Sell For Getting Money

9 Strategies for Writing Accounts Payable Procedures

2009-11-22T05:49:00.000-08:00

by: Chris Anderson

You have permission to publish this article free of charge, as long as the resource box is included with the article. If you do run my article, a courtesy reply to sean@bizmanualz.com would be greatly appreciated. This article is 1,067 words long including the resource box. Thanks for your interest.

The Cash to Cash Cycle
Part Four of Series

Part One: http://www.bizmanualz.com/articles/01-05-05_inventory_procedures.html/?ART78

Part Two: http://www.bizmanualz.com/articles/01-11-05_accounts_receivable.html/?ART79

Part Three: http://www.bizmanualz.com/articles/01-18-05_Sales_Marketing.html/?ART80

Next Week: Complete Cash to Cash Cycle

The white flag is just a nose away…toward the Million dollar prize in cash savings for your business…

So far, in Inventory and Accounts Receivable, we've found $250,000 each in cash savings. Then we found another 250K in Sales and Marketing. And so, now, Accounts Payable is the final process within the Cash to Cash Cycle - and also the final $250,000.

The cash cycle is undoubtedly the single most important process to optimize for any business – from when you spend money to when you get money.

Circling the Cash to Cash Cycle

So let’s tie this back to accounts payable - the event that pays for the liability incurred by purchasing, which is for inventory required by manufacturing to meet demand. Sales generate this demand that creates the accounts receivables, which is turned into cash. And now we have come full circle and completed the discussion on the cash to cash cycle.

Increasing the Velocity of Accounts Payable Processes

Your accounts payable is a bit different than the other processes we have examined so far. The first three processes we looked at represented processes where the focus was on reducing the size of assets (inventory or accounts receivable) or expenses (marketing) and increasing the velocity or cycle time. But in accounts payable our focus is on increasing the size of the asset, while maintaining a solid credit rating - and increasing the velocity of the process.

Now let’s look at how to find $250,000 in accounts payable savings. If your organization has $500,000 in accounts payable each month, then STOP! We can find $250,000 in savings right here. Where, you ask? Increasing payables by 25% will produce $125,000 in cash plus $125,000 from automating tasks, taking more discounts, and managing the process better.

Service Business Procedures Case Study

An organization with $600,000 in monthly payables needed assistance. We examined their payables process to understand and quantify workflow, paper processing and credit issues. Then we designed and implemented a process to increase their use of payables and discounts, improve their payables cycle efficiency, and tie it to their purchasing and receivable cycles. We then reinvested $50,000 back into an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) program to automate some of the processes that weren’t automated already.

The metrics we developed reduced their purchasing & payables expenses by 25% and increased their efficiency from 50% to 75% within 2 months of implementing the new procedures. With these new processes and reports, the company now tracks payables cycle efficiency and average days payables, rather than just bills paid on time or outstanding balance, as the measure of their payables effectiveness. The result: an extra $300,000 in cash plus a 50% increase in process capability (capacity).

But how?

Methods to Design Your News Accounts Payable and Accounting Procedures

• Eliminate Paper. The single biggest cost for any purchasing and payables department is paper, including: purchase orders, purchase order follow-up, small-dollar purchases, delivery tracking & receipts, and vendor payments. Utilizing paperless invoices, Web-based supplier self-servicing, centralized vendor files, automated workflows for electronic or imaged invoices (see ERP below), and payment methods, such as business credit cards, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), can reduce paper handling costs by as much as 90%.

• Integrate ERP Systems. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) automates the purchasing and payables functions, which allows a company to get more work done with fewer personnel. Also, electronic invoice matching applications save time in retrieving paperwork. It is estimated that an ERP system can annually save an organization $300 per million in sales.

• Increase Payment Terms. Negotiate payment terms based on receipt of goods or the invoice. This can add one week or more to your terms, which can be 25% of 30 day terms. Use EFT for just-in-time payments to maximize your payables terms and minimizing the impact to your credit.

• Take Payment Discounts. If you are getting 2%/10 net 30 terms, then consider taking it. This means you are offered a 2% discount if you pay within 10 days, instead of the normal 30 day terms. This translates into an 18% return on your capital, and for many organizations this is a good return on your investment.

• Review Purchases. Purchasing is a continuous process that requires continuous review. Consider: transportation charges, expedited fees, odd lot penalties, new pricing, new products, consolidating vendors, new vendors or buying groups, payment terms, and more. Communicate with your suppliers to improve the process. And review and monitor everything to account for changes in your environment.

