The Competitive Advantage

September 27, 2016

Innovation for Innovation’s Sake?

Early last year, I wrote a post about a blue-tooth frying pan that notifies you when it’s time to flip your pancakes. Silly!

Well… the “innovators” are at it again! In the October 2016 issue of Fast Company, there’s a small article on Nike’s new self-tying shoes! Whuut?!

Now, if these were being developed to help frail seniors or those with physical disabilities… I kind of get it. But they weren’t. They seem to have a somewhat less noble purpose, according to a Nike engineer, “You can feel it tighten, hear the motor run, and see the laces [move]. It’s a shoe that ignites the senses.” Seriously?!

September 21, 2016

Don’t ignore your ex-clients!

This week, I’m heading to Cincinnati to work with a new client for a couple of days. It’s a really nice shop and I’m excited by the opportunity. But they are not the only firm I’m visiting there. I’m making a sales call on a new prospect and reconnecting with an ex-client.

The good news about ex-clients is that they know you (and you know them) and there is an existing level of trust and credibility… something you don’t have with new sales prospects and an awfully good starting point for re-connecting (assuming the relationship didn’t end badly).

September 14, 2016

I have a stalker… and that’s good news!

True story… I received an email last week that began with, “Steve, I’ve been following you for a while now…” I didn’t know whether to be flattered… or scared!

As it turned out, it wasn’t me, exactly, that she was following (whew!)… it was my writing – my blog posts, articles and eBooks.

And over time, it grew the perception in her mind – and provided the proof – that I knew what I was talking about and that I might be able to help her. Guess what? That is exactly how content marketing is supposed to work for a professional services firm. (I love it when a plan comes together!)

September 3, 2016

Get Ready for 2017 with these 6 Marketing & Sales Activities

By the time you read this article, calendar year 2016 will be more than 2/3 over. How has it gone for you so far? Have you started thinking about 2017?

Before the year ends and you start scrambling for 2017, now is the time to do a little prep work… a little planning… and a little thinking. To help you get next year off to a strong marketing & sales start, consider implementing these 6 activities…

August 30, 2016

They’re not just clients… they’re people!

Think about each of your top 4 or 5 clients. Collectively, they’re likely worth 50-60-70% of your firm’s revenue…. or more!  And I’ll bet you could tell me how much revenue each generates, which services or products they’re buying from you and some details about each of their last few projects. That’s good.

Now think about your key contact at each of those clients – what details do you know about them? No, not their title or their biggest challenges at the office – though those are important. But… are they married or not? What about kids? Their hobbies or favorite sports team? Where they went on vacation last week? And so on… and so on.

Don’t think knowing that kind of thing is important? You’d be wrong!

August 16, 2016

Listen up salespeople… “Your voice mail messages are AWFUL!”

Last Wednesday, I came back to the office to find a voice mail message on my office phone. It was one left by a sales rep (and I use that term loosely) who wanted to connect with me. Without giving away the firm, here’s the message…

After introducing herself, she said, “We have a lot of experience working with firms like yours. I’d appreciate the opportunity to have a short conversation to see if we might be of service to you.” Then she left her phone number and hoped I would call back. That was it.

We can debate the value of leaving phone messages, but here’s what happened (or didn’t happen)…

August 9, 2016

Lost a client? Don’t give up on them.

Recently, one of our consulting engagements – with a large research firm – came to an end… they did not renew with us and continue on as I had expected. It happens… not all client relationships evolve as planned.

The question is… what do you do when that happens? Let me suggest the following…

July 31, 2016

20 Marketing and Sales Concepts Business Leaders Need to Know, Part 2

A 2-part series for CEOs, Presidents and other Execs on the Realities of Business Development

In the start of this series last month, we reviewed 10 concepts that we think are critical to business development success in our industry… an industry that doesn’t always embrace marketing & sales. They included:

1. It’s all about the process.
2. What gets measured gets done.
3. There are two kinds of clients.
4. Be patient.
5. Strategy Before Tactics.
6. Listen and learn… and be prepared to get out of your own way.
7. Not all marketing is marketing.
8. You still gotta execute!
9. People do business with people like.
10. Seek first to help, then to sell.

This month, we’ll add 10 more to the list.