Kelly McCormick's Business Tips

Identifying Your REAL Benefits

• Aug 24th, 2011
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(Excerpt from OutSell Yourself: Go From Hello to Sold by Kelly McCormick)

Customers may be attracted to the features of what you offer, but it’s the benefits of your products and services that really win them over. If you mistakenly focus on the bells and whistles, you could lose out.

Before we go any further, we need to make sure that we are speaking the same sales language. Sellers often confuse features with benefits. If we don’t clear this up, the rest of what’s here for you might not make sense…

Are Your Clothes Selling YOU or Killing Sales?

• Aug 19th, 2011
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“Casual Fridays have morphed into ‘Happy Hour’ Fridays, which can send the message, I’d rather be anywhere but here”, says Kelly Machbitz. Kelly is a Certified Image Consultant and author of, Wear This, Not That! Stylish Solutions to Flatter Your Figure. Wow, she got my attention!

As a business expert, who coaches and speaks to entrepreneurs, business owners, and companies, I know that your personal image is as important as your brand. For many people their personal image is their brand. Take a look at some of those scary avatar photos on Social Networking sites!

As fast as my fingers could punch in the numbers, I called Kelly Machbitz. I wanted to find out some of the worst mistakes people make when dressing to do business. I also needed to know what entrepreneurs, consultants, and business people should be wearing to “seal the deal”, so to speak. Here’s what I discovered…

7 Reason Clients Come Back for More

• Aug 16th, 2011
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Repeat business is money in the bank for entrepreneurs, consultants and businesses. The phone rings and you’re ready to go. Get the order book!

As easy as it all sounds, and it can be, there are too many people caught in the cycle of working for one client and then moving on to the next. More accurately, too many clients move on because they didn’t feel that warm fuzzy “loyalty” feeling. Here are seven important reasons why clients and customers come back for more…

3 Business Networking Tips From the Guru – Michael Hughes

• Jul 13th, 2011
• 2 Comments

Okay we all know that networking is a powerful business building tool. Many people, including myself, get a lot of our new business via referrals. So why is it that so many “professionals” do such a crappy job of connecting with others? From what I have observed, most people don’t really know what to say or do to make powerful and meaningful connections.

To break through any obstacles, I interviewed Michael Hughes, the guru of networking. Here are his valuable opinions, pointers, and tips; all of which are in total alignment with my process on how to ethically OutSell Yourself.

Kelly: What is the biggest mistake people make when networking?

Michael: The biggest (and most common) mistake professionals make when networking is…

10 Reasons Why Buyers Go Missing and How to Follow-up

• Jul 6th, 2011
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If a company or individual didn’t buy immediately, missed a scheduled follow-up, or didn’t respond to your messages, it could be for many reasons. (FYI, the following excerpt is from my book, OutSell Yourself: Go From Hello to Sold with Ethical Business and Sales Techniques.)

Here are 10 reasons why buyers go missing and the actions you can take to reconnect.

1. They died. Unless you’re in the funeral business, this probably isn’t good news. Check in later to find out who is now looking after things.

2. Someone else died. Send a card.

3. They had a deadline of their own. Call and say, “I understand. Given the current situation, when would you like me to contact you?”

Why Not Ask “Why”?

• Jun 16th, 2011
• 1 Comment

“Why” questions can certainly provide you with important information. Unfortunately people tend to become defensive when asked “why.” They feel judged.

Imagine if someone were repeatedly asking you “why” you were thinking or feeling a certain way. Even if they had your best interest at heart, you’d probably feel challenged. For most people, their common reaction would be to withhold information or defend their position. Does this remind you of any relationships you’ve been in?

How I Use LinkedIn for Business

• Jun 14th, 2011
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1. Reach out to the Indirect Competition:

Last week, I invited yet another expert who speaks professionally to join my LinkedIn network. In his reply in-mail he said, “Really curious about why you chose to connect with me?” Here was my reply:

Hi Frank,

Even though we both speak professionally, we have different areas of expertise in business; yet we have a similar target market. From past experience, I have found that this connection can create great opportunities for my LinkedIn community to learn about you and vice versa.

How I Avoid Doing A ‘Data Dump’ When Selling

• Jun 9th, 2011
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Many of us have sounded like a salesperson at one time or another. You know what I’m talking about. It’s when we blab on about those “Wonderful products and services!”

Please! What customer in their right mind would tell that kind of seller what they really wanted or what the true budget was? Not me.

I wouldn’t trust anyone who tried to sound or even act like a professional seller. This means that there were times when I wouldn’t even buy from myself. What an empowering thought.

Here is how I now avoid doing A ‘Data Dump’ when speaking to clients.

3 Tips to Build Profitable Connections through Social Networking

• May 13th, 2011
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Upload the ‘Know You, Love You!’ Crowd

1. Upload your email database into Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Then invite people from your past jobs, school, etc. into those social networks.

We tend to do business with people we know and like. And if your friends aren’t potential clients for you, they may know someone who is!

Why Selling to Women is Like Dating

• May 4th, 2010
• 1 Comment

Men you need to know that selling to a woman is a lot like dating. You’ll either make a great first impression or you’ll strike out. The ball is in your court.

So what’s a guy to do? I recommend you familiarize yourself with some of the fatal mistakes men make on a date, as well as when selling. Then apply some new approaches and fast.

To help you, here is some really good-to-know information.