• Communicate with Suppliers. Communicate with your suppliers to improve the process. Ask suppliers to submit their invoices electronically. This will save you time, resources and losses due to waste.

• Eliminate Disputes. Disputes with your suppliers are typically the result of a problem with your purchasing/receiving process. When disputes occur, review your purchasing procedures to ensure that they are producing the correct metrics and that you are not forced to pay for your mistakes.

• Reduce Errors. Overpayments, payments made to the wrong vendors, fake invoices, or even late payments represent a common problem for payables. Increasing your focus on error control, along with written procedures and audits, can reduce these errors considerably.

• Train personnel. Provide your accounts payable staff with regular formal training. This will arm them with better knowledge of frauds, negotiating skills, and an understanding of the economics of payables – which will result in improved effectiveness.

Accounting Policies and Procedures for Cash in the Bank

In the past few weeks, we have showed you four parts of your financial statements that will each contribute $250,000 in cash savings. The last hurdle was Accounts Payable, and we sailed through it. And now we have crossed our final goal: $1,000,000!

Time was - and is - the key. All you have to do is own it. And, remember, next week we will put together each of the four elements of the cash to cash cycle, and look at how it affects the working capital of your business.

About the author:
Chris Anderson is currently the managing director of Bizmanualz, Inc. and co-author of policies and procedures manuals, producing the layout, process design and implementation to increase performance.

To learn how to increase your business performance, visit:

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10 Powerful Ways To Grow Your Income

2009-02-27T07:49:00.001-08:00

by: John Karnish

1. Don't forget to follow up with your customers. You could follow up with a related product, service or affiliate program. Follow up every month or so with a new product and watch your wallet grow.

2. You can always upsell to your customers. When they reach your order page, let them know about a few extra related products that you sell. This is a great way to squeeze more profit from each customer.

3. Let your customers refer new customers for a full rebate of their purchase. This could easily turn one sale into three or four.

4. Let your customers know about your affiliate program. Work in how they only have to refer a few people in order to pay back their purchase price and make a profit.

5. Sell resell rights to your product or even sell a brandable version. You can include an ad for similar products and make money off of the sales and also make money selling the resell rights to your product as a back end.

6. Create a package with other people’s products. You could include a sample and offer the product owners a portion of the referral sales from the sample. This is an easy way of having other people sell your product for you.

7 Offer your customers a discount on a related product. Since they all ready have built a relationship with them, you could push a higher ticket product.

8. Send your customers offers for add-ons to your original products. You could easily offer upgrades, related services, software and so on. If they enjoyed the original product, they’ll buy the add-ons.

9. Sell gift certificates for your products. You'll make money from the sales of the gift certificates and you can follow up with related products in order to profit from future sales.

10. Send your customers freebies. You could place an ad for your website on bumper stickers, baseball hats, t-shirts and so forth. Through indirect exposure, people will visit your website and purchase.

About the author:
John Karnish is the founder of OptInIncome.Net, a free membership site devoted to building responsive mailing lists. Get “so many subscribers that your autoresponder demands a raise!”

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Writing Articles as an Affordable Internet Marketing Method

2009-02-27T07:45:00.000-08:00

by: Kevin Oorlynck

From Overture, a keyword suggestion tool, you will see the millions of searches done to a certain keyword. When these keywords are typed on search boxes of search engines, indexed websites containing articles with those keywords will be displayed. And this is what leads traffic to websites with keyword-rich articles. Yes, the magic word is articles.

Content is king. You can say that again. That is why writing articles is one of the most utilized Internet marketing media today. Internet surfers just can't get enough of information on various fields. Providing information through these articles is a surefire way to drive hot traffic to your web site.

Why is this so? Here are the benefits that writing articles can give your Internet business.

1. It's absolutely free.

Too good to be true? Not. Okay, you have to pay for your Internet Service Provider. That's it. All you need is your thoughts, your computer, and your hands. If you have those, nothing will stop you from typing words that will make you complete that article for your website. On which aspect of that process did you really shell out any cent? Maybe later when your electric bills come.

2. Your website will be noticed in a short period of time.

Submit that article of yours to article directories that get the most web traffic and in no time your web site will be crawled. That is if you don't forget including your resource box or byline.

3. Obtain back links automatically.

When you submit your articles to directories, surely, other websites will make use of your article too. With the copyright terms of your articles, the URL of your website will still be intact and will subsequently direct more traffic to your website.

4. Improve your reputation.

As an Internet marketer, if you plainly display your products on your website, you will not gain much conversion rate. Conversion is when your traffic converts to sales. You have to show that you are knowledgeable on your field. And what better way to show that than by writing articles that will allow you some bragging rights, right?

