August, 2011


30
Aug 11

Bad Credit Home Equity Loans

Many people don’t realize that there is such a thing as bad credit home equity loans, and because of this they put off things they want or need to do. Simply assuming that you won’t qualify for a home equity loan isn’t the way to fix your problems. If you need home repairs or plan to consolidate some of your bills you need to find a lender that specializes in assisting people with bad credit. This way you can address the problems at hand and help rebuild your credit at the same time.

Finding Bad Credit Home Equity Loans

If you are looking for bad credit home equity loans, you shouldn’t simply walk into your closest bank and apply. Most large financial institutions won’t loan money to people that they deem as high-risk individuals. However, there are bad credit lenders that can help you. Bad credit lenders don’t have as strict requirements as regular banks do. They work specifically with people who have a blemished financial past, and know how to help you get the money you need when you need it.

What to Expect with Bad Credit Home Equity Loans

Obviously, like other types of home loans, your home is used as collateral for your loan. This means if you default on your payment, the lender can foreclose on your home. It’s important to make sure you have enough money to cover the monthly payments on the loan, and that you pay them on time each month. The plus side is if you make timely payments, the loan will help improve your credit rating.

The Benefits of Bad Credit Home Equity Loans

Bad credit home equity loans come in various forms. It can be a standard loan or a home equity line of credit. If you qualify for a home equity line of credit you have the option to use the money as a revolving account. This means you can pay some bills off or make any home repairs you need, and as you pay the money back more credit becomes available. 

Another good thing about bad credit home equity loans is that they can be used to consolidate your other bills. Typically, when you consolidate everything into one loan you aren’t paying out as much on a monthly basis. This frees up some of your money for the necessities you need. Also, with your other bills showing paid in full on your credit report, your credit score will increase.


29
Aug 11

Ideas For a Motivating Sales Meeting

A sales meeting is something that every sales company should have as part of their regular routine.  Most of the time, when the word meeting is brought up, a certain negative spirit enters the mind.  However, when a sales meeting takes place, this should not be like any ordinary meeting.  This article will give some ideas for having a motivating sales meeting and what kinds of things they should include.

Every sales meeting should happen at the beginning of the work day!  Nothing else official should happen until the opening sales meeting and this should have the goal of pumping up the sales team to go have a great day.  Fifteen to thirty minutes would be a good amount of time for the meeting and would not be too short and not be too long.

The sales meeting should involve some sort of noise!  Banging on the desks, having a chant, or clapping and cheering for the manager as he enters the room would be good examples and the sales group can unleash some stores adrenaline.  Loud, exciting sales meetings are going to start your team off in the right direction for the day.

Goals should be set and a bonus should be included if the salesperson goes over their goal as deemed appropriate by management.  Every salesperson should set their goal based on their performance and should do everything possible to hit that goal.  Then if the manager wants to increase the goal for some reward, that would be appropriate at some point as well.  That may not be an everyday occurrence, but it is good for once in a while. 

Role playing would be a good idea for a sales meeting.  Having one veteran sales representative and one rookie come up in front of the group and have them act out a sale would be a great part of the meeting.  Practice still makes perfect and this is a great way to practice!

Announcing the statistics from the day prior is a great way to make the sales meeting motivational.  Knowing that if you do well, you would be recognized is incentive to do a great job.

Sales meetings are to be motivating!  The intensity of the sales meeting is determined by the leadership of the sales manager and the above mentioned ideas can be a starting place of ideas for a motivating sales meeting.  Usually a motivating sales meeting can lead to a great sales day!


27
Aug 11

Recession Proof Get More Foreclosure Cleaning Clients

Grassroots marketing is still one of the best ways to get people talking about your cleaning service; one of the most effective methods is with the use of flyers. How to make flyers work best is to have the right kind of heading. You want to grab the readers attention and let them know how you can help them.

Distribution is the next thing to consider when creating foreclosure cleaning company flyers, some tips for getting noticed is to hand out flyers at trade shows, association meetings and directly at real estate offices.

