Some people naturally possess an ability to sell and others over time develop their own style. We have created a highly practical course to give you the confidence and ability to sell over the phone or face to face. We focus the exercises, theory and discussion on your own job role and experiences to ensure you can return to the workplace to deliver tangible results. This 2-day course is designed for individuals who are new to selling, those in a sales role but have not received any formal training, or professionals who would like to brush up and enhance their current selling skills and learn some new techniques. Course Syllabus The syllabus of the Essential Selling Skills course is comprised of seven modules, covering the following: Module One Understanding the Customer The importance of good customer care Selling vs. selling attitude The reasons people buy Adopting a positive approach Module Two Self-Awareness Understanding your selling style Adapting your selling style to your customer Understanding your customers buying style Module Three Effective Communication and Rapport Building Why does communication need to be effective? Actively listening to your customers' needs Right question at the right time The impact of positive and emotive language Module Four Taking a Consultative Approach Different styles of selling Taking a consultative approach to selling Preparation techniques Buyer behaviour and motivation A selling approach to match the buyers mind Module Five Presenting the Solution Selling the benefits Sales tool kit Unique sales points Advanced questioning techniques Module Six Gaining Commitment Recognising and acting upon buying signals Dealing with customers concerns No means no? How to cope in stressful situations Module Seven Confirming the Sale Confirming or closing? Effective confirming techniques Going the extra mile Benefits For you as an individual This course will increase your confidence and ability to sell, having provided you with tools and techniques to achieve maximum results. Delegates always leave with fresh ideas, energy and motivation to succeed. For an employer The attitude of the delegates and the results they deliver will speak for themselves. All techniques are easy to apply back into the workplace for an immediate impact. What will I learn? By the end of the course, participants will be able to: Appreciate the need for preparation before a sales appointment Effectively identify and meet needs with advanced questioning techniques Identify verbal and non-verbal buying signals Construct professional answers to questions and possible objections Present your products and/or services with the buyer in mind Identify and use a selling style appropriate to capture the buyer's attention Recognise and overcome major objection types How to apply effective confirmation techniques with the buyer in mind Real Play Option We offer an innovative solution to engage the learners and bring real negotiation and closing scenarios to life. We use actors who improvise scenarios which have been specified by the group. The group is split the group into 2 sub-groups, one with the actor, the other with the trainer. Each group has a brief and has to instruct their trainer/actor on how to approach the scenario supplied. The actor and trainer perform the role play(s) as instructed by their respective teams; however during the action they can be paused for further recommendations or direction. The outcome is the responsibility of the team(s) - not the performers. Scheduled Courses This course is not one that is currently scheduled as an open course, and is only available on an in-house basis. For more information please contact us.
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This workshop is very practical in its nature and aims to give delegates an opportunity to not only learn about the key aspects of successful bid writing, but to also put them into practice. The workshop helps delegates understand what is most important to buyers and how to successfully convey they proposition to them. 1 Welcome and introductions 2 The mindset of successful bid writing The mindset needed for successful bid writing Thinking from the buyer's perspective and not your own 3 Decision making The way buyers make decisions - rational and emotional Understanding buying motives Looking at how to present ideas against those motives The idea of cognitive fluency How to pitch an idea in a way that leads to a positive decision 4 To bid or not to bid? Writing a bid is a big commitment; a clear understanding of the chances of winning is required Understanding of the implications of winning and the impact it will have on the organisation 5 Understanding your value proposition Framework to help identify unique proposition and how that fits in with the requirements of the bid 6 The tender process Understanding the process to enable a successful chance of winning the bid Different types of tender processes Evaluation of criteria and the impact on bid writing 7 Writing skills Different ways of writing and structuring bids to ensure their messages gets across well in a way that will be looked on favourably by the buyer 8 Summarise 9 Close
