8-30-2016, Forbes -- How did your bank account look when you woke up this morning?

Had your balance increased at all since you went to bed?

If you are like 99.99% of the population, the answer is probably a resounding “No!”

But what if you could change that?

What if I could teach you a simple and proven method to make income while you sleep?

That would be pretty cool right?

And it can be your reality if you learn how to leverage youremail list by writing emails that convert.

I thought so.

So without further ado, here are the steps that you need to take to write emails that convert.

1. Divide your list into categories

One of the first steps to ensuring that your emails convert is to ensure that they are getting sent to the right people.

This is especially pertinent if you have a company or blog that covers several different topics.

For example, if you run a personal growth company for men that covers dating, fitness, business, and spirituality, you needto segment your list into different categories.

You will have people on your list who joined for theentrepreneurship articles but are already married and don’t care about the dating articles.

Likewise, you will have successful entrepreneurs who want to improve their romantic life and couldn’t care less about your business content.

Dividing your list based on interests is key to ensuring that your emails get opened and the right promotions are sent to the right people.

The best way to segment your list is to create several different lead magnets specifically targeted at each category.

So using the example above, this would mean creating a different lead magnet for fitness, for dating, business, and spirituality.

If you can do this, your open rate will be significantly higher, you will retain subscribers for longer, and you will be able to target customers with products they care about.

2. Personalize emails

This step is pretty easy to do and very self explanatory.

It should always be your goal to make sure that your audience feels special.

Personalizing your emails will help accomplish this goal.

What’s even better is that almost 70% of businesses do not personalize their emails.

Read the rest of the story HERE.

I'm an avid movie buff. I'm the guy in my circle of friends that they all turn to during movie trivia games and random questions about actors and quotes. Recently, as a present to my wife, I purchased a year's subscription to the Starz network so she can watch her favorite book-turned-TV series, “Outlander.” I wasn't expecting anything out of it and began surfing through their various channel options. As an added bonus, I found that they were running a continuous marathon of my favorite anti-Christmas movie, “Bad Santa,” starring Billy Bob Thornton. If you haven't seen it, and you consider yourself a cynic when it comes to the mass consumerism aspect of the holiday, check it out.

The film follows an alcoholic safe cracker and his dwarf associate who work as a mall Santa and elf so they can rob holiday shoppers blind. The film reminded me of an important lesson: bad employees will sometimes do whatever it takes to keep their bosses from knowing how unhappy they are in their job. Let me explain.

Thornton's character, Willie, hates his job, himself and, therefore, his life. But he keeps going, dragging himself evermore reluctantly to the next city and the next mall, thanks to his diminutive associate. Although Willie is vastly unhappy with his life, he goes on, getting worse every year, to the point where his partner becomes fed up.

To find a solution to his misery, Willie befriends a troubled 10-year-old who teaches him the true meaning of Christmas. This leads to his epiphany that family and doing what you love are the keys to happiness, not money.

As the busiest season of the year has just passed and the New Year knocks, knowing the types of people you work with is critically important, both for the business owner and employees. It's easy to overlook an unhappy staff member who pretends to enjoy their work. This facade takes shape mainly due to one steady influence: fear. Some people have a fear of success, which includes the anxiety of too much work, or a fear of failure and having to start over at a new job. The mindset of many people is to look at a job as just work rather than as an integral part of their life.

A study on employee health published by Gallup Press in the book, “Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements,” showed that worker discontentment takes a huge toll on quality of life both inside and outside the workplace. Employees who said they like their jobs are twice as likely to be thriving in their lives overall. They reported strong relationships, effective money management, good health and engagement in their communities.

As business owners, who wouldn’t want workers like that? It’s understandable, however, that finding such workers can prove difficult. Simply put, your passion is not necessarily that of your employees. At the very least, it’s important to help employees understand the purpose of the business, their contributions to it and that you are business partners, but not necessarily friends. As many industry veterans have said over the years, the goal is not just to sell car audio and services but to sell yourselves. Nobody wants to buy from someone they don’t like. Be the kind of person you’d want to buy from. Promote a positive workplace environment where negative comments are not tolerated and the only goal is self-improvement.

No matter the employee, business owner, installer, or sales clerk, quality of life should be the goal. If the employee isn’t happy, perhaps it’s time to have a talk and learn what they really want to do. If there’s a personal matter involved, talk it over and see if you can help. What you don’t want to do is ignore it until it gets out of hand.

Like Willie, many employees will try to hide the fact that they are unhappy because they don’t want to face the reality of their own misery. The best way for people to get happy is by confronting their demons and finding what kind of work does make them happy. By doing so, like Bad Santa, happiness becomes infectious and can only result in a happy ending.

