An article that analyzes a recent landing page competition was just written. Pretty cool because it was a head-to-head competition and the landing page that won (no surprise here) was a long copy sales letter using solid salesmanship in print.

You are even featured in the article. Anyway, it just made me think of this post. Nice work.

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/critical-background-information-the-seomoz-landing-page-competition-one-week-on

What do you think about - is it a non-existent product ?

I have a correction. The name of the author of “How to Sell Anything to Anybody” is Joe Girard not Joe Girardi the major league baseball manager. Glad I caught this before any damage was done.

Doug

Thanks for the great post. There is a book by a man named Joe Girardi called “How to Sell Anything to Anybody” in which he outlays how to sell anything to anybody. I thought of that as soon as I read your post. I’ll have to check out the coaching.

You are a legend.

Doug

Right on!

Enough said.

Lisa Manyon

Another insight and a lesson worth remembering. Just how did used car salesman get their reputation? I used to work on the PC’s in the sales office of a dealership and learned a ton of oddball stories. Most centered around the top salesman and how resentful most everyone else was of his success. Did they try and learn from him? Did they ask questions? Did they hang around to see what he did or how he went about it? I think you know the answer.

They all commented about how slick he was, how smooth of an operator he was, how lucky he was. I met him and talked to him a few times and it was clear of one thing - he could be best friends to anyone who walked in almost immediately. He found out about them, what they wanted and answered their questions. Then he simply made the case of how the cars they had answered those questions, how it would make them feel when they drove it and it was clear they were sold before they ever took it for a test drive. It was a virtuoso performance every time but that’s the whole key. It wasn’t a performance, it was in large part who he was.

While every one else was rushing and battling to put the squeeze on who ever even got near the lot, people gravitated to him naturally. People talk about mind set, affirmations and all sorts of tricks and triggers. The question is not what you can tweak out of yourself, it’s who you are. If you’re looking for tricks to sell, you may make some but you’ll never be nearly as successful as you could be. Are you willing to learn? Are you willing to look at another side of an issue? Are you willing to make mistakes and learn from them?

You succeed by opening up to failure as success in process. The best salesman believed in himself and the people who became his new friends. No one’s a stranger, just a friend you haven’t met yet as my Dad used to say. Sure there’s always people who for one reason or another will never make the grade with you. Find out early and fire them quick. The best salesman didn’t make every sale, but every sale was special. It’s not about being able to sell to anyone, it’s about being able to sell. And that means it’s about you and your willingness to learn and share. Are you excited about sharing the exciting news about a new water hole to some thirsty friends? Or are you trying to snare another rabbit? Are you learning the latest tricks to sell or are you learning the latest tricks to spread the word in a better way? Do you even see the difference? Are you willing to?

Thanks again for the amazing frosting on my cake…

David C.