Develop true expertise with our DMI Specialist, Learn social strategy, research and content from industry Skills Experts. Get the latest platform knowledge and strategies including Tik-Tok, Twitch and WeChat. Course Overview Develop true expertise and learn every aspect of Social Media Marketing across 10 modules of interactive content such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Snapchat, YouTube and Instagram. Gain relevant and deep knowledge of social strategy, research and content from industry skills experts. Become a certified social media marketing specialist: Join over 200,000 members around the world, working for some of the world’s top companies using DMI to keep their careers and skills relevant. 81% of our members have been promoted upon completion of one of our courses and 53% have got a salary increase. Get certified with the DMI SPECIALIST digital marketing certification and become a professional digital marketer. Get world class, specialist knowledge and insight: Develop true expertise with our DMI Specialist, Learn social strategy, research and content from industry Skills Experts. Get the latest platform knowledge and strategies including Tik-Tok, Twitch and WeChat. With 10 modules focused on every aspect of social media marketing, DMI Specialist is the most comprehensive Social Media Course available anywhere. Program learning outcomes and content: What Will I Learn? Get the know-how, experience and the insights to be able to work and speak with authority in this face-paced industry. In short, you’ll be a skilled digital marketer, capable of building digital marketing strategies from scratch. We’ve added 8 new soft skill lessons to give you the most industry ready certification available, anywhere. Who is this for? The DMI Specialist Social is for individuals who are responsible for social media marketing campaigns. This includes: • Digital marketing generalists • Marketing Specialists • Marketing Managers • Content creators • Social media consultants • Individuals pursuing profession in social media marketing. • Anyone who wants a career change Course Content: Social Research: Just who are your audience? What do they do, think, feel, eat, love, hate and ‘like’? And what do they think about you? Knowledge is power. And both knowledge and power are fascinating. This module gives you the research techniques to know your audience, and cultural and industry trends. Every day the very people you want to reach throw up gigantic amounts of data. Without the right tools and thinking, it’s a critical mass of meaningless banality. With the right tools and thinking, you have insight deep into hearts and souls. Delve into these tools and put them to use, including the new Google Analytics 4 platform. Social Content: Facebook kittens. Twitter debates. Instagram filters. People can’t get enough content on social media – so better content means better opportunities. So, what does your audience want to see, like and share? With streamlined planning, clever strategy and targeted scheduling, putting the right content in front of the right people is no longer a shot in the dark! Now, you can create amazing content formats that capture the attention of audiences across all social platforms. You can strategize and plan using cutting-edge tools that make your channels stand out from all the others. This module covers the various content formats across platforms, the power and practice of scheduling content and how you can bring it all together with super strategies. Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest: Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest are powerhouses of the social media world. They provide you and your brand with the chance to interact with your customers across the globe at scale. But, each of them has unique features, analytics, and quirks. The module gives you a deep understanding of how these platforms work, how to make your brand stand out in these different spaces, and why you need a spread of messaging across each to succeed. • Build an active, engaged and captive community across each channel. • Create compelling and clever ads that target your audience at the right time. • Use analytics to understand what your audience is doing. Then tweak your content to resonate in all the right ways. • Master the key features of each channel to advertise, strategize and optimize. • Manage each platform so you get the best reach and results. • Reach billions of social loving people every day! Twitter: Twitter marches to its own drum in the social media world – less post and wait, more what’s happening right now. It’s a platform that allows your audience to see, report and comment on world events in almost real-time. It’s also a place where the audience is young, wealthy and educated. Twitter literally challenges you to be ‘more clever’, and this module shows you how. • What a successful Twitter account looks and acts like. • How to use Twitter Ads Manager to advertise effectively. • The right Twitter Ad format for your campaign. • Using Twitter Analytics to react and connect better. • How to create more Tweet-friendly content – snappy, shareable and short. • When to post for maximum impact and engagement. LinkedIn: This module will introduce you to the platform and show you how to use features such as Company pages and Showcase pages, to create a stellar presence for your company – and gain a deep understanding of what that means on LinkedIn. You will understand the unique advertising features and content