It is time to turn your attention to creating a winning formula for sales success. Your sales performance in the New Year will hinge upon the strategic plan that you prepare, so it is critical to develop a systematic plan of attack. Below are 7 ways to jump start your sales in the new year!
1. Set your goals and incentivize yourself to attain them.
Take some time to sit down and write down your specific goals for the year. One way to do this is to create a two column table. On the left hand side, list your professional goals. On the right hand side, list a reward or incentive that you will give to your team as you achieve each goal. Make sure that your goals are challenging, yet attainable.
2. Make proactive customer outreach your top New Year’s resolution.
A proactive approach is one of the most underutilized elements of the marketing process. But you will need to go beyond simply stating this as your New Year’s resolution. Identify key steps that you will take to become more proactive in your approach. Examples may include distributing a client newsletter with helpful tips and using scheduling reminders to follow up with customers 10 days after each sale.
3. Create a mentor program.
A mentor program is a great solution for organizations that are seeking to add talented new members representatives to their team. Even if you operate as an independent, you can energize your performance by mentoring an intern or assistant. You may end up hiring the person you are mentoring and far exceeding your new goals.
4. Take advantage of training and personal development opportunities.
“I am either getting better or worse. Nothing stays the same.” It is imperative that we are constantly learning and growing. Achieving your goals in an increasingly competitive environment will be difficult if you do not stay on top of the latest cutting-edge techniques and products. Make sure that you actively participate in any continuing education opportunities and take advantage of free training opportunities or seminars in your area.
5. Identify and target emerging markets for your industry.
Tapping into under-served markets is a great way to grow your sales.
6. Keep a watchful eye on other successful sales professionals in your industry.
You can monitor your competition through involvement in industry associations and events. Remember, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! In many cases there may be opportunities to partner and further develop your skills and sales. Surround yourself with successful people.
7. Survey existing customers to find out your strengths and weaknesses.
Your ability to increase your revenue depends upon your ability to capitalize on your strengths and address your weaknesses. Obtaining customer feedback is the best way to assess your performance and can be achieved by distributing a short questionnaire. Be sure to ask customers what you can do to improve the customer experience. Let them know that both positive and constructive feedback will be warmly received. If they had a positive experience, this can also be a great time to ask for testimonials or referrals.
BONUS TIP: The start of the New Year is an exciting time to unveil a new product, program or service. Use online marketing to start building anticipation as early as possible so your customers will be interested in exploring a purchase as soon as it is available.
By incorporating these specific strategies into your business plan, you will position yourself to have a fabulous year. Let’s connect! We can help game plan and build a strategy to help you set and reach goals you never knew you could achieve.
