- NEW: Replays—Insider exclusive recordings of Office Hours sales discussions
- Downloadable prospecting letters
- One killer-good intro letter only the bravest of the brave send out
- A downloadable voicemail script
- 15 on-demand video sales courses
- Archived sales content searchable by sales challenge
Complete Story
07/01/2024
Summer Sales Plan
Source: Bill Farquharson, The Sales Vault, July 1, 2024
Well, here we are: The week that includes the Fourth of July. Let the slowdown begin!
Of course, if you took my advice from earlier sales tips, there will be no slowdown. The work that you did in March, April, and May will culminate in business all throughout the dog days of summer.
For the rest of you, remember that Japanese proverb I throw out every now and then: The best day to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best day is today.
My advice to you all is to focus your attention on the day after Labor Day, Tuesday September 3rd. It’s on this day when people flip a switch and get refocused on business.
My question to you is: Where do you want to be that day?
I have long said September, October, and November are the three most important selling months of the year. This is your chance to finish 2024 strong and go rocketing into 2025. By answering my question and really putting some thought into it, you give yourself the best chance at success.
So, picture yourself driving to work that day or perhaps crossing the threshold into the spare bedroom at your home office. Describe your ideal situation.
What’s going to motivate you?
What are your daily sales activity goals?
Which target markets will you go after?
Which selling skills will need to be sharpened by then?
Your boss might disagree with me, but your July and August sales are already in the books. Your best chance to build sales is to build momentum over the next two months with strong selling activity. By applying the “Begin with the end in mind” philosophy and visualizing your September 3 sales position, you can take advantage of that let’s-get-down-to-business-now-that-summer-is-over customer attitude which occurs that same day.
Enjoy your fourth. God Bless America!
The Sales Vault, created by Bill Farquharson, is a subscription-based resource and sales community featuring a calendar packed with live workshops, on-demand sales courses, peer-to-peer discussion groups, and 35+ years of sales training content all searchable by sales challenge. Think of it as a sales conference where the seminars and workshops, full of instantly applicable ideas, are ongoing and more programs are added constantly.
The Power of Print
Last Thursday marked the grand finale of our month-long Print Week celebrations. From packed rooms and award winners to the connections that brought our industry together, here are some of the highlights that made it so memorable.
Read More401(k) Refund Checks: Why They’re Not Always a Good Thing
Receiving money back from a 401(k) plan may seem like a win, but it often signals that the plan failed IRS nondiscrimination testing. When this happens, certain employees may be required to take corrective distributions, which can lead to unexpected tax consequences and reduced long-term retirement savings. The article also explains how better plan design can help prevent this issue.
Read MoreUSPS Announces Fuel Surcharge
The USPS filed notice with the PRC to impose an 8% fuel charge on competitive products, effective April 26, 2026 - January 17, 2027. Recent hikes in fuel prices - over a dollar in the last month alone - have had a significant impact. This is the first fuel surcharge the USPS has ever imposed.
Read MoreCan EPR & Single-Serve Beverage Packaging Coexist?
As extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws spread to more states, Packaging Digest asked beverage industry analysts what the ramifications could be for beverage manufacturers and their prevalent use of single-serve packaging.
Read MoreLocal Up Your Print Sales to Combat Rising Fuel Costs
Fuel prices are rapidly climbing right now, which sends a tsunami of rising costs through the economy. Businesses respond by tightening marketing budgets, which has a direct effect on the print industry. Fuel costs are outside a printer’s control. How you respond to them is not.
Read MoreSell Hard, Sell Nothing
You work hard but have no sales to show for it. Selling owners can relate to that. Being busy but not productive is often the rule, not the exception. This week's Short Attention Span Sales Tip changes that.
Read More