formats on offer such as Text ads, Sponsored ads, Sponsored InMails, Display ads, and the aptly named Dynamic ads. See what best practice means on this platform, strategize like a CEO and measure the effectiveness of your campaigns. Linkedin can be a tricky platform to master as the tone is hard to crack. But do Linkedin well and your competitors will be scrambling to copy you! You’ve got this – because we do. YouTube & Social Video: YouTube because you have eyes to see. And a picture speaks a thousand words – and this being social, should inspire a few thousand too. Social video is one of the most awesome tools in your new bag of digital tricks. And video is no longer the preserve of guys with film study degrees. This superpower is now yours, and here we give you all the tech and thought basics to make it happen, including how to set up and manage a YouTube channel and create strategies that don’t treat creativity like a buzzword. Learn how video sits within the rest of your mix across platforms, build your online audience and use advertising and analytics for visual campaigns that mesmerise. • Set up and manage a dynamic YouTube channel. • Get creative with social video strategies that engage and convert. • Learn how video sits within the rest of your social media mix. • Build and develop your online audience in a way that benefits your brand. • Use advertising and analytics to deliver mesmerizing visual. Social Apps: If you’re looking to create a buzz online, then social apps are the place to be. Think fun, engaging, and ‘out of the box’ as that’s what these platforms are made for and audiences flock to them (particularly a young demographic). Discover how to use TikTok, Snapchat, WeChat, WhatsApp, and Twitch to tune into your audience effectively. Take a dive into features and understand how to manage content to make the most of everything you post. You’ll also understand how to advertise on the apps that suit your brand. Plus, take inspiration from the best by seeing what campaigns worked and why, so you can TikTok your way to social success. Social Commerce and Affiliate Marketing: With so many eyes on social media, it pays (literally) to know how to market and sell your products online. Social commerce happens when an astute marketer combines the best of social media with the best of e-commerce. You’ll explore the ins and outs of social commerce along with how to create a successful online shop. The latest tactics and tools will be covered so you can make social buying seamless from the first click to the last. You’ll also explore how to optimize paid commerce activity – including cart abandonment – to get the best results. Looking for a way to earn extra money while you grow? Use your social media to tap into affiliate marketing – a great way to earn commission by promoting another company’s products or brand you admire. When it comes to influencing, social media allows you to think BIG. Tap into the world of social influencers by connecting and collaborating with people that think like you. Or reach out to your influencer crush and shine a light on your brand by getting into their social feed. Social Customer Service: One of the best dynamics of social media is how it manages to be collective – the thoughts of billions – yet also personal (it’s about what I ‘like’). This leaves scope for important personal interaction – meaning social customer service is an opportunity for your brand to stand out. This module examines the customer experience. It looks at how to break your audience down into buyer personas so you know them better – and so serve them better. It shows you which platforms do service best and how. Need a social customer service strategy? – no problem. Want to understand how to manage social customer service effectively? – that’s easy. Not sure how to measure and analyze customer service performance? – well, you will now! This module focuses on your customer’s happiness so you can build a contented online community. An audience that feels connected to your brand, so they’ll tell everyone else how great it really is. Social Strategy: So, you have the skills, tools, followers, know-how, tech, smarts and big ideas. Now learn to tie it all together with cutting-edge social strategies practiced by the world’s leading brands. And work out how your social offering sits with – or carries – the rest of your marketing mix. Here we look at planning a dynamic social media strategy that works for you. We dive into setting objectives and social KPIs so you know what you want and can track how you’re getting there. Social media and content production budgets are also explored so you put your money in the places that work, rather than those that don’t. Turn your social media dream into a reality by crafting a social strategy that lets you and your brand sparkle. DURATION 8-10 Weeks WHATS INCLUDED Course Material Case Study Experienced Lecturer Refreshments Certificate
