Date Your Customer!

Yes, you heard me right; I said "Date your clients!" Just think about it for a moment-what did you do when you first met your significant other? You probably went through a series of questions so you could find out a little bit more about each other. Next you say something like, "We should go do something sometime." They gave an answer that showed they were interested, and you went forward with the dreaded "Do you want to go out Friday night?" question. Putting yourself totally on the line you felt vulnerable and scared to death! When they said "yes" you breathed a sigh of relief, and started to get to know each other to see if a long-lasting relationship was in order.

You try to find out?

1. Their beliefs and views

2. Their interests and hobbies

3. Their future plans

4. What they like and don't like to do

5. Etc.

So, when you first meet on your first date are you excited? Do you want to make a great 1st impression, and started it out with a compliment? Are you really attentive to their wishes and needs? I mean, you wouldn't want to rush into a relationship without knowing what their basic likes and dislikes are, do you? That would make for an incredibly stormy relationship.

Now, putting it into perspective, your client relationship is very much the same. You meet with a perspective client, and open a dialog that you hope will be a mutually beneficial one. You make a great impression, and you and the customer gather all of the information needed to see if you can begin working together. Then the dreaded question of if they want your solution or not, putting you in the same vulnerable, scared position!

Once they say, "yes" to your proposed solution, you begin following thru with your promises, and build and grow a great business relationship that should last a very long time. (Notice I said, "follow-thru" not "follow-up"! You made the promises to take care of all of their needs, so you come through as you said you would!) Your gathered information is also critical, as well as your impressions given, and your attentiveness to their needs or desires. We wouldn't dare mismanage our personal relationships, why do we constantly mishandle them in business?

Michael Niles is a Seattle based sales trainer, speaker, and coach. He can be reached at 206-229-3119, michael6941@hotmail.com, or http://www.focustrainingsystems.com.

---

The Road to Achieving Training Success: What Holds the Key?

As a trainer, you will be able to see a... Read More

The Multiplying Factor In Sales Success

Mark has an attitude! Mark had worked in an operational... Read More

Unlocking the Myth of Hypnotic Communication

Unquestionably when the word hypnosis pops-up in a conversation or... Read More

Practice Building: Create a Powerful and Targeted Call to Action for Your Prospects

A "Call To Action" is an invitation for your prospective... Read More

Get Over Your Resistance to Sales

I have found that there are two best ways to... Read More

Grow Sales Using Image Tactics

In my dreams, I envision being the marketing consultant equivalent... Read More

The Dos and Donts of an Elevator Pitch

The dreaded question: "What exactly does your company do?" It's... Read More

10 Boundless Ways To Anchor Down More Sales

1. Multiply your marketing and advertising efforts on the Internet.... Read More

Are You a Sales Professional?

Many sellers like to describe themselves as professionals, but what... Read More

Selling More Effectively as a Trusted Sales Professional - Thirteen Tips

Do you want to sell more successfully using an honorable... Read More

Increase Your Selling Confidence

1. Be on time. In fact, arrive a few minutes... Read More

Selling White Space

Almost all Internet Marketers have a basic idea of what... Read More

Sales Discipline: Five Steps To Recover From A Lost Sale

Ever lost a sale? Of course you have, we all... Read More

Failed Salespeople Share Similar Traits

We are each responsible for our own success - or... Read More

More Customers! Less Work!

Wouldn't it be nice if there were an inexpensive method... Read More

Getting People to Buy Without Selling

In my youth I landed a job selling encyclopedias door... Read More

Build Rapport by Mirroring

Traditionally, salespeople look for something in the office that begs... Read More

Body Language, Five Key Ingredients

When making your living in the sales industry, and working... Read More

How to Build Rapport in 7 Seconds!

I had my first official sales training by a man... Read More

Emotions That Sell, Part 2

In the last article, we looked at three emotions (besides... Read More

How To Improve Your Sales Skills

One of the biggest problems for many business owners is... Read More

Sales Skills for the Non Sales Professional

Have you ever wondered how in the heck you're going... Read More

Less is More: Quick Tips to Improve Your Sales

I'll be brief. If not ? I'll negate my own... Read More

Increasing Your Sales FASTER -- Dealing with Ill Think It Over.

Do you frequently hear that from a prospect?"I'll Think It... Read More

Cross-selling for Increased Sales, Profits, and Customer Satisfaction

Cross-selling - the art of selling for non-salespeopleCross-selling is the... Read More

The Ultimate Think Differently Sales Tip

Sales drive revenues, and revenues drive companies. Companies, then, are... Read More

Assumptions ? The Hidden Sales Killer

Assumptions can kill a sale. In my sales training workshops,... Read More

Value Add Negotiating for Sales Professionals

Imagine this scenario. You are a sales representative for Baker... Read More

Make More Sales By Airing Your Dirty Laundry

There's an old saying, "Don't air your dirty laundry".If you're... Read More

Humanize the Sales Process

Q & AQ. Sometimes when I'm presenting to clients, I... Read More

How to Sound Just Like a Salesperson

Prospect - "So now that I've told you what we... Read More

Closing the Sale - It Doesnt Have To Be Uncomfortable

"The Close" is sales jargon for the bit where you... Read More

The Quickest Way To Increase Your Sales

The quickest way to increase sales is to make things... Read More