by MIMO Solutions | eCommerce, Gallery, Web Design
This website was super complicated and one of the most expensive I have ever built, but it has paid off in spades for the owners of the Rusty Spur. The design itself is a little too busy for my tastes, but they loved it and it definitely speaks to the stores theme and audience. It is the largest web store I have ever built and they even sold some boots to Eric Clapton and shipped them to England… How cool is that?
by MIMO Solutions | Gallery, Web Design
“If you can dream it… We can build it,” their slogan probably works for me too. If you have enough time, money and resources, I can probably make any site you want, no matter how innovative or complex. I love this website design for the opposite reason though. It is simple and effective. You get that these guys are veterans of the military and construction within a few seconds, and it all looks very clean and tasteful.
by MIMO Solutions | Gallery, Web Design
This was another TV pilot which turned into a really cool website. I love that we featured all 8 main characters with their own video and social media accounts. Plus, the design is really cool. You definitely see the gritty, graffiti look of New York City, and get the vibe of the show and characters very quickly.
by MIMO Solutions | Gallery, Web Design
The site is really not that fancy, but it works for me. I love that all the search engine optimization works perfectly with layout and the links and headers really highlight the content and tell the search engines what it important. It may just be the blue, but this design continues to be one of my favorites.
by MIMO Solutions | Gallery, Web Design
I donated this site for the non-profit group while I was at Ad Trends Advertising, and I really like the way it turned out. They were having trouble organizing and updating their content, using mostly volunteers, so we made a very simple site with a blog so they can keep the community up to date with their causes.
by MIMO Solutions | Gallery, Web Design
I am very proud of this site. It is a beautiful example of a simple Content Management System used to perfection. I love that this site looks exactly like the audience it was designed for, Kansas City Entrepreneurs.
by MIMO Solutions | eCommerce, Gallery, Web Design
Chucky was one of my favorite sites to build! I love that little guy. I actually did this site by hand because it was a lot more complicated than it looks. We made Chucky talk, it has a web store, blog, and audit form and they all had to work together on the same site.
by MIMO Solutions | Gallery, Web Design
Probably the coolest site I have built, and it was very affordable and very quick. We went from buying the domain name to completion in less than a week to meet a hard deadline for a pitch of this pilot TV show. Cool cars, simple blog and super effective!
by MIMO Solutions | Internet Marketing, Social Networking
Check out Sales vs. Marketing and let me know what you think: http://www.fromclicktoclose.com/p/sales-vs-marketing.html
I hate it when people mix these two up, and I would love to have some feed back on how to make it more clear for everyone…
Thanks!
by MIMO Solutions | Smarketing Blog
A referral is the second strongest lead in sales. The first is an unsolicited one. – Jeffery Gitmer
Sorry Jeffery, but I politely disagree. Referrals are by far the strongest lead imaginable.
Have you ever had anyone anyone call you business and ask for something you simply don’t do. When I worked for an advertising agency, there was another business with a similar name in town that rented giant inflatables for used car lots. About once a month, we would get an “unsolicited” call for a giant gorrila, of which we sold none.
Here are Sandler Training, we have gotten calls for dog training, personal fitness training, project management or technical skills training, all of which we do not offer. “Unsolicited” call-in leads are often one of the worst ways to find a potential client. In fact, it really only beats out cold calling.
Let’s talk about referrals and “qualified” leads that actually turn into business. Who do you think is more qualified to do business with you, someone who read or heard an advertisement or someone who was reccomended by a client or business partner who knows your business well?
Chances are that people who are reccomended, referred and introduced by your best client is far more qualified and prepared to buy from you than any “unsolicited” lead. Also, “unsolicited” leads are generally price shoppers, or browsers looking to do research or compare you with the other 14 bids they have. Referrals already see extra value you bring to the table and trust you way more than a number in the phone book.
Everyone wants the magic bullet of marketing to work, and no one wants to do the hard work of building real relationships, but the fact remains that it is the only path to consistent and sustained success in sales and life.
by MIMO Solutions | communication skills, sales, social media, Social Networking
The art of sales is about communication. Those who can communicate the most effectively will be the most successful.
Those skills that help you to be a good salesperson – most sales training students have discovered that they become better managers, friends, parents and spouses as well. Listening, questioning, and helping people discover what is in their own best interests are valuable skills in life and social media.