Just make your creative juices flow and jot down or key in those ideas quickly to jumpstart your article writing momentum. With those benefits listed above, a writer's block is the last problem you will ever be able to surmount. But that's another story...

About The Author

Kevin Oorlynck is the editor of the Wealth:Time4Evolution! (www.internet-marketing-evolution.com) Newsletter and Webmaster of the Evolution Resources Center (wealth.time4evolution.com/ERC) ~~ Feel free to reprint this article as long as you let this resource box attached And an active link to http://wealth.time4evolution.com is required.

This article was posted on October 28, 2005

Ways To Increase Traffic by Writing Articles

2009-02-27T07:39:00.000-08:00

by: Chet Holcomb

Writing articles is the fastest and easiest way to get a stampede of people to your website who recognize your name by your signature and adhere to what you recommend.

Most people reason that finding information in articles, forums, and discussion groups is a primary method of getting good information, and odds are that they were somewhat of an expert on that subject, and if they were experts then products and services they sold or recommended were likely to be good.

You should always include a signature with your article, a few lines about your business, your website URL and/or email address. You will be amazed at the targeted traffic it will generate for you.

If you are having trouble getting started I understand, and can tell you that writing is hard work. But once you write the first article it seems to get much easier. In fact, you may discover that you have a hard time stopping!

6 Ways to get started writing articles:

1. Get a notepad and pen, or use a word processor or computer, and just brainstorm ideas for articles. The best source for an article is usually from experience, or knowledge you have acquired in the past. If you are at a total loss, go and read some articles in other's e-zines or websites. Once you get started you will come up with many ideas. Write each one down. If you think of a good title that includes a keyword about the article, write that down too, and include the keyword in the first sentence, or paragraph.

2. There are several ways writers work, depending on their personalities. You may like to order and organize your points first by making an outline of the information you plan to include or the points you intend to make. Then all you have to do is go back and "flesh out" the points, adding useful facts or links to more information.
Or, you may be a natural teacher, and write just as though you are explaining the subject to the reader in person. Either method is fine, just do what is comfortable for you. One method may work best for one kind of article and the other for another kind.

3. Add "personality" to your writing. Share some of yourself with your readers, make your writing uniquely your own. It's fine to read e-zines and others' articles to see what people may be interested in and spark your own ideas, but don't pattern yourself after someone else. People want to feel that they know You - Your knowledge and personality. This is what builds loyalty.
If it fits with your subject, don't be afraid to mention your product or service and give the URL or email address, but DON'T write a "glorified ad" and call it an article! That can offend a publisher so that they won't even consider articles from you in the future.

4. After you've finished writing your article, read it through aloud, preferably to someone else who will ask questions if they don't understand some point.

5. Run a spell checker! If you own Microsoft Word or something similar, run the grammar checker also. Have someone else proofread it for you. Even professional proofreaders will tell you that they try to have someone else proofread their own writing, because it is next to impossible to catch your own mistakes.

6. When you have finished your article and make the necessary changes, you will need to submit it to as many article directories as you can. Search the web for article directories to submit your article for free. There are also, paid services and software that will do the submissions for you, but you may want to wait until you have successfully written a few articles before you choose to pay.

Chet Holcomb of http://www.internetpromotions.biz is a successful marketing expert providing advice for web marketers and webmasters on how to promote your website, or product using marketing tools that work. His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

This article is free for republishing

Easy Money From Online Surveys

2009-01-22T06:03:00.000-08:00

Online surveys are a great way to make some extra money in your spare time. You are able to make quite a bit of money as there are now many market research companies that will pay you to do online surveys. These companies are making their money by selling the market research to large companies and they are sharing the profits with you and me.

Most if not all of the Fortune 500 companies survey their customers to get feedback on their products. They will also use surveys to get consumer feelings about new products that are still in development. Additionally, millions of other smaller companies conduct surveys for the same reasons. And many of the established online survey companies are simply divisions of larger corporations. It's no wonder they are paying out millions and millions of dollars to consumers for taking online surveys since it is so much cheaper and more focused than traditional advertising.

The market research companies that distribute the online surveys are trying to gauge your opinions and feelings of different products and services for their clients. By learning what their customers like and how they feel about products they are able to target existing and new products specifically for their current and future customers. Online surveys let companies find out where they are right, and wrong, about their products and change them to improve.

