New On The Job How To Announce Yourself To Customers

New On The Job How To Announce Yourself To Customers I got this email from a sales professional last week: I manage a large territory for my company and I am fairly new here and have a lot of customers. I have probably only met or talked with 20% of them which are the ones that purchase regularly. The other 80% have purchased in the past and it is very possible they could purchase more or have upcoming projects but they dont know me or forgot about our company. Should I send an email blast introducing myself? This is different than a marketing blast, rather, it is a way for me to reach out to a lot of people but it takes away the personal touch. Do I do that or take the time to address each one in a separate email with a generic this is who I am and what my company offers and contact me if you have questions, need help, etc. My initial response was, YES, definitely do this. Ive been marketing myself, as a job seeker, and then my business, for 9+ years.  What Ive learned is that if you do not put yourself in front of people, they forget about you.  You are responsible for getting and staying in front of your audience. Ive also learned that the initial contact is just barely breaking the ice.  They key is to get in front of them regularly, as appropriate.  That is one reason why you have CRM systems.  If your company doesnt provide a CRM system to you, then use JibberJobber.  If your company does provide a CRM to you, but you are making great friendships and professional contacts that you want to take to your next job, then use JibberJobber Here are my specific thoughts and reactions to this persons questions: Is this going to be okay with your company/boss?  I cant imagine a sales professional getting into trouble for sending this type of email, but you might want to check with your boss.  They might know something about a customer they fired (that you shouldnt get in touch with), or they might point you to some tools or queries to make what you want to do easier. Should it be one bulk email (BCC, of course!) or multiple individual emails? Pros and cons of both.  I would say it depends on a few things where are you sending it from?  If you send from a Gmail or Verizon or a personal account (which I wouldnt recommend), they have daily sending limits.  Going over those limits might get you in trouble (ie, getting locked out of sending email for 24 hours). If you bulk send from your work account, and your email server is on blacklists, count on maybe 5% of your emails getting through (I dont know the percentage, but just assume hardly any get through).  The idea of doing one bulk email is nice because its faster, but Im not convinced its that reliable. Sending individual emails is more reliable, I think, and you might do 20 50 each day. This will even help you manage the responses, over days, instead of all in the first day or two.  But it will obviously take more time. The real question is how many emails are you sending?  If its 10,000, do bulk and go from there.  If its just a few hundred, send a few dozen each day until you finish. About the personal touch, you can easily do that with individual emails but you can also do it in bulk.  There are programs you can use (like mailchimp, and even outlook) that can merge names with a general body of text What information should the email have?  The number one purpose of this email is to introduce yourself.  In doing that, youll reinforce the branding of your company (in other words, remind the customer that your company exists and has stuff for them). You should give them contact information work and cell # (thats how salespeople roll, right?).  Keep the email short dont go into new products, etc.  I would let them know Im the new rep, Im excited to be there, and Im easy to reach (and Im responsive).  I want them to know that Im their partner and want to help their projects be successful.   I will include a one-liner about my company, like we manufacture the best widgets for the _______. so people can remember where I fit into their life.  And, as overwhelming as this might sound, I invite them to call me in the next week (or two) and tell me what projects they are working on, what they have coming up, any issues from past projects with our stuff, etc. I want this email to start the relationship, and invite them to let us take it to the next level.  That might be a emails, it might be a phone call, it might be a face-to-face but let me introduce you to me and lets start a relationship. How often should I follow-up?  What should the follow-up have?   Make sure this first email is not the last email.  As a customer I know I need multiple communications before I trust you, and I need you to hit me at or around the right time (or, when Im in the market to buy your stuff).  I suggest doing a blast, en bulk, each month.  This can be short, it can talk about new products, or it can talk about case studies where your products/services helped other customers.  The last thing would be the most interesting read for me.  It keeps me engaged (because its fun to read), and shows me that you understand that my success is important to me, and its also important to you.  Im not just a customer to help you meet your quota, but you really care. The key?  MONTHLY. How do I justify future follow-ups?  What if I have nothing new to say or report?  Then create something.  Talk to your customers and ask them if they could share some of their wins with your list.  If you dont get those stories, then create information that will help others suggestions, tips, best practices, industry news, etc.  Dont write too much we all suffer from information overload, and you dont want to be that email that Im sure to delete. Is that it?  Will I be successful with this strategy?  I dont think so. I think you need to have an integrated sales/marketing approach that is, pick up the phone. Meet customers in person.  Dont just rely on email.  