each person you meet with.
Company Literature: Not every prospect will be ready to say “yes” or “no” at your first meeting. Be prepared to leave behind literature that provides information and details about your company and what you are proposing.
Padfolio: Be prepared to take notes at every sales meeting with a professional padfolio that contains a white or yellow legal pad and a quality pen. You don’t want to have to fumble for something to write with or on if the prospect asks you to find additional information or is ready to place an order.