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	<title>Mark McCulloch Success Coach &#187; Home Based Business</title>
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		<title>The Quickest Way to Get is to Give</title>
		<link>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/04/20/the-quickest-way-to-get-is-to-give/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/04/20/the-quickest-way-to-get-is-to-give/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:21:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark McCulloch The Success Trainer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Based Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[abundance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[attraction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-help]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wealth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markmcculloch.info/?p=955</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It’s true.  You can’t really get what you want in life until you have given it to others.  Doesn’t sound like it makes much sense, does it?  How can you give what you don’t have?  As you open your mind to the possibility and ask this question of yourself, you allow [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F04%2F20%2Fthe-quickest-way-to-get-is-to-give%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F04%2F20%2Fthe-quickest-way-to-get-is-to-give%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>It’s true.  You can’t really get what you want in life until you have given it to others.  Doesn’t sound like it makes much sense, does it?  How can you give what you don’t have?  As you open your mind to the possibility and ask this question of yourself, you allow opportunity to come to you and knock at your door.  Then you will find a way that it is possible to give to others what you want, before receiving it yourself.</p>
<p>It almost sounds like a chain letter and in a way it is.  The chain letter is a facetious reference as so many of us have been exposed to them by now and know they are illegitimate scams.  Yet the basic principles are: you give before you receive, and you give with the faith and expectation of receiving.  A similar modern example can be seen in the film ‘Pay It Forward’.  By giving to others, you allow good things to happen to you.  And this all boils down to the simple law of attraction.</p>
<p>The law of attraction is like any other law of nature, like gravity.  And like gravity, it is not one that has been generally ‘discovered’ yet.  As a result, most of us are walking around thinking in a completely disordered paradigm.  </p>
<p>Disordered paradigms of thought are displayed over and over in history, and discoveries of natural laws and observations of reality have brought order to transform the mistaken beliefs that had been accepted for fact.  You can think of many examples, such as the belief that the world is flat, or the belief that we are at the center of the universe.  Or the great changes that resulted as a discovery of the force of electricity and harnessing its natural power.</p>
<p>In this same way, we are able to make a change in our own disordered thought patterns.  Right now 99% of us are probably dissatisfied.  Dissatisfaction means larger life is seeking to be expressed through us, and it is being blocked.  Self-sabotage is a very real process working in the invisible realms of the unconscious mind.</p>
<p>The good news is there are a lot of simple, small but powerful techniques you can use to reprogram that all powerful unconscious mind of yours, to order your own life as you want it.  Yes, there IS a way to eliminate the chaos in your life, and it starts within.  It starts by eliminating the often unseen chaos in your own mind.</p>
<p>The technique in this article is only one of a vast array that you can use on a daily basis to improve your life dramatically.  In this article you are learning how to use the law of attraction to attract to yourself what you want.</p>
<p>The law of attraction, like gravity, is undefiable.  You will attract what you are sending out.  Your thoughts are real in the world of attraction.</p>
<p>If your mind is resonating with patterns of anxiety, stress, anger, sadness, envy, grief, or any other negative emotion, you will be attracting more of the same in your life.</p>
<p>One step you can take to change this is to focus on giving to others before you receive yourself.  In this way you are changing your vibration and your focus.  And you open yourself to receive what you had been closing off before.</p>
<p>It is very simple to give.  Give of what you have, and everyone has something to give.  We all have innate value to offer the world.  An abiding philosophy in the law of attraction is to always offer an increase in value, to give back more in value than you receive in money.  In this way you continue to give more than you get and attract more and larger life back to yourself.</p>
<p>Take a moment to look within and find something, anything, no matter how small or simple, to give to anyone, friend or stranger.  Start the practice of giving, and you will take one step towards raising your level of vibration and enhancing the value of what you attract in your own life.  Give something selflessly today, knowing that you will receive it multiplied back in your life, tenfold.</p>
<p>I am over 10 years now FULL TIME working from home on the internet making money online and I have put together the following website to share all of my secrets with you at <a href="http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu">http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu</a></p>
<p>Regards Always</p>
<p>Mark McCulloch</p>
<p><a href="http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com">http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com</a> – <a href="maito:mark@markmcculloch.com">mark@markmcculloch.com</a></p>
<p>Internet Marketer and Entrepreneur, Committed to creating success</p>
<p>(UK) 07875 647 867 (Call Me Anytime), Skype – mark.mcculloch1</p>
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		<slash:comments>9</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Don&#8217;t Miss This Amazing Deal &#8211; Act Quickly!</title>
		<link>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/04/19/dont-miss-this-amazing-deal-act-quickly/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/04/19/dont-miss-this-amazing-deal-act-quickly/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:15:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark McCulloch The Success Trainer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Based Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lead Generation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[List Building]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing Funnel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[list builder]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[list building]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[viral ad store]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markmcculloch.info/?p=951</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you heard about ViralAdStore?
&#8212;&#8211;> http://viraladstore.com/index.php?aff=36316
If not, then I strongly advise you to take a look!
ViralAdStore is one of the best marketing tools on the net and
it&#8217;s been proven!
Advertising results have been tested using the tracking facility
at Traffic Zipper and ViralAdStore is consistently in the
top 3 out of 18 established list builders. 
