Live Better with Willie Jolley: Regroup
Regroup
By Dee Taylor-Jolley
Tiptoeing into the rear of the conference room as the panel discussion was getting under way, made me take the first open inconspicuous seat I could find. I leaned forward to hear the introductions of panelists, taking note of their name cards.
Let’s see…Paramount Pictures Corporation Senior VP; ADP Senior Director Sales Recruitment; Time Warner Cable HR Recruiter; UPS West Region, HR Manager; W.W. Grainger, HR & Talent Acquisition; and Warner Brothers Entertainment, Inc. Director, Talent Sourcing.
All heavy hitters in the corporate hiring arena - at least to me! And here we all are - at the Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica Hotel in Santa Monica, CA, where Willie was the luncheon keynote speaker. The conference focus was to provide sage advice to sales folks, in varied industries, on how to stay relevant and network for business opportunities in the “new economy” not new anymore for its been around several years, and here to stay!
LinkedIn
The panelists all agreed: create professional visibility and market yourself on LinkedIn. According to the W.W. Granger recruiter, 95% of their initial contact with potential candidates is through LinkedIn! Wow! The panelists concurred that your online profile is the key first contact for potential new businesses relationships.
First Quarter Done
Where have I been? The first quarter is done! Tax season is almost over. What must we do better and differently to have greater profitability for the second quarter of 2013?
Review
Review our business goals for the year. Are we on target? Why or why not? What must we change, add or delete? Here’s my short list:
Expand Our Client Base
LinkedIn, LinkedIn. LinkedIn! The importance of LinkedIn was hammered away at so much that I finally realized we need to develop LinkedIn marketing strategies to add to our second quarter business development priorities!
With over two hundred million folks on LinkedIn, certainly I can find a few strategic groups we can provide meaningful fresh content to. I’m just learning how to do that. If that sounds like you, visit LinkedSelling and Linked University for great articles on how to get started.
Connect
Don’t forget to use the old fashion mail – the U. S. Postal Service. Mail former clients something that benefits them with no strings attached! The postal service is not eliminating Saturday delivery after all. So use the mail to send value added information to stay in contact with businesses who have hired you in the past.
Eliminate
Some clients are not worth the money you collect from them do to the way they treat you. Decide to let them go quietly!
Ok folks! What’s on your short list? Get started!
Dee Taylor-Jolley, President & Training Manager, Willie Jolley Worldwide
Dee Taylor-Jolley is the President of The Jolley Institute, the learning division of Willie Jolley Worldwide, which focuses on presentation skills, leadership development and customer service.
She holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum Design from The Catholic University of America.