Entrepreneur.com -- I have a law degree, Masters of Business Administration and an economics undergraduate degree. But none of this formal education taught me how to generate demand and have a sales conversation. You can hang a sales sign or banner outside of your store, but none of those techniques puts you in the position of authority that’s needed to have an effective sales conversation. Authority is built one message at a time.

In July of 2002, I joined Infusionsoft.  My primary responsibility was bringing in sales, but I also did strategy, finance, marketing, bookkeeping, janitorial services and a host of other tasks. I had many different roles because, like every startup, I needed to wear any and every hat that was necessary to keep the business going.

My sales hat kept me busy most of the day. I'd spend countless hours prospecting for leads, getting them to finally answer their phones and then chase them for weeks. I felt like I was in a never-ending battle for survival, which put me in a really bad position to negotiate. Over time, I learned that effective sales conversations happen when people chase you, so I began to make the shift from salesperson to an authoritative advisor. Here are the things I've learned: 

Related: The 15 Characteristics of People Who Succeed at Sales

1. The manual sales process wastes time and money.

Spending time prospecting on social and spamming people who don't care to talk to you wastes time and money. The manual sales method that your parents passed down to you doesn't work effectively. Moving away from manual sales processes takes time, but is well worth the effort.

Most of my first year at Infusionsoft was spent knee-deep in sales and marketing. I used pay-per-click advertising to attract interest of potential customers. They’d click an ad, fill out a form on our website and I’d be notified that I had a lead. I’d then get on the phone as fast as possible to begin the sales conversation.

During the first call, I would diligently work to identify customer problems and educate them on the power of our software. More often than not, I would spend hours on the phone over weeks or months to close a sale. I used our customer relationship management functionality to keep track of the conversations and organize them based on how far they had gone in the sales process. Occasionally, I would send emails one by one to follow up after the call.

I used and perfected this manual sales process for over a year and was making slow, steady progress in the business. But, I didn't feel successful. I was wasting a lot of time chasing leads that didn’t care to talk to me. My conversations weren’t powerful or effective and didn’t leave me in a good position to negotiate. My sales weren't as large as I needed them to be and I had to figure out a way to get the phone to ring without so much effort.

Read the rest here: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/249829

April 2, 2018, Omaha, NE - Introducing ROCK-N-REV Sales and Marketing, the new rep firm created by 12-volt Veteran & Pesonality Jeff (Boody) Budin. ROCK-N-REV will service the Midwest states of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Southern Illinios. Boody will take with him all the lines previously held by David Gill’s SMS INC. “Jeff has been a staple part of the SMS INC rep firm for over 13 years," said Gill. “He will be sorely missed, but this was a decision we both agreed would be the best for both parties. I wish Jeff nothing but the best on this new venture.”

Boody’s Garage ROCK-N-REV Sales and Marketing will operate through its home office in Papillion, NE, offering such lines as ATREND, BOYO, Bazooka, Cerwin Vega / Diamond Audio, and all the DB RESEACH Lines such as DB-DRIVE..etc, DUAL Audio / Axxera, REIKKEN, Rocky Mountain Radar, DEI and SAVV Multimedia. Jeff will also service the home C.E. lines from MTX/Atlas, SWANN Home Security and SPECTRA Portable.

“I am excited to get the ball rolling,” Budin said. “Dave has taught me a ton about the rep business and I give him a lot of credit for putting up with me for over 13 years. He supported me through the best of times and the worst of times. I love the guy, but it was just time for me to branch out on my own.”    

For more information on ROCK-N-REV Sales and Marketing, contact Boody at 402-578-9894 or email him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..Y">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also follow Jeff on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rocknrevsales or www.facebook.com/boodysgarage

Las Vegas, Nev., February 2nd, 2024JVC Mobile Entertainment, manufacturer of class-leading aftermarket car, marine, and motorsports products, proudly hosted its sales rep and rep firm of the year awards during their annual sales rep meeting held on Thursday, 2-1 at the Paris Hotel and Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.  The event celebrated exceptional achievements in sales performance, recognizing individuals and firms that demonstrated outstanding dedication, resilience, and success in their practice.

West Coast Sales Rep of the Year: Dan McMillan, In Phase Marketing

The West Coast Sales Rep of the Year title goes to Dan McMillan of In Phase Marketing. Dan's outstanding contributions, strategic approach, and dedication to achieving results have made a significant impact. When JVC entered into a partnership with MESA, no single rep worked harder to cement that relationship between JVC and MESA dealers than Dan McMillan at In Phase Sales. 