But you already knew that. Now, get your email constructed, proof it for type-os and grammar, and make sure the messaging is exactly what your customers should understand, and then send it. New On The Job How To Announce Yourself To Customers I got this email from a sales professional last week: I manage a large territory for my company and I am fairly new here and have a lot of customers. I have probably only met or talked with 20% of them which are the ones that purchase regularly. The other 80% have purchased in the past and it is very possible they could purchase more or have upcoming projects but they dont know me or forgot about our company. Should I send an email blast introducing myself? This is different than a marketing blast, rather, it is a way for me to reach out to a lot of people but it takes away the personal touch. Do I do that or take the time to address each one in a separate email with a generic this is who I am and what my company offers and contact me if you have questions, need help, etc. My initial response was, YES, definitely do this. Ive been marketing myself, as a job seeker, and then my business, for 9+ years.  What Ive learned is that if you do not put yourself in front of people, they forget about you.  You are responsible for getting and staying in front of your audience. Ive also learned that the initial contact is just barely breaking the ice.  They key is to get in front of them regularly, as appropriate.  That is one reason why you have CRM systems.  If your company doesnt provide a CRM system to you, then use JibberJobber.  If your company does provide a CRM to you, but you are making great friendships and professional contacts that you want to take to your next job, then use JibberJobber Here are my specific thoughts and reactions to this persons questions: Is this going to be okay with your company/boss?  I cant imagine a sales professional getting into trouble for sending this type of email, but you might want to check with your boss.  They might know something about a customer they fired (that you shouldnt get in touch with), or they might point you to some tools or queries to make what you want to do easier. Should it be one bulk email (BCC, of course!) or multiple individual emails? Pros and cons of both.  I would say it depends on a few things where are you sending it from?  If you send from a Gmail or Verizon or a personal account (which I wouldnt recommend), they have daily sending limits.  Going over those limits might get you in trouble (ie, getting locked out of sending email for 24 hours). If you bulk send from your work account, and your email server is on blacklists, count on maybe 5% of your emails getting through (I dont know the percentage, but just assume hardly any get through).  The idea of doing one bulk email is nice because its faster, but Im not convinced its that reliable. Sending individual emails is more reliable, I think, and you might do 20 50 each day. This will even help you manage the responses, over days, instead of all in the first day or two.  But it will obviously take more time. The real question is how many emails are you sending?  If its 10,000, do bulk and go from there.  If its just a few hundred, send a few dozen each day until you finish. About the personal touch, you can easily do that with individual emails but you can also do it in bulk.  There are programs you can use (like mailchimp, and even outlook) that can merge names with a general body of text What information should the email have?  The number one purpose of this email is to introduce yourself.  In doing that, youll reinforce the branding of your company (in other words, remind the customer that your company exists and has stuff for them). You should give them contact information work and cell # (thats how salespeople roll, right?).  Keep the email short dont go into new products, etc.  I would let them know Im the new rep, Im excited to be there, and Im easy to reach (and Im responsive).  I want them to know that Im their partner and want to help their projects be successful.   I will include a one-liner about my company, like we manufacture the best widgets for the _______. so people can remember where I fit into their life.  And, as overwhelming as this might sound, I invite them to call me in the next week (or two) and tell me what projects they are working on, what they have coming up, any issues from past projects with our stuff, etc. I want this email to start the relationship, and invite them to let us take it to the next level.  That might be a emails, it might be a phone call, it might be a face-to-face but let me introduce you to me and lets start a relationship. How often should I follow-up?  What should the follow-up have?   Make sure this first email is not the last email.  As a customer I know I need multiple communications before I trust you, and I need you to hit me at or around the right time (or, when Im in the market to buy your stuff).  I suggest doing a blast, en bulk, each month.  This can be short, it can talk about new products, or it can talk about case studies where your products/services helped other customers.  The last thing would be the most interesting read for me.  It keeps me engaged (because its fun to read), and shows me that you understand that my success is important to me, and its also important to you.  Im not just a customer to help you meet your quota, but you really care. The key?  MONTHLY. How do I justify future follow-ups?  What if I have nothing new to say or report?  Then create something.  Talk to your customers and ask them if they could share some of their wins with your list.  If you dont get those stories, then create information that will help others suggestions, tips, best practices, industry news, etc.  Dont write too much we all suffer from information overload, and you dont want to be that email that Im sure to delete. Is that it?  Will I be successful with this strategy?  I dont think so. I think you need to have an integrated sales/marketing approach that is, pick up the phone. Meet customers in person.  Dont just rely on email.  But you already knew that. Now, get your email constructed, proof it for type-os and grammar, and make sure the messaging is exactly what your customers should understand, and then send it.