Market research companies know how valuable your opinion is to them and that is why they are willing to pay so well for your time and opinion. And they let you register with them for free because the more survey respondents they are able to get into their databases the more attractive they are to the companies looking for market information. Legitimate online survey sites won't ask you to pay to register with them, they are free to join.

Join as many online survey companies as possible. It is quick and easy to register with the online survey companies and joining at least 100 is good. I have joined over 300 online survey companies so far. By doing this you make sure you will never miss all the best paying survey opportunities. Also, create a separate email account for your surveys because you will get a lot of them everyday.

Check that email everyday for survey opportunities and make sure you respond. The online survey companies like to know that you are a reliable survey taker and will reward your diligence by sending you their best paying surveys.

All of this is great, but if you've ever tried to find out who the paying survey companies are by yourself you know that is is very time consuming. So membership sites have sprung up that act as middlemen. They offer you access to a list of paying survey companies for a fee of up to $79. Many people do this because they don't realize that it's not necessary to pay for a list of online survey companies.

There are other sites out there that say they will give you access to a list of paying online survey companies and all they want you to do is register with your name and email address. Well guess what? Even though registration is free you'll pay with your time since these companies will sell your email address. Then you'll find your inbox flooded with spam. Plus they don't even give you a complete listing, usually just a handful of the hundreds of online survey companies available.

There is an alternative to paying for this information either with money or your email address. You can keep looking until you find a site that gives you links to paying survey companies for free. Such a site won't ask you to pay for access to their list and they won't ask you to give up your email to register.

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Surveys are free to take and finding them should be free as well. Starting today you have access to the best free no strings attached online survey list available with over 300 companies and growing.
http://www.paid-survey-success.com

Who Put All These Trees in the Forest? Making Pre-show Promotion Stand Out!

2009-01-22T05:55:00.000-08:00

There's a lot of pressure on marketing departments today: a tightening economy and increasingly competitive environment means that every promotional effort must generate a positive return. Every decision has to be viewed critically, and that includes the decision to participate in tradeshows.

Show participation must, for many exhibitors, generate a positive, demonstrable ROI if exhibiting is to remain a viable part of the marketing strategy. This means taking advantage of every opportunity to maximize the return on show participation: before, during, and after the show. Many exhibitors do a great job at the show, but lackluster or non-existent efforts prior to and after the event sabotage their efforts. For those marketing professionals who believe in the core value of exhibiting and the face-to-face relationship building that is part and parcel of exhibiting, this has placed renewed emphasis on the value of pre-show promotion.

Pre-show promotion is the single most valuable step any exhibitor can take to help drive traffic to the exhibit, up the percentage of high-value, qualified leads, and ensure a positive ROI. After all, to start and reinforce valuable business relationships, you have to have contact with the show attendees. They need a reason to visit your exhibit -- to pinpoint and find one booth out of the hundreds on the show floor. Pre-show marketing can provide that reason.

This isn't exactly news -- and although the vast majority of exhibitors aren't doing any pre-show promotion, those companies that are, have been steadily increasing their efforts. How can your pre-show promotion stand out in a crowded environment?

Here are three effective strategies to consider:

1. Smart E-Mail

E-mail is everywhere: almost everyone checks their e-mail several times a day. Yet few exhibitors are making use of this tool to promote their tradeshow participation. Mention any show specials you may be running, as well as events, classes, and seminars your organization is a part of. Use strategically timed e-mails to remind your clients and potential clients to visit your booth at the tradeshow. Mention any show specials you may be running, as well as events, classes, and seminars your organization is a part of.

Timing is crucial. You don't want to send your reminder emails too early, as they'll be overlooked. Sending e-mails too late isn't any better! Aim for three emails, one a month before the show, one a week before the show, and one a day or two before the show.

Don't forget the signature line on your regular, everyday business email. Altering it to include a mention of your tradeshow participation is a subtle yet effective way to promote the event.

2. Trade Journal Inserts

Any time you conduct a direct mail campaign, you do so in the knowledge that the vast majority of your efforts go unseen. The lion's share of direct mailings are never delivered, much less read. Considered 'junk mail', it winds up in the trash, where it doesn't do you or your prospective attendee any good.

Industry journals, on the other hand, are almost always delivered. They're also consistently read at a much higher rate than most direct mail efforts. Some savvy exhibitors have begun promoting their tradeshow participation with trade journal inserts. These small postcard-sized advertisements are tucked into the journals before they're mailed, highlighting your organization's upcoming show appearances. This isn't a common strategy yet, so you benefit from being unique and targeted. A very cost-effective strategy!