If you like most people who never want to be considered a salesperson, and you certainly don’t want to be trained to act like one, READ THIS STORY:
I recently received the following testimonial from a student and want to share it with you. This is verbatim from a real client. Those of you who have received sales training through Sandler Training will recognize the questioning process:
“I am writing to inform you of an event that happened yesterday that speaks volumes of the curriculum that you teach. Standing in the upper level of one of my job sites I received a startling message. To begin with I am a true single father of two beautiful children whose mother abandoned them about a year ago; with that said here is what transpired.The startling message was from my children’s mother saying she was going to end her life. This message, of course, was returned by a phone call from me. She answered in tears stating that she had lost her children, lost her lover and was done with life. My initial response without forethought was, ‘[name omitted], what do you mean, tell me more, please.’ She responded saying her life was over. I then said, ‘Please tell me what you mean and how long has it been that you have been in this mindset.’She told me that ever since she had left me she had been addicted to prescription narcotics and in an abusive relationship. By this time I am in my vehicle racing to south Kansas City to her home. I asked her ‘since this realization’ what has she tried to do to get help or leave. She responded saying she had tried to stop using and tried to leave her lover many times. I told her clearly this has failed to work and she agreed. She then told me that this has cost her her family, children and life. With a lump in my throat I asked her what she was feeling coming to this realization.When I arrived at her house, I found a beaten woman who was in the process of ending her life. I pulled my wallet out and showed her a picture of my beautiful 6-year-old son and my amazing 13-year-old daughter and asked her, “Are you going to give up on them, and are you done fighting?’ She dropped what she had in her hands and allowed me to call for help. Less than 24 hours later, she was on a plane to Colorado to a treatment center for addiction and spiritual healing.The skills you teach in this program far surpass sales.You teach how to meet people where they are and to get the root of issues and pain. I thank you, I fully believe that without the skills you have instilled in me, I would not have had the clarity of getting through to her or a guideline to do so, and as a consequence, my children’s mother may have ended her life.”
No one can tell me they don’t sell. If you’ve ever applied for a job, asked someone on a date or raised teenagers, you’ve been in sales.
Sales skills are life skills. All of the attitudes, behaviors and techniques are directly applicable. It’s short-sighted to think they don’t relate to you. And those elements, when perfected, create better relationships. Isn’t that, after all, what we’re looking for?
Learn how to be successful in sales, and you learn how to be successful in life.
by MIMO Solutions | marketing, social media marketing, tips
Social networking is the #1 online activity, used by 1.2 billion people worldwide. Nearly one in 5 minutes online is spent on social networking websites, and 75% of that is on Facebook.
“Social media is like teenage sex – everyone wants to do it. When they do they’re a bit awkward and disappointed, but as they practice and it gets much better.”
– LinkedIn’s marketing director, Josh Graff.
Getting Started:
ð Sign up and complete your profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Google +, and Twitter.
ð Use the same picture on all four profiles, and same logo on company pages.
ð Make sure you include links to your company website and other profiles.
ð Follow the favorites, join popular groups, and connect with key influencers.
ð Send personalized invitations to connect to your network and suggested friends.
ð Request recommendations and favorites politely and return the favor.
Being Social:
ð Use the 80-20 rule – 80% content and 20% promotion.
ð Update your status at least 3 times per day – morning, lunch, and night.
ð Share and comment on other people’s posts at least once per day.
ð Send invitations to connect to new people at least one per day.
ð Comment or answer questions in groups 3 times per week.
ð Cross-promote your other profiles, email newsletter, and website or blog once per week.
ð Spy on your competition, research potential clients, and help referral partners.
ð Be consistent, dead profiles make people think you and your company are dead too.
Netiquette:
1. NEVER USE ALL CAPS!
2. Never us social media or email to cancel plans or send urgent messages.
3. Avoid shorthand, buzzwords, and other jargon that can confuse people.
4. Keep private stuff private and personal stuff with personal friends.
5. Respond to every message from a real person, even if it is just “Thanks.”
6. Respond on the social media site you were contact, unless asked to call or email.
7. Don’t send out or respond to invitations for games or other timewasters.
8. Be patient when waiting for a response. If someone doesn’t add you back, accept it gracefully.
9. You are judged by the company you keep, so be careful about who you add to your network.
10. The internet is forever. Make posts you can be proud of. Manage your reputation.
