VALUING YOUR CUSTOMERS: PART II by Jack Burke The previous article discussed the purchase of a new television and my impatience when it came to waiting for delivery. I can now report that...

WALKING THE TALK: WHEN AN AGENCYS SERVICE STANDARDS FAIL by Al Diamond Every agent with whom we speak tells us that their primary product is service. The agency provides such a high leve...

Have you ever considered what just one customer is worth to your business over a five to ten year period or longer? Carl Sewell is one of the nation’s leading Cadillac dealers. In his book, Customers for Life, Sewell calculates the amount of revenue an auto dealer could realize from an average buyer if the dealership could keep the customer for life. Would you believe $332,000? And that’s just one customer! In this article, Vicki Lenz shares her top 10 reasons for creating customer loyalty.

Is selling the same as prospecting? Is selling the same as quoting?

No to both questions. In the insurance business, selling is comprised of two components, but neither of them involves prospecting or quoting.

Selling today is filled with contradictions. E-mail enhances our connectivity, but the number of E-mail messages is often so overwhelming that they go unanswered. Voice mail brings us together, but voice mailboxes are often clogged.

Far from just another sales technique or gimmick, Productive Selling Attitude (PSA) is a fundamental approach to making sales.

PSA is emerging from a clear understanding of how customers think, as well as from the expectations of suppliers and vendors.

Only those who are brutally honest with themselves really make it in sales - this means admitting that it is getting more difficult to "make the sale."

The obstacles to success are everywhere. Automated telephone systems serve as an impenetrable wall. The fear of making a wrong decision creates endless delays and false starts.

No matter how hard you try, customers will find fault with you or your staff. How you handle those complaints will determine your account retention and customer satisfaction rate. Here are three key guidelines to help the cause.

Knowing what customers expect may be the most important key to successful selling. While every customer is interested in getting an appropriate price, many salespeople seem to think that price is the primary issue. As a result, they lead with price and seem to base most of their sales presentation on cost issues.

Does the sterile anonymity of Internet-commerce and 1-800-BUY-THIS leave you a little cold? In this document, Emily Huling reminds us not to lose our human touch when conducting business in person. Her observations provide useful insights for anyone in your firm who interacts with clients.

WHAT'S A CUSTOMER WORTH? by Al Diamond You work hard to sell insurance to new customers, we all know that, and that is why we pay for marketing and advertising to prospects, the general public...