West Coast Rep Firm of the Year: Norcal Sales and Marketing

JVC proudly recognizes Norcal Sales and Marketing as the West Coast Rep Firm of the Year. This award is a testament to their exemplary teamwork, responsiveness, and productivity in navigating the challenges of the market. The Norcal sales team concentrated on expanding the network of new dealers acquired by JVC through our MESA membership and revitalizing their current customer base. They have consistently met and exceeded expectations during a year that was anything but consistent.

East Coast Sales Rep of the Year: Steve Gallagher, AR Marketing

JVC is thrilled to announce Steve Gallagher of AR Marketing as the East Coast Sales Rep of the Year. Steve's unwavering commitment to success, adaptability in a dynamic environment, and ability to effectively utilize resources have set him apart. His exceptional efforts have consistently delivered the outcomes JVC values and expects from its representatives.

East Coast Rep Firm of the Year: AR Marketing

In addition to Steve Gallagher's individual recognition, JVC acknowledges AR Marketing as the East Coast Rep Firm of the Year. The entire team at AR Marketing has demonstrated diligence, responsiveness, and productivity regardless of market challenges. Their commitment to excellence makes AR Marketing a first-class rep firm, aligning seamlessly with JVC's values and objectives.

The Sales Rep of the Year Awards underscore JVC's commitment to recognizing and rewarding excellence in sales performance. These individuals and firms exemplify the qualities that define JVC's success, and their contributions play a crucial role in driving the brand's continued growth.

Congratulations to all the winners on their well-deserved accolades.

For more information on JVC Mobile Entertainment, visit http://www.us.jvc.com/car.

JVCKENWOOD USA Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of JVCKENWOOD Corporation and is a leading developer of car entertainment products for the consumer market, two-way radio communications systems for public safety, private industry and amateur users, and video equipment for the broadcast and professional markets. For detailed information, call JVCKENWOOD USA at 1-800-252-5722 or visit us at http://us.jvckenwood.com and www.us.jvc.com/car.

Kevin Hallinan of WINNING, Inc. shared sales insights in this week’s weekly presentation with Mobile Electronics Association

April 23, 2020 -- Today, MEA’s weekly webinar focused on selling, and Kevin Hallinan presented on “The Buyer Seller Dance and How to Take the Lead.” Hallinan—a KnowledgeFest speaker—has over 30 years of sales, training, and management experience. Those who missed the presentation can view the recording by visiting Mobile Electronics Association on Facebook. Attendees also asked questions relating to how the current COVID-19 crisis has impacted how salespeople interact with clients.

Hallinan urged attendees to be willing to think differently about selling. He then discussed how to create ground rules for selling. “In selling situations, someone is leading and someone is following in the conversation,” he said. “How do we know if we are the one who is leading or following? The one who’s talking is following. The one who’s asking questions is leading. The more questions we ask, the better off we are.”

Hallinan also asked attendees to think about the three most compelling words they can think of if someone were to ask whether they should work with them or with a competitor. “The bad news is, we’re not sure what will resonate with the customer. What is that customer’s reason for doing business? Honesty, quality of workmanship, and price are our reasons. But our job is to find out their reasons.”

Stay tuned for the next weekly MEA presentation. And remember to visit www.meahelp.com for resources relating to COVID-19.

Entrepreneur -- Disagreements come in more ways than just saying "no." And if you are disagreeing with someone, you'll never close the sale.

Agreement is vital and is the single most important and violated rule of selling! I’m not saying you should mislead the customer. There’s an art to telling the customer, “I’d love to make that happen to you,” rather than, “I can’t,” “I won’t” or “That’s not my job.”

Here are seven things not to say in sales or business:

1. "That’s not my department."

You must take responsibility for everything, whether it’s in sales or your personal life. Don’t blame the economy, don’t blame other people, and don’t blame any external conditions, because blaming is something you do to become a slave.

Related: Avoid the Dead Zone By Adopting 'Recruit Daily or Perish'

The greats gave up the blame game long ago. They are big on accountability and responsibility to get the job done. If you are willing to take the credit when you win, be willing to take the credit when you lose.

2. "You can trust me."

Have you ever noticed when a buyer isn’t fully listening to you? This occurs because the prospect assumes that since you are a salesperson they cannot trust you. The media constantly runs broadcasts of scams and cons that make consumers skeptical of salespeople. Losing credibility will add time and this lack of trust from the prospect will cost you sales.

Saying “trust me” to a prospect isn’t going to build trust and may even have the opposite effect. To properly handle your buyers trust you must understand that people believe what they see, not what they hear.

Always, always show written material to support your presentation or proposal. Make sure to use third-party materials when collecting facts for your customer that support what you’re saying -- this adds external credibility to your claims. And you must write down everything you have said, offered, proposed, promised, suggested and implied during the proposal.