It's a fact of life that costs generally increase and as a result prices must go up too. Implementing an increase without losing customers is challenging. Talking about a price increase with customers never makes for an easy conversation. Your customers will generally decide whether to accept the increase based upon value, as well as the hassle cost of switching and going elsewhere. Even the most experienced salesperson who has implemented price increases before will be fighting back the nerves when faced with the task of 'selling' the increase. In this flexible programme, we will support your internal preparations at whichever stage you and your colleagues are at. From making the decision to increase prices, right through to those on the frontline already dealing with any push-back. This programme will help participants: Understand the business case for increasing prices Take steps to research the market Consider their customers' motivations Use the six principles of influence Identify and adapt for different personality styles Assess their level of trust with customers Build rapport rapidly with their customers and prospects 1 Raising prices - keys to success Understanding the business case Researching the market Assessing the value of your offering 2 Understanding your customer base Assessing your key accounts What is your 'target' customer range? Creating consistency in pricing approach 3 Planning the increase Timing your implementation Communication strategy Elements of a good price increase letter 4 Developing influencing skills The Trust Equation The six principles of influence Discovering your customer's buying decisions 5 Emotional intelligence and price increases The part emotion plays Developing strategies for keeping calm Handling your customer's responses 6 Understanding different customer styles Discover your own style Recognising behaviour traits in others Adapting your approach to their style 7 Preparing for customer contact Preparing for specific customers Anticipating their response Dealing with challenging customers 8 Following through Maintaining a consistent approach Resisting requests for discounts Confirming the increase in writing
Do you hear yourself saying the same thing over and over again? Do you want to bring some new skills to your role? If you have been in a sales role for some time it is easy to fall into a comfortable pattern. This workshop will help you incorporate advanced techniques drawn from NLP, behavioural science and social psychology into your existing skills. This course will help you: Use the consultative sales process to achieve more cross-sales Employ advanced rapport-building skills Assess the buying preferences of a customer Articulate the link between customer goals and needs Identify your customer's needs and wants Use advanced questioning techniques to gather information Resist the temptation to tell when it would be better to ask Identify communication preferences Given various scenarios, present a product to the explicit need of a customer Appreciate the impact of the language used during this stage of the sale and decide what language is appropriate with a variety of customers Handle objections positively Close the sale or gain commitment to further action 1 Introduction Aims and objectives of the training Personal introductions and objectives Self-assessment of existing sales skills Overview of content 2 Understanding yourself and your customers Personal communication style and what this means in a sales situation Wants versus needs What motivates people to buy Using social media tools such as LinkedIn Managing your portfolio to maximise sales Preparing to sell 3 The sales process Overview of the consultative sales process Review personal strengths and weaknesses as a salesperson Habits of top-performing sales people Common pitfalls Articulate sales goals 4 Building rapport 11 decisions that customers make in the first 9 seconds Spotting buyer communication preferences Building rapport with a wide variety of customers Dealing with emotions Keeping control 5 Questioning and listening Assumptions and how they trip us up Structured questioning Looking for cross-sales Honing your listening skills Identifying buyers' motivation Using summaries to move the customer forward 6 Presenting products and services to customers Choosing the right time to present Using features, advantages and benefits Tailoring your presentation of products and services to match buyer preferences and motivations 7 Gaining commitment When to close Dealing with difficult customers 5 things to avoid when handling a customer objection 8 Managing your business The link between service and sales Using customer surveys Winning back lost business 9 Putting it all together Skills practice Personal learning summary and action plans
In today's fast-moving competitive environment, sales are often made or lost on the strength of a telephone conversation or a brief email. This means that not only is customer service everyone's responsibility - so is sales. Customer service staff are failing the customer if they don't think about sales. And sales staff are failing customers if they don't think about service. And anyone failing a customer is failing both themselves and their employer. Too often, customer service staff feel neither capable nor empowered to recognise or capitalise upon a sales opportunity. Too often, sales people pursue the short-term opportunity at the expense of the bigger picture. The good news is - it doesn't have to be this way! Sales and customer service skills can be acquired, developed and polished just like any other skill. This tried-and-tested programme shows you how to do it. As a result of this course, participants will be able to: Take control of a customer conversation, with confidence Refresh and polish their customer service and sales performance Recognise and develop a sales opportunity Engage the customer and build rapport Identify a customer's needs Match the customer's needs to the organisation's products or services Handle objections confidently Ask for the order At the end of the workshop each participant will have developed their own action plan for developing and using their skills in the workplace. 