Sales Joke of the Day (April 8) The Internet.

A salesman down on his luck, joined an internet dating site.  His first date was with a girl at a hospital.  When he went to meet her, she said: "I don't know if the the website told you, but I only have a few weeks to live."


The salesman responded:  "That's okay, I don't know if the website told you, but I was only looking for a short-term relationship anyway."


Moral of the story.  True sales professionals know that in order to succeed in sales you need to be an expert on the internet.  More specifically you need to become an expert with internet searches.   All the information you need on prospects, products and competitors is out there, just waiting for you to exploit it!  Are you bold enough to take advantage of it?


"Getting information off the internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant."   
                                                       - Mitchell Kapor

Sales Joke of the Day (February 6) The Waitress.

A salesman wanted to ask his pretty waitress for a date but couldn't get her attention.  When he was able to catch her eye, she quickly looked away.  Finally he followed her into the kitchen and blurted out his invitation.  To his amazement she readily consented.


The salesman asked,  "Why have you been avoiding me all this time?  You wouldn't even make eye contact."


"Sorry," the waitress replied.  "I thought you just wanted more coffee."


Moral of the story.   True sales professionals know that in order to succeed in sales you have to make direct eye contact and never be afraid to ask closing questions.   Direct eye contact lets others know that you are confident and have nothing to hide.   Having shifty eyes or not looking directly at a prospect, can lead them to believe you cannot be trusted.   As for asking direct closing questions, just remember, customers and prospects are not psychic!   How else do you expect to close a sale you never ask for?


"Sometimes you have to disconnect to stay connected.  Remember the old days when you had eye contact during a conversation?  When everyone wasn't looking down at a device in their hands?  We've become so focused on that tiny screen that we forget the big picture, the people right in front of us."     -  Regina Brett