ViralAdStore is one [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F04%2F19%2Fdont-miss-this-amazing-deal-act-quickly%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F04%2F19%2Fdont-miss-this-amazing-deal-act-quickly%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Have you heard about ViralAdStore?</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8211;> <a href="http://viraladstore.com/index.php?aff=36316">http://viraladstore.com/index.php?aff=36316</a></p>
<p>If not, then I strongly advise you to take a look!</p>
<p>ViralAdStore is one of the best marketing tools on the net and<br />
it&#8217;s been proven!</p>
<p>Advertising results have been tested using the tracking facility<br />
at Traffic Zipper and ViralAdStore is consistently in the<br />
top 3 out of 18 established list builders. </p>
<p>ViralAdStore is one of the best and the stats do the talking.</p>
<p>One of the factors behind these impressive results is that your ads<br />
are only sent to &#8216;Active&#8217; members. Inactive members at ViralAdStore<br />
are periodically removed from the database so you&#8217;ll always get<br />
awesome results from your mailings.</p>
<p>The simple fact is that members of ViralAdStore WILL view your ad.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve managed to strike a special deal with the owners Mike and Greg.<br />
If you upgrade your account at ViralAdStore within the next 3<br />
days they will personally add 5000 bonus credits into your account.<br />
(Worth $49.95)</p>
<p>This special offer is only valid until Thursday evening so please<br />
act quickly!</p>
<p>The 5000 bonus credits will go a long way to helping your business<br />
so please don&#8217;t forget to take advantage of this special deal before<br />
Thursday.</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8211;> <a href="http://viraladstore.com/index.php?aff=36316">http://viraladstore.com/index.php?aff=36316</a></p>
<p>After upgrading please log a support ticket at their helpdesk and<br />
your bonus credits will be applied asap&#8230;</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8211;> <a href="http://mikeshelpdesk.com/">http://mikeshelpdesk.com/</a></p>
<p>In addition to the bonus credits, the Gold upgrade at ViralAdStore<br />
will allow you to email 3000 prospects every 3 days which will<br />
generate even more leads for your business.</p>
<p>To Your Success,<br />
Mark McCulloch</p>
<p>PS Don&#8217;t worry if your budget doesn&#8217;t stretch enough to take the<br />
upgrade. ViralAdStore has a FREE member option which still provides<br />
effective advertising.</p>
<p>I am over 10 years now FULL TIME working from home on the internet making money online and I have put together the following website to share all of my secrets with you at <a href="http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu">http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com">http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com</a> – <a href="maito:mark@markmcculloch.com">mark@markmcculloch.com</a></p>
<p>Internet Marketer and Entrepreneur, Committed to creating success</p>
<p>(UK) 07875 647 867 (Call Me Anytime), Skype – mark.mcculloch1</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Copywriting Basics &#8211; Answer The Questions You&#8217;d Want Answered</title>
		<link>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/04/13/copywriting-basics-answer-the-questions-youd-want-answered/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/04/13/copywriting-basics-answer-the-questions-youd-want-answered/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark McCulloch The Success Trainer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Based Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[copywriting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[copywriting basics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet copywriting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online copywriting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web copy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web copywriting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markmcculloch.info/?p=949</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Anyone can write effective Internet copy. You just have to know a few copywriting basics known to journalists and writers as the 5 W&#8217;s. Throw one &#8220;H&#8221; in there and all your copywriting basics are covered.
Who? Tell the reader who your product will help. This should be your target market.
What? Tell your reader what your [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F04%2F13%2Fcopywriting-basics-answer-the-questions-youd-want-answered%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F04%2F13%2Fcopywriting-basics-answer-the-questions-youd-want-answered%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Anyone can write effective Internet copy. You just have to know a few copywriting basics known to journalists and writers as the 5 W&#8217;s. Throw one &#8220;H&#8221; in there and all your copywriting basics are covered.</p>
<p>Who? Tell the reader who your product will help. This should be your target market.</p>
<p>What? Tell your reader what your product or service will do to improve their lives. In other words, tell them the benifits they will receive, what&#8217;s in it for them.</p>
<p>When? When is the offer good for? If there is a special offer, when does it expire? When will the product or service help them, immediately or over time?</p>
<p>Where? Where can you order the product or service? Where will it work?</p>
<p>Why? Tell your reader why he or she needs your product or service. Why will it benefit them? Why should they sign up or order today? Why is the quantity or offer limited?</p>
<p>How? How do they register or order? How much will it cost? How much return will they see for their investment? How does it work?</p>
<p>Sounds pretty simple, doesn&#8217;t it? There is no trick &#8211; it really is as easy as that. Put yourself in the shoes of the reader and answer the questions you would likely ask or want answered about your product or service. Answer those questions clearly and thoroughly and your Web copy is complete.</p>
<p>These copywriting tips and copywriting techniques will work not just for Web copywriting but also for direct market copywriting, other online copywriting, and offline copywriting as well. </p>
<p>Below are a few other copywriting basics that will help you write your web site copy:</p>
<p>1. Keep it simple. No one wants to drudge through a long, drawn out confusing explanation. If you can&#8217;t say it simply, that&#8217;s fine. But by all means, simplify when you can. </p>
<p>2. Make sure your copy urges a call to action either in the body copy, or text of the article, or in the headline. Words like &#8220;Act Now,&#8221; &#8220;Limited Time Offer,&#8221; or &#8220;Limited Supply&#8221; will urge your readers to contact you sooner rather than later. </p>
<p>3. Keep it honest. Don&#8217;t make wild claims just to get business. Build a good reputation by being up front and honest with your potential customers. In addition to appreciating your honesty, they will recommend you to others as a business owner who is true to your word and claims. </p>
<p>4. If you make an offer, make it one that is hard to pass up. Don&#8217;t waste your readers&#8217; time with small, worthless offers. Think about the coupons you see in magazines and newspapers. Do you take time to clip them? If so, it&#8217;s because the offer is of value to you. </p>
<p>5. How long should your copy be? As long as it takes to adequately answer the above questions for your product or service.</p>
<p>An unanswered question is considered an objection in your potential customer&#8217;s mind. So, be sure to answer all their objections.</p>
<p>Keep these Internet copywriting basics in mind as you prepare the articles or sales letters that will appear on your Web site. Don&#8217;t be intimidated because you don&#8217;t have any professional writing experience. Most people want to do business with an honest person who knows the product or service well that he or she is trying to sell. </p>