Flyers vs. Business Cards

Asset managers work directly with brokers, lenders and they know who needs property preservation services, you could email or use direct mail to send a copy of your flyer along with a website and contact number. Business cards are not always the best option when you are trying to distribute thousands of mini billboards. Flyers allow you to show graphics and catchy phrases.

Flyer Headings that work

Here is an example of a heading you could use on your flyer “Shining Cleaning For hire” all jobs quick turn around. Here you are introducing your business as well as letting them know WHY they should hire your company over your competitor. Sell the benefits that you can provide in painting, repairing and providing a trashout service.

Finding more clients

The best place to find foreclosure cleanout jobs is to contact larger property preservation companies that work in several states. Be sure to let them know what zip code you are in as well as on the application check off the boxes of the services you specialize in. To be considered as a vendor you will need to have a business license and insurance. The best part is now you can be hired as a subcontractor and get continuous work in your local area.

List of services you can offer

To give you an idea of the type of work that these large companies will need help with, I have made a list.

Trash Removal
Yard Work and Tree Service
Re-Keying
Painting
House Cleaning
Debris Removal and Trashouts (Interior and Exterior)
Pool Service
Hazardous Material Removal and Pest Control Services
Mold Removal and Inspection Services
General Inspection Services
Carpet Repair and Installation
Flooring/Tile, Repair and Installation
General Contractor, Drywall and Stucco Repair
Cabinetry Services
Electrical and Plumbing Services
Roofing, Masonry and Concrete Work
Window and Door Repair/Installation
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Winterization

You do not have to offer every single one of these services, you can specialize in just a few, but it gives you an idea of all the different ways your foreclosure cleanup business can get more clients.


26
Aug 11

Work at Home Make Money at Home

WORKAT HOME

Options Guide homework, serious and reliable procedures for obtaining extra income from home or become profitable ways to earn a living.
Work at Home After Spending a long time to find a way to make money in an easy, convenient and fast, Which is not required expertise, honest and from home (as promised Many ads) I’m still looking. After spending a long time to find a way to make money in an easy, convenient and fast, which is not required expertise, honest and from home (as promised many ads) I’m still looking.
But what if I Have Many companies are found Through Which You Can Get Extra Income from home in Proportion to the time and effort to invest (working, devoting time and effort is). But what if I have found are many companies through which you can get extra income from home in proportion to the time and effort to invest (working, is devoting time and effort).

Abour offers at home, in Many Cases Which May Become a real way, serious and very profitable livelihood, But Almost Certainly working hard and as a freelancer With The Expenses and Duties of home country. ABOUR offers at home, which may in many cases become a real way, serious and very profitable livelihood, but almost certainly working hard and as a freelancer with the expenses and duties of home country. That is, except in cases of Highly skilled jobs as a freelancer (programmers, translators, etc.).. And call center in the Vast Majority of work at home offers no company or Virtually Will not hire you, you Maintain a Business Relationship as a freelancer working for the company. That is, except in cases of highly skilled jobs as a freelancer (programmers, translators, etc.). And call center in the vast majority of work at home offers no or virtually no company will hire you, you maintain a business relationship working as a freelancer for the company.

   If you’re reading this who is considering working at home, my advice is to Any offer to Remain skeptical of Those That Sound too good to be true. If you’re reading this who is considering working at home, my advice to any offer is to remain skeptical of those that sound too good to be true. There are very FEW Ways to earn easy money and the ads made by peddlers working from home are false or Almost Always very, very exaggerated. There are very few ways to earn easy money and the ads made by peddlers working from home are almost always false or very, very exaggerated.

work at home

To carry out a profitable business at home or from home Will depend largely on Their Ability to work, initiative and motivation That has, in short historical effort. To carry out a profitable business at home or from home will depend largely on their ability to work, initiative and motivation that has, in short his effort.

