Sales Is King

On the 2020 Sales Is King Finale, Dan dives deep into the playbook for improving your CLOSE RATE in 2021. The mental aspects of closing are critical, but so are the tactical steps required for success. Lastly, Dan covers the Top reasons why sellers don't close deals and what you do about it.  To Your Success!

With 2020 ticking down, it is time to look forward to 2021 and year most people have been wishing for since March. Well, with that said, our sales game needs to shift into high gear to make 2021 your best ever. Dan covers 5 areas of focus: 1) Pre Call Research - we often talk about the power of doing the homework prior to a call. But are we doing the right research and enough of it? What major initiative is the company undertaking? Cloud? Digital Transformation? AI? How are they going to grow next year? What has COVID done to their business and what do they need to do to succeed in 2021? Has their customer base changed? Should it? How do their customers make money and how have they been impacted? What new methods of distribution can be leveraged? In short, the research needs to be conducted with these types of questions in mind. The financial reports, the recent interviews with the company CEO, the industry publications are all key. 2) Having a Point Of View- while we are all on new ground in the Zoom Economy, we need to formulate a POV on the state of affairs in our industry. What do you see happening in the short and long term? What are the trends and how are successful companies tackling these key issues? What do you recommend based on what you have seen? There has never been a better time to bring ideas and insights to the table. The status quo is weaker than it has been in a long time. And while your prospects like to hold onto comfort, they know now that change is the key to not only success but basic survival. 3) Selling Change - By posing the questions around the prospect's current state and leading them to discuss the consequences are staying the course, we open the door to change. We need to be able to then connect our offering to that large initiative(but only 33% of reps can effectively make this leap according to Objective Management Group). How does what we bring to the table help our prospect lead that paradigm shift? Not just how it works, but what it will do for the company strategically. The impact it will have long term. Why vs How. 4) Selling Urgency- There is no time to waste in the Zoom economy. Not only do we need to sell change, but we need to sell urgency, action, execution. The reps that can demonstrate conviction, and highlight the cost of standing still and the benefits of swift action are succeeding, but according to OMG, only 12% can do this effectively. Thinking Big means turning on these skills. 5)Finding the Money -How do you tap into the largest buckets of dollars that your prospect has set aside for immediate action vs. the nice to have, "we'll come back to you" solutions? There are only a handful of these initiatives at your prospect's organization. Tap into them, discuss your ideas to help. What initiatives are being funded aggressively and how does your solution fit? Companies are spending billions on change, on reinvention, on new business models, on paradigm shifts. Be there.

There is a thin line between the top reps and the average reps. But why do the Elite reps outshine everyone else? And where in the sales process does this occur? Dan hits you between the eyes as he reveals the inflection point where the Elite rise and the average reps fumble it away. Don't miss this one!

It is by far the most effective method of prospecting, yet leveraged less in the sales process than any other channel. James Muir returns to Sales Is King with a new book and incredible advice for sellers looking to make Referrals a key part of their success.

Dan discusses the critical differences between Sellers and Closers, with a focus on the requirements for increasing win rates in the COVID economy. Check out Dan's new blog: The New Normal: Selling In The COVID Economy https://dansixsmith.blogspot.com/ Peace ✌️

The main reason why Sales has failed to close deals the past 7 years in a row? They didn't show the prospects the money. The inability to effectively sell value is the main thing holding you back from crushing quota, make a ton of cash and turning losses and stalls into green. Tom Pisello wrote the book on selling value. In fact, he's written two: The Frugalnomics Survival Guide and his most recent best seller, Evolved Selling. Tom draws from his wealth of knowledge and experience working with hundreds of companies and thousands of sales teams to tell us how we can leverage value selling to change the face of our Sales game! Don't miss this one 🎙

Buyer confidence is cited as the #1 issue facing sales reps in B2B deals(new Gartner report) But it is not what you think. It is not the Buyer's confidence in the sales rep, but it is the buyer's confidence in themselves! Confidence to make the right decision. Buyer enablement and the sales rep's ability to help the Buyer navigate through the massive amounts of information that they are wrestling with is paramount to sales success. Dan details 5 steps to successfully engage with Buyers and show them the most prudent way to tackle the decision making process. Garter article: http://ow.ly/vFbj101NWfn

Growth Guru, Data Monetization Expert, Serial Entrepreneur, and now Investment Banker, Kristin Luck returns to the Sales Is King Spotlight to discuss the NEW RULES FOR SUCCESS in business today. Do not miss this conversation!

Relationships used to be all you needed in Sales. Today, with dramatically reduced attention spans, complicated buying decisions, executives doing more selling and buying, and buyers placing a diminished value on Sales Reps- the dynamics of relationships are changing. Dan explores this and discusses what you need to succeed in this increasingly transactional digital economy.

Do you feel guilty taking vacation from your job? Is the Hustle mentality detrimental to your health and wellness? Does it have a negative impact on your personal and family life? Does your company really care about your 'work-life' balance? If these questions interest you, tune into our interview with Carlos Hidalgo, who personally has felt the sting of the Hustle Culture. He almost lost his family in the process of 'hustling'  at all costs. His new book, The UnAmerican Dream, describes the rollercoaster ride that Carlos experienced and the story of how we jammed on the brakes and changed his life. It also provides a blueprint for putting some sanity back in your life!