<p>You don&#8217;t have to be a professional writer to do that. The only requirement is that you truely believe in the product or service which you are trying to sell. If you do, your enthusiasm will shine through your writing. If you do not believe in your product or service, your lack of enthusiasm will shine through also.</p>
<p>So, in summary, answer the above questions as clearly and simply as you can, be honest, avoid hype, make an irresistable offer, and be sure to include a call to action.</p>
<p>If you do all these things you will master the copywriting basics and should have no trouble converting your Website visitors into customers.</p>
<p>I am over 10 years now FULL TIME working from home on the internet making money online and I have put together the following website to share all of my secrets with you at <a href="http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu">http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu</a></p>
<p>Regards Always</p>
<p>Mark McCulloch</p>
<p><a href="http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com">http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com</a> – <a href="maito:mark@markmcculloch.com">mark@markmcculloch.com</a></p>
<p>Internet Marketer and Entrepreneur, Committed to creating success</p>
<p>(UK) 07875 647 867 (Call Me Anytime), Skype – mark.mcculloch1</p>
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		<item>
		<title>4 Week Webinar Training Course</title>
		<link>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/04/10/4-week-webinar-training-course/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/04/10/4-week-webinar-training-course/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Apr 2010 20:27:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark McCulloch The Success Trainer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Based Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[4 Week Webinar Training Course]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[webinar training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[website]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markmcculloch.info/?p=945</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Course start date &#8211; Monday 12th April
Webinar One
How to establish an effective online presence Self Branding Strategies and Become A Leader Finding Or Creating Products To Sell
Webinar Two
Creating a Landing Page, Blog Or Website
Webinar Three
Using FREE and Paid traffic to get visitors to your website
Webinar Four
Following up effectively to convert Subscribers / Leads into
Sales
The above [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F04%2F10%2F4-week-webinar-training-course%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F04%2F10%2F4-week-webinar-training-course%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Course start date &#8211; Monday 12th April</p>
<p>Webinar One</p>
<p>How to establish an effective online presence Self Branding Strategies and Become A Leader Finding Or Creating Products To Sell</p>
<p>Webinar Two</p>
<p>Creating a Landing Page, Blog Or Website</p>
<p>Webinar Three</p>
<p>Using FREE and Paid traffic to get visitors to your website</p>
<p>Webinar Four</p>
<p>Following up effectively to convert Subscribers / Leads into<br />
Sales</p>
<p>The above information is merely a short outline of what will be involved and of course the course will be very extensive covering absolutely everything that you need to know to make money online.</p>
<p>I will be making myself available un conditionally as I want to be able to have time to work with all of the students properly.</p>
<p>As I have said above registrations will be closed within 24 hours and this course has already reached the agreed limit of 20 students however I believe everyone should have access to this training which is why I have decided to give you one last chance so click the link below to reserve your place!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&#038;hosted_button_id=7TSX4X8FRFRD4">https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&#038;hosted_button_id=7TSX4X8FRFRD4</a></p>
<p>Dedicated 100% To Your Success</p>
<p>Mark McCulloch</p>
<p>CEO Of My Life, PHD In Results</p>
<p>Skype Mark.McCulloch1</p>
<p>(UK) 07875 647 867 (Call Me Anytime)</p>
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		<title>3 Cold Calling Mistakes that Trigger Rejection</title>
		<link>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/04/08/3-cold-calling-mistakes-that-trigger-rejection/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/04/08/3-cold-calling-mistakes-that-trigger-rejection/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:37:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark McCulloch The Success Trainer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Attraction Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Based Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lead Generation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[3 Cold Calling Mistakes that Trigger Rejection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cold call]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cold calling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[insurance sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mortgage cold calling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mortgage selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[phone prospecting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[phone selling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales prospecting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales scripts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[telemarketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[telesales]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markmcculloch.info/?p=942</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here are 3 common cold calling techniques that you should probably avoid:
Mistake #1: Center the conversation around yourself and what you have to offer
In the old approach, you introduce yourself, explain what you do, and suggest a benefit or feature of your product. And then you close your eyes and pray that the other person [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F04%2F08%2F3-cold-calling-mistakes-that-trigger-rejection%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F04%2F08%2F3-cold-calling-mistakes-that-trigger-rejection%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Here are 3 common cold calling techniques that you should probably avoid:</p>
<p>Mistake #1: Center the conversation around yourself and what you have to offer</p>
<p>In the old approach, you introduce yourself, explain what you do, and suggest a benefit or feature of your product. And then you close your eyes and pray that the other person will be interested</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the moment you stop talking you usually hear, &#8220;Sorry, I’m busy,&#8221; or &#8220;Sorry, I&#8217;m not interested.&#8221;</p>
<p>You see, you’ve started your cold call by talking about your world and what you have to offer. But realistically, most people aren’t all that interested in you. When you talk about your company and your product, it’s just another advertisement to them. You haven’t engaged them, so they often just &#8220;turn the page.&#8221;</p>
<p>Prospects are much more interested in themselves and what’s important to them. So if you start the conversation by focusing on their world, they’re more likely to interact with you.</p>
<p>So instead, talk about an issue or problem they may need solving. Focus on them rather than on what you have to offer. And see where it takes you.</p>
<p>Mistake #2: Be confident they should buy your product or service</p>
<p>In the old cold calling mindset, you’re taught to focus on the sale and be completely confident that what you’re offering is something the other person should buy.</p>
<p>The problem with this approach is that you haven’t asked them to determine this along with you. So think about it – in the old mindset, you’re really deciding for someone else what’s good for them. I know this isn’t intended, but that’s exactly what comes across to your prospects.</p>
