12 Women Working Smarter Strategies, By Rosalie Marcus, http://www.promobizwoman.com

• Create a powerful vision for your business. Where are you now? Where would you like to be in 1, 3 and 5 years? What is working in your business? What isn’t working? What needs to change?

•  Identify you choice clients. Choose whom you want to do business with and whom you don’t. Selling is like dating. Choose clients that are a good fit for what you have to offer.

• Focus your time on the high-payoff activities. Do the hardest thing first. Plan enough time for yourself and those you love every week.

• Prioritize your accounts according to how much they are worth. Spend your time accordingly.

• Do, delegate or dump. What can you delegate that someone else can do better? Do what you do best get others to do what you can’t.

• Make it easy to do business with your company. Explain everything, customers don’t know what you know. What can you do that will make it easier for your customers to do business with you?

• Follow up fast. She who hesitates is lost. Follow up on conversations within 24 to 48 hours. Follow up in a variety of ways.

• Pay attention to the financials. This is a profit driven business. Know your expenses, receivables and payables. Consistently seek to increase your profit margins.

• Form alliance with complementary businesses. See how you can refer business to each other. Printers, graphic artists, meeting planners are good partners.

• Be proactive about referrals. Acknowledge all referrals. Consider a gift for referral program. Ask your accounts to introduce to you to others in their company and to their vendors who may use promotions.

• Have a consistent marketing strategy. Pick two or three effective things and do them consistently. Practice what you preach. Communicate your message with promotional products.

• Expect Success! Script what you want to happen ahead of time. Keep a success journal. Surround yourself with positive people. Get a mentor or coach.

What strategies are you using to work smarter in your business? All thoughtful comments are welcome.

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Do Women Have A Selling Advantage?

I believe women in general have several distinct advantages that put them in an enviable position in the promotional products industry.

Does this mean that men can’t be good at promotional products sales? Absolutely not! Most men are great promotional products sales professionals, however many of the qualities listed here seem to come easier to women.

Here are some women’s advantages:

• Women are great communicators. For most women talking comes naturally and most women are very comfortable having conversations. And as we all know, good communication is vital to establishing successful selling relationships.
• Most women, by their nature, are more detailed oriented. We tend to have an easier time writing orders and paying attention to the little things that make our clients happy.
• More marketing campaigns are geared toward women. Women have more economic clout than ever before.  Who better than a woman to advise on promotional marketing strategies to attract women buyers.
• Women have great intuition.  When we trust our intuition we make great decisions about whom to do and not to do business with.  
• Corporations and government organizations are seeking diversity.  Many large corporations and government organizations have entire departments set up to actively look for women and minority business vendors.  
• Women control the majority of buying decisions. It is estimated that 70% of the buyers of promotional products are women. And many women enjoy giving business to other women.

Of course, just having these advantages won’t get you the sale. Whether you’re  a man or a woman, you need to be prepared, to understand your customer’s business challenges and to provide value beyond the products you sell to succeed in today’s competitive promotional products marketplace.

What do you think? I’d like to hear your opinion. Do you believe women have a selling advantage?

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