How Clients Buy

How Clients Buy
Author: Tom McMakin
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 279
Release: 2018-03-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 111943470X

The real-world guide to selling your services and bringing in business How Clients Buy is the much-needed guide to selling your services. If you're one of the millions of people whose skills are the 'product,' you know that you cannot be successful unless you bring in clients. The problem is, you're trained to do your job—not sell it. No matter how great you may be at your actual role, you likely feel a bit lost, hesitant, or 'behind' when it comes to courting clients, an unfamiliar territory where you're never quite sure of the line between under- and over-selling. This book comes to the rescue with real, practical advice for selling what you do. You'll have to unlearn everything you know about sales, but then you'll learn new skills that will help you make connections, develop rapport, create interest, earn trust, and turn prospects into clients. Business development is critical to your personal success, and your skills in this area will dictate the course of your career. This invaluable guide gives you a set of real-world best practices that can help you become the rainmaker you want to be. Get the word out and make productive connections Drop the fear of self-promotion and advertise your accomplishments Earn potential clients' trust to build a lasting relationship Scrap the sales pitch in favor of honesty, positivity, and value Working in the consulting and professional services fields comes with difficulties not encountered by those who sell tangible products. Services are often under-valued, and become among the first things to go when budgets get tight. It is now harder than ever to sell professional services, so your game must be on-point if you hope to out-compete the field. How Clients Buy shows you how to level up and start winning the client list of your dreams.

The Irresistible Consultant's Guide to Winning Clients

The Irresistible Consultant's Guide to Winning Clients
Author: David A. Fields
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing
Total Pages: 273
Release: 2017-03-21
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1683501659

This deeply insightful guide to understanding what clients really want is “an indispensable resource for consultants” (Keith Ferrazzi, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Never Eat Alone). Independent consulting is a potentially lucrative enterprise—but the reality seldom matches the dream. Most solo consultants and boutique consulting firms are perpetually within six months of bankruptcy due to the sputtering unreliability of their new business engines. The problem, according to international consulting expert David A. Fields, is twofold: 1) lack of a consistent, proven plan, and 2) fundamental misunderstanding about what clients want in a consultant. Fields, who has helped hundreds of consultants and boutique firms worldwide build profitable, sustainable practices, replaces the typical consultant’s mindset of emphasizing expertise and differentiated processes with a focus on building relationships, engendering trust, and solving clients’ existing problems. In The Irresistible Consultant’s Guide to Winning Clients, Fields synthesizes his decades of experience into a step-by-step approach to winning more projects from more clients at higher fees. From nuts-and-bolts business advice and tactics to a deeply insightful breakdown of the human side of a very human profession, Fields, named one of Advertising Age magazine’s “Marketing Top 100,” delivers a comprehensive guidebook that is at once highly approachable and satisfyingly detailed. “If I could have just one book on client strategy, this book would be it.” —Marshall Goldsmith, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Triggers

Winning the Professional Services Sale

Winning the Professional Services Sale
Author: Michael W. McLaughlin
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 225
Release: 2009-08-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0470522011

An innovative approach to winning more profitable sales in the growing professional services industry In recent years, professional services providers have had to rethink their sales methods and adapt to profound changes in the way clients buy services. In response, Winning the Professional Services Sale argues for fundamental changes in the seller's mindset and sales strategies. Rather than pressing the sale, salespeople must help clients buy--the way that works best for each client. This new approach gives buyers what they now want in a services seller: a consultative problem solver, change agent, and solution integrator, all rolled into one. Author Michael McLaughlin presents a strategy for winning new business with a holistic approach to each client relationship. Only by fully understanding a sale from every angle, including its impact on the client's business and career, can salespeople thrive in the new era of the service economy.

Clients for Life

Clients for Life
Author: Andrew Sobel
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2001-02-21
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0743215095

Finally, the book that all professionals frustrated with fleeting client loyalty and relentless price pressure have waited for—the first in-depth, guide to developing lasting client relationships. Millions of people in this country earn their livings by serving clients, and their numbers are growing every day. Unfortunately, far too few develop the skills and strategies needed to rise to the top in a world where clients have almost unlimited access to information and expertise. Clients for Life sets forth a comprehensive framework for how professionals in all fields can develop breakthrough relationships with their clients and enjoy enduring client loyalty. Supported by more than 100 case studies and wisdom gleaned from interviews with dozens of leading CEOs and prominent business advisors, Clients for Life identifies what clients really want and lays out the core qualities that distinguish the client advisor—an irreplaceable resource—from the expert for hire, a tradable commodity. Readers will learn, for example, to develop selfless independence, which tempers complete emotional, intellectual, and financial independence with a powerful commitment to client needs; to become deep generalists and overcome the narrow perspective caused by specialization; to systematically build lifelong trust; and to cultivate the power of synthesis—big-picture thinking—that is so highly valued by clients. Portraits of history's most famously successful advisors, including Machiavelli, Sir Thomas More, and J. P. Morgan, underscore these timeless qualities that modern professionals need to develop to excel in today's competitive environment.

