Conrey is for Closers

Sales people across the internet are being bombarded with people telling them that they need to be on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, FriendFeed, or some other Social Media tool that is currently the new shiny thing. Now here is the thing that they aren’t telling you – If you only are using Social Media tools online and not using them to actually meet people in the real world then you are doing it wrong.

There are probably meetings, tweet-ups, coffee events, or other events that are organized purely over Social Media that you should go to. Meet these weird people from online in person. Shake their hand, introduce yourself, and start building a connection. In the last few months I have met a couple of dozen people in the Phoenix area through social media first then in person later.

Now for the really hard part – Don’t try to sell them anything when you meet them in person. Especially don’t try to sell them anything directly over Social Media. Just be you and get to know people – in time if you do it right and they need whatever it is you are selling, or they know someone who does, then they’ll come to you. Then you can be a salesman.

Thanks to Matthew Petro, Katie Charland, Tyler Hurst, Michael Barber, the guys at RedPear, Jana Knapp, and all the other people who I have met in person after meeting on social media for helping to inspire this post.

“Whatever is easiest for you” That should be your answer 99% of the time when your client offers a couple of choices that have no real impact on you. Let them be the one to decide if it is easiest to meet with you in the morning or the afternoon. Let them decide if it is best to reach back to you via email or phone. Give them the choice to pick the easiest answer for them.

This is one of those things you can trap yourself with very quickly if you’re not careful. You want to give them the options, let them pick the easier one for them, and then go back to guiding them towards the close. Here’s the part that lets this remain a win for you – you can still change your mind. If they say it is easiest to reach them via email but you don’t get a response after a few emails – give them a call. If they say it is easiest to meet in the morning but you’re booked up the days they want to meet – you can push for an afternoon meeting. The whole thing comes back to showing them that you are working for them and their interests. When they believe that you’re working with their interests in heart then the close will come much easier.

I’ve written on this blog about breaking your patterns, being yourself, sweat equity, taking the challenge, investing in yourself, defining your own success, motivation, and being the best (amongst other things). Today I get the opportunity to actually walk the walk in addition to all the talking I do and see if I can really do these things.

Those of you who know me know that I’m not exactly the most physically fit person in the room, more honestly I’m a fat out of shape lardass. James Archer decided to organize a Fat-Off competition among some of the Gangplank regulars. $100 entry fee, winner take all. I bitched and moaned about the money until today and then I decided (with the helpful push of my wonderful wife) to stop talking and start doing. I’ve not been happy with my fitness level and the accompanying look that I’ve acquired to go with it. So I’m going to be the best and win this damn thing, and even if I don’t I know what I will define as successful. This will be a heavy challenge for me as I have quite the pattern of slackerness already established, but it is a real investment in myself, and I’m sure to sweat a few pounds off over the next eight weeks. I’m going to be a better me starting today, and this post is my announcement to the world. How’s that for motivation (well that and the $1800 on the line).