Sales Babble

Erase Your Fear of Cold Calling #526 Have you ever noticed how we all get a little jittery when it comes to cold calling? It's like we'd rather face a dentist's drill than pick up that phone! A lady once told me never did vacuuming look so good as when it was time to make a cold call. But here's the kicker: doing nothing just makes the jitters worse. On the flip side, taking action? Well, that's where the magic happens. In today's episode, we're diving into the psychology of our phone phobia and embracing a wu-wei approach. Instead of dodging the discomfort, let's lean into it and see it for what it really is. Bottom line: it's not as scary as it seems. After listening to today's episode when you're hesitating to make that call, Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

Echoes Across The Tracks with Dave Moravec #525 To grow a business you need to be in constant contact with strangers who may become new prospective customers. If we don't put effort into meeting new people, growth can stagnate. For many, this is a very uncomfortable situation. Growth requires putting yourself out there, so it begs the question what's the best way to get comfortable, being uncomfortable? Today we take a break from the Tao of Sales Babble and meet the author of a newly published book now available on Amazon. The author is my good friend, and former guest Dave Moravec who spins a tale about an unexpected connection with a New Orleans cab driver that leads Charlie, a Business Consultant and Author, to hear Echoes Across the Tracks.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

How To Know When It's Time To Pitch #524 This week I babble some on some experiences I've had sellers clumsily pitch me on something I have no interest in. You've probably experienced this too. Lao Tzu has some thoughts on this. He spoke about labeling, judging, and the issues that come with language. In our situation, this episode discusses how to know when it's time to pitch. We also talk about slowing down the sale. This way, sellers can fully understand the prospect's problems, issues, and desires. There is no reason to guess what matters to the buyers. If you ask and fully listen to their response, you'll have all you need to solve their problem. When to pitch, that's the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

How to Buyers to Close Themselves #523 Do you struggle to close deals? Next to getting a sales appointment, closing is the second most difficult task when selling. Some think closing a deal and getting the prospect to put their name on the dotted line is a monumental task. You commonly hear that it takes an assertive winner-takes-all attitude to be successful in sales. But that's not how it works with a Taoist perspective. I must confess, there is a certain truth to the idea of ABC, Always Be Closing. Because if you start off on the right foot,  with the intention to help your prospects, you'll advance the sale by patiently with every answer to every question the buyer asks. Eventually, buyers close themselves. This is Wu-wei in action. That's the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

What Bartenders Can Teach Sales People #522 Have you ever heard this quote from the stoic philosopher Epictetus? 'We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.'  You probably have but way too many salespeople have never learned this lesson. Instead, as soon as there is a break in the conversation, they jump to a solution and start to pitch. And then they're confused about why prospects don't buy or return their calls. But consider a great bartender. They ask good questions and are more than happy to listen. Bar patrons are lonely for an empathetic ear and the same is true for your prospects. This is how bartenders build trust and a loyal following. You can do this too. Sellers can learn from bartenders by talking less and listening more. That's the topic for today.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discussed all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most importantly the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

Grow Fast Podcast with Mark Shriner I had the good fortune to be a guest on Mark Shriner's new Grow Fast Podcast. Mark and I talked about selling, Taoism, and the power of podcasting. Mark graciously gave permission to have this interview shared with the Sales Babble listeners. I'm excited to share this babbling today!  The Dao of Sales, or How to Sell without "Selling" Mark described the interview this way "Pat Helmers is the Host of the Sales Babble Podcast. Pat is also the Founder of Habanero Media and a tech startup consultant. In this episode, Pat talks about the book he's writing called The Dao of Sales Babble and explains how, oftentimes, it's much more productive and rewarding, not to force sales. Instead, Pat argues, that we would do better trying to sincerely understand our prospect's needs, and helping them to meet those needs. Mark and Pat also discuss opportunities for new podcasters and the benefits of hosting a niche podcast." Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

The Perfect Apology #520 We all make mistakes, it's part of being human. The same is true in business. Companies screw up to the detriment of their customers. When this happens, it often falls on the sales professional to apologize, even if they had nothing to do with it.  How about your personal life? Have you wronged someone but struggled to say you're sorry in a way that prompted forgiveness? Did they accept your apology?  This is the human experience where too often our egos get in the way and we refuse to admit we’re wrong. Or if we do apologize we layer on excuses to make us feel better but it does nothing to further forgiveness. What can we do, to make wrongs right? This is the topic for today, the perfect sales apology. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

You Can't Win Them All #519 When it comes to selling, the importance of flexibility, gentleness, and resilience when facing adversity is often overlooked. It’s easy to get stuck on a deal and put too much energy into it due to some sunk-cost fallacy. Don’t do that!  In today’s episode, we discuss about on how rigidity and resistance lead to defeat, while flexibility and adaptability lead to victory. Next, we remind ourselves what  Tao Te Ching says about softness and weakness and how it can ultimately overcome hardness and strength. As deals come and go, Master Sellers embrace change and go with the flow with the natural course of events. Go with the flow!   Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

The Tao of Storytelling Selling #518 Let me tell you a story. It's not a story of lost love or intrigue. Nobody's murdered, nor is society thrust into a dystopian future. Instead, this is a story about stories. It's a story about showing, not telling, and selling with storytelling. Storytelling Selling. It’s a tale with both heroes and villains with adventures and drama tied into capturing the interest of prospects in a way that they identify with your fable. Today's episode explores ways a personal story can turn prospects into heroes and, in time, loyal clients. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

