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[Monique Jaramillo Contribution Level: 1]

I definitely agree with you, Chris and admire you for sharing this.

Building a trustworthy relationship is key. and it's important that the trust goes both ways. The moment that, that person feels as though they are nothing more than a transaction they shut down and are not up to listening to anything more.

Sales is only hard when you don't know how to connect.

[Shannon Taylor Contribution Level: 1]

I love this- "Be truly interested in the other person see how you can help that person and add value to their life. "

This is exactly how I network. I start with the genuine interest in the individual and learning more about them. My opportunity may not be perfect for everyone but it will be perfect for some. When we are engaging I look for specific areas where my product will help them. It's important that you express the value that is SPECIFIC TO THEM not just generic value. Now you not only have a new prospect/client but also a new connection for future use!

[Chris Brown Contribution Level: 3]

I know Joe Polish who is friends with Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Airlines, Virgin Galactic, ect...

Most people pitch Richard but most people do not look at what Richard wants this is what Joe Polish did his biggest motivation is his non profit and because of this Joe created many business deals with him because of this.

[Jerome Ratliff Company: Nu Skin Enterprises Contribution Level: 4]

Agree...and what I have found is people associate "sales" as being pushy, demanding and heartless when reality it's not like that at all. But here's the thing, no one said you had to approach sales like this. I don't! It's more about listening to other people's needs and sharing with them what may help them satisfy those needs.

When you provide something of value that people want or need, it's a different ball game. You're being a person of service is who is genuinely interested in helping that person.

It's time to stop associating these bad experiences of "sales" and realize sales is not about what you think it's about - unless that's what you're looking for. You know what I like to say when someone asks, "Is this sales?" I say, "Is that what you're looking for?" Majority of the time they say, "No!" Once they realize the process of making a sale isn't what they thought, it changes their whole perspective.

Just my two cents...
Jerome

[Lynda Cromar Company: Empower Network, LLC Contribution Level: 9]

Sales are only hard if you are focused on a sale for your own reasons.

Sales in its purest form is service. If you truly want to serve you customers then you will serve them with what most fits their needs, not your wants. Then the sale is not an issue. They will buy gladly if it solves their problem.

[Craig P Contribution Level: 1]

I only market, my product does the selling for me.

[Chris Brown Contribution Level: 3]

I only market, my product does the selling for me.

How does your product do the selling for you?

[Don Hill Contribution Level: 2]

I'm glad that CraigP raised the distinction between "sales" and "marketing" - two terms which are usually thought of as meaning the same thing, but most definitely AREN'T!

With "sales," the objective is to SELL the product/service - PERIOD - to anyone and everyone within view or earshot. No consideration is given to anything other than "closing the sale," and there's usually no "pre-qualification" of the people who are being "sold" to. In "selling," the underlying philosophy is that if you throw enough up against the wall, enough of them will "stick" to make you wealthy. In "sales," it's all a "numbers game."

With "marketing," the objective is two-fold: First, to identify people who are most likely to have some degree of need or desire for the benefit that the product/service will provide them, and then - once identified - to communicate the value of the product/service ONLY to those people.

When you consider the two, which do you think will produce better results - for ALL parties concerned? That's a critical factor in the viability and longevity of any business, online or offline. If you don't have satisfied customers and/or an enthusiastic and active downline, your business WILL fail - it's simply a matter of time and attrition.

This school of thought can be applied to some degree to "list building." Here's a fairly simple question for you:

Which would YOU rather have?

A list of 10,000 names and email addresses randomly chosen at large (and let's further assume that none of them would accuse them for "spamming" if you were to contact them about your business). You're free to contact them in any way, and try to get them to buy your product or service from you (and perhaps join your downline team?)...

OR...

A list of only 100 names and email addresses of people who've indicated that they WANT a specific benefit that your product or service can provide to them - and they actually WANT you to contact them about it? (In this situation, "selling" suddenly turns into a very pleasurable experience as you learn your customer's needs and become their personal "go-to-guy or -gal" when it comes to your product or service and what it does for them.)

Given the definitions of "sales" and "marketing" that I just gave you above, it's pretty easy to understand why "selling" (at least when considered in THAT context) is looked upon with such disdain by so many people who assume that they have to suppress - or even eliminate altogether - any and all objectivity when they discuss their product/service with prospective buyers. Many believe that in order to be successful in "sales" that you have to set aside your own personal value system of what's "right" and "wrong," and instead say anything which will ultimately result in a sale. We've all seen the stereotype in movies and on TV - greed-mongers who'd trade their grandmother if there was a profit to be made.

When you add into the mix the fact that most people entering the home-business arena are coming from a situation where they've been an employee for their entire lives - with little or no formal education in business operations (or even what the real function and purpose for a business actually IS in the first place) - it's no wonder that so many of them "fail' when they suddenly discover just how much they DON'T know. Of course, the "gurus" are there to sell them the "marketing system-du-jour," in their attempts to exploit the latest trends to their own benefit, and then sell their "secrets" to rapid wealth, knowing full well that the wave they rode to success is too far for the people they teach to get atop.

Those who've been lied to and ripped off by the "magic bean peddlers" end up walking away, some of them with such a bitter taste in their mouths that they join the ranks over at scam.com, and another anti-MLM "jihadist" is born!

Getting back to the original point - Yes, "selling" IS hard! That's why I prefer MARKETING, which is easier, but still requires some learning - no matter what background you come from. Anyone with a decent sense of reality will realize that any sort of lasting income will require at least SOME work on their part, and those are the people I look for in MY business.

