Colleen Francis Named to Canadian Speaking Hall of Fame

Founder and President of Engage Selling Solutions, Inc. is Youngest Inductee, Recognized for On-Going Contributions to the Speaking Profession

TORONTO, Nov 30, 2011 – In a ceremony yesterday at the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) National Convention, Colleen Francis was named as the 2011 inductee to the Canadian Speaking Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes speakers both for their excellence as professional speakers and for their contribution to the profession.

Colleen Francis becomes the 25th and the youngest inductee into the Hall of Fame which was established to recognize outstanding excellence as a professional speaker and dedication to the professional speaking industry by educating others to excel. Members are selected by their peers in recognition of their contributions.

In her 10 years as the Founder and President of Engage Selling Solutions (www.EngageSelling.com), Colleen has established an international reputation as a speaker, trainer and consultant, helping organizations transform their business with sales strategies that get results – in any economy. Sales and Marketing Magazine named Engage Selling “one of the top 5 sales training organizations in the market today”.

“I couldn’t be more proud to be recognized by my fellow professionals. Considering the talent and impact the association has on individuals and businesses everywhere, it is truly an honour.” said Colleen who addressed the convention during the induction ceremony.

Following her successful career as a sales executive, Colleen founded Engage Selling and joined the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. Over the next decade, Colleen was an enthusiastic member, serving in leadership position including as National Convention Chair and the Association’s President in 2008.

Kit Grant of the Canadian Speaking Hall of Fame noted: “The Hall of Fame serves to provide recognition to those professional speakers who have demonstrated excellence in speaking and their impact to clients and the speaking profession. Inductees provide leadership for CAPS members on building their own businesses and serving their clients and community.”

About Engage Selling Solutions Ltd.
Engage Selling Solutions Ltd is a leading provider of sales training, coaching, events and other business growth products. Colleen Francis is Founder and President of the 10-year-old company that Sales and Marketing Magazine has called “one of the top 5 most effective sales training organizations in the market today.” Engage is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Engage Selling Solutions with its U.S. office in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit: http://www.EngageSelling.com.

Contact: Chris Voice
Email: chris@engageselling.com
Office: (613) 730-7700 x113

For meaningful, memorable sales, connect emotionally with people. A 2003 Gallup study found that “satisfying customers without creating an emotional connection with them has no real value. None at all.” Yet when Gallup looked at customers who credited emotional connection as part of their loyalty to a store, they found those customers visited that business more often and spent more.

Sharpen your listening skills, there’s no better way to understand the needs of your customers than by listening carefully to what they have to say and then finding solutions to fit those opinions and feelings. Tell stories, too. This humanizes your work and reminds others how you share much in common.

You can never say thank you enough. Take every opportunity to express gratitude through cards, modest gifts, or treating a customer to lunch. Be thoughtful. It goes a long way when your actions show that you think of someone as a person rather than just a customer.

Dedicated to increasing your sales,

Colleen

I’m inspired this week by American Thanksgiving: we all have a lot to be thankful for.

I truly believe that sales is the very best of professions. We call the shots, create our own outcomes, are solely responsible for our income level and have ultimate control to structure our lives. Apart from being a skill we can learn, being successful in sales is a true blessing.

Today, please take out a sheet of paper or a journal and list all that you are grateful for in your life and in your business, from the smallest to the most monumental. (Do this now, please.) Spend some time reflecting on your list. Remember, what you are grateful for, you attract in greater abundance.

One of the things I’m thankful for is the amazing Engage community. Last week, a group of us met for the three day Sales Accelerator Summit in Miami. I was truly inspired by the group – their insights and enthusiasm! As I’ve said many times: it’s not just about learning new strategies from me, it’s discovering new lessons from each other.

The team last week busily prepared their goals and sales plan for 2012. If you weren’t there, now is precisely the time to start thinking about what you’d LIKE to be thankful for NEXT year and set that as your intention for 2012.

Imagine being surrounded by people who champion you in reaching your goals. As you know by now, your mindset and what you believe is possible for yourself is 50% of the game (compelling and authentic sales being the other 50%). Make it a great goal!

If it’s a long holiday weekend for you, please travel safe and enjoy this down time.

Dedicated to increasing your sales,

P. S. If you weren’t able to join us at the 2012 Sales Accelerator Summit, you can still get exclusive access to the sales strategies and tactics we reviewed in Miami. Check out the Sales Mastery Home Action Kit. This 12-DVD plus workbook provides three days worth of my sales strategies and exercises for you to apply to your own business! Take advantage of our special offer till the end of November.

Referrals are powerful sales tools, but if you don’t ask for one the right way, you risk creating a stumbling block of your own making. Let’s look at common mistakes in this area and how you can avoid them.

Asking too soon. If the ink isn’t even dry on your deal, odds are good your customer hasn’t tried your product/service long enough to form an informed opinion. Give them time and earn their trust.

Persistence overdone. There’s a fine line between persistence and stalking. Contacting someone once every 30 days is okay, but longer than that you’ll lose the top-of-mind position you’ve just gained.

Forgetting the long game. Obtaining a referral is a short-term goal. Maintaining great rapport is the longer-term goal—that’s where success really takes root. Never miss the opportunity to thank someone for a referral or you risk damaging that relationship. A thank-you card or a small gift is always a smart gesture.

Being nonspecific. Ask your customer if they know someone who could benefit from your products or services. Be specific in your request.

Dedicated to making this our best year yet!

Colleen

In business today, letter writing has fallen out of fashion, but not because it’s ineffective. It’s because it requires a lot of work. Join the ranks of those who still put pen to paper and you’ll be in good company. Most of the top-ranked sales professionals I know today are prolific letter-writers. Here are four reasons why.

Letters are deeply personal. They possess a sincerity that just can’t be matched by email. Putting your message on nice stationary, signed by–hand sends an important message to the reader: “you matter to me.”

You stand out. Differentiate yourself by doing what most don’t do.

Letters get read. A personalized letter in a sealed envelope has an irresistible “open-me now” quality. Even the most compelling email message or phone call can’t match that kind of attention-grabbing power.

They also get results. Harness the personalized appeal of a letter and you can establish and build a personal rapport between you and your reader.

Dedicated to making this your best year yet!

Colleen