Sales Techniques Empower Negotiation - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Sales Techniques Empower Negotiation - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Years ago, a famed negotiation trainer pronounced, “Everything is negotiable”, and I learned this to be true. However, sales techniques will increase your negotiation success rate. Increasing your negotiation success rate The first step is not to sell or negotiate but instead to understand fully why you are holding a conversation. What is their perspective? For example, why do they need a new vendor, why is the car for sale, why is the job available: ask why, why, WHY. Most people have the most difficulty with step two: listen and clarify. Draw out all the details. Ask additional questions to gain full meaning. And if you don’t understand something, it is essential that you ask for an explanation. Once the details are all revealed, you are ready to proceed. Sometimes negotiation pops up unexpectedly and we need to clarify too. When an objection arises, agree with it and then put your perspective on it. This is referred to as “re-framing.” For example, ten of us met for dinner at a nice restaurant. Given some people eat little while some eat a lot, and others love their alcohol, I asked the waitress if she would provide each couple a separate check. Her reply was, “it’s too difficult for the kitchen.” The simple sales induced response was, “yes, it may be more difficult for the kitchen, but we are the customers.” Recognizing a bill and tip were now in question, the waitress agreed to our request. “John” congratulated me on the simple phrasing and logic. Although an elderly man, he said he never once stood up for himself in a similar situation but now he knows how to respond. Two days later, he recognized his new roof was being installed by cutting corners. The edges did not align correctly. He asked for it to be fixed, but the roofer said “It’s good enough.” John replied, “”Yes, but we are the customers.” Recognizing referrals and testimonials were on the line, the roof was promptly fixed. Have a story to tell The best sales technique is to have a compelling story whether two minutes or one sentence that will persuade the other party that you are the best asset. You will resolve the problem, make their life better or possibly bring profit to their company. Here is an example of what a compelling statement might look like: Helping “Nancy” coordinate an event, she suggested we add an additional hour of unlimited alcohol to what was already in place. My argument was not one of cost or the free alcohol detracting from the event, but of potential liability. I exclaimed she did not want people getting crazy drunk and then in an accident driving home. Her idea was pronounced dead upon delivery of the one sentence. The argument made complete sense. It was compelling and no sound counter-argument in favor could be made. We found complete agreement. The object of negotiation is to find complete agreement where possible. No one should feel taken advantage of or resentment will come about. When you work to find a good conclusion for all parties, your personal brand becomes, “easy to work with”. By developing this recognition, your clientele will become your sales-force by applauding your effort and sharing with everyone they know. Your negotiation skills and future endeavors are now on the wave of the Smooth Sale! Author: Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC, was included in the international list of “Top 25 Sales Influencers for 2012” by Open View Labs and is the author of the International Best-Selling book, “Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results”, Sourcebooks and HIRED! how to Use Sales Techniques to Sell Yourself On Interviews, Career Press.

