Marketing and Sales

In a targeted e-mail campaign gone terribly wrong, the photo-printing website Shutterfly mass-emailed an unknown number of people on Wednesday to congratulate them on their newborn babies.

What's wrong with the e-mail? Many of those who received it did not just give birth.

"Earlier this morning, we unintentionally sent an e-mail to some of our customers." A spokesperson for Shutterfly told The Huffington Post. "We deeply apologize for this intrusion and any offense this may have caused.

Why understanding the opposing party's motivations is better than simply working toward a common ground.

Multi-channel marketing is the use of many different channels, such as direct mail, print, digital and social media platforms, to spread one consistent, comprehensive and effective marketing campaign. As a marketing or print service provider, it is important to promote the solutions that enhance the life of your brand as well as your printing services throughout a variety of channels.

Sales. For some, it's as easy as ABC—Always Be Closing. For others, upholding the Glengarry Glen Ross mantra is a constant struggle.

Despite the meetings, dinners and creative energy spent on a potential client, deals can fall through at the last minute. The client doesn't want what you're selling. The client doesn't need what you're selling. And your price? Forget it.

One woman who frequently flew on Southwest was constantly disappointed with every aspect of the company's operation. In fact, she became known as the "Pen Pal" because after every flight she wrote in with a complaint.

She didn't like the fact that the company didn't assign seats; she didn't like the absence of a first-class section; she didn't like not having a meal in flight; she didn't like Southwest's boarding procedure; she didn't like the flight attendants' sporty uniforms and the casual atmosphere.

Her last letter, reciting a litany of complaints, momentarily stumped Southwest's customer relations people.

"Sales is the lifeblood, the main artery of any company." So says sales expert Grant Cardone. Most people in business would most likely agree.

So, that means there's little margin for error when generating revenue for your company. In this video, Cardone shares the biggest mistakes business owners need to avoid, and the one critical must-have for any successful sales operation: swagger. 

OK, so, I still watch Grey's Anatomy. After countless break-room romances, plane crashes, ferry accidents, marriages and divorces, I'm still hooked. Between all of the melodrama, I find there is still a message that will get me thinking.

While doing some recent sales training I was asked the following question: "Ryan, if every one of us in this room offers, for the most part, the same things at the same price points, what make one of us better than the other?"

You may think your sales strategy is flawless, but even seasoned professionals need an occasional boost. This is where consultative selling can help. Consultative selling involves a creative approach designed around the client's needs. To do it right, the salesperson must develop a relationship with the potential client before trying to make a sale.

No matter how many charms technology throws at the general public, printed forms often prove to be the most seductive. Just ask Kevin Mullaney, vice president and general manager of Pacific Data Forms Inc., a family-owned and -operated manufacturer of business forms and related products.