1 Introduction Course overview, objectives and introductions 2 Serving or selling? Feelings and attitudes - How we can affect the outcome by our feelings and behaviour What is selling? - Selling is helping people to buy, identifying the opportunities that exist within the conversation to develop the customer's interest in our products or services 3 Developing the right skills Communication- The impact of body language, voice tone and words- How to make the best impression on the customer and create a 'buying environment' Rapport-building- What makes a good working relationship?- What do customers look for when they call us?- How can we match their expectations in terms of our own interpersonal skills? Relating to different types of people by identifying and matching their communication style on the telephone 4 Making it easy for the customer Starting it right- Opening the conversation positively- Building rapport- How to develop interest in our products or services Gaining and clarifying information- Questioning skills and questioning style- What do we need to know from the customer?- How can we use that information in the conversation? Active listening- The most under-rated skill of all- Picking up on the 'Golden Moments' when a customer shows they may be interested Presenting information confidently- Knowing the benefits of our products or services- How to tell the customer what they need to know in order to enable them to buy Closing on a positive note- When and how to ask for commitment Dealing with the customer's objections and concerns in a positive manner 5 Course summary and action plans Review of main learning points Presentation of personal action plans
“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” – George Eastman" - Photography For Parents - Shooting With Flash Next course starts on Monday 12th Feb 2024 Scared of Flash? Never got good results from it? Not sure how it works with your camera? Thinking it’s bound to be complicated and just for studio work? This is the course for you! We show you how to work your flash and your camera – on and off camera! - to get great, natural looking results. In this course you'll discover how to use flash not just to supplement light in dim spaces, but to use it creatively, to help you create images you wouldn't be able to capture with just natural light. KEY COURSE INFO: Course type: Instructor-led Course duration: 4 weeks Course format: Online course with interactive live webinar classes, feedback on your learning and support group WHAT YOU LEARN: You will learn how to make your flash work with your camera and how to control it so that it gives you beautiful, natural looking light You will learn to work with the flash off camera - giving you the freedom to position your light wherever it will most suit your subject rather than relying on what you have with natural or indoor light You will learn to play with flash to capture a variety of creative outcomes and apply it to lots of shooting situations - from learning to fake pretty window light to freezing motion with Flash understanding flash equipment learning to shoot with on-camera flash earning to shoot with off-camera flash learning to bounce the light for natural looking results using flash as a sole or supplementary light source freezing movement with flash where the shutter speed wont allow it THIS IS THE COURSE FOR YOU IF : You find yourself struggling with light especially in the darker autumn / winter months, and there never seems to be enough ISO or aperture to get you what you want You can already use your camera in manual and want to add mastery of detachable flash to your skillset - so you can never worry about insufficient or poor light wherever you are, or whatever unknown space you go into You want to be able to make flash images look natural rather than sporting that famous 'deer in the headlights look. A good flash image never 'looks' like a flash image You want to learn how to capture creative images using a flash - such as freezing motion, creating dramatic shadows, or adding a splash of light to specific areas of the frame. You want to add this versatile skill to your toolbox so you can adapt it to different shooting scenarios. ESPECIALLY if you're considering taking up photography professionally or semi professionally, this is an immensely useful skill to have. Next Shooting with Flash course starts on 12 Feb 2024 4 core course modules Support Facebook group Weekly live webinar Weekly practice assignment Feedback on your images Why shoot with flash in the first place? “Don’t use Flash – it will wash out your child”“Flash will make your photos look horrible”‘You can’t control flash – no control over what your photos will look like” You may have heard those statements, maybe even uttered them yourself. And to a degree – they can be true – but only because, if you don’t know how to control and work any tool, it’s