Need some sales inspiration? A new twist on an old sales idea you’d like to do again? A quick sales jump-start this week? We’re pulling from a post originally published in November of 2008 – the ideas still stand, and there are LOTS more. The idea is to get inspired to take action. Which one does it for you? What are you already doing that IS working for you every day to be excited about contacting potential buyers?
Remember the movie, Moonstruck, when Nicholas Cage’s character tells Cher’s character that he loves her, so she slaps him, and says, “Snap out of it!” – I love that slap – it represents to me a call to action.
What could you slap your business or even yourself for…. figuratively speaking, that is?
Here are the first 50 of a list of 101 ways to “snap out of it” and score more sales:

1. read a recommended sales book
2. bookmark a sales blog and read regularly
3. sign up for RSS feeds for sales sites, blogs, or podcasts
4. hire a prospecting coach
5. hire a presentation skills coach
6. subscribe to Selling Power or Sales & Marketing Management
7. attend a sales conference
8. attend a sales skills workshop
9. hire a sales activity coach
10. improve your time management
11. learn the basic tenets of successful selling
12. learn about your own style and traits
13. learn about others’ character traits
14. list out your selling “areas to work on”
15. set aside weekly prospecting time
16. keep track of all sales opportunities
17. update your sales opportunities daily
18. find a mentor you admire
19. review your physical image and style
20. hire an image coach
21. review your mental mountains and valleys
22. find 3 ways to make your more likable
23. read, Love is the Killer App
24. review Proficiencies for Masterful Sellers
25. read a book on creativity
26. go somewhere creative
27. block time in your calendar – weekly – for proactive selling
28. create a list of “biggest gain” to do’s
29. mentor someone else in sales
30. call 50 people or meet 50 people and hone your intro (or value proposition)
31. get feedback on your listening skills
32. make a list of 10 places to get new biz
33. work on your value proposition – it’s about others, not about you
34. re-invent yourself
35. find a new audience for your product or service
36. learn 20 new power phrases
37. analyze what you say that is negative
38. target 10 companies you want to work with
39. create a plan of action for those 10 companies
40. set an activity goal to book 20 meetings
41. think of stories that you can use to better connect with prospects
42. analyze what past customers or clients have bought from you
43. offer a new service which your market wants
44. attend a Toastmasters group or Dale Carnegie
45. learn more about your prospective clients’ business to help solve problems
46. say “yes, and” rather than “no, but” – in the spirit of improv
47. create urgency with an offer
48. become more proactive with customer service
49. ask for referrals
50. obtain letters of reference, on letterhead, showing measurable value, from 10 clients

What tips do YOU use? Post them as comments – top ones will win a coffee card (North American readers)