If you can make the Guinness Book of World Records for sales, you must know something about how to do it! Joe Girard sold cars but his suggestions for sales success can work for just about anything. I’ve customized them here to include selling product and services and yourself too at a job interview!

Positive Attitude. Even if you have to pretend, act like everything is great. Surrounding yourself with upbeat people is also a good idea.

Organize. Make lists and keep track of everything. Know where you’ve been, where you are going and how you will get there by planning ahead. For a job interview, know all you can about the company you are applying to work for.

Work. Dig in and work, even when job searching! Even at a lunch break, find those who will help your cause.

No-Nos. Don’t be late, chew gum, smoke, tell dirty jokes, wear too much perfume or cologne, or leave your cell phone on.

Dress. Dress to impress but also to fit the occasion or position. If you’re selling to blue collar workers, don’t wear expensive clothes and too much jewelry.

Listen. Listening shows that you care. Listen more and talk less. But, if asked a direct question, be ready for a well thought out answer.

Smile. A smile is a great asset and makes others feel more comfortable around you.

Return messages. Return all calls, emails and any message just as soon as possible.

Tell the truth. Just one lie will label you a liar for life.

Don’t overcharge. Be fair and offer value. You should assume comparison shopping will be taking place.

Stand in front. Stand in front of your product. You are the service they are actually buying. In job interviews, make sure the focus is on you. Reposition yourself if there are distractions in the interviewer’s line of sight.

Lock up the sale. Ask for feedback. Ask if there are any unresolved questions. Reinforce their trust and leave on an upbeat.

Reward yourself. Treat yourself well and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.

And don’t forget to send Thank You Cards to those who interviewed you or Business Appreciation Cards to those who made a purchase!

Any other tips you’d like to add?

Source: {Joe Girard’s 13 Rules to Success}

Forbes called him the consummate salesman. Fortune Magazine praised him in their article, “The Art of Selling”. Newsweek called him “something special”. He received the title of Greatest Car Salesman by the Guinness Book of World Records. Who is this sales legend? Joe Girard is his name. Joe sold automobiles. He sold big ticket items one at a time, selling 1,425 cars in his best year. How did he do it? One of his secret weapons was greeting cards!

Joe sent out an average of 13 cards every year to each of his clients. He would send one card a month and holiday cards in December. He hired two assistants to help and remembered customers with birthday cards, anniversary cards and any celebratory occasion you can think of from Halloween to Groundhog Day.

He knew that business greeting cards inspired customer loyalty and proved that by keeping his name in front of his customers, they would be motivated to refer him to their friends as well as return when they needed another car.

Why not try it yourself and experience success just like Joe!

{source: Biztactics}

This just in from the Texas Motor Speedway…

While taking a practice run this morning in preparation for tonight’s qualifying race, CardsDirect car #411 hit the wall, taking a nasty tumble. Word from the track is that a greeting card competitor may have been responsible for the mishap which is still under investigation.

Driver, Sam Steady, was uninjured but the car is not in good shape. In fact, according to the pit crew, it cannot be repaired in time for qualifying. And so, unfortunately, CardsDirect’s Nascar run has ended before it’s even really begun!

The experience has, however, put CardsDirect out in front of the personalized greeting cards race and sparked some creative discussions opening up a new line of cards perfect for fast paced corporations interested in powering up their businesses. New card designs will include, “Rev up Sales by Sending Customer Appreciation Cards” and “Lead the Pack by Remembering Loyal Clients with Corporate Birthday Cards”. Still others include, “Drive Sales with Business Referral Cards” and the unfortunately popular, “Sorry I Passed you on the Last Lap Sympathy Cards”.

Hopefully with Thank You Cards for the pit crew and some repair and recycling, #411 will be back in the race by April Fool’s Day next year!

Isn’t it a refreshing surprise when someone sincerely thanks you for your business? We’ve all been greeted with the mandatory welcome and checked out with an emotionless thanks but how often do we truly feel appreciated when making a purchase? With things the way they are these days, customer service is one very important way you can insure repeat business and positive word of mouth, encouraging new customers to find their way to you.

Some simple training tips will help. Remind your employees that thanking a customer for their purchase is like thanking them for your job. Knowing how difficult it is to find employment in this economy, you may be tempted to add a hug to that thanks but probably best to resist that temptation. Smile, say thank you with genuine emotion and mean it!

Here is a suggestion that will certainly set you apart from the competition. Send Thank You Cards! Just this simple show of unexpected appreciation will surely encourage a return visit and positive buzz. Aside from purchasing a house or a car, Customer Appreciation Thank You Cards are rare. But with so many businesses vying for the same customers, wouldn’t a gracious show of extended customer service move your company’s positive rating up several notches?

Send classy personalized Business Appreciation Thank You Cards and your business is certain to benefit from this simple effort. Take a moment to add a hand written note and your bottom line is sure to benefit from this little bit of additional tender loving care!

February 14th can be fun with a feeling of love all around but instead of Valentine’s Day, some have labeled this particular holiday Singles Appreciation Day or Singles Recognition Day. This is the day you watch others being romanced with flowers, candy and cards while you may be between significant others or even married to someone that just isn’t into the whole celebration. Not to worry though, there are many ways to celebrate this day that everyone can look forward to!

This year the holiday falls on a Saturday which opens up even more opportunities. Rather than rushing off to work, consider a “loving” breakfast celebration. Heart shaped pancakes and chocolate dipped strawberries will be fun for others or just for you on a lazy Saturday morning. If the weather is nice, take a long walk and “love” the outdoors. Use this day to treat yourself to something special, like a bubble bath, shopping spree or long afternoon nap. Say, “I love you” to someone who wouldn’t normally expect it. Plan a get-together with others for some group fun and laughter. Send Thinking of You cards to surprise someone. Plant a rose bush.

Love doesn’t have to be romantic; it can be a simple show of appreciation for someone who has been helpful or just plain nice. On this one day of the year, use this opportunity to spread some love of your own knowing that what goes around will eventually come back around. This same time next year may change from Singles Recognition Day to the Valentine’s Day of your dreams! Enjoy the possibilities and let me know how you plan to celebrate.