LinkedIn recently overtook MySpace as America’s second largest social networking site. Once seen as the leading source for professional job-seekers, LinkedIn has morphed into an effective lead generation machine for the savvy sales person.   Since most people do their research online before making a purchase, your sales team should make full use of their LinkedIn profile to provide the necessary information to their prospects to help close the deal. With that goal in mind, here [...]

  LinkedIn is commonly thought of as a place where professionals go to find a job. While that is true, LinkedIn can also be used quite effectively as a sales tool.  Here are 10 ways your sales team can take advantage of this social networking site:   1. If you are in the business to business sales, make it a habit to send a LinkedIn invitation to customers & prospects after each meeting.  If you are in [...]

Being a sales person is not an easy job, no matter what the economy. But it’s been especially challenging these last few years. So here are a few free online sales tools that really will help you sell.  1. Google Alerts– Want to know when someone mentions your products or services online? Or how about staying abreast of what your competition is doing? With Google Alerts you can have that information sent to you via [...]

If you’re a sales person you know how valuable a cell phone is for staying in touch with the office. Smartphones provide even more convenience because they give you access to a wide range of useful tools and information. Here are a few ways a sales person can benefit from a smartphone: 1. Get directions  – A GPS system helps you get to appointments on time, even if you’re in a new city far from home. [...]

If you think Twitter is a waste of time, or simply for young people, think again. A new Pew study found that 13% of online Americans now use Twitter – up 5% from November 2010. One in five U.S. adults ages 25-34 use Twitter, while 14% of users are between 35 and 44, up from 8% a half-year earlier. In addition, 25% of online African Americans and19% of online Hispanics use Twitter, compared to 9% [...]

Social media is a wonderful tool to connect salespeople with their prospects  and existing customers. You can go to LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter before you meet with someone to find out their likes, interests, etc.  You might even learn something you didn’t know about your existing customers like their political or religious beliefs. But what do you do with that information?   You could engage in a political discussion with your prospects/customers on Facebook, but you’d be [...]

Want to know the quickest way to connect with others on LinkedIn? Join a group.  Groups are an easy way to meet people and develop relationships that can be leveraged for business.  You can join up to 50 groups, but a more effective strategy is to limit yourself to 10 or 20 groups, so you have time to participate and engage in discussions, and make meaningful connections. Here are a few tips on how to [...]

Marketers have learned to utilize Facebook as an effective branding tool for their businesses. But this social networking site can also be a tremendous resource for sales people. Here are 5 ways your sales team can make use of Facebook: 1. Research Tool – Facebook can give sales people incredible insight into what’s going on in their customers’ industries and customers’ companies. Browse your customers’ Facebook pages to see what they are saying, and what [...]

Today is the day I ask you to get involved. Today is the day you say YES! Exactly what are you getting into? The New Home Sales Revolution! Does this mean you get to leave your office early? Does it mean you get to throw out all your paperwork or show up late to the sales meeting on Monday morning? No! Triple No! By getting involved with the New Home Sales Revolution you are making a [...]

Meredith is Sponsored By: SMA Consulting & Agent Sales Agent! You’ve got to have the right attitude and the right tools to make the most of the recovery. The best way to do that is to attend the 2010 Sales Rally at the Tampa Bay Builders Association Auditorium on April 12, at 8:30 a.m. This Rally is going to ROCK! Literally! The theme of this year’s rally is rock and roll, and our goal is [...]