Ever since Google made it possible for anyone to find anything online, the need for smile-and-dial salespeople has been seriously diminishing. I’ve said it before (in 2011!), and I’ll say it again: selling is dead. By selling, I mean making cold calls; “hunting,” making aggressive pitches in the cold call; “overcoming their objections,” and generally pushing the customer into a solution.
There are good managers and there are bad managers. People working for managers know perfectly well which type of manager they are working for, usually within the first couple of days.
Fear, like stress, is a thief that paralyzes us and keeps us from living life to the fullest. I suppose it can come in handy, at least if you use it to realize the severity of a situation. But that’s about it. Usually fear makes us less productive, less brave, less willing to take risks. We put life on hold when we are afraid. But you can overcome fear, and there’s an easy way to do it. As with most positive changes, it starts with a fundamental decision.
Most websites are brochures on a screen. Which is kind of silly, given that the visitor is more than happy to click around, take advantage of offers, and even answer a few questions, if you ask at the right time and in the right way. Website engagement is the new frontier.
For years I’ve wanted software companies to show their screens on their sites. It should be Rule #1 in any guide on “How to Market Software.” Instead, they get in the way—with lots of words . . . cute graphics . . . faceless-people illustrations . . . and stock photos. But we are buying a tool—and a quick glance at the screen will tell us almost immediately if we want to start using the software. Right? Right!
What is the first thing people do when they hear of your business or find you in Google? We all know the answer: They go to your site. If you are a service business, they will probably also go to LinkedIn to see more about you. And, further along in their buying process they might
Zhivago Partners provides full-service Digital Marketing Management and Revenue Coaching for mid-sized companies.
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