5 Annoying Things At The Workplace That Sheldon Cooper Has A Solution For

5 Annoying Things At The Workplace That Sheldon Cooper Has A Solution For Working in an office is nice but it can also be a bit annoying, especially when you dont have everything just about right. And yes, I spend an awful lot of time getting my things right so someone interfering can be well annoying. But there are 5 annoying things at most workplaces that Ive come  across and it is baffling that no one warns new employees about it. Anyways, in my classic investigative style (not in any way influenced by what I watch), I tried to find some solutions for annoying things at the workplace. I failed. But I did unearth some work that Sheldon Cooper (from The Big Bang Theory duh!) has done to solve those annoying things that take place at work. 1. Being told how the insert useless objectcould be made better This is top of the list. We all know of that one person who will always have a say in how anything could be made better. Now, if this was a product, service or something that your business sells, then that could be called an idea. But if it is someone saying how the floor tiles should have been off-white instead of white thats pretty useless. Why discuss something you cant change? It adds no value to the business proposition. I think Sheldon has taught us a lesson here. Will it work? Depends. how understanding is your HR? 2.  Printing and forgetting Ive seen this in almost every business I have worked in. I am sure this has happened to  anyone printing anything at some point someone has too much time on their hands and prints off half the internet but then forgets to collect it from the printer. What happens then? Far too many printed papers and there is a proper mess on the printer. Why is it annoying? Wastes money, wastes paper, harms the environment and usually involves a wasted trip to the printer because someone will have taken x number of sheets from my print out because well, because we print too much and think too little. One day, I will do what Sheldon did. And then quietly take my P45. 3. Hypothesizing every word This is one  of the few annoying things at the workplace that youve got to enjoy. When people hypothesize every word they say. For example, heres a sentence: My understanding is, having spoken to X, he believes that the software may be working in a way we dont know. This really brings a smile to my face What confidence can I show in a sentence like that? The more I listen to it, the less confidence I have in what I am hearingand so, as Sheldon does, I think the best way to get rid of this annoying thing is to laugh it off. 4.  Listening to an answer for a question you didnt ask You go and ask someone a question. In response you get 3 more questions and an answer to something you didnt even ask. I dont get this. I love talking to people too, but when someone asks me a question, I answer that. Finish that conversation and then start a new one, if need be. You cant answer a question by asking three further questions and going off topic. Yes, you know what I am talking about.  Does Sheldon give a good Sheldon. Yes. Should you use it? Refer to question 1. 5. People who dont read their emails Yes, I hate this annoying thing at the workplace. People who dont read their emails and then ask, whats happening? Dude, you were informed about whats going on in the office. Its not like someone sent and email and left you off the list. Unless its your birthday, there is no surprise, and hence stop behaving like this.   Read your emails and if something is unclear, ask a specific question. And those are the 5 annoying things at the workplace that bug most of us and Sheldon has kindly helped us figuring out  the solutions. P.S.: If you liked this, you will enjoy this too  5 Things Not To Do At Your Workplace That Even Minions Approve Of Please note: use of any of the solutions mentioned here is done at your own risk. Career Geek Blog doesnt carry any responsibility of the  consequences. If you do get sacked though, please let me know. I need a story for a humour post. 22

