Jill Konrath | Selling to Big Companies

Compelling Voicemails

I was recently interviewed by SoftwareCEO.com about how to leave voicemail messages that don't get deleted within 5 seconds. If you're struggling with what to say when you get voicemail, take a look at this article called "How to Leave Compelling Voicemails."

Copyright (c) 2005, Computing Technology Industry Association, Inc.

Finding the Fun in Serious Sales Blunders

One of my favorite ezines is written by Dan Seidman. He collects sales horror stories and then does a post mortem on them. You can find a whole collection of them on his Sales Autopsy website.  I thought you might get a kick out of one this morning.

FLAT SALES: Gary's Manager Pumps Up Sales
I'm a poor rep for Pitney Bowes. I'm poor because I'm new at selling and today it really shows. I can't afford a classy briefcase so I have one of those really cheap vinyl ones. I mean really cheap, too. The wood frame was, like, balsa wood - the stuff kite frames are constructed with.

It was one of those days when you have to travel with your sales manager. He either doesn't trust you or he's training you or he's in my car, hiding from his boss.  So I'm poor and cheaply outfitted and nervous as well.

Competing Against the Big Companies

The October issue of Sales & Marketing Management focused on strategies that smaller firms could do to compete against the corporate giants. They asked me to contribute three tips. If you're interested in what they are, check them out at: Are You a Small Fish in a Big Pond?

Stop Being a Victim of Voicemail

Making phone calls to someone you don't know is tough. If you're like most people, you agonize over what to say for what seems like an eternity before you finally get on the phone.

Of course, you virtually never get through to the person you want to reach so you're forced to leave a voicemail. And then nobody ever calls you back. Never. Ever.

It can be downright discouraging at times - almost to the point that you might even wonder, "Why bother to make these calls?"