Archive for September, 2008

Create Urgency By Asking the Viagra-Ad Question »

While thumbing through my SPORTS ILLUSTRATED magazine, the full page ad for Viagra popped out, uh, caught my eye. I mean, it was right there…I can assure you I just read it in the name of sales research, OK?
The ad focused on a question and an answer:
“Q. What will happen if you don’t talk to [...]

Ask Questions Like This TV Detective »

I’m fascinated by other professions that use the skills and techniques we also employ as sales pros. Police detectives, for examples.
And while it was just a TV show, a much-studied and quoted TV detective was Columbo, from the series of the same name in the 70’s.
Columbo was a master at getting his subjects to open [...]

The Worst Telephone Sales Call I’ve Ever Received »

I love getting sales calls. The good ones I learn from. The bad ones, well, they become good material for my seminars, articles, and other training. And I record most of them. From time to time, I will post recordings of calls here.
Today I’m starting with the worst call I’ve ever received. I’ve played this [...]