3. Lumpy Mail

Lumpy mail has a funny name, but it's a powerful pre-show promotional strategy. Sending a mailing that is literally lumpy -- an envelope containing something -- generates curiosity in the recipient. One exhibitor actually sent potential attendees a message in a plastic bottle -- and got a great response rate. Consider what 'lumps' you could send to your attendees!

One strategic use of the lumpy mail strategy involves including a premium item the prospective attendee has to bring to your booth to exchange for another, higher value item. A variation of this is to send an item that is useless on its own -- one glove, for example -- along with the message that the missing component -- the second glove -- can be picked up at your booth.

Written by Susan A. Friedmann,CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, internationally recognized expert working with companies to increase their profitability at tradeshows.
Author: "Riches in Niches: How to Make it BIG in a small Market" and "Meeting & Event Planning for Dummies." Claim your free copy of "Exhibiting Success" at http://www.thetradeshowcoach.com & http://www.richesinniches.com

Maximizing Your Price in a Soft Economy

2009-01-22T05:50:00.000-08:00

Establishing maximum value for your price is never easy. In today's volatile economy, it's even more of a challenge. For most companies, costs are increasing, yet the ability to pass them along to the customer is fraught with numerous roadblocks. The customer's response to a price increase is rarely positive, with the usual line of objections that go along with it. In addition, there are the concerns that a competitor's price may undercut yours or that the customer may choose to go down a different path instead of buying from you at all. As big as these issues are, they pale in comparison to the number one roadblock to maximizing your price point: the confidence of the salesperson.

The main reason why companies do not capitalize on their potential revenue is because their salespeople do not have the confidence to ask for and receive the highest price point. If a salesperson is secure in what they are selling and in knowing how the customer will benefit from their products/services, then they will be confident in asking for and getting the desired price point. The problem is that many times the salesperson lacks confidence in at least one of these areas, resulting in their inability to make their sales quota.

To rectify this problem, it's important to examine how the salesperson first developed a lack of confidence in their ability to maximize their price points. Generally, it stems from a sale they perceived to be lost because their price had been too high. On the surface, their assumption probably appeared to be correct. However, in reality, it just seemed that way because the right price-value relationship had not been established. If the salesperson had executed a proper sales strategy that allowed both himself and the customer to see the product's/service's true value, this could have been avoided. It needs to be communicated that in a B to B environment, the benefits are to both the buyer and the business they're buying it for. In a B to C environment, the benefits are to both the buyer and to the person(s) who will actually use the product or service. When the salesperson and the customer understand this, it can help erase the uncertainty that the price may pose.

Let me give you two quick examples. If a person works for a mega-global company and is buying widgets, he'd have no problem spending a little on them if he knew he was buying them from a reputable company that has experience selling to other mega-global companies. In essence, the customer is looking for confidence and is willing to pay for it. In a B to C situation, because the customer doesn't want to look like a fool for their purchase, they want the salesperson to provide them with enough emotional benefit to allow them to convey to others that they made a great decision. In both situations, an inexperienced salesperson is going to lose the sale if they don't take the time to use questions that encourage the customer to fully express their needs. In general, new salespeople often lose the sale shortly after they've stated their price. Thus, it's only natural for them to believe that the price was the determining factor. However, when digging below the surface, the price was not what prevented them from closing the deal. Rather, they lost the sale because they didn't ask enough questions to fully establish the needs of the customer.

Top-performing salespeople ask questions that allow the customer to elaborate on their needs and then demonstrate their listening skills by asking appropriate open questions and probing deeper with great follow-up questions. They use the information that they learn to better explain how their product or service can be beneficial to the customer. In my 25 plus years of selling, I've learned that the customer's real needs, hurts, and wants don't often surface until you're demonstrated genuine interest in what their thoughts and goals are. Ironically, this means that you can throw out their initial comments, as it is rarely the need they are looking to fill. If you expect to base your price-value relationship on what you first hear, you'll never come close to achieving your maximum price point.

In summary, today's economy is full of opportunities for top performing salespeople to ask really good questions that get customers talking. This allows both the customer and the salesperson to see, feel, and understand what their true needs are. When the salesperson can experience this across multiple customers, they will begin to develop the assurance they need to be able to confidently convey the maximum price point their company expects them to receive.

Mark Hunter, "The Sales Hunter", is a sales expert who speaks to thousands each year on how to increase their sales profitability. For more information, to receive a free weekly email sales tip or to read his Sales Motivation Blog, visit http://www.TheSalesHunter.com.