<p>So rather than being full of confidence and enthusiasm, stop for a minute and think about the other individual. Relax into a real conversation instead of moving into a persuasive strategy or sales pitch. Put yourself in their shoes and invite them to explore along with you whether what you have to offer is a match for them.</p>
<p>Others really can distinguish the difference. You’re inviting them to see if you might be able to help them solve a problem. This makes for a much better connection right at the beginning, and you’ll get that immediate rejection reaction much less.</p>
<p>Mistake #3: When someone brings up an objection, try to overcome it</p>
<p>You know, one of the reasons cold calling is so difficult is that sometimes you may not be very familiar with the other person and their business. When you make that first call, you don’t know very much about their issues, problems, budget, and time constraints.</p>
<p>Chances are, not everyone is going to benefit by your product or service.</p>
<p>So realistically, your company or product isn’t going to be a match for everyone. And yet, when someone brings up an objection (&#8220;we don’t have the budget for that,&#8221; etc.), the old cold calling mindset trains you to &#8220;overcome,&#8221; &#8220;bypass,&#8221; or &#8220;override.&#8221;</p>
<p>But when you do that, you put the other person on the defensive. Something they’ve said is being dismissed. And here’s where rejection can happen very suddenly.</p>
<p>So it’s much better to listen to their concerns and continue to explore whether what you’re offering makes sense for them. There are some wonderful phrases you can use that validate their viewpoint without closing the conversation.</p>
<p>So now you’ve discovered the 3 major cold calling mistakes people often make. See if you can shift away from those old self-sabotaging mindsets. When you do, you’ll notice that people will engage you much more, and the immediate rejection you’ve grown so accustomed to will happen much less.</p>
<p>I am over 10 years now FULL TIME working from home on the internet making money online and I have put together the following website to share all of my secrets with you at <a href="http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu">http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu</a></p>
<p>Regards Always</p>
<p>Mark McCulloch</p>
<p><a href="http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com">http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com</a> – <a href="maito:mark@markmcculloch.com">mark@markmcculloch.com</a></p>
<p>Internet Marketer and Entrepreneur, Committed to creating success</p>
<p>(UK) 07875 647 867 (Call Me Anytime), Skype – mark.mcculloch1</p>
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		<title>The Start of Your Own Business</title>
		<link>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/03/25/the-start-of-your-own-business/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/03/25/the-start-of-your-own-business/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:17:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark McCulloch The Success Trainer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Based Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[attraction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[image]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[unique]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markmcculloch.info/?p=934</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Excitement at the thought of starting your own business venture, fear at the thought of failure, are the two major emotions that people face when thinking of starting their own business. For many the fear of failure is enough to hold them back from taking the chance at starting their own small business; however, with [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F03%2F25%2Fthe-start-of-your-own-business%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F03%2F25%2Fthe-start-of-your-own-business%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Excitement at the thought of starting your own business venture, fear at the thought of failure, are the two major emotions that people face when thinking of starting their own business. For many the fear of failure is enough to hold them back from taking the chance at starting their own small business; however, with careful planning and some luck a small business will be set for success.</p>
<p>When starting a small business it is important to step back and decide what exactly the company will be focusing on. What type of products or services will it be providing and to what group or niche will the company be aiming towards as its target audience. This seems like a simple enough step however many people many people either try to cater to too broad of an audience or to too small of a group. Although trying to appeal to a large audience may sound great at first, it can be harmful for a small business. Trying to cater to a broad spectrum of people makes the company lose focus and ultimately lose its identity. Targeting too small of an audience is a problem simply because a small target group makes for a small population of potential customers.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is the supply and demand of the market that the company will be focused on. A company will need to either be excellent at what it does, very unique in what it does, and most importantly lucky to succeed let alone survive. Choosing a market that is largely in demand and short in supply will increase a company’s chance of survival immensely. The opposite can be said for a market that is low in supply and large in demand. Try to study where current business trends are headed towards and what is needed or wanted by today’s consumers. Also, it is important when looking at trends to try and think about its long term viability. The last thing that you want to do is start a business based on a fad that is over within a year or two.</p>
<p>When a general direction is decided for your small business, it is important to then think about the things that your company will do better than your competition. What will make you unique? What will make people choose your products and services over anyone else’s? Most importantly, is there something that will make people choose you over your competition? There is definitely a problem if the last question was met with hesitation or a no. There needs to be something that sets your company apart from the rest and pulls you out from the mold of every other business. </p>
<p>Finally when all of that is set, it is important to think of how you will get your name out to your consumers. Marketing and advertisement are crucial in getting your business known to your audience especially at the start of your business. If it’s possible getting a public relations firm to help market your name will help immensely.</p>
<p>I am over 10 years now FULL TIME working from home on the internet making money online and I have put together the following website to share all of my secrets with you at <a href="http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu">http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu</a></p>
<p>Regards Always</p>
<p>Mark McCulloch</p>
<p><a href="http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com">http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com</a> – <a href="maito:mark@markmcculloch.com">mark@markmcculloch.com</a></p>
<p>Internet Marketer and Entrepreneur, Committed to creating success</p>
<p>(UK) 07875 647 867 (Call Me Anytime), Skype – mark.mcculloch1</p>
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		<title>Work Your Network</title>
