I know what you’re thinking. TWO teams? The San Diego Padres and who else?!? 🙂
Well, even though baseball season is heating up here in the U.S.—and we’re eagerly anticipating the start of football—I actually wasn’t thinking about sports at all when I put this blog together.
I was thinking about you and your business—and the two core teams you need when it comes to hiring and outsourcing to help you make consistent money in your business.
And here’s a curve ball for you: Marketing is NOT one of these core teams. (What?!)
Find out the core two teams you need on this week’s blog.
I want to hear from you! What are your beliefs about hiring and how might they change after seeing this video? Leave me a comment below.
Hi Pam,
Thanks for the great video. I really appreciate the advice on sales and content especially sales. I’ve started an outdoor products business 4 years ago and have not been able to really “take off” with it even though I believe (and many have told me!) I have a great product. I have it on Amazon and sell it also on my website but sales are still slow. The future seems to be online but should I still go to the retailers? I’ve tried sales in the past and was never successful at it. Even when I meet distributors that could sell my product I can’t seam to be able to sell them the idea of selling my product. I’m not sure what to do next.
Thanks for your help,
Francois
Hey Francois, thanks so much for your comment! It can be frustrating to have a lack of results…we’ve all been thee! The biggest thing is not to let a sense of overwhelm cloud your ability to make marketing decisions. If something isn’t selling, it’s usually one of three things: (1) the offer (2) the market and/or (3) the pitch (how you’re presenting the offer and asking for the sale). My guess is it’s a combination of these 3 based on what you’re saying, however, I would start with the market – who is the exact, best ideal customer for your products and how can you get in front of them? What’s their big pain? What types of problems do your products help solve? How can you position this in your ads and strategies to drive traffic? Who are your biggest competitors and what are they doing successfully that you can model? (When you’re going to retailers you have to answer this for THEM not for your product). Start with your customer’s big pain and break it down – figure out how to sell the products to the end user first – and then you’ll be able to bring some results and clear positioning to the retailers. I hope this helps you approach some solutions. THe biggest thing is to not let yourself get caught up in the emotion of the overwhelm and remember that marketing is science. You have to keep testing hypotheses until you hit on what works.
You hit it on the nose. The follow through, the closing and thenoersonal touch. Knowing what to say and following some sort of planned script so to speak.
this great training and advice. Thank you Pam for separating out the two teams, their function, and the importance of both. We are all about building powerful teams and helping others and this really helped clearify how do better implement this process and help others be successful. You hit the nail on the head in a very clear and understandable way. Thanks again very much! Sheryl
Timely, as always! This is the exact place I am in with my business and needing to figure it out. You just made it incredibly clear what my options are… thank you! I look forward to Part 2 of the (original) topic.
Thank-you Pam. You nailed it-AGAIN! As a serial entrepreneur, with the focus always on selling as a Core Activity, starting my online business has been a HUGE lesson for me! I have wrestled for far TOO LONG with the tech and let go of the sales. The Result? Do I need to SPELL IT OUT? The interesting thing was that the first indicator for me I was on the wrong path wasn’t the lack of profit as much as the lack of JOY and FUN that the business gave me. My day became a grind of tech stuff and the day dragged and so did the project. When I FINALLY got the message that I am a people person who needed in fact was STARVED to help offer solutions and add value for and to PEOPLE-well my business has started to experience FLOW and people are seeking ME out again for solutions…and the joy and fun are back. WOO HOO! I think there are a lot of us stuck and need a REWIND. Thanks for pointing and showing us the way!
Elizabeth, I LOVE the way you phrased this…”STARVED to help offer solutions and add value for and to people!” It’s so true that a simple shift in focus can make a HUGE difference in results. You have so much experience and value to offer…I’m so happy to know it’s flowing to a point where people are seeking you out (as they should). That’s the best way to close sales – https://pamhendrickson.wpengine.com/site/wp-admin/edit-comments.php#comments-formget them to bang down your door! Hugs to you –
Found your video very interesting .It got me thinking. I am releasing a book at the end of the month that teaches people how to make extra money without getting a second job. Example!! I started my grandson at the age of 12; by the time he turned 16 he had over $15,000 in his bank account. I can teach anyone these tactics and it doesn’t require a lot of money. It is possible to start with no money. The book is titled “Up Your Income” I am working on marketing on the back end and need a research person as well as a ghost writer that can fill in some blanks as I have limited time to spend at this. Where can a person find people to outsource some of the workload to? You talked about hiring the right people which is to me the most important part of the business. You have inspired me to bring in some help. Can you refer any info on the subject? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Great question- thanks for your comment! Awesome success story with your grandson, too, fantastic to hear and what a great way to start him out ahead in life. Most important is to take a little time (doesn’t take a lot but needs to be done) to really define what you need up front. One of the biggest mistake people make when hiring writers and creatives, in particular, is to think that writing is the only skill you need. For writers, you need to look at (1) background (I want people who are SMART and I like to hire people with liberal arts or communication degrees from top level schools as I KNOW these folks can write) (2) experience (sales copy is very different from content so get someone with the experience you need – someone who’s done it and in your case also has experience researching) (3) soft skills (are they fast, efficient, committed, coachable?) and (4) get samples. Then, I usually start people with a test project to make sure they can really do it before I commit to a longer term deal. Better to go through more people up front and discover early they are not the right fit than be stuck in a business relationship that doesn’t work. Hope this gets you started!
[If it helps here’s how to get my Swipe Files book which has a whole section on hiring and sample ads – it’s only $9 to cover shipping and handling – and will give you the specifics of these positions if you find it helpful: https://pamhendrickson.wpengine.com/getting-started/register-offer-retarget.php%5D
Great clicked on your link to buy the book but can’t do it through the link. Can you e-mail me an order form? Or can I just find it on line by title? Also where and how do I advertise for the people I am looking for?
Yes, no problem – my husband, Chris, will send you an email and we’ll take care of this for you! Thanks!
I’ve made my notes and shifted my priorities: Sales as the key function of my business. Mission: Master the art of selling. 🙂 Absorbed guidance. Thanks a lot. Let’s take action and see what feedback I get!
M
So well articulated Magda! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Thank you for the wonderful reports! I am trying to download the report. I also printed what I could read.
Now for the download. I appreciate all of it. Best regards! Ann M. Preus
Hi Pam, I have a question. Delivery Team – do you define this team as everyone who come in contact with the customer face to face? Such as in a hospital settings it would be doctors and nurses… but not finance, legal, supply chain guys? In a hotel it would be reservation call center, reception, porters, etc?
Generally, support functions could be outsourced because customers don’t care if they exist and who keeps the lights on? Perhaps, 75% of employees in a hospital would be delivery team.
The point is that Delivery Team is a large team which perhaps comprises 70% of staff of any business.
The delivery-support team is very important as well – e.g. doctors and nurses cannot do their job without having medications, supplies, instruments, and equipment which is arranged for them by Supply Chain Team.
So – how really you can differentiate between delivery team and delivery-support teams?