Call-Killing Phrase

2009-01-03T06:31:00.001-08:00

How often have you started a call to a friend, family member or business associate with the phrase, "How are you?" I'm willing to bet the answer is a lot. I know I say it frequently. It's commonly used as a greeting, as a "hello."

Because "How are you?" is so commonly used, how often have you started your introductory calls with this phrase? If you do use this phrase as an opening for your introductory call, please stop immediately. It's an introductory call-killer, and this is why:

1. If you ask this question, you must be prepared for the answer. What if your prospect answers, "I'm having a lousy day. My back hurts, I have a cold, I hate my job and my wife left me yesterday"? Do you really care? Is this the reason for your pho.ne call?

2. You lose control of the call. (This is probably the most important reason.) If your prospect does respond, "I'm having a lousy day. My back hurts, I have a cold, I hate my job and my wife left me yesterday," how are you going to get the call back on track?

3. It's a set up, a tip off to your prospect that you are making a s.ales call. It gives your prospect the opportunity to say, "I'm busy. What do you want?" (See number 2 above.)

Similar issues apply with the introductory call-killing phrases, "May I have a moment of your time?" and/or "Is this a good time to talk?"

With both of these phrases, you lose control of the call right at the beginning, before you've had a chance to say anything at all. If the prospect answers, "no," the call is over. These are also both tip off phrases. Friends, family and important business colleagues would probably not say, "May I have a moment of your time?" or "Is this a good time to talk?" Only someone making a s.ales call would use this language, and it's all too easy for your prospect to respond negatively.

I know that many of you reading this will argue, "Wendy, it's polite. It's polite to say, 'How are you?' as a greeting and it's polite to ask permission to speak." There are, however, many ways to greet a prospect - saying "hello" works just fine. It is also equally polite to simply introduce yourself and get to the point. This is not only polite, it's respectful of your prospect's time, it's more effective and it allows you to retain control of the conversation.

In order to be truly effective prospecting or selling by pho.ne, it is imperative to control the conversations you have with prospects. You want to set yourself up to have the best possible conversation that you can have with any given prospect. While it is true that not all prospects will respond badly to the above phrases, why take the chance? Why risk blowing a lead at the beginning of the call if something as simple as not starting out with, "How are you?" can totally eliminate that possibility?

Say hello. Introduce yourself. Get to the point and say what you have to say. Then ask for what you want. This is the formula for a successful introductory call. Save the "How are you?" question for those whose answers really interest you.

Wendy Weiss, "The Queen of Cold Calling," is a s.ales trainer, author and s.ales coach. Her recently released program, Cold Calling College, and/or her book, Cold Calling for Women, can be ordered by visiting http://www.wendyweiss.com. Contact her at wendy@wendyweiss.com. Get Wendy's free e-zine at http://www.wendyweiss.com.

Email Advertising

2009-01-03T06:30:00.001-08:00

I thought it might be good to talk about a few of my likes and dislikes about email advertising. I have picked up a few good pointers over the years. Even though a lot of these may be known or said before they are worth repeating.After all the whole idea is get people to read your emails (not DELETE) in the hope that they will sign up or buy whatever you are promoting.

1) One of the first things you are going to want to do is make sure you don't go across in your email more than 65 characters a line. There are 2 reasons for this and the first is what is known as "eye fatigue". What this means is if the person reading has to go across too far to the right the reader loses interest. The second reason is some email clients have what is called line wrapping which means your message will come out all garbled if it is over 65 characters.

2) Next thing is avoid using all capitals. When a person uses all capitals on the internet it is considered shouting and nobody likes shouting all the time. Gilbert Godfrey shouts all the time and at first it is funny but then you come to expect it and eventually he's not funny anymore. So be creative. The odd CAPITALIZED word can add variety however, and can make a product or benefit stand out in your email.

3) The next thing after that is one of my personal pet peeves. I can't stand emails that are full of bad grammar.Bad spelling doesn't hurt your professional image it flat out DESTROYS it. It makes me think the guy on the other end can't be bothered to proof read his emails which in my mind makes him a bit of a no mind.

4) Another pertinent practice you are going to want to do on a regular basis is put your link to your site in your email no less than 3 times. You know the old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words". Chances are your website has all the interesting pictures or videos you'll need to capture your prospect's interest so make that the goal. Space them out evenly through your email and make sure they work by sending yourself one of your emails. Then CLICK on it to see if it works.I can't tell you how many people have sent me links that don't work.

5) For goodness sake don't be long winded. A little info..then your link..a little more info..then your link..well you get it. What I want to know is who are these people who babble on and on.yama yama.. yama.. bla.. bla..little do they know is I went to the kitchen to get a fork so I can stab MYSELF in the EYE rather than read anymore. Short and sweet or KISS (keep it simple stupid) is the KEY.