		<link>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/03/24/work-your-network/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/03/24/work-your-network/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:38:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark McCulloch The Success Trainer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Based Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contact building]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[list building]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[small business sales]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markmcculloch.info/?p=931</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you’re networking with strangers, you’re wasting your time. A consultant friend of mine recently complained, “I’m doing 2-3 networking events a week – and I’m worn out.” When I asked why she felt networking was important, she replied, “One of my marketing goals is to do at least 1 networking event a week.” (I [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F03%2F24%2Fwork-your-network%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F03%2F24%2Fwork-your-network%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>If you’re networking with strangers, you’re wasting your time. A consultant friend of mine recently complained, “I’m doing 2-3 networking events a week – and I’m worn out.” When I asked why she felt networking was important, she replied, “One of my marketing goals is to do at least 1 networking event a week.” (I pointed out that she just admitted to doing 2-3 a week – and perhaps doing 1 a week is smart and doing triple that goal is causing some of the fatigue.) But there’s much more to the great American business myth of networking. </p>
<p>Myth 1: The more you network, the more effective your networking activities become.</p>
<p>Truth 1: It’s much more important to become well-known in 1-2 circles than to spread your networking activities over many different groups. Depth beats breadth every time.</p>
<p>I then asked her how networking was working for her. She said, “I don’t think I have gotten a shred of business out of it in the last six months.” Her rationale for doing networking: “Everybody knows that you build a business by networking!” Does this make any sense? Or worse, does it sound familiar?</p>
<p>See if this networking scenario has happened to you:</p>
<p>You meet someone for 30 seconds. They mumble something about real estate as you are tuning them out. They ask you what you do, and you say you are in insurance. After 10 seconds of staring blankly at each other, you both head to the celery sticks for lack of anything better to do. </p>
<p>Myth 2: The cocktails and miniature wiener circuit is the way to network to success </p>
<p>Truth 2: Networking with strangers to build business is about as effective as going to a bar to get married. In the words of Dr. Phil, “It simply ain’t gonna happen that way.”</p>
<p>Here’s why you’re not going to meet your business soul mate at a networking event:</p>
<p>1)  You aren’t going to do business with someone after meeting them for a few minutes and getting handed a poorly printed card.</p>
<p>2)  Businesses are built on relationships and not “30-second commercials,” no matter how effective and intriguing.</p>
<p>3)  Most of us have major trouble in explaining what we do, much less getting past that explanation and listening for what prospects need.</p>
<p>4)  Networking with strangers is not targeted or specific and in fact is completely random. For some people, networking is exactly as effective as cold calling, which is the least effective marketing tool there is.</p>
<p>So am I saying that networking is a waste of time? Absolutely not. What I’m saying is you need to start networking smarter. </p>
<p>Here are a few thoughts to jog your noggin:</p>
<p>* Network by having coffee or lunch with people one on one. Get to know them and their business. They may become a prospect, alliance partner, or referral source. But aim first and foremost to make them a friend. The rest will follow naturally.</p>
<p>* If you’re going to network with strangers, go with the goal of making 2-3 lunch or coffee dates with people you find interesting. </p>
<p>* Ask every happy customer you have (they’re all happy, right?) for just one referral of someone who would be interested in your type of goods or services, then call and use their name. (“Hi I’m Fred and Ginger said I should call you. Isn’t Ginger great?”) You already have one thing in common – Ginger!</p>
<p>* Create a network “hit list” of the exact kind of businesses you want to network with – maybe you sell software and you want to meet IT managers at medium-size companies. Make the list and put it in your little black book or PDA. Focus your networking and outreach activities on only those people – or others who can refer you to those people.</p>
<p>* Join non-business groups and spend time doing non-business activities: Civic, social, religious, recreational, musical, athletic&#8230; the list is endless. Establish relationships with people in your group. Perhaps you’re a Moose and a realtor. A Moose, as it turns out, wants to by a house from another Moose. If so, you have the Moose Market cornered! Are you into hand-drumming. Guess what? A hand-drummer will want to do business with another hand-drummer. Get it?</p>
<p>* If you do go to a “mixer” go with a targeted goal in mind. For example, your goal might be “to meet three people on my target list and get their card so I can follow up for breakfast, lunch, coffee or badminton.” A traditional “networking event” now becomes simply the first phase of your targeted plan for global domination, and not an end in itself.</p>
<p>Here’s a final thought to shake up your networking mindset: Network with people who already know you, like you, or have done business with you. </p>
<p>Myth 3: Networking is all about getting more people to know what you do.</p>
<p>Truth 3: Networking is all about getting people that already know you to share opportunities where you can be helpful to each other.</p>
<p>Make 2-3 phone calls a day to connect with people from past jobs, former clients, or influential people who have expressed interest in you in the past. </p>
<p>We all have a “fan base” that we grossly underutilize. </p>
<p>Think about tapping into friends, colleagues, mentors, and family to mine the connections you already have at your fingertips. </p>
<p>So get out there and network – but make it worth your investment of time and energy by networking smart. As your mother always said, “Don’t network with strangers.”</p>
<p>I am over 10 years now FULL TIME working from home on the internet making money online and I have put together the following website to share all of my secrets with you at <a href="http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu">http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu</a></p>
<p>Regards Always</p>
<p>Mark McCulloch</p>
<p><a href="http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com">http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com</a> – <a href="maito:mark@markmcculloch.com">mark@markmcculloch.com</a></p>
<p>Internet Marketer and Entrepreneur, Committed to creating success</p>
<p>(UK) 07875 647 867 (Call Me Anytime), Skype – mark.mcculloch1</p>
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		<title>How To Build a Duplicating Downline</title>
		<link>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/03/24/how-to-build-a-duplicating-downline/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/03/24/how-to-build-a-duplicating-downline/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:51:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark McCulloch The Success Trainer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Based Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[building]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[downline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[duplicating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To Build a Duplicating Downline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[network]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[residual]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markmcculloch.info/?p=929</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Regardless the controversy that the term Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) or Network Marketing brings to mind when mentioned in a conversation, the success of such an industry cannot be denied at the moment. 
