Friday, December 17, 2010

Spend Your Time Wisely


Understand what represents a solid sales lead


Successful salespeople are selective about where and with whom they spend their time. They are out looking for "real" buyers — customers and prospects who have both money and the ability to buy. Every minute you spend with an unqualified prospect is time not spent with a qualified one. To that end, someone has a good chance of being a solid sales lead if:
  • They initiate contact. Keep track of the people who come to you — at a trade show booth or on your website, for example. If someone initiates contact with your business on their own, their interest has already been piqued and they have a high chance of being a customer in the future.
  • They participate in promotions. When your company is offering a special promotion, such as a discount or a free gift, your prospective customers will be more likely to share their contact information with you. That will allow you to stay in contact with them and grow the relationship.
  • They are referred to you. No sales lead is stronger than one gained through word-of-mouth referral. A customer recommending your product to a friend is the absolute best advertising you can hope for. You could encourage this positive behavior by establishing a referral rewards program, for example. Offer free goods and services, or discounts, to customers who get their friends to buy from you.

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