There are Many Proposals That we find in the work at home half Concerning: SORTING, product assembly, assembling jewelry, apparel assembly or maquila, Completing surveys, mounting pictures, assembling crafts, riding toys, nutrition product sales, selling jewelry, crafts home, catalog sales, etc.., and as I Have Seen These Ads from Some Real and Others Were A possible scam in the making. There are many proposals that we find in the media concerning work at home: SORTING, product assembly, assembling jewelry, apparel assembly or maquila, completing surveys, mounting pictures, assembling crafts, riding toys, product sales nutrition, selling jewelry, crafts, home, catalog sales, etc., and as I have seen these ads from some real and others were a possible scam in the making. Obviously There is everything but be very attentive to the Possibility of Being cheated or deceived. Obviously there is everything but be very attentive to the possibility of being cheated or deceived.

Characteristics of entrepreneurs: Characteristics of entrepreneurs:

    *

      Organizational skills. Organizational skills.
    *

      Innovativeness: generation of good ideas. Innovativeness: generation of good ideas.
    *

      Audacity: take a Risk financing. Audacity: take a risk financing.
    *

      Desire to Improve: growth project. Desire to improve: growth project.
    *

      Appropriate training: Developing lifelong learning. Appropriate training: developing lifelong learning.
    *

      Independence: to Maintain control of the company. Independence: to maintain control of the company.
    *

      And perseverance. And perseverance.
    *

      Ability to assume Responsibilities and Obligations. Ability to assume responsibilities and obligations.

The option of working at home very attractive Can Be Several Reasons for the choice of working at home can be very attractive for several reasons

    * Self Self Accommodated your schedule to accommodate your schedule
    Be your own boss * Be your own boss
    * Avoid Avoid travel and travel and expenses Expenses
    * Compatible with other Obligations Compatible with other obligations
    * Dedication as Income Level income level as dedication
    * Personal and Professional Development Personal and Professional Development
    * Economic Independence Financial independence
    Personal satisfaction * Personal satisfaction

Factors to Consider Before starting a job working at home type: Factors to consider before starting a job working at home type:

    * First of all be Cautious, Behind These ads really Can Meet With additional options to Obtain Serious Income by companies and not so serious. First of all be cautious, behind these ads can really meet with options to obtain additional income by companies serious and not so serious.
    * It is not adviseable to send money in advance, suggesting the Possibility of payment on delivery. It is not advisable to send money in advance, suggesting the possibility of payment on delivery. If You Can Avoid send money in advance. Avoid if you can send money in advance.
    * Contact the company Requesting That the person is Identified properly. Contact the company requesting that the person is identified properly.
    * Request name and phone if You have company. Request name and phone if you have company.
    * If You have a fraud sufferer Retain all documentation, although the complaint is anonymous, Will help to Stop This Potential fraud. If you have suffered a fraud retain all documentation, although the complaint is anonymous, will help to stop this potential fraud.
    * Be patient, the Vast Majority of companies listed here are Offering jobs other companies ultimately Provide That the work. Be patient, the vast majority of companies offering jobs listed here are other companies that ultimately provide the labor.

          work at home The Aim of this website is to bring Those alternatives work or self-employment, business and Activities at home under my Serious and credible criteria considered by People Who Testimony or are dedicated to it or just the information I have read of These companies and Their jobs so far. The aim of this website is to bring those jobs or self-employment options, activities and home business in my view I think well be reliable testimonies of people dedicated to it or just the information I have read of these companies and their jobs so far. Needless to say, not all companies work at home offers Offering Considered are reliable on this website, and They Are Many and this is my long term goal. Needless to say, not all companies offering work at home offers are considered reliable on this website, and they are many and this is my long term goal. One factor to Consider In This Is That positive self regard ‘upfront investment required by the Applicant. One factor to consider in this regard is that positive self upfront investment required by the applicant.