Read the rest of the story here: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244982

So, I happened to be speaking with a person the other day who indicated a desire to be able to sell the experience, sell the store, sell her knowledge and skills and only after that, sell products to the consumer. BUT (paraphrasing her), “What if the consumer says NO? I don't want to be a pushy sales person, I hate those kinda sales people”. Everyone hates ‘em. Because they are bad at their job. Two things occurred to me which I think are VERY IMPORTANT...

ONE: A sales person is perceived as pushy when he keeps trying to close a sale WITHOUT PROPERLY OVERCOMING OBJECTIONS. Trying to push something the consumer does not want.

TWO: QUALIFYING the consumer properly, prior to presentation and then trying to close the sale dramatically reduces objections.

Corollary... Sales people who are good at QUALIFYING consumers are not so often perceived as pushy. Rather, the consumers see them as an EXPERT on the subject matter.

This is why understanding how a sales transaction is constructed and then understanding how to MANAGE THE SELLING TRANSACTION is so IMPORTANT.

Dig this... The reasons to QUALIFY a consumer (second of six specific steps in a selling transaction: Greet, QUALIFY, Present, Trial Close, Overcome Objections, Close), are many:

1      What does the consumer want?

2      What does the consumer need in order to satisfy wants?

3      What does the consumer THINK he needs to satisfy his wants?

4      Where did the consumer learn what he thinks he needs?

5      Do the consumer needs and consumer budget (willingness to spend) match up?

6      When is the consumer contemplating making the purchase?

7      Does the consumer have the authority to make and execute a purchase decision?

8      Method of payment?

For sure, each of the points above deserve several hours of discussion between the person teaching a sales training class and the attendees. I assure you, the more often the sales person knows the answer to ALL of these QUALIFICATION POINTS prior to making a presentation the more often consumers will perceive him or her as a knowledgeable expert and not so much a pushy sales person when trying to close the sale.

If you are responsible for selling products and services to your consumers, AND this concept of QUALIFYING a consumer and MANAGING the SELLING TRANSACTION seems foreign or uncomfortable to you, THAT IS A PROBLEM. It needs fixing. Call me, Eddy Kay, Dell Ellis, or somebody to get straight. Don’t wait. Do it now.

It is really important to be in charge of the selling transaction.  This “Pushy Sales People” issue is a glaring demonstration of same.

Don’t forget to look at, and tell all of your consumers about, the Ray Windsor You Tube Channel and the “Selecting A Retailer” series.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ray+windsor+select+a+retailer     

Easy and worthwhile 3-6 minutes with a new segment every Tuesday.

Based in Germany, Steinmetz Will Help Sell and Promote Eleven and its SKAA Technology Throughout the Continent

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada, June 8, 2017 – Eleven Engineering, Inc. (www.elevenengineering.com), a manufacturer of semiconductor products for wireless audio for home theater, multi-room, outdoor, portable, professional, 12-volt (car, truck, motorcycle, power sports, marine) and gaming applications, is proud to announce that industry veteran Ralf Steinmetz has joined the company as Sales Representative – Europe, effective immediately.

“As Eleven Engineering and our SKAA technology both continue to grow on a worldwide scale, we needed a proven sales leader who could be the face and at the forefront of our European operations and work alongside our partner companies and customers already there,” said Rex Whitehead, Eleven Engineering director of sales, North America. “Ralf has all of the qualities and experience we required in the consumer electronics industries to continue to increase Eleven and SKAA’s presence in Europe. We are excited to have Ralf on board.”

Based in Siegsdorf, Germany, Steinmetz has held several positions within global manufacturing companies over the past three decades across Europe, N. America, Africa, and Asia, including director of sales, marketing, product development, strategic planning, and international financial analysis.

“Eleven is at the forefront of wireless technologies across numerous CE markets, which provides very exciting opportunities for both sales and as an OEM provider for manufacturers throughout Europe,” explained Steinmetz, who has worked with such international consumer electronics companies as Rockford Fosgate, Blaupunkt, Telefunken, and others. “SKAA is quickly becoming an industry standard, and I am looking forward to help build the brand.”

SKAA (www.SKAA.com) is the new wireless HiFi audio standard developed by Eleven Engineering, Inc. SKAA transmitters work with iOS & Android mobile devices, Mac & Windows computers, televisions, and just about any product with a line output or a headphone jack. SKAA is also available as a built-in technology not requiring an external transmitter in purpose-designed partner products, which are featured at SKAA.com. SKAA navigates hostile environments saturated in wireless traffic with best-in-class reliability, and delivers uninterrupted audio with the highest sound quality to all speakers without the latency that is inherent in other wireless solutions.

For more information, contact Rex Whitehead at 480-650-3979 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information on Eleven Engineering, visit www.SKAA.comand www.elevenengineering.com.