Keep Your Sales Pipeline Alive: Tips to Avoid the January Dry Spell
December is here, and while that means festive sweaters and gingerbread lattes, it also means many salespeople are racing to hit those year-end numbers. But beware—don’t let this sprint leave your sales pipeline as empty as Santa’s cookie plate on Christmas Eve! Here’s how to keep things jolly in January and beyond.
🎯 Aim for Both Bullseyes: Today and Tomorrow
Sure, hitting your targets feels great! But what if you could have your fruitcake and eat it too? Don’t just fixate on closing deals—make sure you’re also lining up prospects who’ll be your new year’s successes. Think of it as planting seeds for your sales garden: some grow fast, but others need time to bloom! Be specific: outline a plan with your prospects for Q1 and get a commitment from them and ask them to agree to a follow up plan.
📬 Old Friends, New Opportunities: The Follow-Up Fun
Have some leads that went cold? Time to heat things up! Dive into those neglected contacts and drop them a friendly line—what’s new, what’s exciting in their world? This isn’t just a potential goldmine; it’s like catching up with a friend you haven’t seen since last year’s holiday party. Remember, everyone loves to reconnect! Search your CRM for prospects you haven’t reached out to in more than 90 days and any clients you have sold to earlier in the year about additional opportunities.
🤖 Set Your Automations on Auto-Pilot
While you’re out decking the halls, let tech handle the small talk. Automated emails can keep your prospects feeling the love while you focus on those must-close deals. It’s like having an elf assistant, keeping everything running smoothly in your workshop even when you’re busy.
🌟 Create Buzz and Build a Community
Why go it alone? Get your clients involved and foster that sense of community. Host a holiday-themed webinar or a fun virtual meet-up. Your clients are part of your sales family, so celebrate together! Who knows, a little festivity can create buzz and spark new business ideas. Have all your holiday events set up? Fantastic! But what about your Q1 events? Go ahead and get those set up now. Not sure how? Check out my blog post on Value Add Events!
📚 New Year, New Skills: Keep Learning Alive
The best way to beat the January blues is by coming back stronger. Take advantage of online courses or workshops to sharpen those sales skills. You’ll come out the other side not just as an expert salesperson but also as a guru with tricks to tickle the fancies of even the toughest prospects.
By mapping out a strategy now, you’ll not only enjoy a prosperous end to the year but also kickstart a sensational start into the new one. Keep that sales pipeline bubbling like holiday cheer, and remember—the best gifts in business aren’t the ones that show up under the tree; they’re the opportunities you unwrap in January and beyond!
