Warren Contreras   Old Retired Guy
If I keep the pipeline full with interested prospects being constantly exposed to my ideas, I don't need to count interactions or worry about what happens automatically. All I do is spread more breadcrumbs and wait for the birds to show up (just an analogy).
Mar 22nd 2014 10:17 1 Likes  

Bruce Bates   Cooperative marketing
This totally blows a lot of peoples minds, but I don't have prospects I have friends. The difference is drastic. When I contact a friend they already know my reputation and are usually very interested in anything I am doing. That doesn't ALWAYS result in a sale but honestly it almost ALWAYS results in a signup - and if the friend in question likes what I am doing it usually results in a sale - because they see the potential to make even more money from it.

The product is always important - but never the single most important thing as many believe.

Think about this, in 1976 the average american consumed 1.5 gallons of bottled water in a year.By 2008 the average american was consuming over 30 gallons of bottled water a year.

This is a product that can be obtained for $0 in almost every public bathroom in america and in just about every household.

This is a 12 billion dollar yearly industry.

Is it because people need bottled water? Not hardly. Its because of good branding. Thats what sales are all about. Gaining the trust of the people.

The same holds true in internet marketing. After people start to trust you, what you say, and the things you do - they start to join things not because of the product but rather because they trust what you say regardless of the product.

When that happens, the followups no longer matter. The first time you speak - people jump to join you.
Mar 23rd 2014 11:39 1 Likes  

Warren Contreras   Old Retired Guy
All of my friends are prospects and they know it, so I don't need to ask much.
Mar 23rd 2014 15:38   

Chuck Bartok   Veteran Entrepreneur now Sharing
As usual Warren and Bruce sum things up well. But I was trying to focus on the Sales System.
We only sell to friends also, but it takes a while in some cases to become that Authority people will Know Like and Trust.
One of our products average $50,000 and it usually involves more than ONE encounter (6 months usually). ~smile
BUT record is start to finish on phone with first contact 37 minutes. ($36,832)
Analysis showed the buyer was VERY well informed, had researched product and company on his own for a month or so, followed Blog and social media and had made Up his mind, pretty much before the call.
If we were not in a position of "authority", had good reviews, and a 30+ year reputation..
It might not have been that easy
Aug 16th 2014 10:46