Switchpath’s Post

An inspiring video where Jesse Itzler shares a brilliant story about sales and its beauty. 💎 Jesse Itzler reminds us how much hard work goes into making that first sale—and how beautiful the journey can be. Do you remember the feeling of starting something new? Whether it’s a service, a product, or your own business, the beginning is always the hardest. At first, it’s just an idea and your belief in it. But when it comes to sales, getting those first deals is often the toughest challenge. It can feel like the first sale is light-years away, and every potential customer seems to ask: “Who are you? What have you done before?” At this stage, many give up. It’s not easy to convince customers when you don’t have references or a reputation yet. But here’s the thing: this is where success stories are born. Those who stick to their vision and truly believe in the value they bring to customers eventually break through. 💪 When you’re genuinely convinced that your product or service delivers value, others will start to see it too. Every call, pitch, and meeting builds trust bit by bit. Those first sales are the hardest—but also the most important. They prove you’re on the right track. And once your product or service delivers on its promise, everything starts to change. A satisfied customer recommends you, and little by little, the snowball starts rolling. One day, you’ll find yourself getting messages like: “Hi, we heard about you and would love to work together.” 📈 So don’t fear the uphill battle at the start. It lays the foundation for everything that follows. Do things right, treat your customers like long-term partners, and always deliver on your promises. Eventually, momentum will build, and inbound sales will follow—but only because you put in the hard work to open the first doors.🤝

7 words you should Never say in Sales. (a thread you must read) → Cost. This word will COST you A LOT. People hate to 'spend', but are happy to 'invest'. ↪ Instead, say investment. → Cheap. People don't like purchasing 'CHEAP' products, but are happy to get a DEAL :) ↪ Instead, say cost-effective. → Objection. People tend to have concern, and are not necessarily objecting to yo u. ↪ Instead, say concern. (Need examples too? Check out comments section). → Contract. People associate Contracts with being tied up legally for long periods. ↪ Instead say: Agreement. → Trust me. People DO NOT trust people who tell them to trust them. ↪ Read that twice, it will make sense... ↪ Instead, SHOW and DEMONSTRATE! → Discount. Instead of offering discounts, focus on raising the value of your offer. ↪ And if you do want to offer a discount, instead say this: ↪ "If you sign with us for 6+ months, I am happy to give you a 10% loyalty bonus" → Never say the 'F-Word', following-up ↪ Send them messages which actually provide value, and that can help you close more Sales. (Want my best 3 sales messages to win clients? DM me). This is how I always win clients in conversations. Find it useful? Repost to help others. P. S. Don't know how to market your expertise to sign 3-5 high-ticket clients every month? DM Mahwish Farooq and let's make it a piece of cake together. 😎

Success in sales often boils down to one simple truth: the fortune is in the follow-up. Harvey Mackay’s article "Keeping Contact Beef's Up Sales" underscores the critical importance of persistence and maintaining relationships with customers. With a statistic that reveals 80% of sales are made between the fifth and twelfth contacts, Mackay emphasizes that regular, meaningful interactions build trust, deepen understanding of customer needs, and position you top-of-mind when they’re ready to buy. Persistence isn’t about pestering—it's about showing genuine care and attention to your customers' needs, leading to repeat business and valuable referrals. Remember, the sale doesn’t end when the transaction is complete; it continues through every subsequent interaction. Mackay’s takeaway is clear: Keep in touch, because in sales, consistent follow-up is the foundation of long-term success.

Is it a sales call? Is it an opportunity? YES to both. Yesterday I received a call that came up as spam, followed by a voicemail from a company I had purchased something from last year. They said they needed to speak to me about the item I purchased. When I called them back, they said they were calling as a “courtesy call” to let me know that my warranty coverage was due to expire soon and I had the “opportunity” to extend the warranty by engaging their services. I told the caller, oh hey, now I see why your first caller ID came up as potential spam, because this is a sales call. He insisted “no I’m not trying to sell you anything. This is just a courtesy call.” ➡️If you contact a person and offer them something that will help them solve a problem, in exchange for money, it’s a sales call. ⬅️ 💰 And there’s nothing wrong with that. 💰 Own it, and do it right! Be proud of what you’re offering, be able to clearly articulate the value of the product or service—and be gracious if it’s a no right now. Shari Levitin tells us that every no gets us closer to a yes. When I pick up a sales call, I generally listen to the caller. I’m polite, and even if I am not in need of that product or service, that I appreciate their salesmanship. Salespeople: If you are embarrassed about the purpose of your call, find a new job with a product or service that you believe in, so you can help as many people as people solve the problem that your product is designed to fix. Sales/business development is necessary to the health of every business. It is an honorable profession if it’s done well. #sales #bizdev 🏄♂️ Scott Leese

7 lessons I learned after doing 30+ sales calls (Read only if you want to avoid these mistakes) 1. Never be desperate. → Whenever there is desperation, you are going to lose, so never be desperate on a sales call. 2. Create a no-brainer offer → The way you onboard your client with your offer is the way they treat you. 3. Talk less, listen more. → The more they speak about their problem, the greater, the chance of getting close. 4. Try to put the guard down and dig in deep. → Ask deeper questions to get their emotions. 5. Always keep your Questions handy. → After actively listening to their problem, start giving them solutions through your services. Note down everything. 6. Keep your presentation ready. → When prospects ask you to showcase your work sample, show them your best case studies. (Trust me I’ve lost a few high-paying deals in the beginning because I had never kept any presentation ready) 7. Don’t disclose rates early. → Never jump into disclosing the rates, provide value, and then disclose. The mistakes that I made, I don’t want you all to make that again So, learn from my mistakes and FLY HIGHER!! PS: These are the lessons I learned in my sales call. If you have any lessons to share feel free to share in the comments.