Growing Happy Clients

Growing Happy Clients
Author: Ward van Gasteren
Publisher: Ward van Gasteren
Total Pages: 356
Release: 2020-11-18
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

As a growth hacker you know how to growth hack. You know how to discover bottlenecks, measure impact and run experiments. But do you know as a consultant: - The five principles to handle any and every client you come across? - How to create internal fans within a company to ensure your contract gets renewed? - How to rid yourself of the confining label of Marketing and have a broader impact? If the answer to any of these questions is ‘no’, then this book is for you. Growing Happy Clients takes you a step further than the ‘Happily Ever After’ of every growth hacking book on growth processes. You’ve got your client, you’ve got your skills, but now you need the abilities to deal with messy situations and internal challenges. To ensure that you get the hours and tools you need to guide your client to success. In Growing Happy Clients, we take you from kickoff to project reflection, teaching you all the ‘soft skills’ that separate a successful growth hacker from the rest. Whether you’re a growth hacker or marketer freelancer, part of an agency or in-house, you will finish this growth hacking book as a better, more confident growth consultant, and ready to grow your happy clients. Who is this book for Freelance growth hackers and marketers Growth Hacking or Marketing consultants working at an agency or in-house Internal growth hackers or marketers hoping to implement growth hacking within an organisation About the Authors Daphne Tideman and Ward van Gasteren have over ten years of combined experience in working with the fastest growing scale-ups and the biggest Fortune 500 corporates. Daphne was the first employee at what became a leading growth hacking agency. Ward was one of the first certified growth hackers in Europe and has consulted with 70+ companies as a freelance consultant. Quotes about Growing Happy Clients "⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Must-read for all digital consultants. This book is a must-read. Not only for growth hacking consultants, but for all consultants working in the digital space. The book contains great advice, practical examples and lots of resources. It covers a project with a client from beginning to end in a very comprehensive manner. Highly recommended!" "I've thoroughly enjoyed reading Growing Happy Clients – I can’t help to think it’s going to be massively beneficial for those starting with growth hacking and additionally for those that think they know what growth hacking is but actually haven’t got a clue ��." - Abi Hough, 20+ years of growth and optimization experience "I work as a marketer and even though I am not a consultant Growing Happy Clients helped me change the way we approach growth both in terms of project management and working together with different departments." - Fleurine T, Marketer at Goboony

Never Say Sell

Never Say Sell
Author: Tom McMakin
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 265
Release: 2020-10-27
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1119683785

Learn the secrets of how recurring revenue is driven at expert firms like BCG, KPMG, EY, and more Never Say Sell: How the World's Best Consulting and Professional Services Firms Expand Client Relationships explains how to scale individual engagements into long-term business relationships. Cowritten by Tom McMakin, the coauthor of How Clients Buy and expert in account development, and colleague Jacob Parks, this book provides insights from key rainmakers at firms like Accenture, IBM, and more into how they drive growth from existing relationships. Never Say Sell is a business development guide for professional service providers like consultants, accountants, and lawyers, whether they are sole proprietors or members of account teams tasked with expanding key accounts. Doing good work with existing clients is not enough to have them come back to you again and again. You must do more. This book explores the techniques and methods that leading professional service providers use to add value, cross sell, and drive recurring revenue from existing engagements. Never Say Sell will help you turn one-and-done clients into some of your most exciting and lucrative relationships. It is a must-have for any professional who benefits from repeat business.

How Customers Buy...& Why They Don’t

How Customers Buy...& Why They Don’t
Author: Martyn R. Lewis
Publisher: Radius Book Group
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2018-08-15
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1635765234

Lewis makes a compelling argument that businesses must look beyond their own internal view of how something is sold, to the external reality of how customers actually buy. He asserts that no one buys anything because of a sales process; customers only buy because of their own buying process. And so, for all those whose livelihood depends upon successful revenue generation, the only rational course of action is to positively influence and effectively manage the end-to-end customer-buying journey. The simple failure of mousetrap logic—that is, the quality of the product or value proposition of the service is sufficient to convince customers to make a purchase—is at the heart of most revenue generation challenges today. How Customers Buy...and Why They Don’t shows that vendors are too often trying to solve the wrong problem, because customers actually do “get it,” they just don’t buy it. The book starts by explaining Outside-in Revenue Generation. It then decodes the six elements of the Customer Buying Journey DNA. It defines the nine Buying Concerns, any one of which can derail a purchase. It unveils the deceptively simple and elegant 4Q Buying Style Quadrant that unlocks the intricacies of how buyers actually think. The second section of the book explains what you can do about customers not buying your products or services. It reveals that there are only four things—Sales and Marketing Imperatives—that can be done to positively impact the market. It goes on to walk the reader through the development of the Market Engagement Strategy. The final section of the book translates the five components of the Market Engagement Strategy into actionable sales and marketing behaviors.