Most Proposals for work at home listed here Have a common denominator, relativamente are easy to do at home job, but not Lack of Commitment, by Which Many People Earn Their Living From this work. Most proposals for work at home listed here have a common denominator, are relatively easy job to do at home, but not lack of commitment, by which many people earn their living from this work. Also note the success of That other jobs or people in Certain Activities Should Never Be Regarded As a guarantee of insurance benefits. Also note that the success of other people in certain jobs or activities should never be regarded as a guarantee of insurance benefits. It is very common to meet someone Who Makes a living too well With These types of jobs, But Also very common in most cases we work at home Such Have Become a style or lifestyle, That is, Practically live for work, Taking Advantage of family Gatherings and friends to keep working. It is very common to meet someone who makes a living too well with these types of jobs, but also very common in most cases such work at home we have become a style or lifestyle, that is, practically live for work, taking advantage of family gatherings and friends to keep working.

In the first link under the heading of “work home sales” have coalesced Those options selling from home, Through Which You Can get extra income. In the first link under the heading of “hard sell house” have come together to sell those options at home, through which you can get extra income. If you think selling is an activity from home That goes with you, please consult These articles. If you think selling from home is an activity that goes with you, please consult these articles.

In the section titled We have put extra money together Proposals that failed to earn a Living with Them, Most options are really interesting When You Need extra money. In the section titled extra money we have put together proposals that fail to earn a living with them, most are really interesting options when you need extra money. Banking Solutions for retired homeowners That Will allow you to enter extra money for Life Without HAVING to leave her. Banking Solutions for retired homeowners to allow you to enter extra money for life without having to leave her.

I Hope That the information to be Reflected in my site it Will Be Useful And That the less you save time and Avoid Any Another possible scam That search or fraud. I hope that the information to be reflected in my site it will be useful and that the less you save time and avoid any search that another possible scam or fraud.

Also included in this site Some interesting articles related to work and home Activities, Suspected fraud and advice When looking for new business deals to make money from home. Also included in this site some interesting articles related to work and home activities, suspected fraud and advice when looking for new business deals to make money from home. In the section of free courses find links to Can you help you find the online course or distance That Best Suits Their goals. In the free course section you find links that will help you find the online course or distance that best suits their goals.

> Small jobs at home guide in Word format> Small jobs at home guide in Word format
> Small jobs at home guide in PDF format> Small jobs at home guide in PDF format

Before starting an activity or paid work at home is convenient to bother tax advice and work, as well as regulation of occupational hazards. Before starting an activity or paid work at home is convenient to both tax advice and labor, as well as regulation of occupational hazards.


24
Aug 11

How To Buy Foreclosure From Banks

If you scour the internet, you would find plenty of tips and advice on how to buy foreclosures. Unfortunately, not all of them are effective and some buyers up more confused than before. Although investing in foreclosure properties is considered profitable, not knowing the important stuff can make you make the wrong decision.

A lot of buyers and investors may find it easy to search for bank foreclosures. But the challenging part is when it is time to make an offer. Since these properties are usually underpriced compared to the other homes for sale, it is not surprising that there are multiple offers.

With such stiff competition, it would help if you know how to make the winning offer. Consider the following:

Find Out Comparable Sales

Before making an offer, you should first determine if what you are offering is enough. You can do this by looking at comparable sales for that particular neighborhood. To be more accurate, you should consider other foreclosed properties that have the same features and amenities. In addition, you might also want to check out the pending sales in the area and find out how much the accepted offers are.

How Many Offers

For you to make the best offer, you should know how many offers have been made. If there are no offers, you can definitely make an offer that is less than the list price. However, if there are 10 or more offers, you might want to increase the amount of your offer. Some buyers will pay cash and if you are planning on getting financing, then your offer should be considerably more.

Preapproval Letter

Another way you can improve your chances of owning the reo property by getting pre-approved. You can choose to go with another lender but it would be simpler if you get pre-approved by the same bank who owns the property.

With these simple yet effective tips on how to buy foreclosure from banks, you will be able to make sure that your offer is accepted.


23
Aug 11

The nightmare of foreclosure does not end there!

People have their own views about foreclosure. For most it is nothing less than a disaster to lose their own home. But for a few others it is just a narrow escape and they again start to look for a new, cheaper home elsewhere.

