Salespeople are people, too

Most people are busy.  Demands from bosses, the public, family, friends.  None of it is malicious, but it all takes up valuable time and what I call "brain power," the power to keep motivation high enough to be productive, rather than just sitting back on the couch or taking a nap or going out for a drink with the friends.

Then there's the salespeople.  They come at you from all angles -- phoning just as you are sitting down to a meal, knocking on your door, stepping up to the counter -- wanting your attention when you need to stay focused on the project at hand.

What do a majority of people do?  Nothing.  That's right; they ignore the salesperson.  Salespeople are just one step up from used car salesmen, which is just one step  up from lawyers, right?

Here's the reality, not the stories masquerading as jokes.

Those salespeople phoning in, knocking on your door, stepping up to the counter may live in your area, this is their livelihood -- their bread and butter.  This is how they make their living, the same way that you make yours, by working hard and keeping to the tasks at hand.

Most salespeople are proud of what they do, even passionate.  Essentially, they help businesses market themselves, with direct advertising opportunities, services to improve business, products that may be best sellers.  That is something to take pride in. 

 Just like you take pride in your work and your business,and are even passionate. 

What would you do if someone ignored you on something you felt passionate about?   Get frustrated, feel snubbed, get angry?  Doesn't make for warm fuzzies, does it?

So, if you ignore the salesperson, you are ignoring a potential customer.  Time for them to get frustrated, feel snubbed, get angry... well, you get the picture.

You are potentially making them frustrated enough to be vocal about it.  We're not talking I'm-griping-to-my-wife frustrated; we've got larger ways of reaching out now.  With the plethora of social networks, texting and mobile phones and apps, frustrated/angry and vocal are not what you want your business to be associated with.

Then there are the business owners who don't want to say "no" to the business person, but also don't want their product.  So they give this "maybe" answer or an answer that doesn't commit to buying but tells the salesperson that there's a chance.

When a salesperson has to call or contact you numerous times, and you feel good because you managed to not say "no," when you have zero intention of saying "yes," all you've done is created the frustrated, snubbed, angry salesperson, who I remind you again, is a real person.  With real spending power of their own, and family and friends who they can talk to about your business.

Here's some hints on how to deal with a salesperson when you feel your brainpower fast dwindling away. 

1. The salesperson might want more of your time than you can give him.  Let him know that you only have x number of minutes today.  Have him give you his quick pitch on whatever it is.  If the pitch is good enough and the product is good enough, you can ask him to come back at a specific time that is better for you, when you can spend more time going over the products.

2. Don't say "no" before you've even heard of what it is the salesperson is offering.  Give him a minute to do his "elevator pitch," yes, that's the quick one, and listen.  This might be the only chance you have to make a decision that could change the course of your business and raise profits. 

Saying no before you listen, is like someone standing on the sidewalk outside your business and saying "no" about going in because the door doesn't look like the building will have what he wants inside.  That doesn't make sense in any form.

3. If it's just not what you need, tell him.  Tell him "no, I'm not interested" or "this isn't right for my business" or "not in the budget."  Tell him the truth.  If it's no, then it's no. A good salesperson will say thank you and go about their business.  A good salesperson doesn't take it personally when something they are selling isn't a good fit for you. 

The salesperson will also have respect for you in your ability to make a reasoned judgement and decision for your business. That's somewhere I'd like to shop.

4. If it's yes, that means it's a positive situation for both of your businesses,and hopefully, the bottom line.  Go for it.

But no matter what, remember that no one likes to be snubbed, or turned away without a fair chance.  Salespeople are people, too.

Creating Word Art

I just found out about something that was really fun.  Word Art.

Not only is this fun, but you can put in any words you like, do color combinations, change layouts and more.  For this font and design junkie, it's a great way to spend an afternoon.

For others, it's a potential marketing boon.  I just created one for Smithville Texas, link below. 

Link to higher resolution version of Smithville Texas word art.

It may seem "fuzzy"  here, but if you go to the link, the colors and styles are crisp and clean for printing. 

What a great marketing tool.  It's fast, easy and all you have to do is be able to type or copy/paste some words.  The rest is pretty self explanatory. 

I was so proud of myself for this one.  All the wonderful, lovely, charming, quirky things about Smithville, Texas, the town I live in. 

I was so proud, I showed my teenage daughter.  She showed me how to make some words larger. 

Apparently, everyone already knew about this application.  I'll amend that, at least people my age, with whom I spend time.  I've never heard or seen of anything like this outside of art/print shops.  Guess I'll have to do more checking into this type of thing when I do see it. 

For those who want to try it out, it's free and easy.  Wordle.com  

For businesses, this is a wonderful way to put all of your services/product lines in one place in a very visual way.  All it takes is a bit of thought and you have a great marketing piece for the internet or to hang in your business.  And who knows more about you and your business than you do.  Piece of cake.  Get wordling...

Why Facebook's new Timeline should be popular

There hasn't been an uproar about a change since the Obama healthcare reform plan was announced, and I think Facebook's Timeline unpopularity, percentage-wise among users, is much higher than the scrap over any presidential act.  Timeline completely changes the look, feel and function of Facebook.  And people aren't happy.

Okay, technically, the function is the same.  But most of Facebook users aren't savvy enough to see it through the new photo blocks and information groupings.  Facebook, in its infancy, wasn't designed for people who understood computers or programs or anything much at all.  Facebook was set up for the kid who wanted to chat with his friend and post goofy photos or the grandma who wanted to see pictures of her granddaughter posted.

So, when did Facebook decide to be available for the higher end users?  The answer to that is -- all along.  Facebook staff have been refining the program since Day 1 and will continue to try and meet the needs and find answers for any issue that arises.  And becoming for graphically pleasing is what the younger generation is used to and clamoring for.  If Facebook expects to keep the 20 and 30 somethings, not to mention the teens, who are all being bombarded by Facebook-type social programs with a prettier look or a special feature, Facebook needs to keep evolving.

For businesses, Timeline is next to inventing a new wheel.  Very progressive, and it will be the marker used by other companies who hope to gain a share of Facebook's audience.

With Timeline, you can go back and re-create your "Milestones" of business.  What organization doesn't like that?  Timeline allows people to graphically see the most important moments in your business.  Amazing how something as simple as a photograph and a couple of sentences can change the way people view you.  Today's marketing at its finest.

(Example of a Timeline in updating process:  http://www.facebook.com/FranLanMultimedia )

Not only does Timeline give people (especially the younger generations who expect visual aids and small sound bites) a feel for your businesses and what you can do, done right, it can infuse your own employees and co-workers with a sense of pride in your accomplishments.  "This is where we started, and this is how far we've come."  The corollary to that is "and the sky's the limit on how far we can go."   This is parallel to the the hope and future of the younger generation.  A social statement within a social network.



So, before you hit the help pages trying to go back to the original format, give it a try.