likely to give you terrible outcomes – remember how much poorer your photos were when you first started with your camera on full auto? Here is how I see Flash, and what this course is about: Flash lets me bring light where there would normally be not enough light available to take a well exposed photo – and let me tell you – in glorious British weather, that’s more often that I would like! Flash lets me shape the light to suit my needs – I can make it moody or bright, I can even make it look like natural light ( yes really) Flash lets me neutralise ugly light and make it look good ( anybody else cursed with ugly spotlight lights in their home? no? just me? ) Flash lets me be in control, especially in unknown venues and locations, spaces where I won’t get a chance at that second shot. Flash helps me fill in shadows when shooting in very bright light – the goal is not to stop using natural light, but to help create a balanced image where natual light alone can't cut it COURSE PREREQUISITES YOUR SKILLS: We recommend that you are comfortable in shooting in full manual mode. It's possible to use flash in priority modes of course, but you don't have full control of its strength and level. YOUR EQUIPMENT: You will need to have a detachable flash for your camera make. This could be the same brand as your camera or a compatible third party flash manufacturer. You will also need a way of triggering your flash OFF camera - in some cases, you may be able to do this directly from camera or via an additional remote trigger / controller. Click here to see our Flash buying guide below Shooting with FLASH Book your space now: COURSE STARTS : 12th Feb 2024 ( 4 weeks)COURSE COST : £179 ( payment plans available )What’s included: 4 weekly modules with step by step tutorials weekly live class online class ( also recorded) - on Tuesday evenings feedback and advice on your photos private support group PDF workbook Join our next group to learn how to never have to deal with insufficient light and discover a whole new area of photography! INSIDE THE MODULES - aka WHAT DO YOU LEARN? Module 1: Getting Started with Flash In this module we introduce you to the principles of making your flash work with your camera. We show you how the two work together in layering exposures, how you can control both the flash and natural light side and how to achieve predictable outcomes from your flash. This is the biggest learning curve because the way you work your camera with flash is very different to how you do this with just natural light and understanding the control side of things will let you get creative afterwards. Major Takeaways: At the end of the module you will have gained an understanding of how to work your flash ON your camera. With that, you will have learned how to balance your key light and your fill light, how to combine flash exposure with a natural light exposure, how to supplement or even replace light with flash light. You will also make first steps into bouncing the light to give it a more natural appearance. Module 2: Taking your flash OFF camera In this module we teach you how to make your flash work when detached from your camera. We look at different techniques and methods or shooting off camera as well as any additional equipment you may need for this. We teach you how to use that off camera flash for a number of practical and creative examples Major Takeaways: You will be able to use the flash off camera - whatever your preferred off camera methos. We will explore using off camera flash as the key light - creating low key and high key images, as fill light and as a supplementary light to provide additional dimension to the images. Module 3: Making flash look natural In this module we learn to recognise how you can adjust the very quality of your flash to create natural looking images. We learn how to bend - or bounce the light - on and off camera, to create the kind of images that noone would ever suspect of being taken with flash. We also introduce you to a number of light modifiers and show you what you can expect from them as well as what might work in the way you take the photos. Major Takeaways: Learn how to modify your flash to achieve soft or hard light look. Discover how to bounce your flash and where from and how the angle of those flash bounces will give your subject very different looks. Learn about light fall-off and how to apply this principle to achieve more or less contrast filled images when using flash/ Module 4:Flash and motion In this module we show you how to use flash when trying to freeze your subject - whether it is your child bouncing on the soufe in dim Novemeber light or an inanimate object making a splash. We also introduce you to a few way you can play with flash and your shutter speed to achieve fun and creative outcomes. Major Takeaways: You will learn how to freeze movement with flash - even on very slow shutter speeds or in very poor light. You will learn how shutter and flash work together and how you can achieve great creative outcomes such as high speed photography or freezing rain. Next course starts on 12 Feb 2024
