Kelly McCormick's Business Tips

How to Say “No” to Clients

• Aug 31st, 2011
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We teach people how to treat us. Well, that’s what Dr. Phil says and I tend to agree with him on this point.

Many entrepreneurs and business owners have a tough time setting boundaries with their clients. It’s understandable. When you care about what you do it makes sense that you’d want to give your best.

However, this can become a problem when giving your best means that there is little time, energy, or money left for you!

Why a Single Email Could Cost You $16,000!

• Aug 29th, 2011
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My guess is that such expenditure is not in your marketing budget to potentially gain just a single customer.

But you may be risking penalties of that caliber or more, per email, if your transmissions do not comply with the CAN-SPAM Act (United States)….

Identifying Your REAL Benefits

• Aug 24th, 2011
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(Excerpt from OutSell Yourself: Go From Hello to Sold by Kelly McCormick)

Customers may be attracted to the features of what you offer, but it’s the benefits of your products and services that really win them over. If you mistakenly focus on the bells and whistles, you could lose out.

Before we go any further, we need to make sure that we are speaking the same sales language. Sellers often confuse features with benefits. If we don’t clear this up, the rest of what’s here for you might not make sense…

Are Your Clothes Selling YOU or Killing Sales?

• Aug 19th, 2011
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“Casual Fridays have morphed into ‘Happy Hour’ Fridays, which can send the message, I’d rather be anywhere but here”, says Kelly Machbitz. Kelly is a Certified Image Consultant and author of, Wear This, Not That! Stylish Solutions to Flatter Your Figure. Wow, she got my attention!

As a business expert, who coaches and speaks to entrepreneurs, business owners, and companies, I know that your personal image is as important as your brand. For many people their personal image is their brand. Take a look at some of those scary avatar photos on Social Networking sites!

As fast as my fingers could punch in the numbers, I called Kelly Machbitz. I wanted to find out some of the worst mistakes people make when dressing to do business. I also needed to know what entrepreneurs, consultants, and business people should be wearing to “seal the deal”, so to speak. Here’s what I discovered…

7 Reason Clients Come Back for More

• Aug 16th, 2011
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Repeat business is money in the bank for entrepreneurs, consultants and businesses. The phone rings and you’re ready to go. Get the order book!

As easy as it all sounds, and it can be, there are too many people caught in the cycle of working for one client and then moving on to the next. More accurately, too many clients move on because they didn’t feel that warm fuzzy “loyalty” feeling. Here are seven important reasons why clients and customers come back for more…

3 Business Networking Tips From the Guru – Michael Hughes

• Jul 13th, 2011
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Okay we all know that networking is a powerful business building tool. Many people, including myself, get a lot of our new business via referrals. So why is it that so many “professionals” do such a crappy job of connecting with others? From what I have observed, most people don’t really know what to say or do to make powerful and meaningful connections.

To break through any obstacles, I interviewed Michael Hughes, the guru of networking. Here are his valuable opinions, pointers, and tips; all of which are in total alignment with my process on how to ethically OutSell Yourself.

Kelly: What is the biggest mistake people make when networking?

Michael: The biggest (and most common) mistake professionals make when networking is…

10 Reasons Why Buyers Go Missing and How to Follow-up

• Jul 6th, 2011
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If a company or individual didn’t buy immediately, missed a scheduled follow-up, or didn’t respond to your messages, it could be for many reasons. (FYI, the following excerpt is from my book, OutSell Yourself: Go From Hello to Sold with Ethical Business and Sales Techniques.)

Here are 10 reasons why buyers go missing and the actions you can take to reconnect.

1. They died. Unless you’re in the funeral business, this probably isn’t good news. Check in later to find out who is now looking after things.

2. Someone else died. Send a card.

3. They had a deadline of their own. Call and say, “I understand. Given the current situation, when would you like me to contact you?”

How to FIRE a Client!

• Jun 28th, 2011
• 4 Comments

In case you missed the last blog post, 3 Signs That a Client COULD COST YOU MONEY!, here are my tips on how to fire that client!

1. Take Off Your Rose-Colored Glasses: A business relationship is similar to dating. We meet, fall in love, and then co-exist happily ever after. WRONG. Similar to dating, not every relationship lasts forever. And not every client is right for you.

2. Know When Enough is Enough: There is a honeymoon phase in business. It’s that special time when your client is excited and eager to pay for your hard work. Unfortunately, over time some clients can take you for granted. They want the sun, the moon, and the stars. But they’re only willing to pay for a shooting star or two.

3 Signs That a Client Could COST YOU MONEY!

• Jun 22nd, 2011
• 1 Comment

If I had 50 cents for every time I heard, “I knew that this client was going to be trouble!” I would be vacationing at a seaside resort−for the rest of my life!
In case your gut told you “Don’t work with this buyer” and you look at your bank account, which is screaming “You need this!” here are some warning signs that this isn’t the right customer for you.

Why Not Ask “Why”?

• Jun 16th, 2011
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“Why” questions can certainly provide you with important information. Unfortunately people tend to become defensive when asked “why.” They feel judged.

Imagine if someone were repeatedly asking you “why” you were thinking or feeling a certain way. Even if they had your best interest at heart, you’d probably feel challenged. For most people, their common reaction would be to withhold information or defend their position. Does this remind you of any relationships you’ve been in?