5 Killer Mistakes – Part 1

There are 5 big mistakes that will kill a deal with a big fish. They are: Not meeting the client’s expectations; Mishandling a client crisis; Taking on more than you can handle; Putting all your eggs in one basket; Up cash creek without a paddle. Any one or combination of these may not only kill the partnership, but also has the ability to take down your entire company. We’re going to take a bit of time to discuss each one of these; in this lesson we’ll cover the first two. Not Meeting Client’s Expectations It is essential you give your

Continue Reading »

Keep Up the Momentum

The last post focused on negotiating with your big fish and how you can nurture and build on the relationships you are creating. Today we’ll discuss the power your fish has and how to utilize that for your benefit. One of the most important aspects of this is to keep your cheerleader cheering. This refers to the ally you created in the company that needs to stay loyal to you in order for you to continue a profitable partnership with your fish. There are a number of ways to keep your champion in your corner, such as: Sharing the limelight;

Continue Reading »

Bring Them Flowers

There are a few things you must do to prepare for your first face-to-face meeting: Make a list of what you want to accomplish during the meeting; Anticipate potential concerns from the client; Check to ensure you are completely prepared; Listen more than you talk; Bring support staff with you; Use and respect the client’s format; Always follow through; Ask for what you need and seal the deal; Simplify your prospect’s life; Find ways to boost your credibility; Build and nurture relationships; Learn from “no”. Find out what didn’t work so you know how to change it going forward. These

Continue Reading »

Who’s Your MVP?

The previous post dealt with making first contact with your prospective big fish and how to make a positive first impression. Today we’re going to cover feeling out the personality of your prospective big fish in order to match the right salesperson to the fish. You need to do this in two steps: Profile your salespeople’s personalities; Match the right salesperson to your target fish. There are essentially three different selling personalities: Sage Pal Pit Bull The Sage This salesperson offers knowledge, experience, comfort and trust. They can make a concerned customer feel at ease. In order to be successful

Continue Reading »

The Perfect Bait

Our last post covered how to learn about your big fish and prepare for your initial contact with them. This first contact is essential to your success so you will need to instill confidence in them. They need to know you can fulfill exactly what you are offering on time, at a good price, and of the quality you promise. Today we will explore the big approach and how to make that perfect first impression. Before you devise your plan of approach, you need to identify which big fish you will be targeting. Review your notes and research you’ve compiled

Continue Reading »