6) Sometimes we are tempted to use uncommon fonts or really loud colors in an attempt to dress up our email. I must confess I used to do this just because I liked the all the fun tools, colors, and smiley's in my email arsenal. All it did was make me look gimmicky and silly along with my program. Remember you are trying to build trust and integrity on the net. Using Ariel, Times New Roman, or Courier as a font style is professional looking enough.

7) When it comes to your subject line this is where you want to grab them. If you follow the rich jerk's advice he recommends you can even say something shocking like "YOUR UGLY" or "HEY STUPID" however, one must be careful here.Trial and error here with one's own personality will make you look unique (as compared to all those other emails)and will get people opening your emails.I do confess that I have clicked on "HEY UGLY" just out of curiosity. I don't know if I want to be in business with someone that obnoxious though. I guess it depends on whether you are building long term relationships or just looking for the fast sale.

8)You may want to tell the odd clean joke in your emails. Especially if you are loading then into an auto responder. You'll find people will look forward to your emails just because they can get a chuckle out of them.

So there you are. Hope you found this article on email advertising usefu

Selling With Your Personality

2008-12-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

Anyone can sell if the price is cheap enough or if what is being sold is something people can't live without. However, for the vast majority of us, neither of these luxuries are part of the scenario. The difficulty of selling is compounded by the fact that most customers have a wide range of options available to them regarding what they can buy. Therefore, in order to close the sale, it becomes necessary for us to stand out from other salespeople. One of the best ways to be different is by displaying a confident personality.

A powerful sales tool that many of us overlook is our personality. It positively and negatively influences far more sales than we will ever admit to. I firmly believe that you should use your personality to impact every sales call. "CPP" is a concept I often teach to sales groups. It stands for "Confidently Passionate Personality" and it means to use your personality with a level of passion and confidence that allows the customer to believe you are genuinely interested in them and their success. Although it's not rocket science, it is a critical idea that is often neglected and is very useful in helping you gain sales over your competition.

Note that in order to successfully use your personality on a sales call, you have to be confident in how you can help your customers. Unfortunately, many salespeople are simply confident in what they're selling, not in their ability. There's a big difference. When you're confident in what you're selling, it means you're putting more emphasis on your products or services than you are on your customers. This misunderstanding eliminates a large number of salespeople from being able to use their personality to positively influence their ability to close. Confidence should not come across as manipulation. I'm sure we all know salespeople with infectious personalities that use them to bulldoze their way through with customers. On the surface, they're very successful, at least for the short term. However, those who have a manipulative personality will lull themselves into a false sense of security when, in reality, they're destroying their long-term sales potential.

A confident salesperson is willing to take the time to find out what the real needs of their customers are. They don't jump at the person's first comment and try to close the deal. Their genuine interest helps expose the underlying needs that the customer may otherwise not be willing to share. Confident salespeople believe so strongly in themselves and their ability to help that they're not concerned with making a quick sale. Rather, they want to make a great sale, which is usually much bigger and more profitable than a quick one.

Furthermore, when you're genuinely confident in yourself as a salesperson and how you can help people, it's impossible to keep from showing your passion. The word "passion" is usually heard in the context of someone being passionately in love with another person. This is not what I'm talking about. The "passion" that I'm referring to is showing genuine care and concern for helping the customer. This means that you're willing to not only take interest in what they are telling you, but to also dig deeper, even if it takes you down a line of questioning you had not planned on. The true test in demonstrating passion towards a customer is if after you've determined their needs and discovered that they are not in line with what you are selling, you would be willing to refer them to someone else. That's passion! Yes, it may mean giving up a sale, but I guarantee that if you truly are passionate towards your customers, you'll end up with far more sales in the long-run than the person who is not.

Finally, to successfully use your personality as a sales tool, you must be someone that people like to associate with. Negative or self-serving personalities will not see positive results. Your personality must be upbeat in both actions and words, and should be complimentary to everyone you come in contact with. Attractive personalities do not get easily upset with issues, are willing to help find solutions, and are optimistic. They are inviting rather than exclusive, and they cause others to be willing to share openly. Very simply, an attractive personality is one you would like to hang out with.

To determine your level of confidence, ask yourself the following two questions.

* Do customers call you for information that goes beyond what you sell?

* Do customers willingly refer you to others?

Although they are simple questions, the responses they elicit can quickly tell you if your personality is confident, but not arrogant.