Apart from how you react to foreclosure, you should also be aware of the consequences this foreclosure has on your tax obligations. When a homeowner loses his property due to foreclosure, the mortgage lenders try to sell off the property to pay off the loans. But many times the money is not enough to cover up the mortgage. In such case the bank will have to sell your home at a loss. This transaction technically means that original homeowner has still not paid the full due amount and there is a residual balance he owes to the bank. This is also possible in case of other types of loans and unpaid credit card dues as well.

Now as the bank is not able to recover the total loan amount, they may write off the balance as a loss. This is how they cancel the balance debt. This is where the lending institution issues the debtor Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt. To issue this form the bank may not even have the changed address of the homeowner! Many a times he is unaware of the fact that the bank has issued form 1099-C to him. He proceeds to file his return without this form. He is made aware only when he receives a deficiency notice for paying inadequate taxes or when the IRS audit is initiated.

At the point when the homeowner’s residual debts are cancelled and he receives 1099-C, the forgiven debt is to be updated as his income while filing his tax returns or else this treated as a discrepancy by the IRS and the taxpayer is bound to be penalized. As only the taxpayer is solely responsible for the complete submission of his income details to the IRS, he cannot be saved on excuses as non-receipt or ignorance of 1099-C.

Things happen in similar way on a bankruptcy application. One may think filing bankruptcy can give him another chance to make a new beginning but for this you should consult a licensed attorney. He should find out from you the forgiven debt amount in addition to all other details so that he can update the same as your income and is excluded from the bankruptcy application. If you are near to a possible foreclosure or are considering the option of bankruptcy, you must consult a lawyer who can take care of these intricacies to help you protect your interests.


21
Aug 11

Eleven Ways to Make More Money With Your Next Garage Sale

There’s no doubt the garage sale has become a fixed part of our culture. Every Saturday people like clockwork, people come out in droves to browse and purchase bargain merchandise from their friends and neighbors. It’s become a national pasttime!

Why not take part in this national trend and make money at the same time? By hosting your own garage sale, you can not only make money but you can also declutter and remove from your home useless items you no longer have room for.

By following some simple guidelines, you can potentially triple the amount of money you make at your next garage sale:

1.Instead of hosting a solitary garage sale, recruit other members of your neighborhood to participate also. A neighborhood sale, in general, will bring in much larger crowds of buyers than will a single garage sale. You can also share the cost of advertising the sale in the newspaper which is a big bonus.

2. If your home is difficult to access, consider holding your sale in a more conspicuous location. Some businesses will allow you to use a corner of their parking lot to display your ware for a small fee. If you pick a high traffic location, this can be a gold mine!

3. Conduct an extensive advertising campaign. This should include a cleverly worded ad placed in the garage sale category of the newspaper as well as flyers distributed to bulletin boards in your area. Place garage sale signs at high traffic corners with your address clearly displayed. Try to avoid the amateurish looking signs you generally see advertising garage sales. Usually these signs are handwritten and have addresses that are difficult to read. This is not a good way to attract buyers!

4. Make sure items are neatly displayed with prices clearly displayed. Clothes are best hung up neatly on racks, not hastily laid out on a blanket on the ground. Group siimilar items together to encourage multiple purchases and make shopping easier.

5. Have some high demand items prominently displayed so they can be seen from the road. These might be items such a bicycle, electronic equipment, exercise equipment. This will encourage people driving by to stop.

6. Attach balloons to your signs and to your mailbox to attract attention and make it easier for buyeres to find you.

7. Have some lively music in the background to create a festive atmosphere. People will stay around long if you provide them with a pleasant shopping environment.

8. If you don’t have a large number of items to sell, sell some of your friends and neighbors items on consignment. Buyers are more likely to stop at your sale if they believe you have a large

9. Consider selling refreshments such as lemonade and baked goods. This will increase your sales as well as give people a reason to stick around.

10. Around the last hour of the sale, have a 50% off sale to clear out your remaining merchandise. Let people know you’ll be closing shortly and if they want the discount they need to act now!

11. Donate the leftover items to charity. Not only are you doing a good deed, you’re also allowed a tax write off.

Most of all, have fun hosting your next garage sale! After it’s over, use some of the money you’ve made to celebrate at a nice restaurant!


