Hi, Mary! I am an independent skincare consultant for a Japanese skincare company since March of 2003. So glad to have found this discussion forum -- the timing couldn't be more perfect! For the first time in my life, I work for myself. I have been married 23 years. My husband is a teacher, but he also consults with me when he can, which is really fun. I have my own website, love what I do, and really believe in the products I sell. Some of the obstacles I run into are the usual "it's too expensive," "no thanks, I use [some other brand]," "I don't use skincare," ad infinitum. The more I get out there and see and talk to people, the less these types of rejections faze me. It's when I'm not consistent in my daily activities that I run into trouble -- every time. My inconsistency shows up quite painfully at the end of the month when I look at my bank balance. One of the first things I've learned is that I don't have the luxury of feeling sorry for myself! I have to keep out there meeting new people.

Another thing I've learned from my short tenure in direct sales is that as long as I incorporate my business into my lifestyle, I'll never stop growing. Doing so doesn't mean living my business 24 hours a day, or equating my identity with my business. It only means that I take the time to incorporate my prospecting, follow up, and sales activities into my regular daily schedule. Luckily, whoever has skin qualifies as a prospect, so my prospects are pretty easy to find. They're everywhere! At the grocery store, the dry cleaners, in line at the airport, where I buy my business clothes, restaurants, Starbucks. Everywhere I go, I talk to people and ask them what they do, and then I tell them what I do.

It is so great to have found your tribe! Since March, I have been fortunate to have the wonderful support from the corporation I represent. They have always been there for me. Now, I feel blessed to have found your discussion group -- a whole new support network!

Is there anyone out there with any advice for a very green salesperson? Thanks for listening!

What I do for a living:
I'm a technology sales consultant. We design & develop not only websites but online software as well. We specialize in application and data exchange. (laymen terms: if you want a website that does more than look pretty, ie... collect data from site, export to databases, etc... we do it!)

Target Market:
Insurance Agents & Brokers

What are some obstacles you come across in dealing with your niche?
Communicating high tech concepts to low tech CEO's. But also, the ever famous "Call Procrastination Syndrome" - picking up the phone to make those calls is primary obstacle and then, when I get them on the phone - I now have to figure out how to explain what we do in low tech terms... it can be difficult.

What have you learned from your experiences that can help others:
First, I'm forcing myself to read motivational material each morning before I start work. Go to google, type sales motivation - more than enough to get your juices flowing. When I read that unless you're willing to make 50-100 calls/day, forget about generating an income that's worth sacraficing your time and energy for. Secondly, I am slowing starting to learn that I just can't take it personally anymore.

I've given up all of those "closing techniques" written about in books published before I was born! I'm learning to be a good listener. I listen to what the prospect has to say, digest and ponder the products and services I offer. If there is a match, (and there usually is) I simply explain to the prospect (in the lowest tech terms I can conjure up) that we offer a pain reliever for the problem they just described.

What advice do you want to ask of members of this tribe?
Are there any other high tech sales folks here that can help with translation? (high to low tech talk)AND if there are any experts in telephone script writing, help would be appreciated in that area as well.

Mary,
I am glad you brought these questions up.
(1). What do I do for a living?
I am a Marine Sergeant, that works with the recruiters in South Florida. I am the Asst Operations Chief. I process waivers that help young men and women to join the Marine Corps. I also keep track of leads and the amount of kids that join the Marine Corps. I also assign jobs to these future Marines. I will be going to recruiters school soon and come back to help young people directly vice behind the seen.
I am also the owner of three websites.
www.lexomall.unimstores.com (an aray of merchandises)
www.lexosafety.unimstores.com (knives, swords and safety devices)
www.lexoart.unimstores.com (art work for home and office)

(2). What is my target market?
My target market is young men and women that wants to do something positive with there lives and that wants to join the armed services. There are many opportunities that are out there for them, and I just want to be the vessel that helps get them there. (Marine Corps side)
My target market is people that wants beautiful and unique items to decorate there homes and place of work. I have three sites that will help them. (Personal Websites)

