Remember the lion in the Wizard of Oz? He traveled far, risked his life, and defeated the Wicked Witch of the West in the hopes that when he reached the Emerald City, the great Oz would grant him courage but it was all smoke and mirrors. Too often salespeople hope someone, anyone, will give them the answer. But no one will ever hand you a badge of courage unless you earn it.
Ok, I admit it. When I first heard about LinkedIn, years ago, I thought it was a stuffy Facebook. So, I did what many people do. Posted the obligatory profile picture, scribbled in some work history, and occasionally accepted an invitation. Until I met digital transformational expert Mario Martinez, CEO of Vengreso, that is. Everything changed.
There’s a scientific phenomenon that explains an idea called “Confirmation Bias.” Cognitive researchers have found that we have an unconscious tendency to seek out and readily accept information that confirms our preconceptions, and to ignore, distort, or discount information that contradicts (or disconfirms) them.
People often ask me if I get nervous before delivering a presentation. Right now, I’m on a plane headed to Dallas to present a 12 minute TED style talk to over 500 CEOs and entrepreneurs. Am I nervous? You betcha! Research shows speaking in public is the number one fear humans face. Second only to death.
I have been blown away by the number of requests I've received on social media and email asking me to share prior video posts from LinkedIn and Facebook to help accelerate sales. Everyone seems to have a favorite. I’m going to provide you with the top 3 audience favorites from the last six months. These videos have received more than 10,000 views each. Watch these starting now and increase your sales, accelerate close time and enjoy more fun in the sun this summer!
There’s a big difference between “emotional selling,” and selling emotionally. Selling emotionally means succumbing to our own negative emotions and tendencies. When you find yourself triggered by something your prospect says, try naming the emotion you’re feeling. Feeling frustrated is very different than feeling humiliated. Both require different solutions.
Think about your last few customer calls. When you first met were they excited, glad to speak with you, thrilled to buy—or were they suspicious, frazzled and impatient? If you said the former, I want your job. Truth is, most prospects don’t want to be sold; it’s your job to move them from a negative emotional state to a positive one. This involves creating a structure.