Increase Your Influence, Increase Your Sales

Written by Eln Albert


Selling is everyone’s lifeblood whether they realize it or not. We all sell inrepparttar sense that we attempt to convince others to go our way. That isrepparttar 136018 way that we want something to go whether we are convincing our children, our coworkers, bosses, spouses, clients or customers.

There is a style of convincing others, influencing or “selling” for everyone. Understand we are usingrepparttar 136019 term “selling” here very loosely. I bet many of you are saying, “I don’t sell people. I hate that!” Although this may sound like it’s about sales, it really isn’t. You’ll understand shortly but indulge me for a minute. There are several types of popular styles of selling: relationship selling, non-manipulative selling, pressure selling, what’s-important-about-that-to-you selling. Whatever approach and philosophy that works for you is fine. Actually, we’re not trying to change your personal style of selling. But if we can give you additional insight to influencing others regardless of who they are, would that be helpful? “Yes.”

Let me ask you, when you really connect with someone, isn’t that a wonderful experience? When this happens, you connect with them and feel closer in a shorter period of time then with someone else you may have known for years. What happens here? You click, connect, have great rapport, and there may even be chemistry between you. You know you are being heard and listened too. Wow, isn’t that wonderful when it happens! Wouldn’t it be great if we could increase our opportunities to connect with each other in general? It can be done.

There is a universal unspoken language based on observable behavior. What that means is, we can seerepparttar 136020 behavior just by watching others. We look for tone of voice, pace, body language and words used. These arerepparttar 136021 clues that help us to identify how to communicate better with that person.

Research has shown that behavioral characteristics can be grouped together into four quadrants or styles. People with similar styles tend to exhibit specific types of behavior common to that style. A person’s behavior is a reflection of who they are naturally. According to William A. Marston, “All people exhibit all four behavioral factors in varying degrees of intensity.”

This model categorizes how we act. Nothing more. It is simply used as a tool for more effective communications between people. Sound good? You bet.

In allrepparttar 136022 cultures studied,repparttar 136023 model has been found to be valid. All cultures have people who are outgoing, expressive and animated. All cultures have people who are more cool, aloof, introverted and analytical. Ask yourself, is this person people-oriented or task-oriented? Are they an introvert or an extrovert? Because you can learn to seerepparttar 136024 answers, it is observable. It is a universal language because it has no cultural boundaries. Are you intrigued? You’re probably saying, that’s all great but how does this apply to me getting my way? Oh, we are so self-centered at times. When you are getting your way, I trust it is forrepparttar 136025 benefit of all who are affected byrepparttar 136026 decision. Because what we are talking about is not for self-centeredness, manipulation or control.

Any time we have greater understanding of ourselves, it provides us opportunities to makerepparttar 136027 best of an interpersonal communication process. That insight provides a solid foundation from which to move forward. If we know we have a particular habit that may interfere withrepparttar 136028 communication process; we can work on improving how we communicate. For example, if we know we are notrepparttar 136029 best listeners inrepparttar 136030 world, we can work to improve our listening skills. If we tend to come on too strong for some people, we may choose to tame it down in those situations. When you know yourself, you haverepparttar 136031 choice to modify your own behavior sorepparttar 136032 other person can be ready to hear what you are saying. Let me repeat that, this is a very important point, “When you know yourself, you haverepparttar 136033 choice to modify your own behavior sorepparttar 136034 other person can be ready to hear what you are saying.”

Again this is not about manipulation or controlling others; it is taking control of ourselves! It is about you having a true desire to berepparttar 136035 best communicator you can possibly be. The goal is to communicate on a level sorepparttar 136036 family member, coworker or customer can relate to what you say. When we communicate in a manner that is appealing and open,repparttar 136037 person is more likely to feel connected to us and understand and be open to what is being said by you. The results are better communications for everyone’s benefit. Not only will it improve sales;repparttar 136038 benefits will spill over into all areas of communications in our personal and professional lives. Many of us need improved relationships with our family, friends, and customers, do you? Just simply having greater understanding ofrepparttar 136039 communication styles is a big step. We know we really can’t change others, only ourselves.

Website not selling? Twelve questions you should ask yourself

Written by David Bell


So your website is getting visitors, but not enough are buying. A common online problem, unfortunately. Here are twelve common faults found with websites that don't sell. If you answer no to any of them, you need to take action. 1)Does your text focus on emphasizingrepparttar benefits andrepparttar 135630 resultsrepparttar 135631 customer will get from purchasing and using it? Sales copy needs to be focused onrepparttar 135632 benefits torepparttar 135633 end user, not onrepparttar 135634 features ofrepparttar 135635 product. Listrepparttar 135636 features, and then translate them into benefitsrepparttar 135637 customer will get. Move away from "our Widget does this, this and this.." to "You will soon be doing this .." 2)Does your website convey enough strong benefits? Brainstorm to come up with a list of benefits. Rank them in order of importance. Then mention them in order throughoutrepparttar 135638 text, best first. Summarizing them with bullet points too also works great. 3)Does you text stimulaterepparttar 135639 emotions? People buy withrepparttar 135640 heart notrepparttar 135641 head - so try and stimulate emotions - use words to paint a picture of life after they've bought your product " Imaginerepparttar 135642 freedom of no more back pain..." or "...money worries could soon be a thing ofrepparttar 135643 past, and you could soon be taking those exotic vacations...". 4))Doesrepparttar 135644 headline grab and draw you in? You've got to try to stop them dead in their tracks withrepparttar 135645 headline. Userepparttar 135646 best benefit of your product, and create interest so they read on. Make it hard hitting, but not unbelievable. 5)Do you have a call to action? People put off decisions, even if they're 90% sold on your product, they may still decide to "sleep on it". Don't let them have time to forget - give them an incentive to purchase now - discounts, bonuses etc. 6)Does your website load and function ok? Slow load times may cause people to get impatient and go elsewhere, even though it registers a visit. Do all links work, and more importantly, have you tested your order page by running dummy orders? 7)Do you have any testimonials from satisfied customers?

Testimonials are everywhere online, and people expect them as a matter of course. Ask those who have purchased what they thought -email them a simple customer satisfaction survey, offer a freebie for replying and userepparttar 135647 best comments. If your product is free,try a testimonial swap with a seller of a complementary (but not directly competing) product -offer to review his product if he reviews yours.

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