Having a "Confidently Passionate Personality" is not something every salesperson can achieve. However, for the vast majority, it is attainable if they're willing to show genuine interest in their customers. The questions they ask and the service they provide will allow their personalities to be the effective sales tool that differs from their competition.

Mark Hunter, "The Sales Hunter", is a sales expert who speaks to thousands each year on how to increase their sales profitability. For more information, to receive a free weekly email sales tip, or to read his Sales Motivation Blog, visit www.TheSalesHunter.com.

FROM TOLD TO SOLD! Leverage Your Stories to Resonate with Prospects and Customers

2008-12-14T12:06:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard a story that could have been about you?
Ever heard a story that reminded you of another one?
What about a story that sounded vaguely familiar?
Welcome to the power of story.

Unlike facts and figures, that often leave us cold, stories connect! And they connect deeply, often stirring us emotionally at a heart level. That's what makes them memorable, and powerful as a sales tool.

The Prevalence of Stories
We're wired for stories! And since birth we've been conditioned to respond to stories. It's how we learned about our family and environment, culture and country, our religion, strangers and the world at large. We remember stories, and we tell ours and others, repeatedly. And stories aren't just transmitted orally. They are fed us in and out of school, through books, radio, newspapers, opera, television and even through the Internet.

Stories in Sales: Story Tell, Story Sell
I've written before about the use of short success stories to help you sell. I prefer a three-part story, utilizing a Setting-Situation-Solution format. Using this format, you soft sell a listener on what you did for past clients, what you did on past projects, or the difference a product or service of yours made in solving a problem, overcoming a challenge or generating a favorable outcome.

The Power of Archetypal Stories
Your stories can work on both conscious and unconscious levels with prospects and clients. When you tell a story that echoes an archetypal theme your listener nods in agreement on multiple levels. Think about the stories you tell as you sell. Do they mimic traditional themes that represent the human experience? For your stories to connect, I recommend they allude to one of various familiar archetypal themes:

- The hero's journey
- Coming of age
- The acquiring of wisdom
- Pacts with the devil / fooling the devil
- Tricking the tricksters

Using The Archetypal Advantage to Connect with Customers
Consider some of these story genres and motifs for your use in selling products, services, and loyalty to brand affiliations and organizations.

Cautionary Tales
Cautionary tales are stories that warn of danger or harm that awaits you if you do or don't follow a particular course of action. Think of the boy who cries wolf one too many times and was no longer trusted. Or the story of the three little pigs. These tales are great for selling products and services. Perhaps you tell your story about the client who didn't back up, buy insurance or create redundant systems.

The Achilles Heel
From Greek mythology we know the tale of Achilles, the great warrior with a fatal flaw. If your story involves a competitor's product and its fatal flaw, we'll nod knowingly in light of Achilles' fate.

The Hero's Journey
The late Joseph Campbell devoted his life to studying hero tales from around the world. We can all relate to an irrepressible hero on a noble quest. The struggles to overcome, obstacles to negotiate, and sacrifices endured on the way to ultimate success. When your story echoes this arc your listener can become the hero or heroine, or is otherwise rooting for them. That's the power of story.

Creation Stories
Stories that explain how the world was created, or why the universe, world or life came to be the way they are. Found in many cultures around the world, these stories frame the world we live in, explaining its origins. Your creation story may explain the lineage of a device, an industry or your company.

Pourquoi Stories
These stories tell you why and how things are. They are great for teaching purposes. Stories such as "how the leopard got its stripes" explain a natural phenomenon or a reality we all accept. You can tell these why stories to explain the advent of trends, policies, research and migration paths for products and services.

Cinderella Stories
That elusive match, the magical shoe that fits just one foot, the chase, search or quest that ends in a match. An unjust oppression that is transcended. The conquest of love. These are universal sentiments you can tap in your sales story. Your love story can meld two devices, technologies, cultures or even ingredients.

From Told to Sold
As you can see, there are countless themes that echo the human experience. And they work across cultures and borders. Many of these same themes and motifs are present in Asian, European, African, Native American and other cultures. When your story is built atop a familiar theme it's that much more believable, tangible and powerful. Sell it through stories and you'll live happily ever after!

San Francisco Bay Area-based Professional speaker Craig Harrison's Expressions of Excellence!� provides sales and service solutions through speaking. For information on keynotes, training, coaching, curriculum for licensing and more, call (888) 450-0664, visit http://www.ExpressionsOfExcellence.com or E-mail excellence@craigspeaks.com

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2008-12-11T01:39:00.000-08:00

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