Get The Most Out Of Guest Blog Posts for Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Get The Most Out Of Guest Blog Posts for Your Brand - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career You’ve written a great blog post for your brand, but your audience isnt where is should be. One of the best ways to get get traction is to publish on high quality websites in your niche. There are some key things you can do to open this door of opportunity. Standing out from the rest with guest blogging Getting your message out to important influencers requires a commitment to build the right relationships. You can help promote their brand, and build your presence at the same time. Its important to do your research first as well as make the time in your content schedule for blog publishing not only on your website, but also on others. Not all blogs have a large readership use services like Alexa to measure rank and influence. There are several ways to attract and maintain guest blog opportunities for your personal brand: Choose your content wisely When publishing to other websites avoid using advertising tactics reserve this for your homepage instead. Offer something of value that benefits their readers and tells a story about the topic you are covering. This will help establish your brand as a trusted expert. Solve a problem Create something that is fresh, unique, and answers the pressing questions in your niche. Take a look at what has already been covered and the current issues that have not yet been resolved. With a new spin and unconventional approach you will generate more interest and improve your chances of being asked to write as a guest blogger again. Engage in conversation Even though your brand is writing on another website you still need to pay attention to comments from the readers. This includes conversations generated on social media be quick to answer and provide useful feedback even if you face a negative response. Think of this is an opportunity to show them that your brand is a trusted source that listens to its audience. Continue the journey A single blog post is a good beginning, but you dont want to stop there. Once your business has its name out there be on the lookout for new opportunities. Use this as an example on your own website, and give a shout out of thanks to the website(s) you publish on. Guest blogging helps establish your brand as an expert in your industry, and attracts more readers to your own website. With the right approach you will also begin to see more offers from influencers who will want to share what you have to offer.

Does Your Online Presence Scream DONT Hire Me - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

Does Your Online Presence Scream DONT Hire Me As I always do before a scheduled first conversation, I Googled the name of the new client prospect I was about to speak with, to see what his digital footprint looked like. Bill is a highly accomplished C-level executive in the technology sector. His current interim position was winding down. He’d be ready to slide into another one in a few months. Meantime, he knew he had to update his sadly outdated resume, bio and other career documents. It became clear in our discussion, that he didn’t understand how important online reputation was and how his lack of online presence could sabotage his job search. He didn’t realize that he was probably already being Googled by people assessing whether or not he was a viable potential candidate. Given the same qualifications and other good-fit qualities, these people are more attracted to candidates with a stronger online identity, who are more social media savvy. Aside from a bare-bones profile (only his name and current job title for the professional headline no summary, no career history, no recommendations), my Google search on Bill’s name came up with a few measly entries he hadn’t created on the third page of results. Page one was populated with search results associated with some other people who shared his common name. One of them was a rather unsavory character. The Bill I was about to talk with probably wouldn’t be mistaken for him, but we needed to work on pushing up my Bills search results  above the bad Bills. Another search result for Bill on page three was a ZoomInfo profile that, according to the resume he had  sent me, contained quite a bit of misinformation about his career history. ZoomInfo aggregates information to create profiles for some people, but what they used in Bill’s case included info about someone else who shared his name. The last of his search results on page three was a Pipl profile â€" another automatically generated summary.   Nothing new there. Nothing that would help people assessing him. I looked through the first five pages of search results, and that was the pitiful extent of his online footprint. Bill had been putting out feelers with his network, to let them know when he’d be available. You can bet that, as the word spread about him, recruiters and hiring decision makers at his target companies were looking for information about him online. The first few pages are the most important to them, and what they DON’T find has almost as much impact as when they find digital dirt about you. They’re looking for relevant, diverse, on-brand results that consistently support your credibility as a good-fit candidate for your target companies. Bill obviously had to work on building page one search results. To do this, he minimally needed the following: A 100% complete profile that was branded to resonate with his target companies, search optimized with relevant keywords so that hiring authorities searching for people like him, would land on his profile. Once complete, his profile had a better chance of moving up to page one of his Google search results. A corrected and completed ZoomInfo profile A Google profile that, given the strength of anything Google, would probably give him a page one search result. That entry would also include the photo he downloaded with the profile, giving him an even more standout search result. After those three profiles were in place, I suggested he do the following to further build his online credibility and visibility: Get busy with Groups that are open to Google search. Spend time contributing to Answers to demonstrate subject matter expertise and thought leadership. Get involved with the other two of the Big 3 in social networks â€" Twitter and