How To Sell When Nobody Knows You #517 What do you do when your business is the best-kept secret in town? How do you get people to know about you? How do you create awareness and most importantly, how can you get buyers to trust in you, your company, and its products?  This is a situation for all startups. It's also the case for established businesses creating new products or entering new markets. If this is your case, you're in for a treat. In today's episode, we share the idea that water, though soft and gentle, can overcome resistance and erode even the hardest of substances through its persistent and patient action. The same is true when it comes to a skeptical marketplace. In time, a persistent yet patient Master Seller can bring a new product or service to market.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net    

How To Compete from Behind #516 Does it irritate you when you're talking to a new prospect and the first thing they mention is that their vendor is your archrival? Does it seem like that competitor is superior to you; faster, cheaper, better and there is nothing you can do to overcome that clear advantage? Or maybe you can’t fathom why people buy from them other than they've been around for a long time. It can be frustrating and begs the question, what can you do to compete from behind? Today we discuss a competitive strategy on how business is a game,  not a war, and businesses with compassion eventually end up on the winning side. If you're a startup in an industry with longtime competitors, this is the episode for you. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

How To Overcome Your Fear of Rejection #515 We all hate robocalls. Those are cold calls of the worst kind. But in B2B sales, cold calling is often the only way to efficiently connect to a new prospect. Often the prospects don't realize a solution to their problem is available. A well-constructed and executed cold call can create an opportunity for the prospects to eradicate their problems. Yet too often sellers fear rejection and this impedes their cold-calling success. There are things you can do to overcome that fear. How to overcome the fear of rejection, that's the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

How To Recover from a Sideways Deal #514 Ever been in a situation where just as you thought the deal was won, and then the rug got pulled out from under you? It’s beyond irritating, right? Especially given the fact that you may have invested significant time and energy in the deal, just to see it go up in smoke. What are you to do when your deals go sideways? That’s the topic for today. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

To Get More You Need To Let Go #513 Today I would like to do an experiment and try something different. This is something that I've been noodling about the last few weeks and since The Tao Te Ching is founded on change and as we know change is the only constant in life it feels right to make a change. Today I;d like to read chapter 46 of the Tao Te Ching, share a story about Pat and Chris, and then review how the chapter applies to sales. I think it will be fun to share with readers an actual chapter in the Tao Te Ching, of course in English and not Chinese. I don;t want to go too far. You might find it interesting to see how the actual text applies to selling, and life. Let's give this a try and see how it goes. Today's topic is how knowledge is gained by learning new things, yet master selling is about letting go of learning and being the flow. A paradox right? Taoism is filled with them.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

The Dark Side of Winning Confidence When Selling #512 This may sound surprising but did you know that closing a deal may carry negative consequences akin to losing a deal? And did you know that excessive confidence can be as problematic as fear? The assertion that winning is always good raises questions that suggest success may not always be advantageous. Whether facing a shortfall or exceeding quotas, setting aside worry and prioritizing prospects is always the right thing to do. The warning about winning confidence underscores the importance of honesty, humility, and understanding one's limits in professional interactions. In this episode, we explore what happens when you assume or consider the extremes as good or bad. Today we're going to center on what's important, the center.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

How To Sell With Compassion #511 Ever hesitated to pick up the phone and cold call? Don't worry; we've all been there. We grew up fearing strangers, and now, as adults, the idea of making a call and potentially bothering someone is as scary as finding a spider in your shoe. But hey, when it comes to calling family, speed dial is practically a reflex. Now, the challenge: how can we find the courage to prospect and reach out to strangers? Curiously, the answer can be found in compassion. This doesn't make sense at first. But that's how Taoism works. It's filled with paradox.  In this episode, we discuss how to sell with compassion and how to treat strangers like family. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

How to Let the Sale Sell Itself #510 Do you struggle with closing prospects? Unsure what to say to advance the sale? Sellers often face the challenge of knowing when and how to close a deal. You may have no problem demonstrating the product or describing the service. But when it comes to asking for the sale and doing so elegantly and not sounding pushy, that takes skill. But does it? What if we could get buyers to sell themselves? How can you let the sale unfold itself, that's the topic for today.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

Top 10 Sales and Marketing Tips for 2024 with Neil Kristianson In this episode returning guest Neil Kristianson joins for our 10th anniversary of babbling conversation on the top 10 sales and marketing tips for the upcoming 2024 new year. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

How To Unmask Authentic Selling #508 When I was new to selling I read a number of books on closing techniques and objection handling. I took their advice to craft scripts to memorize them like an actor in the theatre. It was a weak approach. The buyers never said the lines I expected and often I was dumbfounded about what to say. In this week's Tao of Sales Babble we cast off the scripts and unmask to discover our authentic you, the person buyers want to meet, trust, and do business with.  Authentic selling is the topic for today.  Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net  

Why We Treat Buyers Like Family #507 Each January I travel to a small island at the southernmost tip of the United States. Key West has a motto: “All people are equal members of One Human Family”. Not only do I agree with this, but apply this to prospective buyers.  In this episode, we investigate the power of building rapport and how viewing perfect strangers as Family can erase skepticism and cultivate trust, which is the foundation of any successful selling opportunity. Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it. This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net