The Sales Accelerator programme is a fresh approach to improving business development productivity. It focuses on identifying and using a series of business productivity metrics in order to build a clear action plan for improving sales results - typically within 90 days. The metrics are grouped under three headings: The basic principle is that a small improvement in each area can lead to a significant increase in sales results and productivity. And the object of the programme is to show how best to achieve that. The programme therefore looks at each of these three areas in turn, spending a day on each. Suitable for any and all businesses and all levels of experience and expertise, this is a remarkably practical and hands-on programme. During the workshop, participants discuss, review and apply many proven sales and marketing techniques and personal selling ideas. The goal is to generate and commit to changes and actions that can lead to a 10-30% increase in the next three to six months. There's also a consultancy option, rather than the workshop-based programme. See below for details. Day one - Activity Key objective This first module introduces the Sales Accelerator model. The goal here is to show participants how to increase their pro-active activity levels by around 10%. It covers all aspects of creating new business opportunities, from existing customers and non-customers alike, and is linked to personal activity improvement goals. Main elements Improve the productivity, accuracy and effectiveness of your business approach by using new and unique models and techniques. Different methods of creating and generating new business opportunities in the short, medium and long term. This includes sourcing new business, up-selling, cross-selling, warm calling and gaining referrals. Using organised persistence to track and build new customer revenue. Managing your sales time effectively. Key learning points Sales productivity - understand the dynamics of increasing the combination of activity levels, deal value and conversion rate of proposals/quotations to orders and implement an improvement plan. Sales goal setting: setting business development objectives for quantity and quality - plus tips and tricks of top performers. Maintain a peak activity level, on a consistent basis using 'organised persistence' and structured business development tracking methodology. How to prioritise opportunities and manage your time when sourcing new business. Identify potential new customers - and particularly the decision-makers and influencers - with greater accuracy. Make outbound business or appointment calls with improved confidence, control and results. Day two - Value Key objective To be able to better anticipate, identify, create, and develop business opportunities using a customer / client-focused communication-based business model and consultative skills. Main elements How to develop sales more effectively from new and existing customers; and managing the first appointment with a new customer. Use structured and assertive drawing-out skills to identify, develop and formalise business opportunities and to gain commitment. How to better position your company and your products and services against your main competitors. Create and deliver persuasive business messages based on specific need areas, criteria and value. Key learning points Advanced consultative selling - use a variety of structured and advanced questioning techniques to confidently and efficiently uncover opportunities, need areas and business criteria - confidently and efficiently. Involve the customer/client at all times, and to a far greater degree, and keep better control of business development process. Value message - differentiate your solutions clearly and accurately with customer/client-matched value statements. Presenting the right USPs, features and benefits and making them relevant and real to the customer. Qualification and reading buying signals. Day three (held around four weeks after the first module) - Conversion Key objective This module looks at how to improve the final qualification, progression and conversion of opportunities in your sales pipeline. Also includes price negotiation, overcoming objections and obstacles to gaining agreement. The module begins with a learning review, sharing participants' experiences over the last four weeks in applying the new techniques and skills acquired during the first two modules. This is an opportunity to revisit particularly challenging areas as well as to share and celebrate successes. Main elements Structuring and preparing for negotiating a deal and knowing when and how to move into the 'end-game' mode. Anticipate and answer customer objections and questions more confidently. Build more credibility and proof into your business process to reduce 'buyer's remorse' and speed-up decision-making. Being more assertive and developing better instincts and strategic thinking in progressing quotations and proposals. Key learning points Smart ways to position price, emphasise value and be a strong player without being the cheapest. Becoming more assertive in closing deals, and the importance of organised follow-up on the telephone. Qualify pipeline opportunities with more accuracy, using a proven check-list. Use an 'option generator' to simplify complex proposals, increase business value and close business faster. Writing more effective sales proposal documents and quotations. How best to draw-out, understand, isolate and answer customer objections, negotiate points and concerns. Practical methods of asking for agreement and closing a sale