Career Opportunities Abound For You - But Can You See Them

Career Opportunities Abound For You - But Can You See Them Look for what you want Creating opportunity is a mindset. Opportunities are actually everywhere we dont see them all because were stuck in the same patterns of thinking. Our thoughts affect the way we see opportunity. Here are some examples of patterns of thinking that block us from seeing an opportunity: He’s next in line for the promotion. I’m not qualified for that job. That job won’t fit the needs of my family. These thought patterns are what limit us. However, look at that list again they are all future projections and not based on facts. No matter how rough it’s been in the past or how stuck you currently feel, the future is yet to unfold! There are always more options than what it seems. Here are a couple suggestions to keep an open mind in creating career opportunities. Look for what you want To be successful here, you must know what you want. Or at least have a vague idea, which is sometimes the hardest part. Different examples include: I want a promotion. I want to develop a new skill. I want a career that fits my lifestyle. The key here is not to figure out how it is going to happen, but identifying what you want. The ‘how’ could happen in a dozen different ways including through an acquaintance, a Career Coaching appointment, or a random bumping into someone in line at Starbucks. The idea is to remain open to opportunity wherever it presents itself, not trying to control how it happens. Sometimes, it’s in the unexpected. Be ready That means clearly communicating what you want. It means having your story ready to tell others. If you are not ready to receive the opportunity, it will be hard to find. Some things fall right into your lap, but most things are given only when you are ready to receive them. So, be prepared for opportunities to come to you. Don’t give up If you don’t see the position on job boards or on the company site or anywhere with your intelligent searching skills, ask. Ask us, ask your friends, ask your family. Don’t give up! Keep asking and searching until you get closer to your goal. Avoid negative thinking No matter what situation, negative thinking usually doesn’t help us get what we want. Emotions can drag us into negative thinking; however, just like doing a push-up, you can mentally shove out negative thoughts such as: ‘I’ll never find what I want.’ ‘No one will want to hire me.’ When these thoughts come up, stop and replace them with more affirmative thoughts such as: ‘I have unique skills that can add value to any organization.’ ‘I am good at what I do.’ Thought patterns don’t change overnight, but recognizing it and catching it when you can, will help. Think.Inspire.Change.Grow. By Dawn Shaw|2017-04-21T18:20:54+00:00September 4th, 2014|Career Change|0 Comments

How to Write a Resume For Educators

How to Write a Resume For EducatorsIf you are a school teacher looking to hire new people to teach at your school, you will need to have a resume written for educators. Your goal is to get them in contact with your school and your principal so that they can see what a great teacher you are. You want to be able to show them that you can handle the job and have them respect you.Here are some of the career goals for a teacher: make an impact on students, inspire others, and show them how to do better. In the article below, you will learn how to write a resume for educators.First, you will want to create a resume that includes the facts about your job title and your teaching skills. You can use a section at the top for this information. Fill out all of the sections in order to make it easy for a human to read. The last thing you want is a resume that is too long or too short.When you fill out the section for your title, make sure that you type the teacher's name in full. A phrase like 't eacher,' 'teacher assistant,' or 'teacher' will not give them a good idea of who you are. This information is what is going to give them a glimpse of who you are.Next, you will need to list the teaching career objectives. A career objective is a brief description of your career goals. It should not include any numbers but rather should be something like, 'Teaching graduate students how to make good grades,' or 'Teaching new math methods to science classes.'It is a good idea to include a writing sample from your teaching career objectives in this section. You can also talk about any awards and other accomplishments you may have.The next section is going to cover your skill sets. Make sure that this section is going to include what you know and how you can help your students. Look at this as something that will guide them and help them think about the skills that you can provide. For example, you could say something like, 'I am a teacher that provides math methods to science classes'I can give math to biology classes.'The last section is going to be extra copy. You may want to include a short biography of yourself and a little more information about yourself so that your students will feel more comfortable about you.