20
Aug 11

Foreclosure Cleaning Business How to get Started

 start a cleaning business, First you need to set up a website so you that a professional web presence online can be established right away, Foreclosure trash out business opportunity

Next every foreclosure clean out business needs a to have property liability insurance to cover any damages if any that might occur during cleaning a property,Services Performed: -Meticulous indoor cleaning -Debris Removal – mortgages.REO Asset Management companies is who you will contact to start your business opportunity cleaning foreclosures. Foreclosure clean ups eviction Service, Learn how to clean and maintain foreclosures, start making money now with this business opportunity, real estate agents, brokers, mortgage lenders, banks .

Courses offered by Home Inspection Schools

Communication and Professional Practice Training is a module that you can learn to help you with your home inspection service business, some of the many topics you will learn include:

Inspections and Inspectors

• Typical Clients

• The Inspection Process

• The Real Estate Transaction

• Verbal Communication

• Report Writing

• Liability

• The Step-by-Step Home Inspection

• Inspection Checklists

• Inspection Tools

No matter where you live you can get started in the high demand field of home inspection, getting the training you need and learning from home inspectors who have years and years of experience will allow you to know that if you live anywhere nationwide

Albany, NY BATTLE CREEK, MI CHEHALIS, WA CODY, WY JONESBORO, AR MCALLEN, TX OGDENSBURG, NY FULTON, NY 13069 PORT CRANE, NY 13833 WINDSOR, NY 13865 WALTON, You can still work at your home based field service home inspection business, having a recession proof way to earn money from home is what everyone wants.

Home Inspection practices information

Your going to learn how to look for improper building practices, those items that require extensive repairs, items that are general maintenance issues, as well as some fire and safety issues.Home inspectors are required to complete the ABBE Diploma in Home Inspection to show they meet the standards, Canadian Insurance Inspectors, Colorado Inspectors Needed, is some of the want ads that you will find when you do a search in google, make sure that when you are looking for home inspection training schools that you get all the information that covers the following areas:

You will need to learn about all these areas of a home in order to be an effective inspector

Foundation
Exterior
Walls
Roof
Attic
Basement
Kitchen
Bathrooms
Windows
Insulation
Electrical
Plumbing
Air and heating system
Interior

Field Service Home Inspector Business you can start Today

If you want to get started as a Field Service Inspector you must first understand what it takes first thing to note is that a home inspector conducts a thorough review of a residential house, checking everything from the foundation and plumbing to electrical outlets and unsealed windows. Other things to know is that a Inspector checks the house for areas that affect safety, focusing mostly on structure and condition.

Some things that get overlooked by some home inspectors is electrical work that either require or do not require a permit and inspection. Ways to protect the home and getting the proper electrical work permits and inspections. Its important to get detailed instructions and helpful hints about the electrical permit and inspection process.  

Become a certified home inspector by stay informed get the right training materials

Proper course training material that will teach you what you need to know will cover subjects for Preservation, such as Introduction to Property Preservation, securing and winterization.The purpose of a professional home inspection and report is to give you an in-depth understanding of the current condition of the house

Areas that a home inspector checks generally include:

Foundation Exterior Walls Roof Attic Basement Kitchen Bathrooms Windows Insulation Electrical Plumbing Air and heating system Interior


18
Aug 11

Tips on giving Effective Sales Presentations

      Tips on giving Effective Sales Presentations

                  By  Peermuhammad AmeerAli

Sales presentations could be as tricky as tight-rope walking. If you are adept at it, you not only achieve your objective but also you are likely to collect a lot of appreciation in the process. On the other hand, even if you slip up once, the fall could prove very damaging. That’s why professional salesmen always take extra precautions in the following aspects to make their presentation click every time they make it:

Critical planning is necessary:

Whether it is going to be a sales presentation for a single customer or in front of a group of customers, thorough preparation is mandatory to make it really successful. Planning involves an exhaustive study about the customers, their needs and wants, their financial capacity and allocation of budget and their freedom or restrictions in making the buying decisions. Armed with the details culled out of these studies, one can confidently prepare a convincing presentation incorporating all the relevant details that may be of interest and use to the customers.