The long existence of multitudes of MLM organizations is a wonderful indicator that network marketing is here to stay and flourish. As such, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F03%2F24%2Fhow-to-build-a-duplicating-downline%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F03%2F24%2Fhow-to-build-a-duplicating-downline%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Regardless the controversy that the term Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) or Network Marketing brings to mind when mentioned in a conversation, the success of such an industry cannot be denied at the moment. </p>
<p>The long existence of multitudes of MLM organizations is a wonderful indicator that network marketing is here to stay and flourish. As such, additional people are trying to join the bandwagon, building their own MLM .</p>
<p>But, a lot of people are completely misguided or misinformed resulting into the collapse of several network marketing businesses. True that it is difficult to maintain multi-level marketing that could proliferate well, but undoubtedly there is one key component for a network marketing organization&#8217;s success, and that is a duplicating downline. </p>
<p>Most people do not know how to build a duplicating downline, but hopefully with the tips to be presented, one may be able to gather a well generating force that almost immediately translate into a productive MLM business.</p>
<p>Multi-level marketing certainly entails leadership, specifically when building a downline. Since building a downline is only another designation for the recruitment process, great people management skills is important in order for the downline to operate well, and thus duplicate.</p>
<p>A lot of people think that network marketing is a self-generating business, but if that was the case, then no MLM organization would have had failed. Downlines certainly not duplicate on their own, even if the product being marketed is perfect. The people in the downline are to be trained and mentored well or else the business would take no direction and would lastly fall flat.</p>
<p>The person on top of the downline may be able to sign multitudes, but that does not guarantee duplication. Without a clear direction, the network would not expand towards success, but instead be paralyzed. The ones on top may easily put the blame on the ones at the bottom, but who recruited the people down there anyway&#8217; Managing a multi-level marketing organization entails a lot of generosity and selflessness. </p>
<p>Duplicability is after all not just the expansion of people in number, but the duplication of the success throughout all the people in the downline. </p>
<p>It is a sad fact in human life that a lot of people think only for themselves. The people on top could think only of their success and see the ones under as nothing but machines to propagate the success. But that cannot happen in multi-level marketing. </p>
<p>In order for the top to succeed, the bottom should be able to succeed as well. When building a downline, one should have a mindset that allows the success to trickle downwards, and not just to remain on top. </p>
<p>The founder of the network marketing organization should be very conscious that what he or she was able to do, the people in the downline could do perfectly as well. There should be no secrets within the organization for the downline to duplicate. </p>
<p>The topline should be able to share and teach the downline the same philosophies and techniques so that the success of the top could be replicated by people in the downline.</p>
<p>Building a duplicating downline actually means duplicating one&#8217;s self. This means that when building a downline, one does not just inform people how to sell, rather, one influences or even infects others with one whole self, well at least just the business component of one&#8217;s self. </p>
<p>When building a downline, one has to transmit the psyche of the top to the bottom, the bottom should be able to act in the same way as the ones on top.The downline ultimately becomes one with their organizer or founder, they should be able to share the same dreams, anxieties and hopes so that the success that the ones on top experienced would be replicated by the ones on the bottom.</p>
<p>This speaks a lot about the recruitment process itself. True that is hard to enlist exact copies of the founder, but one has to carefully enjoin individuals who have the capacity to act and think in the same wavelength as the recruiter.</p>
<p>In this light, the leader of a network marketing organization should reflect and see how the connection with the downline, or the prospective downline is. First one has to be sure if the people in the downline could relate with the leader and vice-versa. Duplication is unachievable without proper relation. Second, the leader should act in a way that is not so alienating to the downline, otherwise they might think too highly of the leader that they might assume they would never be able to be like him or her.</p>
<p>Again a duplicating downline should have a duplicable top. With this in mind, building a duplicability can be ensured as well as the success of the business.</p>
<p>I am over 10 years now FULL TIME working from home on the internet making money online and I have put together the following website to share all of my secrets with you at <a href="http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu">http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu</a></p>
<p>Regards Always</p>
<p>Mark McCulloch</p>
<p><a href="http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com">http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com</a> – <a href="maito:mark@markmcculloch.com">mark@markmcculloch.com</a></p>
<p>Internet Marketer and Entrepreneur, Committed to creating success</p>
<p>(UK) 07875 647 867 (Call Me Anytime), Skype – mark.mcculloch1</p>
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		<title>How to Recognize Your ‘True’ Sales Performance Competencies</title>
		<link>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/03/24/how-to-recognize-your-%e2%80%98true%e2%80%99-sales-performance-competencies/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/03/24/how-to-recognize-your-%e2%80%98true%e2%80%99-sales-performance-competencies/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:08:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark McCulloch The Success Trainer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Based Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mindset]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Online Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[corporate sales training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales management training]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales performance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sales training]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markmcculloch.info/?p=927</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Let’s first define what we mean by a “core competency.”  We will then introduce the 3 Core Competencies, and spend our time understanding how they can dramatically increase your success.