It Starts With Clients

It Starts With Clients
Author: Andrew Sobel
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2020-03-31
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1119619106

World-renowned client relationship authority shows you how to dramatically grow your business by mastering fourteen critical client development challenges Andrew Sobel, author of the international bestsellers Clients for Life and Power Questions, offers a proven,100-day plan for conquering 14 tough client development challenges and growing your client base in any market conditions. He’s encapsulated 25 years of unique research, including personal interviews with over 8000 top executives and successful rainmakers, into a practical roadmap for winning more new clients and growing your existing relationships. You’ll learn specific strategies to move confidently and predictably from a first meeting to a signed contract, and discover the agenda-setting techniques that create a steady stream of sole-source business. You’ll master the art of reframing client requests, leading to broader, higher-impact engagements. You’ll dramatically sharpen your ability to ask the powerful questions that can transform your client relationships. And, you’ll learn to develop advisory relationships with influential C-suite executives. Andrew illustrates each weekly challenge with real-life examples drawn from thousands of executive meetings. He shares success strategies from having grown and led three highly successful professional service businesses. Andrew has taught these strategies to over 50,000 professionals around the world, and they’re now available to you in this highly readable, portable masterclass. Whether you are early in your career and need a comprehensive guide to grow your client base from the ground up or are a seasoned practitioner who wants to accelerate your business growth, It Starts With Clients will take you to the next level.

Stop Acting Like a Seller and Start Thinking Like a Buyer

Stop Acting Like a Seller and Start Thinking Like a Buyer
Author: Jerry Acuff
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 276
Release: 2010-12-28
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1118044835

Praise for stop acting like a seller and Start Thinking Like a Buyer "Stop Acting Like a Seller and Start Thinking Like a Buyer is a book that teaches you emphatically that 'words matter.' If you want to set yourself apart from others, whether you're selling a product or a concept, this is a book to read. Not only will you learn how to prepare for sales success, you will learn how to be far more effective by thinking like a buyer." —Theresa Martinez, Brand Director, Roche Laboratories "This book shares a great commonsense approach to developing a new sales attitude and mindset that will work no matter what you're selling. Jerry has successfully articulated a powerful and unique formula for sales greatness." —Duggar Baucom, head basketball coach, Virginia Military Institute "This is a book for people who truly want to have incredible success in sales. Thinking like a buyer is the most powerful way to help customers and prospects think differently about you and your product. This book shows you exactly how to make that happen in a step-by-step way. If you want to learn how to guarantee your success in selling or influencing, this is a book you must read." —Dan C. Weilbaker, PhD, McKesson Professor of Sales, Northern Illinois University "A mind shift takes place when you read Acuff's book and realize 'it's all about them.' The book helps you understand human psychology and behavior and gives you the practical tips, encouragement, and examples to help you stand out and be valued by your customers regardless of what you're selling." —Charlene Prounis, Managing Partner, Flashpoint Medica

When Buyers Say No

When Buyers Say No
Author: Tom Hopkins
Publisher: Business Plus
Total Pages: 221
Release: 2014-04-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1455550582

This is a complete and practical guide which highlights the authors' new strategic approaches to selling when the buyer initially declines or is resistant on a sales opportunity. Hopkins and Katt explain that most sales reps take a traditional linear approach to selling, but that the trick in closing is in taking a more creative and circular approach. That's the key. It all starts with how the buyer initially says, "No." Too many sales reps don't pay close attention as to how that's presented. Hopkins and Katt point out that "no" may suggest all sorts of other options -- avenues that can eventually lead to the buyer actually saying yes. The authors introduce a novel concept called the Circle of Persuasion which offers sales reps a new approach in this potentially tricky process. Along the way, WHEN BUYERS SAY NO details prescriptive steps and even sample dialogues that will instruct and guide sales professionals on how to best cultivate buyer-seller relationships. There's particular emphasis on how to establish the kind of rapport that ultimately leads to a successful close.