(3). What are some obstacles you come across in dealing with your niche?
Some of the obstacles that I come across are some kids just don't qualify to join the Marine Corps.(Marine Corps Side)
I don't have enough traffic going to my sites so I can turn a profit to just take care of my expenses.(Personal Websites)

(4). What have you learned from your experiences that can help others?
What have I learened from my experiances that can help others. Just keep on pushing! Don't quite! Never give up! Always find a different angle of attack! Always help some else even if you don't get that assistance from the same person. Everything is a full circle.

(5). What advie do I want to ask of members of this tribe?
Hmmmm, I would say, how do I get more traffic to my websites??? Does anyone knows of anyone that would prosper/benefit from joining the Marine Corps?

Thank you for asking the questions.

Lexo

1) What do you do for a living: Financial Planner
2) What is your target market: Folks who want the absolute best help but aren’t millionaires (retirement planning, children’s education, investing, budgeting, saving, building businesses).
3) What are some obstacles you come across in dealing with your niche? People have the perception that everyone in my profession is expensive or out to sell them a product.
4) What have you learned from your experiences that can help others: Focus on helping others. Be the “point person” for all of your client’s questions and concerns. I don’t have the expertise to answer all of their questions, but I do have a network of trusted people who I rely on to help my clients.
5) What advice do you want to ask of members of this tribe? How do we take the “trusted network” concept from a local/regional level to a national/international level?

1: Inside sales, automotive/truck accessories .

2: Auto/Truck owners that like to modify their vehicles.

3: Getting prospects that aren't ready to buy anything off the phone!!!

4: Building the sale so I don't have to worry about closing, i.e., the turning "no into yes" turning into a non-issue.

5: Use the power of "IF"

Hi tribe.
I sell roofing equipment and supplies in south TX and LA.
I sell to commercial roofing companies, for all types of roof.
Difficulty in getting customers to understand "we carry/stock EVERYTHING" since our store is in FT Worth. (just found info on putting catalog on disc cheaply) I'm building sales, eventually opening a second store.
Relationship building is what it takes.
Could use a major helping of advertising/marketing knowledge. (I have just started "Gorilla Marketing Workbook")

Great topic, Mary - just what I needed today.

1) what do you do for a living

Mortgage Broker (I originate home loans for purchase, refinance, home equity, construction, and investment real estate)

2) What is your target market

Primary: buyers and owners of owner-occupied properties
Secondary: buyers of second homes and investment properties

3) What are some obstacles you come across in dealing with your niche?

* Lots of competitors - banks, online, insurance agents... everyone wants a piece of the mortgage market!

* Historically, there have been some people who abused their borrowers - charged fees not disclosed until the loan closed, changed rates without telling borrowers, etc. - People don't know whom to trust.

4) What have you learned from your experiences that can help others

People buy from people they like - and if possible - people they know or can check out. Therefore, in a person-to-person business like mortgage, it pays to meet lots of people and show them I can be trusted.

Also - it often takes a while - more than a year! - to "get going" in real estate or mortgage. The best thing I'v heard is "Hang in there, get good advice, be mentally tough."

5) What advice do you want to ask of members of this tribe?

How do *you* tell people about what you do? I want to talk about my business in a way that gets and keeps interest; I don't want to alienate them.

Hey People

I run a database B2B List service out of Atlanta and I can guarantee you the best targeted lists that you'd ever need for running your marketing activity without bothering about cost per thousand and additional selects and all that jazz.So Blessed Mary and all the Angels and Saints and CEO's and Sales Whizzes, if you're looking for lead generation, well in a business perspective, no junk, come to ME.

We sure gotta help each other and I'm gonna get started and lead the way.What say :-).But hey would be awesome to know people around here.

Cheers
Jay