Lately, there’s a lot of focus on the sales technique of “challenging” customers and their business decisions. I’m all for challenging assumptions, but the way you do it makes all the difference. So tune in to hear my thoughts on what to say … and what not to. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: […]
It’s good to have an idea of your goal for a meeting, but — of course — you don’t want your meeting to be overly scripted. Learn how to keep EQ in the equation for achieving your desired outcome. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
We spend way too much time upfront combating the consumerization of AV. This week I address how to capitalize on momentum of consumer tech experiences to lead into your professional AV sale. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
OK, so I’m clearly on a storytelling kick. Tim Duncan asked about storytelling on Twitter, so I thought I’d share an effective and interactive story I’ve found myself telling more than once. Enjoy! Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
If you’ve been telling people about your product or service and find that they’re just not responding, perhaps you need to tell better stories. In this Selling AV, I talk about how to do just that. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
If you’re in sales, you’ve heard plenty of advice on how to close, get the sale, get the PO, win. Today, I ask you to consider switching your perspective to adding value instead. Listen to find out how changing your thinking can change your outcome. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
When going in for a big presentation, salespeople often spend quite some time creating what they believe is the perfect deck of slides to best promote their company and its products and services. However, overdependence on the “sales presentation” may just be blocking your chances of success. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
I sit and talk to Jay Myers about his book “Rounding Third and Heading Home: The Emotional Journey of Selling My Business and the Lessons I Learned Along the Way.” Jay shares lessons he learned over the 22 years he spent building his AV business, eventually resulting in a sale to the world’s largest integrator. […]
What does a plastic shovel have to do with selling technology? Great Question! Tune in to find out! Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
“Value engineering” are two of the most dreaded words in AV — they typically mean compromising system designs to meet the client’s budget. Most of the time, integrators use a shotgun to evenly distribute the discount across the project. In this episode of Selling AV, I suggest that may be a really bad idea, and […]
It’s always a great idea to have conversations around Technology at a higher level with regards to the value it brings to a business. As such, it’s tempting to talk about Return on Investment (ROI), but is that always the best approach? Listen in to hear my thoughts. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: […]
If you’re cold calling, odds are you won’t be getting through on the first call often, which means you’ll be leaving voicemail. Ditch the gimmicks and follow these simple tips. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
Many times when talking to someone on a cold call, they will share a reason for not engaging with you at that time. Tune in to find out how to assure the reason is the right one, and to learn about the 4 types of objections that are offered. Podcast: Play in new window | […]
Assumptions crush cold calls. If you’ve ever been taught to assume the relationship and assume the sale, you need to stop right now and listen to this episode for 3 tips on first contact. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
If you want to be successful in navigating a new organization, you need an ally. In this episode, I tell you what phrase you need to eliminate from your vocabulary and who that first ally may be. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
In today’s world, we have access to all sorts of information about our prospective clients. As professionals, we need to be diligent about doing our homework before we make that first call. This episode talks about what that homework should include. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
The look, feel, and workflow a space needs to provide are not always easily found on the floor plan. This week, I answer a question from Graham Kirkpatrick on how to better align our systems with furniture, fixtures, and equipment to create efficient and cohesive designs. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
Everyone is using video right now to communicate and webinars and Zoom calls abound. However, is there a better way to build video into your long term meeting strategy, even for in person meetings? Thanks to Chris Neto for this week’s question. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
This week’s question came from Lance Feldenkreiss via Twitter: How do you sell a suite of services like integration, managed services, staffing, etc., under one account manager? Listen in to hear a few tips on how to make this happen. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
This week’s selling AV topic came from Chris Neto on Twitter who asked “How do you host a dynamic sales presentation online?” Tune in to hear 3 quick and easy ways to make sure you engage your audience in a way that makes sure the most relevant content is what they remember. Podcast: Play in […]
This Selling AV question came from Brad Orme at Cinemassive: “How do you set yourself apart from the competition during the sales process?” Absorb these 4 tips in 5 minutes to learn how. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
This Selling AV topic came from Patty Wanzer through Twitter. “How do you determine the client’s budget?” I invited Jarrod Hillman of Hillman AV to help me tag team this in a special Selling AV. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
This Selling AV question came from Lance Feldenkress on Twitter, “How do you best qualify an opportunity?” I initially look for these three things. Tune in to find out what they are. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
In this time of increased demand for remote work solutions, we need to make sure we’re adding value and easing fears, as opposed to opportunistically capitalizing on them. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
Are you a brand trying to reap the benefits of Social Media without actually putting in the work to be social? Find out why that’s a bad strategy on this Selling AV. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
There’s a tendency to over-complicate the simple and over-simplify the complicated. How fancy should you be with your designs? Find out here. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
This week I’m in flooding social media with a rant in a common way everyone starts their presentations. Click play to hear why you should never start a meeting with your “About Us” slide. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
Big meetings can be nerve-wracking, and it’s tempting to plan your responses down to the letter. This week I talk about the difference between being prepared and being scripted. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
Sometimes we need to leave tech speak behind and adopt analogies that everyone can understand. Today I offer a fun way to talk about audio. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
Seeing that this episode is 101, I thought I’d go back to basics. Responsiveness is the stone in your sling that will help defeat Goliath. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
When meeting with a client, not all roads have to lead back to your product or service. In this episode, I talk about how connection may be a more realistic and valuable goal for your meeting than a PO. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
AV is an industry built around communication, but often times we fail to communicate or even understand our true value proposition. Listen to this episode to find out what we should be communicating to our clients. Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS
