Universal Funnel Law #3 Every business must have sales. A sales plan along with a sale model or process works to convert prospects into actual sales.

Leo Burnett, a pioneer American in advertising, said Plan the sale when you plan the ad. His comments reinforce that your sales plan must follow your marketing plan. Universal Funnel Law #3 follows these wise words.(Read the #2 Universal Funnel Law at http://ezinearticles.com/?id=89742

Sales plans need to start at the top with who is responsible for pricing and profitability. Again, the importance of a strategic business plan once again is evident. Additional analysis may include some of the following questions:

What specific sales strategies will be available?

How will the sales efforts be supported?

What customer services will be available?

How are our sales goals set mutually within the company?

What communication strategies will ensure a quick response between the sales forces, customer service and the customers?

Are our sale staff, customer service staff and support staff trained and developed to implement any and all sales strategies?

Also, a good sales plan contains sales directed business objectives. These objectives center around the high performance of the Sales Department and should be reviewed quarterly.

During my 25 plus years in sales and management, one aspect within many sales plans that is ignored is referrals from existing customers. Research suggests that up to 80% of all new sales are from referrals. Hence, sales plans must go beyond satisfied customers to loyal customers.

An effective sales plan is another way to double your business because you are actually working smarter not harder to turn your prospects into loyal customers.

Copyright 2005(c) Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S.

Leanne Hoagland-Smith

Good Day. Thanks for visiting. I hope that you have enjoyed my articles. In 1999, I founded ADVANCED SYSTEMS because I saw that performance could and should be doubled in warp time. Individuals, small and large businesses could not afford expensive solutions that may or may not deliver improved results in 12 months.

From my corporate, small business and education experiences, I recognized the individuals must have opportunities for connecting their passion to their purpose to secure the desired performance results, but many lacked the necessary skills, strategies and tools.

With over 20 years in sales management and 10 years in education, I understand how to unite productivity with profitability by developing a proactive working culture. My previous experiences resulted in cost savings through one of the first implementations of a computer software in a wholesaler distributor to the creation of a vendor performance assessment.

Since facilitating over 500 sessions, developing and editing over 25 training programs and writing numerous articles focusing on performance improvement, I bring a results focused approach to my clients. Also, I am proud to be one of the first five nationally certified facilitators of America?s Rising Stars (a Student Leadership developmental curriculum).

My passion is to help others connect their passion to their purpose to double performance. As The small business coach in Chicago, my clients have easily doubled their performance. Since our greatest resource is our young people, I am now working with large urban schools to generate the same results.

Education Background

• Graduated with honors from Purdue University with a B.A. in Education
• Earned M.S. from Purdue University in Instructional Design and Curriculum
• Published in the national trade journal, The Supply House Times, and numerous national newsletters
• Developed seminars and training on diversity, communication, leadership, sales, effective trade show behavior, networking, knowledge management, goal setting and improved educational outcomes
• Co-authored M.A.G.I.C.A.L. Potential: 7 Capicities for Living an Amazing Life Beyond Purpose to Achievement, to be available in 2006
• Working a another book focusing on performance in public education
• Speaker in a national bureau - Resource Associates Corporation

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