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Greetings!
 
Egbers Land DesignLast year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving my wife and I were shopping for the big meal that Thursday.  We spent aprox $170 for about 3/4's of what we needed to celebrate the Holiday with our family.  I remember thinking "WOW, how many families would give anything to spend $170 without thinking about it for 1 meal? "  At that point I realized how lucky I was and that I needed to help others enjoy Thanksgiving the same way I did.  I reached out to a friend of mine, Dorron, who helps families EVERY DAY and within 24 hours he helped me find 3 families that needed help.  We took them shopping and seeing the look in their eye was all I needed to see to know that I had made a good decision.
 
I'm not telling you this to pat myself on the back, but to point out how easy it REALLY IS for many of us to give a few families the same great meal we get EVERY YEAR on Thanksgiving. 
 
Please pack your lunch a few times this month and give that money to a family that really needs it.  If you need help finding somone to help, let me know and I'll get you in touch with the right people.
 
Have a great Holiday,
Matt
In This Issue
The Value Of A Sales Person
A Strike Out Can Be GOLD
 
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Sales People Are Responsible for YOUR BUSINESSES' Growth
Dollar SignFor 8 years I worked in advertising and marketing sales.  It was a grind and it meant lots of cold calling and knocking on doors.  The first job in radio I had was in Cincinnati with WGRR Oldies 103.5.  I quickly realized I was in the field I was meant to be working in, marketing.  I loved helping small business owners create ideas that drove sales and profits, AND fit into their budget.  The 1 thing that drove me crazy though was how CRAPPY business owners were when it came to talking to me on the phone, setting and keeping appointments and having a genuine interest in listening to someone about their business.  They had this "I know everything" mentality, especially their ad agencies.   CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THIS STORY!
 

Brennan ScanlonA Strike can Still Be a Hit, Stay Engaged with Your "No's" & "Not Right Now's"

By: Brennan Scanlon
Sales people have a nasty little habit of moving quickly from prospect to prospect, appointment to appointment.  Sales books and CD sets have told us this for decades.  It's a numbers game.  Every no gets you closer to a yes!  I get it, and of course there is truth to that.  However, allow me to challenge your thinking by making this statement;  A strike out with a prospect can still be a hit for your referral partners and then can become a home run for you!
Patty is a City Administrator  I called on last year and after 3 long months courting her as a client....I struck out.  Most sales people would leave her far behind in their rear view mirror, but I did not.  Sure, I invested 3 months and walked away without a sale, but I managed to develop something even more valuable.  A relationship.  In fact, over the next several months I went back to see Patty.  Not alone of course, I brought my referral partners with me.  One of which was a payroll provider who has since closed a deal with Patty.  Next I introduced a referral partner who sells ink cartridges to city's at 70% of the cost of the big box office supply chains.   Am I now the guy who will help save the city thousands on toner cartridges?  Yep, that's me.  The next time Patty is in need of my service who do you think she'll reach out to.  You guessed it.  Also, have I scored points toward future referrals from my payroll and ink cartridge referral partners?  You bet.
Traditional selling would tell you to leave Patty in the dust, but the best net workers realize that if you treat enough "Patty's" like a person in need & not a closed door, you can have dramatic success in the future.  Now, your homework assignment, take a look at the last 10 prospects you did not close.  Call your top 3 referral partners and tell them who they are.  Then, set some appointments and take the show on the road.   You'll be glad you did.

Brennan Scanlon is a Referral Institute Franchise owner as well as an Executive Director for BNI, Business Network Int'l (www.bni-ohio.com) SW Ohio & No. KY Region. He has been ranked in the Top 10% of BNI Directors nationally for the last two consecutive years, this ranking resulting in performance reviews submitted by BNI members.  Most recently, Brennan has been inducted into BNI's Founder's Circle 2008-2009 as nominated by his peers and approved by BNI's Founder, Dr. Ivan Misner.