***Selling Is Not Always Helping, But Helping Sells*** Working with sales leaders & their teams for many years now, it’s fascinating to observe the difference between the sales teams which create sustainable success, & those who generate short term results, but find it challenging to replicate. Many sales leaders create an environment which is all about the number, selling a product or service-the approach is very much push - retrofitting a product into a perceived customer need. This may result in short term wins, but the teams which approach their craft with a pull approach, focusing on problems and customer challenges, significantly outsell their competition over the long term. One of the best descriptions to describe this comes from an exceptional sales leader, Alan Versteeg. His approach is simple, yet profound - ‘Selling doesn’t always help, but helping sells’. This concept is founded on the pre-supposition that providing genuine value to customers fosters trust & long-term relationships, which ultimately leads to sales. Here are 5 reasons to consider why selling is not helping, but helping sells: 1. Trust vs. Transaction ❌ Selling is not helping: A purely sales-focused approach often feels transactional & manipulative, leaving customers skeptical. ✅ Helping sells: When you prioritise solving the customer’s problems, you build trust, which encourages them to buy without feeling pressured. 2. Customer-Centric Value ❌ Selling is not helping: A focus on closing the deal may overlook the customer’s actual needs, resulting in dissatisfaction. ✅ Helping sells: By understanding & addressing the customer’s pain points, you provide tailored solutions that resonate, making the purchase a natural next step. 3. Long-Term Relationships ❌ Selling is not helping: Aggressive sales tactics can damage relationships, leading to one-time transactions or lost opportunities. ✅ Helping sells: Providing meaningful assistance builds loyalty & encourages repeat business, referrals, & positive word-of-mouth. 4. Perceived Expertise ❌ Selling is not helping: Over-emphasising the product or service can make you seem pushy rather than knowledgeable. ✅ Helping sells: When you educate & assist, you position yourself as an expert, increasing the likelihood of customers turning to you when they’re ready to buy. 5. Emotional Connection ❌ Selling is not helping: Customers may feel undervalued or pressured when the focus is solely on the sale. ✅ Helping sells: Genuine care & empathy creates an emotional bond, making customers feel appreciated & more inclined to support your business. By shifting the focus from selling to helping, businesses can create genuine value-driven relationships that naturally lead to increased sales & customer satisfaction. Where is your focus? Here’s to a massive week 👊 #sales #salesleadership #exceptionalsalesleader #coach #mentor #helping

Hi Network, Happy Wednesday! I've been ruminating over a thought that has been circulating in my mind for a while now: The Art of Sales. It's an exhilarating, intricate, and intriguing dance between the seller and the buyer that cleanly and distinctly mirrors a waltz in the grand ballroom of commerce. It’s impossible not to be thoroughly excited by the different moves at play. Here are three elements to understand and leverage, as we navigate the sales tango: 1. Educating, Not Selling: The more you teach, the more you sell. 2. Listening with Empathy: Hear out the customers; their words are more than a narrative, they are key insights. 3. The Right Timing: It's all about the whens and whens not. Education before sales: Your customers want to grasp the value in what they're buying. A totally logical desire! That's why one of the most subtle, yet powerful, sales maneuvers is education. Making them understand WHY they need your product or service is just as pivotal as WHAT your product or service is. Active listening cues: Have you ever considered that every single word from your customer is a tiny golden nugget? Listening is not just about hearing words being said, but interpreting the emotions, challenges, needs, and concerns of the customer. It's about sensing the fear, doubt, excitement, or even the rush of adrenaline coursing through them. It's about empathy—reaching out, touching their experience, and saying, I hear you, I genuinely understand your needs, and I'm excited to provide you with an answer. Timing is everything: When you and your customer are spinning around the dance floor, you’ll soon understand the significance of 'timing'. Right timing can heighten interest, encourage engagement, and solve problems for the customer, while wrong timing can be disappointing and even damage your relationship in the long term. It's fascinating that Jack Welsh once mentioned, The best salespeople know that their expertise can become their enemy in selling. At the end of the day, customers want to do business with their friends. Couldn’t agree more. Indeed, sales is more than just a transaction. It's a relationship, a conversation, and a dance. It’s about understanding, empathy, patience, and most importantly, humanity. As we slide along the gleaming floor of the sales ballroom, let's aim not only to lead, but also to empathize, educate, and elegantly align our steps with those of our customers, thus creating a dance to remember. To those who are in sales, kudos to your persistence and your passion! I'm eager to hear your thoughts on this! To what extent do you agree with my views? What would you add to this dance? #Sales #SalesStrategy #BusinessDevelopment

Have you been dealing with difficult customers? In this post (and video), you'll learn how to deal with difficult customers and uncover strategies that you can use to ensure that a difficult customer is satisfied with the sale. More importantly, you’ll free up time so you can continue to sell and not get sucked into that “time dump” that often results from sales to challenging customers. https://lnkd.in/grS29P64 #customers #sales #B2B