No one starts a business with the goal of being average. The very word “average” is almost never part of my vocabulary.

Every business entrepreneur I’ve ever worked with has had a vision for greatness and building a Legacy Business they could be proud to stand behind.

Some men and women are natural born salespeople. They have an intuition for the art of sales. But sales is also a science that any business entrepreneur can master if they work at it.

I’d like to share 3 action steps you can take to accelerate your sales from average to A+ this year:

1. Know the Power of Referrals.

You’re more likely to make a sale to a prospect who was referred to you by someone they like and trust. You become more likable and trustworthy simply by virtue of the recommendation. When a prospect knows that you have a relationship with – or the recommendation of – someone they trust, they are more likely to give you their time and an opportunity to earn their trust.

Are you doing everything in your power to get new referrals every week? Regularly check in with your friends, family and peers to see if they know anyone they think would benefit from the products or services you offer. You can also provide an incentive to your customers for providing referrals. There are no stronger referrals than those that come from happy customers who can speak from personal experience about the quality of the product or service you offer. Lastly, when you attend networking events be sure to ask for referrals even from individuals who aren’t prospects or potential partners themselves.

Be sure to provide referrals to others – friends, family, customers, industry partners, and those you meet at networking events. When you make the effort to make meaningful connections for others, they will be more likely to keep you and your services in their minds and on their lips.

2. Understand that Customers are Invaluable Assets.

We’ve discussed how important a referral is from a customer. But are you confident that your customers are so satisfied with your products or services that they would enthusiastically recommend you?
The only way to be 100% sure that you’ll get positive reviews from a customer is to communicate with them! Yes, it’s important to spend time every day connecting with new leads, but it’s also critical to spend time checking in with your existing clientele. Ask questions to determine if they are satisfied with the quality of the product or service you’re providing. Do they have any issues or concerns? Is there anything you could be doing differently to serve them better? Let them do the talking and listen carefully to their feedback.

This exercise sends a strong message not only that you value their business, but that you care about them. With this customer-first approach, you will build lasting relationships with your clients or customers and increase the likelihood that they will recommend you and your products or services to their friends, families and colleagues.

3. Surround Yourself with Winners.

If you want to achieve above-average sales, then you need to surround yourself with above average people. Creating a positive, inspiring environment helps breed success. This includes:

*Your mentors. The fastest route to achieving outstanding sales success is by learning from people who have already achieved it. Read books and listen to CDs by sales gurus like Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy and Harvey Mackay. They can arm you with the mindsets, tools and proven strategies they used to make many millions of dollars.

Work with a business consultant who can provide you with motivation, accountability and the sales expertise they gleaned from decades of experience. My Celeste Giordano Coaching clients benefit from the practical lessons I learned in my 40+ years in direct sales.

*Your employees. Make sure the people you hire aren’t satisfied with the status quo and share your vision for above average results. Promote personal growth within your employees so they can develop their mindsets and skills-sets to achieve greatness in their roles. Acknowledging and rewarding their successes rather than focusing on their shortcomings will create a culture of positivity and inspire your team to reach higher.

*Your peers. Network with top-performing salespeople at networking events who aren’t direct competitors. Sharing ideas and stories of what works and what doesn’t can be extremely helpful as well as inspiring. We become who we associate with so be sure the people you associate with – both in your professional and personal life-  are growth-oriented and have a healthy, positive attitude.

If you’re not yet a top-performing salesperson, then you should be doing everything in your power to become one. I work one-on-one with business entrepreneurs interested in developing outstanding sales skills, from the art of lead production to the ability to close sales. Visit celestegiordano.com to start your journey to sales success. With the right attitude, strategies and accountability partner in your corner, you CAN “Double Plus” your income this year.

Are you ready?

Women of Global Change Atlanta Chapter Launch Luncheon

Wednesday, August 17 at 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
at The 1818 Club, 6500 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Duluth, Georgia 30097

Join us for the Women of Global Change Atlanta Chapter Launch Luncheon, featuring an amazing program with Dr. Natalie Forest, our charitable partner organizations and sponsors! Hosted by Chapter President Celeste Giordano and VP Tracy Neal.

$25.00 for buffet lunch, beverage, taxes and gratuity. $30 at the door. Limited Seating. RSVP and get your ticket today.

Click here for more information.

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “double-plus” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with almost 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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