Building a quick rapport : 

While you are ready and the presentation is ready, if the customer isn’t ready, what is the use?  So, quickly try to build the customer confidence within the first few minutes of the presentation. This may require good personal grooming to start with, to be followed by a cordial personal greeting which is considered most apt for the occasion, to open up a conducive atmosphere for a fruitful exchange of ideas and thoughts with the customers. The customer confidence is greatly bolstered if the salesman radiates good cheer, talks in ringing tones and displays professionalism in every aspect.

Talk to convince and stop to consolidate: 

If talking is the main constituent of a sales presentation, then listening perhaps, is the most crucial aspect of a successful presentation, because only by listening can we ever know what and how much the customers have understood out of what we have presented to them. So the presentation has to, necessarily, be a two-way affair involving the customer also in the talking, so that the salesman knows where exactly he stands in his effort to convince the clients. Lecturing has to be avoided however much tempting it might be to the salesman. Customers have come to him not to listen to sermons. They have more urgent needs to satisfy, and if the sales presentation directly addresses their needs and offers solutions for them, then that is the ideal kind of presentation that is going to result in sales.  So, more than too much talk, a focused presentation that convinces the customers of the superiority of the products or service, is the preferred one from the customers’ point of view. Hence a smart salesman should know when to talk, and where to stop, to collect the orders, for a happy ending for all concerned. Any unnecessary prolongation of the presentation is not only wastage of time, it could even prove to be counterproductive.

Focus on solutions not on problems:

The customer is well aware of his/her problems and it need not be further elaborated. What the customer needs is whether your company and its products could offer any solution to their problems or not. So, it is always wise to steer the entire presentation around problem-solving and troubleshooting, which directly addresses the customer needs and the latter is more likely to come to a quick buying decision if this approach is adopted. The customers are apt to take a favorable decision if the sales presentation answers the following questions :

i) What are the special benefits of your products vis-vis your competitors?

ii) How does your price compare with that of your customers, and if it is costlier,

     how do you justify the difference in price?

iii) What kind of an after-sales service do you offer? Is it on par with the industry

      standards, or more, or even less?

iv) Why should the customer buy your products or service immediately? Won’t

      they gain time or savings, if they postpone their buying decision for the time

      being?

v) Do the company’s products offer a long term or a short term solution for

     their problems ? Naturally any customer would prefer only a long term

     solution, even if it is going to cost something extra.

Audio-video presentation has become the order of the day:

So don’t be left behind by following the conventional oral presentation alone. The presentation has to be lively, informative as well as interesting. Otherwise you won’t have any takers. Nowadays sophisticated audio-video presentation gadgets are available in a wide range to suit different needs, to make even an ordinary presentation look like an extraordinary one ! So, it is wise to get this advantage too, to make your presentation tick with your customers. A word of caution here : audio-video gadgets are there only to support and supplement your oral presentation, and not to substitute it. People still prefer to listen to fellow human beings and get convinced, and rarely are they convinced by any recorded presentations. So the gift of gab of the salesman still holds water when it comes to the crucial question of convincing an important customer. Even with the additional help of the audio-video support, the salesman should assume control over them and take full personal responsibility for convincing the customers. Only then does he do justice for his job.

No pushing only guidance all the way:

That’s how the customers want it. The moment the customer feels he is being pressurized by the salesperson into taking a quick decision, either he ducks under or outright rejects the offer. This could happen if the salesman is not alert enough to watch for the right type of go-ahead signals from the customer, and instead, in his undue haste to close the sales, he prematurely forces the customer to take a call, which is more likely to be negative only. There is no use later on complaining that the customer was not cooperative. An alert salesman always keeps looking for the ripe moment for closing the sales and if the customer is as yet not ready for it , the salesman senses it and does not force him to take a decision. Instead he offers more details or comparisons with competitor details or encourages the customer to feel and handle the product for himself, wherever this is possible, which are more likely to convince the customer, thereby removing even the last bits of doubts still bothering his mind, and now he is more prone to take a positive decision. This is the opportune moment to try for and successfully get a sales closure, and a professional salesman rarely misses it.