[Jireh Manzano Contribution Level: 2]

Great discussion, thank you for sharing.

I think the distinction between sales and marketing is an important discussion that needs to take place
in all companies that sell products and/or services (which is virtually every company). Sales is a function of marketing and this means that all sales operations are meant to support the overall marketing plan of the company. Today most companies incorporate the marketing concept across all departments in their daily operations. The marketing concept is a philosophy that states that a firm's goals can be best achieved through satisfying customer's needs and wants. Essentially this means that all departments in an organization strive to operate with a marketing mentality in order to better satisfy customers needs and wants.

Marketing has evolved over time and as it has evolved marketer's have gained insight and wisdom about how to better satisfy customer needs. The 1920s-1950s was a period of time where companies placed a high importance on sales. Companies focused their marketing strategies on finding ways to convince consumers to buy the products they had mass produced. This form of early marketing paid little attention to whether the products and services being sold would actually satisfy customer needs and wants.Overtime the economical landscape changed. Consumers now had more discretionary income and thus more power demand and choose products that met their unique and specific needs. Marketers found that their sales techniques were becoming ineffective. It was at this time that the marketing concept took root.

In order to be a competitive and successful business and/or marketer in today's economy, one must realize the importance of creating a relationship with the consumer. Business train their sales force (along with other departments) to focus on building a relationship with customers earn loyal customers who create high customer lifetime values. Loyal customers also spread positive word of mouth about your company and thus bring your company additional business. Customers can relate to businesses who really try to understand their lifestyle and unique needs and are more likely to do business with a company they feel connected to.

I am not dismissing the need for sales personnel to apply their sales techniques. It is also important for a company's sales force to meet their quotas. But instead of simply sealing a deal, creating a relationship should be the main motivation when selling products and/or services. The sales team is essentially
an extension of the brand. Instead of simply selling products and/or services by showcasing the features and benefits, the sales team should also focus on selling the brand and why customers should do business with that brand as opposed to another brand.

Companies should equip their sales force with the marketing tools that allow them to effectively sell the brand as well as the product/service. Having promotional materials that effectively showcase the brand's philosophy and personality can help sales personnel communicate the brand's message during their sales presentations. In my experience I found that while simple, presentation folders are a great promotional tool. While searching for different presentation folders to use during my sales presentations I came across an interesting article titled "How to Use Sales Folders to Help You Seal the Deal" http://www.companyfolders.com/blog/how-to-use-sales-folders-to-help-you-seal-the-deal. It contains information on how something as simple as a presentation folder can be used for marketing, branding, and establishing expertise.

Hope you guys find this helpful!

[Chris Brown Contribution Level: 3]

Great discussion, thank you for sharing.

I think the distinction between sales and marketing is an important discussion that needs to take place
in all companies that sell products and/or services (which is virtually every company). Sales is a function of marketing and this means that all sales operations are meant to support the overall marketing plan of the company. Today most companies incorporate the marketing concept across all departments in their daily operations. The marketing concept is a philosophy that states that a firm's goals can be best achieved through satisfying customer's needs and wants. Essentially this means that all departments in an organization strive to operate with a marketing mentality in order to better satisfy customers needs and wants.

Marketing has evolved over time and as it has evolved marketer's have gained insight and wisdom about how to better satisfy customer needs. The 1920s-1950s was a period of time where companies placed a high importance on sales. Companies focused their marketing strategies on finding ways to convince consumers to buy the products they had mass produced. This form of early marketing paid little attention to whether the products and services being sold would actually satisfy customer needs and wants.Overtime the economical landscape changed. Consumers now had more discretionary income and thus more power demand and choose products that met their unique and specific needs. Marketers found that their sales techniques were becoming ineffective. It was at this time that the marketing concept took root.

In order to be a competitive and successful business and/or marketer in today's economy, one must realize the importance of creating a relationship with the consumer. Business train their sales force (along with other departments) to focus on building a relationship with customers earn loyal customers who create high customer lifetime values. Loyal customers also spread positive word of mouth about your company and thus bring your company additional business. Customers can relate to businesses who really try to understand their lifestyle and unique needs and are more likely to do business with a company they feel connected to.

I am not dismissing the need for sales personnel to apply their sales techniques. It is also important for a company's sales force to meet their quotas. But instead of simply sealing a deal, creating a relationship should be the main motivation when selling products and/or services. The sales team is essentially
an extension of the brand. Instead of simply selling products and/or services by showcasing the features and benefits, the sales team should also focus on selling the brand and why customers should do business with that brand as opposed to another brand.

Companies should equip their sales force with the marketing tools that allow them to effectively sell the brand as well as the product/service. Having promotional materials that effectively showcase the brand's philosophy and personality can help sales personnel communicate the brand's message during their sales presentations. In my experience I found that while simple, presentation folders are a great promotional tool. While searching for different presentation folders to use during my sales presentations I came across an interesting article titled "How to Use Sales Folders to Help You Seal the Deal" http://www.companyfolders.com/blog/how-to-use-sales-folders-to-help-you-seal-the-deal. It contains information on how something as simple as a presentation folder can be used for marketing, branding, and establishing expertise.

Hope you guys find this helpful!

Sales is dependent on your own person sales ability where marketing is a system of selling. Al Nin who is a consultant for Fortune 500 says marketing makes selling unnecessary.