Comments on: The Biggest Mistake Sales People Make – Sales Tip 101

By: Dan Collins

Dan Collins — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:05:01 +0000

Well done – Nice one pal.

So what would I do? – using you’re video as a prompt:

“Let me ask you a question Ron. You’re angry and I’m guessing you’ve had some really bad experiences with poor salespeople in the past. Tell me what you really want, what you’re looking for in someone when you do business with them…”

Then the game begins.

Nice post my friend.

Dan

By: Kelley Robertson

Kelley Robertson — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:29:37 +0000

Great video clip Ron and an awesome reminder! It never ceases to amaze me how many salespeople feel compelled to talk, talk, talk. I wrote a couple of articles on this topic as well: http://bit.ly/d5kEeb

Keep up the great work!

By: Jim Jackson

Jim Jackson — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:27:19 +0000

Great stuff. It is like walking into the shoe store and they ask how can I help. Instead they should ask are you looking for formal shoes or something casual? Need to know what in it for me before you sell. Good luck with your site Ron.

By: Heshie Segal

Heshie Segal — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 17:48:28 +0000

Ron,

I chuckled through this video clip. It brought to mind someone who calls every few days and he PUKES. At first the puking gave me a break. I would put down the phone and continue working. About every 10 minutes or so, I would interrupt with – John (not real name), John, John, John, John, John, John, STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP, John. Then I timed how long it took him to come up for air. I told him that and he stopped. “Really?” he asked. Yes, and I am going to record it next time if you don’t believe me. I also told him that I was not willing to keep yelling for him to pause (I really like the guy which is the only reason I have tolerated it. NOW, I have a weapon. I am going to send him YOUR VIDEO. If that does not work, I am going to get a whistle and blow it for time out!

Thanks for the lesson . . . and a new tool to use. Heshie

By: John Reddish

John Reddish — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:53:41 +0000

Ron,

Good, solid stuff. One production value critique, though, is that I recommend either you pan to the book on a stand, insert a slide of it with voiceover or something similar. Holding it makes the 7 traits section glimmer like a hologram and is distracting at the end of your good message. Keep on selling. John

By: Art Levy

Art Levy — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:59:21 +0000

Ron:
Excellent metaphor. Yet one of the great ironies behind all this “spewing” of information in a sales call is that many companies, while preaching the idea of “interact with the customer” — actually only teach product knowledge.

So what do you get? Hordes of salespeople who think that the right thing to do is show how much you know. (It’s even what they get evaluated on in most companies’ online learning systems.)

But when you think about it, that’s what we’ve all been rewarded for ever since we had to write book reports in third grade… the more information you packed into your paper, the better your grade was. That might work with homework assignments, but it doesn’t work with people. What you’ve hit on so well here, in my opinion, is that effective selling isn’t presenting…it’s responding.

Thanks,
Art

By: Hank Trisler

Hank Trisler — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:30:43 +0000

Dy-N0-MITE. You couldn’t possibly be more right. Verbal diaherra blows more deals than any other factor. I love your presentation style. You have a very open face.

Hank

By: Kelley Robertson

Kelley Robertson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:04:52 +0000

Great video Ron! I’m constantly amazed how many salespeople puke all over their customers and prospects. Why do they still believe that telling is selling?!?!?

Cheers!
Kelley

By: Voss

Voss — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:07:05 +0000

Ron,
I’m been laughing all weekend about something that happened to me on Friday.
While I was at a conference, this guy sits down at the bar next to me and
starts talking about stuff.
Then he starting a sales presentation and puking all this detail and data on
me and inside I’m laughing because I could not stop thinking about your
video blog.
Now other than the laughing on the inside, I was bored beyond belief on the
outside because I had NO interest in what he talking about.
Great video blog and it is absolutely true.
Thanks,
Voss

By: Frank Fallin

Frank Fallin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:04:46 +0000

Ron,
I am glad my manager sent a link out to your website this week. I just listened to the short video blog on the biggest mistake that sales people make. You are dead on and as a seasoned 20 year sales person I have recently forgot this principle–listen and find out what’s going on with the customer. Thanks for reminding me of this and I can assure you that tomorrow I will be a better sales person than I was today. In the tough economic climate that we are in today we as sales people need to get back to basics.

One area that I also need some help is in how to get prospective customer’s attention. This year more than ever I have been trying to do more prospecting to customers I have never worked with before. I am finding that many people will not take the time to answer an email, voicemail, or even direct call if they don’t know who the sales person is. I am experimenting with some new ways to deliver my introductory sales call by email to try and peek some interest. Which one of your publications would be helpful for some pointers.