The term Core Competencies refers to those essential elements in the sales process that most directly impact your success.  These elements are controllable and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F03%2F24%2Fhow-to-recognize-your-%25e2%2580%2598true%25e2%2580%2599-sales-performance-competencies%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F03%2F24%2Fhow-to-recognize-your-%25e2%2580%2598true%25e2%2580%2599-sales-performance-competencies%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>Let’s first define what we mean by a “core competency.”  We will then introduce the 3 Core Competencies, and spend our time understanding how they can dramatically increase your success.</p>
<p>The term Core Competencies refers to those essential elements in the sales process that most directly impact your success.  These elements are controllable and measurable, and sales professionals can be trained to be proficient in these areas.  Unfortunately, many sales organizations and individuals lose focus – distracted by peripheral activities or sophisticated systems that track dozens of different activities when only a handful really matters.</p>
<p>Without a foundation built upon these essential elements or Core Competencies, and because of all the distractions and roadblocks an organization is susceptible to today, results can be mediocre or less.</p>
<p>Take a look at the following list of items that are prevalent in the sales cycle, and select the items that you believe are absolutely essential to your success.<br />
-	Closing Sales<br />
-	Developing Prospect Lists<br />
-	Setting Appointments<br />
-	Running 1st Appointments<br />
-	Working Qualified Prospects through the Sales Pipeline<br />
-	Post-Sale Marketing<br />
-	Developing Referrals<br />
-	Reporting and Paperwork<br />
-	Documenting Testimonials</p>
<p>Many of these tasks are important, but they are not all sales performance competencies.  Yes, it is important and useful to ask for referrals and develop testimonials from satisfied customers, but your success hinges mostly on the mastery of – and attention to – the Core sales Competencies.</p>
<p>One simple way to determine whether an activity, routine or task is truly a core sales competency is to ask what activities are directly linked to revenue.<br />
After all, revenue is how we sales people measure success.  That’s our scorecard at the end of the month.</p>
<p>We can do that through a series of questions listed below.</p>
<p>Is it an essential component to the sales mission or is it just an ingredient in the recipe?  </p>
<p>Separate necessary tasks in your sales day from key competencies.<br />
Consider a golfer’s essential competencies from tee-off to last putt.  Is the core competency the ball – or the club?  Or is it the golf swing and putting stroke? </p>
<p>As an example, Prospecting for new business is a necessary sales system to put in place for routine success.  Within your Prospecting system are individual components for lead generation; things like customer referral programs, vendor collaboration programs, affinity programs, target information seminars and association programs.  These are not authentic sales competencies but tactical vehicles for lead generation.</p>
<p>The actual sales competency is the ‘Act of communicating the Business Reason to Meet’ once you are given the opportunity to have a face-to-face or telephone conversation with your intended target prospect.<br />
And the measurement of that competency, or key performance indicator, is the ‘Conversation-to-appointment’ ratio; how many times you ask for the business appointment versus how many times you achieve it.</p>
<p>Can it be measured routinely and accurately with a napkin, pencil, and calculator?</p>
<p>Just as measuring your ‘Conversation-to-appointment’ ratio; how many times you ask for the business appointment versus how many times you achieve it, your first appointment to proposal ration is a key performance indicator which make it also an essential sales performance competency, because the objective of your first appointment is advancing your sales process to the next step.  That might be a demonstration, a site visit, a survey or a proposal.</p>
<p>The degree that you perform your 1st appointment sales process to achieve your ‘Next Step’ objective is measurable and will give you diagnostic feedback to your competency level parallel to your 1st appointment methodology and process.</p>
<p>Can you set a realistic performance benchmark tied to revenue goals?  </p>
<p>Let’s say you have diagnosed your sales performance competencies as converting target prospect conversations to appointments, converting 1st appointments to the ‘next step’ in your sales process and then closing the business from there.  So that’s (3) sales performance competencies; Conversation-to-appointment ratio, 1st appointment to proposal ratio and closing ratio.</p>
<p>How would you go about setting realistic performance benchmarks that the team can aspire to and measure themselves against?</p>
<p>To do so you need (3) more sales performance numbers; your average revenue per sale, your monthly revenue objective and your weekly activity number.  Your weekly activity number is a derivative of your (3) sales performance competencies and your average revenue per sale parallel to your monthly revenue objective. </p>
<p>Here’s an example of a sales manager in the document management industry.  Her team’s average revenue per sale is $3400.  She calculates she needs to maintain a 1st appointment to proposal ratio of 65%.  The closing ratio is set at 40%.  Their individual monthly revenue goal is $25,000.<br />
The derivative of these performance numbers is a weekly activity goal of (7) new appointments per rep, on average.  </p>
<p>Next is the reality check.  Are these performance numbers realistic to meet?  Do they have the necessary skill-set and supporting tools to meet all the benchmarks and achieve the performance ratios and activity goal?  </p>
<p>If not, what adjustments are needed in line with the benchmarks and what training is needed to achieve them?</p>
<p>Can you apply “Pin-point Training” and “Powerful Routines” around each core competency?  </p>
<p>We know what training is, but do we understand why training fails?  Timely training is NOT a seminar or one-time event.  It requires appropriate structures for learning and application, defining useful short-term objectives, measuring progress, working closely with qualified trainers for follow-up and support, and most importantly, organizational commitment from the ‘Top’ down. </p>
<p>‘Timely training’ is focused on one sales performance competency at a time until the appropriate benchmark of performance is realized. </p>
<p>So if you can say it is directly tied to revenue (or your end result), is a skill set that can be trained to for improvement, and can be easily measured, it is a Sales Performance Competency.</p>
<p>Perhaps a golf analogy will help illustrate the power of the Business of Core Competencies.  A self-professed “poor” golfer with a chronic slice might attempt to correct the problem by adjusting his stance – actually aiming away from the fairway so that the slice hopefully lands the ball in the middle.  </p>
<p>In contrast, a low handicap golfer with a persistent slice might address the problem by adjusting their grip, rotating their hips, or the adjusting the arc of their swing.  In other words, the good golfers address the core competencies of the swing vs. adjusting peripheral elements.  </p>
<p>Off the golf course, in the sales arena, the opportunity for you is to identify, train to and measure sales performance competencies and performance metrics, and not just chase after quota.</p>
<p>I am over 10 years now FULL TIME working from home on the internet making money online and I have put together the following website to share all of my secrets with you at <a href="http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu">http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu</a></p>
<p>Regards Always</p>
<p>Mark McCulloch</p>
<p><a href="http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com">http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com</a> – <a href="maito:mark@markmcculloch.com">mark@markmcculloch.com</a></p>
<p>Internet Marketer and Entrepreneur, Committed to creating success</p>
<p>(UK) 07875 647 867 (Call Me Anytime), Skype – mark.mcculloch1</p>
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		<title>Five Stumbling Blocks To Successful Networking And How To Overcome Them</title>
		<link>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/03/24/five-stumbling-blocks-to-successful-networking-and-how-to-overcome-them/</link>
		<comments>http://www.markmcculloch.info/2010/03/24/five-stumbling-blocks-to-successful-networking-and-how-to-overcome-them/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:57:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark McCulloch The Success Trainer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Based Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lead Generation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[connect]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[connecting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conversation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[etiquette]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[icebreakers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[manners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[network]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationships]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.markmcculloch.info/?p=922</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The ability to connect with people is essential to success in any business.  Professional networking events present opportunities to interact with others on a personal level and to develop profitable relationships.  These occasions are critical for anyone who wants to grow a business or promote a career.
