Remember that blog post that popped-up in the Sales in the Startup feed a few weeks back, entitled Volunselling: Pine Illustrations? Me neither, and I wrote it! Nonetheless, both of our memories aside, here is an update on the sales lesson I learned via Startup Weekend in Pittsburgh and my application thereof.
Lesson: Volunteering your skill-set is selling your skill-set.
If you can’t quite recall how I learned this lesson, take heart! I volunteered my skills in botanical illustration for the development of a plant identification app over Startup Weekend (hence the illustration of Echinacea – a flower of the daisy family – on the left). As a result, I got a side-job as an illustrator for the company of one of the women I worked with. But enough with the old; in with the new!
New Lesson: “Volunselling” really works!
Since Startup Weekend, I have had five different people approach me regarding my illustrating abilities, and SOLD five different illustrations to the woman I mentioned earlier. Did you see that word I put in all caps?!? SOLD. I am becoming more and more convinced of the lesson I’ve dubbed “volunselling.” Additionally, being engaged in a legitimate client relationship, I have had more and more opportunities to apply the lessons in sales we’ve taken from class.
Application: Follow-up.
Follow-up is something we’ve mentioned a few times in class. Sandler Rule #6 – the rule we read most lately – briefly mentions how “get the order and get out” is not an effective sales tactic. If my dad taught me anything (outside of the gospel), he would want me to remember the importance of follow-through, or, “finish the job.” By all of these terms I mean one thing: If we want our client relationships to be long-term and multiply, we must treat them as what they are – relationships – and relationships require faithfulness. I have kept in regular, intentional contact with my first client. With her first purchase, I sent her a thank-you note. I am planning on checking-in sometime this next week to see whether or not she was able to use the illustrations in the way that she intended. All I have left is sit back and watch to see if this lesson in action produces equally confirming results as “volunselling” did.
BoweryJE22
Follow-up is a great process that is so simple. Doing that does great things for a customer-seller relationship. Even a follow-up could be a great opportunity to SELL again. Well done.
That sounds like a really awesome and unique experience you had over Startup Weekend. Furthermore, the experience you’ve gotten out of it with the “volunselling” is an amazing tribute to what action can achieve for us. I sell wooden pens, that I craft by hand, via a website and also to individuals on campus. Yet I am not very actively pursuing any of these sales. I’m sure if I were to start actively pursuing leads I would sell a lot more of these pens. Of course I make all kinds of excuses as to why I don’t do this, “i’m busy with school…, etc.” Some of the key to your success is definitely your follow through and I need to be doing this more actively. You are a very talented illustrator, by the way. You should create a website with your illustrations. If you would like to check out some of the pens I make you can go here http://www.ruggedsophistication.com/product-category/pens/
Austin: Yes, if you’ve never been to a Startup Weekend before, I highly suggest you go! It was life-changing. I remember that you sell wooden pens, for I think you sold some to someone in Social Entrepreneurship Fall 2013. They’re super cool! I really like the name – Rugged Sophistication – by the way.