This question was posed to a sales executive group. Here is my answer:
Sales skills – relationship building, problem solving and service skills – outweigh product knowledge importance.
In short order, your task list to close a sale is:

Get buyer attention
Tailor and deliver an enticing marketing message
Build the relationship, as well as your credibility, trustworthiness and likeability
Coach the sale through [...]

As many of my clients know, one great way to market yourself and make more sales for your business is to speak in front of an audience.
You can learn to do workshops, teleclasses and keynotes much more easily than you might realize.
“But public speaking scares me to death!”
Even those of you that get terrified at the thought [...]

A free sample or “taste test” is never a bad idea and always appreciated by a potential client. If your client base is not full, this is a great way to market.
On the flip side, one good reason for not offering a “freebie” is when your sales funnel is quite full and you want to [...]

Dec 2, 2009, Afternoon – Get out in plenty of time for evening networking events and holiday parties!
Dear Chicago Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners,
Confused by the difference between a Profile, a Group and a Fan Page?
Not sure which to use, or if you should use Facebook at all for business?? You’re not alone. Many people [...]

Every small business owner asks themselves this question - usually more often that not.
I’m happy to say that recently a number of past clients have contacted and hired me again to help them with this very question, to get down pat the skills, strategies, motivations and action plans needed to make it happen. That’s always a wonderful [...]

This question was posted on LinkedIn today in a sales professionals group:
“I don’t know about the rest of you but I have decided to stop boring my prospects and wasting their time. Before my next sales call I will have at least 12 reserve question topics to use when the prospect gets silent. What I am [...]

I just got done with a coaching call with one of my favorite clients. I love this guy (as I do all my clients!) because he is a really genuine person, cares about others and wants to make his business truly incredible.
And I want to share something very interesting from our session today… 
We are working [...]

Q: How can I get leads for my new tutoring business?
Jason, I just started a new home-based business tutoring math students. How can I find leads and clients?
First, I would like to say ’Congrats’ on the new business! That’s great that you want to use your gift of mathematical skills to help others.
There are lots of [...]

 
Does this invitation sound familiar?

“Hi Jason,
I’d like to get together for lunch or a cup of coffee. I had some thoughts that I wanted to share with you. If you have time in the next week let me know. Thanks talk with you soon.”
 
Sometimes I get quite a few invitations to meet for lunch or coffee [...]

Q: How can business coaching really help me explode my business? What are the tangible, measurable results? I want to know how this is a great investment of my time and money.
A: That’s an awesome and very valid question. I always look at any business opportunity or investment as what’s going to be the bottom-line [...]