Many people are simply not comfortable walking [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="tweetmeme_button" style="float: right; margin-left: 0px;"><a href="http://api.tweetmeme.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F03%2F24%2Ffive-stumbling-blocks-to-successful-networking-and-how-to-overcome-them%2F"><img src="http://api.tweetmeme.com/imagebutton.gif?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markmcculloch.info%2F2010%2F03%2F24%2Ffive-stumbling-blocks-to-successful-networking-and-how-to-overcome-them%2F" height="61" width="51" /></a></div><p>The ability to connect with people is essential to success in any business.  Professional networking events present opportunities to interact with others on a personal level and to develop profitable relationships.  These occasions are critical for anyone who wants to grow a business or promote a career.</p>
<p>Many people are simply not comfortable walking into a room full of strangers and striking up conversations.  Here are five common stumbling blocks that you may face and tips to help you overcome them.</p>
<p>A RELUCTANCE TO TALK TO STRANGERS.  You were taught at an early age not to speak to people you don&#8217;t know.  It&#8217;s not safe.  In certain situations today this is still good advice.  In business, however, talking to strangers is a way to generate interest and support for your products and services.  If you only talk to the people you already know, you will miss out on opportunities to make new connections and establish valuable contacts.</p>
<p>To get past your discomfort in talking to strangers, set a goal for yourself before you attend any networking event.  Decide how many new contacts you want to make or how many strangers you want to meet.  In some cases, you may specifically target individuals whom you&#8217;d like to know.</p>
<p>Next come up with some icebreakers or conversation starters. Have questions prepared that you can ask anyone you meet at the event.  You may want to inquire about other people&#8217;s business, their connection to the sponsoring organization or their opinion of the venue.</p>
<p>LACK OF A FORMAL INTRODUCTION.  It&#8217;s much easier to make a new contact when there is someone else to handle the introduction and pave the way.  If you wait for another person to make the move you may not meet anyone.  At networking events, the goal is to meet as many people as possible.</p>
<p>This is the time to take the bull by the horns, walk up to people you don&#8217;t know, introduce yourself and start a conversation.  You can do this if you have prepared your self-introduction in advance.</p>
<p>You will not introduce yourself the same way on every occasion. Perhaps it is your first time to attend an association meeting. In that case, you might want to say that as part of your introduction.  Let people know who you are, why you are there and give them a reason to ask more abut you.</p>
<p>FEAR OF BEING SEEN AS PUSHY.  You may think that you will turn people off if you are assertive and that if they want to talk to you, they will make the first move.  If this is your line of thinking you will find yourself spending your time alone at the reception or meeting function and leaving without a single new connection.  Being open, friendly and interested does not turn people off.</p>
<p>You will not come across as overly aggressive if you seek out the &#8220;approachable&#8221; people.  These are the ones who are standing alone or who are speaking in groups of three or more.  Two people talking to each other are not approachable because they may be having a private conversation and you would be interrupting.</p>
<p>THINKING THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE YOU.  There is always the risk that the other person is not interested in you and doesn&#8217;t want to meet or talk to you.  It happens. If that is the case, don&#8217;t take it personally.  Nothing ventured is nothing gained.  When you get a cold shoulder, smile, move on and say to yourself, &#8220;Next?&#8221;</p>
<p>HAVING YOUR INTENTIONS MISUNDERSTOOD.  Approaching someone of the opposite sex to begin a conversation may seem more like flirting than networking.  This is more of an issue for women than men.  Women have an equal place in the work arena and need to make professional connections the same as men do. Women in business can no longer afford to hold back when there is opportunity at hand.</p>
<p>Neither men nor women will have their motives misinterpreted if they present themselves professionally in their attire and if they keep the conversation focused on business issues or topics that are not personal or private.</p>
<p>Whatever your stumbling blocks, face them before the next networking event and devise a personal plan for getting past them.  Once you do, you will find yourself connecting with confidence and courtesy on every occasion and the results will be reflected in your bottom line.</p>
<p>I am over 10 years now FULL TIME working from home on the internet making money online and I have put together the following website to share all of my secrets with you at <a href="http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu">http://www.DecideYourIncome.eu</a></p>
<p>Regards Always</p>
<p>Mark McCulloch</p>
<p><a href="http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com">http://www.CoachOfSuccess.com</a> – <a href="maito:mark@markmcculloch.com">mark@markmcculloch.com</a></p>
<p>Internet Marketer and Entrepreneur, Committed to creating success</p>
<p>(UK) 07875 647 867 (Call Me Anytime), Skype – mark.mcculloch1</p>
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