Sales Articles

How to sell in a crisis: a step-by-step guide. The case of Airbnb.

What if your product was mired in a scandal like Airbnb is right now? What would you do? Would you roll with the punches or throw in the towel? Would you rise to the challenge or, like an errant seller, sink to resignation, blaming the product and employer? “Na niliwaambia tu.” (I told them but

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Bye-bye 2023. Out with the old, in with the new. Here’s 3 ways how.

“Bye-bye 2023. Welcome 2024.” 2023 is gone. It’s never coming back. So, quit driving looking at the rear-view mirror of ‘should have’ and ‘could have.’ Look, instead, at the windscreen of “Can do” and “Will do”. Otherwise, forget the mishaps you had in 2023. In 2024 you’ll be rushing headlong into a crash. As you

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Is it the economy that needs fixing? Or, is it just you? Let’s find out.

“It’s not me, it’s the economy,” so you say. And, to justify your many misses and rare hits those in your corner energize you’re position: “It’s not you; it’s the prospects that don’t have money. The problem is the economy; this economy needs fixing by the government.”  Maybe. Maybe not; maybe it’s not the economy,

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Boost sales: see salespeople as points of contact not those that sell

Dear employer, especially this December, remember that the salesperson isn’t one who merely sells the product or service. That’s an archaic way of defining the profession. The world has dramatically moved from the days when the only source of digital information for Kenyans was VoK. The 21st C prospects have become wiser and the market

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How to handle an angry customer if you are a salesperson

“If they are not there by the time I arrive, cancel the contract!” So fumed the Operations Director of the shipping line that was also this travel agent’s largest client. The salesperson knew the consequences of losing this contract. He’d lose his job too.  (A (non) fun fact. If you are a salesperson, there are

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Why most people quit sales is as simple as it’s not. Here’s why

The percentage of sales people that quit must be highest for any profession. Put differently, the profession with the highest turnover is Sales. And there’s reason why most people quit Sales. It is difficult to see a compelling tomorrow when you cannot raise your eyes away from a trying today. This is the predicament that those

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Your business could be losing you sales. A customer explains how

Today I wish to share sales (or lack thereof) experiences, from a customer’s viewpoint. This is in the hope that business owners will take heed how to stop losing customers. Unless of course you want to debate the disadvantages of losing customers. No? OK. Here is a customer’s perspective on reasons why your business could

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Lessons in selling from government mistruths, half-truths and lies

In government, as in sales, the art of persuasion often involves crafting a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience. Like telling Kenyans that unga (maize flour) prices will fall to 120shs per 2kg packet (from 230) in six months to March this year. This was to happen following the subsidizing of production (as opposed

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Focus on the buyer’s purchase solution, not your product problems

“Sorry, Sir. You’re unable to cash this cheque over the counter, as it’s not opened,” the cashier at my bank explained. I cursed under my breath. I knew this! What a silly and, about to be, costly mistake in terms of time wasted looking for the other signatories and queuing afresh, I had made! In

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