Can't even give a website away!

[arfurd]

Arfurd, there isn't one business that does not involve sales. Therefore you have no choice but to hone your sales skills if you wish to succeed. Even with word of mouth your going to have to give the sales pitch eventually, work won't just be handed to you on plate.

And as many others have said, rejection is all part of it. Eventually though it won't bother you in the slightest.

Or employ a sales person while you just get on with the web design, although this will give you little control over the direction of the business and your probably better suited to being an employee and doing what you enjoy with the pressure of self-employment.

You simply can't dismiss sales as unnecessary

You're right, it did sound like I was totally dismissing sales. Sorry to all decent sales people, I fully understand that sales have a massive impact on a companies turnover.

I'm not bothered about the rejection, I'm married!!!

And I think I sell myself OK when I need to, that's because I know what I'm talking about. Now where's that book of self help....

 

[captaincloser]

Still waiting to hear how long you were in that sales job earning nothing and working with conmen who in your own words were in the fraud business. My guess it was consdierably longer than 5 minutes ?

I used to work in a lot of London salesrooms when younger and there were always the holy types around...easily spotted in the pub after work...but I never worked out why they stayed a month before going off to become a monk or whatever..

Without sales businesses invariably fail...ergo without salespeople but yes we are a bad lot

 

[arfurd]

Still waiting to hear how long you were in that sales job earning nothing and working with conmen who in your own words were in the fraud business. My guess it was consdierably longer than 5 minutes ?

I used to work in a lot of London salesrooms when younger and there were always the holy types around...easily spotted in the pub after work...but I never worked out why they stayed a month before going off to become a monk or whatever..

Without sales businesses invariably fail...ergo without salespeople but yes we are a bad lot

3 months, after I left the company was shut down by Trading Standards (nothing to do with me). Although they operated within the law, the company was using underhand techniques, and pressure sales.

I wouldn't say you were a bad lot. It's like everything else, you get a few bad apples in every basket.

 

[arfurd]

I think you mean platonic. Unless this is your way of telling us you are gay.

edit, Hey, you changed it whilst I was typing.

Damn! I thought I'd got away with that.

 

[captaincloser]

3 months, after I left the company was shut down by Trading Standards (nothing to do with me). Although they operated within the law, the company was using underhand techniques, and pressure sales.

I wouldn't say you were a bad lot. It's like everything else, you get a few bad apples in every basket.

My father used to import apples from South Africa,France and Australia.All the French ones were bad as I recall !

 

[MancunianCreative]

Cheap/free/spec designers devalue the whole industry.

I'd sack you for some of the work you have done.

 

[arfurd]

Cheap/free/spec designers devalue the whole industry.

I'd sack you for some of the work you have done.

Thanks that's big of you.

 

[iArtist]

I think it's more a case of you offering help when none was requested.

I've had forum members pm me with offers to make over my site and I just think 'cheek'.

A better way to approach her would have been to say you were perusing her site and as a webdesigner were curious how it was performing and if she had any concerns with it. Give her the opportunity to tell you FIRST if she herself has any problems with it etc. Then there is an opportunity for you to offer her advice (out of the kindness of your heart) at her request.

If you do it right, she'll be asking you for your services rather than you needing to offer them.

This is called the 'fear factor' sales technique (well it's not but it should be!!).

You get her to focus on her fears and concerns regarding her site...then she is happier and more receptive to 'help' at alleviating those fears and concerns.

If she has no concerns then you risk offending her by offering your help. In which case you have to focus instead on improving the sites conversion rates and talk about money SHE will make not money you will make out of her.

Only when she asks for your help do you talk about your offer to her.

 

[ITsoldUK]

Afurd

We do a lot of Web Site sales. The people to target are not the ones with awful sites. Think about it, the web has been around for 15 years yet they still haven't been able to stump up a few hundred quid for a half decent site. What does that tell you about their attitude to the web?...

Spot on there Tele old bean...dead horse flogging a if you go after sites that look 'poor' to you and have been around eons.

Also, never judge a book and all that...they may have a website BUT it may just because they think they 'should' have one not because it brings in or has any tangibe asset to their business model.

 

[Scott-Copywriter]

I think everyone has basically covered everything I would have said on this particular topic. Sound advice.

 

[Dave Kinnel]

I think everyone has basically covered everything I would have said on this particular topic. Sound advice.

I agree, time to start a flaming trolling slanging match then!!

 

[Alfonso123]

its nice to hear people out their in my industry do care, having worked in domain development and seo for many years it is good to hear guys out their with principles, unfortunately far too many people in this industrt are just there for the rip off!

 

[ITsoldUK]

I agree, time to start a flaming trolling slanging match then!!

ohhhh no it isn't

 

[AdamH_LWG]

Cold calling and slamming the choice the potential customer has already made usually goes the wrong way no matter how good your offer is.

I do admit i wouldn't go with anyone over the phone but if the offer is good I would take details and do my research on them.

 

[captaincloser]

Cold calling and slamming the choice the potential customer has already made usually goes the wrong way no matter how good your offer is.

I do admit i wouldn't go with anyone over the phone but if the offer is good I would take details and do my research on them.

I was going to reply about cold calling and chase you away but looked at your website first and fell in love with Archie...so you get a reprieve.

Great website too in my opinion.