What the Heck? (2/3)

I’ll skip the clichés. Just give me some inspiration please.

In the Learfield Sports affiliate relations world we hear and repeat too many unoriginal phrases. It comes from broadcasters, general sales managers and Universities alike. We spew the stuff right back out infecting the entire office. Symptoms sound like, “at the end of the day”…“as a good-guy”…“doing our due-diligence.” Can I be quarantined?

Likely, station sales managers and their staffs suffer in the same way. Some of the buzzwords and phrases they share just make me hungry. (McDonald’s, medium rare and citrus all at the same time).

“Sales is a numbers game”

“Value-add”

“Don’t sell the steak, sell the sizzle sizzle and steak”

“Low hanging fruit”

“It’s about relationships”

I’m thinking a new tactic, approach or way of saying it would have more clout. A creative concept, hot package, or good articulation is more likely to bring on a new partner than the repetition of clichés that mean nothing.

We’re lucky. Learfield Sports offers its sales folks cutting edge training. And cutting edge is exactly what we strive for; honing in on hot consumer trends and targeting untapped business categories. Of course, we’re holding on to the core of what works. I’ve committed myself to asking for referrals when prospects aren’t a fit. I also find Greg Bennett’s mini steps useful and even amusing.