Would your clients give you an “A” on your sales report card?

Great news - More than 90% of economists predict the recession will end this year, although the recovery is likely to be bumpy. About 74% of the forecasters expect the recession to end in the third quarter. Another 19% predict the turning point will come in the final three months of this year.*

But some buyers aren't taking any chances. Even though budgets are slowly being loosened, clients are carefully choosing how to spend them. This is your opportunity to assist your clients, and influence how they spend their money. One of our clients shared this story with us:

"A client was on "Cost Containment Mode" which means they have a budget, but they are not allowed to spend it. With the recession starting to recover, the cost containment mode was lifted. This buyer made just one phone call to his trusted supplier and spent his entire budget of $200,000 for the year - in just one day. This buyer was afraid that the lift on cost containment mode could be just temporary and he wanted to ensure he had all his marketing tools for the rest of the year."

If a buyers is going to make just one telephone call, what are the chances that the call will be to you? When it comes to being a trusted, go-to provider, do you know where you stand with your clients & prospects? In short, would they give you an 'A' on your sales report card?

Find out with our new Sales Revolution Assessment tool. It's quick, easy, and best of all, you'll get your grade right away. It only takes about 2 minutes to learn how you're doing, where you need a little help, and what exactly you can do to rank at the top of your client's priority list. School's out, but there's still time to make the grade. With recession recovery looming, now is the best time to re-invent, re-calibrate and re-tool your sales approach for a strong selling season.

What kind of seeds are you planting?

“Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become reality. We can plant any seed we want in the soil, and if it's’ given enough time and attention, it will grow into a flower, vegetable or tree. The same goes for our mind. We can plant misery and negative thoughts, or we can choose to plant the most hopeful, success-focused thoughts we can muster. With enough time and attention, those seeds will grow as well. Will they grow into a promising future or a mediocre life? That depends on what you planted.” Earl Nightingale

Sales professionals know that May & June are The next 60 days are the optimalbest time to be planting seeds to grow sales for a bountiful fall harvest of sales. But you can't just throw the same old seeds out there year after year and expect them to sprout – just like a gardener, you have to know the growing conditions you're dealing with, and choose accordingly.

Recently, Oon behalf of the CPSA, I interviewed Sirius Decisions VPJoe Galvin – Vice President of Sirius Decisions about Recovery after Recession. He informed me that when the recession is in recovery modeJoe stated,, there will soon be a pent uprush of demand from buyers who have not been spending during the past several months. Great news, right? However, he noted, the sales cycle will be much, much shorter. and bBuyers will make decisions quickly because they have already done theirextensive research. What's more, and/or they will remember whoand choose vendors who were was most tenacious, memorable and able to articulate value with a solutions approach. To listen to the podcast, visit http://www.cpsa.com/

So Now more than ever, the conditions are perfect for start plantingsowing seeds of hope and optimism in your mind – and of value-add solutions with your planting seeds of how your products & services will help your prospects & clients. Instead of telling & selling, show them how together, you can co-create solutions that will help them grow their business. These next two months May & June is a great time to be planting seeds( before clients begin thinking about summer holidays!). It’soffer a great opportunity for you to gain a competitive edge and market share, and ensure that you yield a healthy for a great fall harvest of sales. when the recession is in recovery mode.