After-sales assurance:

In spite of all the deliberations after which a buying decision is made, still most of the customers have a lingering doubt whether they made the right decision, after all. Unless these inconvenient residual doubts are also not cleared once and for all, the sales presentation cannot be said to be completely successful. So, an understanding salesman keeps assuring the customer who has just made the buying decision, that he has really made an intelligent decision, and it is going to be justified by the continuous benefits he and his people are going to enjoy out of the product, for a long time to come. This last piece of assuring gesture goes a long way to ensure that the salesman really cares for the customer’s full satisfaction, and is sure to induce the customer to come for many more repeat purchases in the future. When this happens, it is proof that the sales presentation had been really effective in the true sense of the word.

Effective sales presentation is not only an art, it could even be a magic which produces sales after sales with every attempt, and even creates sales where the potential for none existed already.


17
Aug 11

The Uses of a 3 – 5 Year Sales Forecast

A sales forecast is an important management tool in small business that all business owners should do, regardless of the size of their business and their future intentions with the business. Some owners are satisfied letting their business tick along, as it always has done, and have no plans to develop or grow the business. Whilst this approach may be suitable in the short term the long term survival of the business may be jeopardized. It is almost guaranteed that costs will increase, and if the sales remain static the profitability of the business will decrease as the costs increase which is likely to lead to failure. 

A well thought out and documented sales forecast provides many benefits to the business, some of which are likely to include; 

i) A sales forecast will provide a sense of direction 

Since the sales forecast is an intention, or a plan it clearly identifies a goal for the business to achieve, which will give the owners, as well as the staff, something to aim for and a target to reach. Some businesses simply run along as they always have done with no real sense of purpose, which may lead to them becoming stagnant. With a sales plan in place hopefully this should not happen.

ii) A sales forecast will help to motivate 

A clear goal provides something to aim for, which should help to stimulate not only the business owner but also the employees. A well thought out and documented plan will serve as a motivator, and to increase the effectiveness incentives should be given, either in the form of bonuses, coupons, gifts etc. as specific parts of the overall plan are achieved. However, the sales forecast should be realistic and achievable otherwise it may have the opposite effect and de-motivate staff if they feel they have no chance of meeting the plan. 

iii) A sales forecast can be used in bank funding applications 

When a business approaches the bank for a loan the bank will want comfort the business can repay not only the principal amount, i.e. the capital, but also the servicing costs, i.e. all interest and associated charges and arrangement fees. The sales forecast will help to support application by providing some evidence to the bank that there will be cash available to repay the loan. When providing a sales forecast to the bank it is important to ensure it is realistic and the figures are based on historical information and reasonable assumptions. Whilst evaluating the sales forecast the bank is likely to pull the figures apart. 

iv) A sales forecast can be used in obtaining funds from private investors

As an alternative to a bank loan a business may be able to get cash through external investors. Where a bank will want to know the business can repay the loan the investor will want comfort that the business will grow and develop and be capable of buying the investor out at some future point. Whilst the business is growing the investor is going to want some return for the investment, effectively ‘interest’, and the sales forecast should help to provide this comfort. When evaluating a sales forecast the investor is likely to pull the figures apart, just like the bank will, so it is important to prepare the forecast on historical information and the likely impact of future plans. 

v) A sales forecast can serve as a disposal document 

A sales forecast is a useful document used when actually selling the business. Most potential acquirers are going to want to know the business is a sound investment that will generate a return in the future, after all what’s the point of buying a business if you don’t get anything out of it? The sales forecast is used to show potential acquirers the business will make future sales after disposal, i.e. during the acquirer’s ownership of the business. In some situations, the selling price of the business is based on the future performance of the business and what it is capable of achieving, as opposed to what it has achieved in the past.