Three times I have revisited Turkey after living in the country for two years in the 1970's. How could I ever forget? Salespeople everywhere can glean some wisdom about the unique sales approach by walking through the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. At least three unmistakable key sales components are apparent: ask questions, be persistent and appeal to emotions. ASKING QUESTIONS

I'll be brief. If not - I'll negate my own point. Got time to read a 12-page essay on sales improvement? You want to get back to making sales and money. Let's go then. Less time more pressure.

Today's manager lives in a world where change has attained Mach speeds. What holds good when you go home may not apply when you return in the morning to work place. Such a tremendous pace of change takes a heavy toll in terms of a dispirited and de energized workforce. World class products and services can only be produced by workforce which is highly energized. And a high level of energy is derived by a skilled and knowledgeable workforce with the right attitude.

Assumptions can kill a sale. In my sales training workshops, I frequently discuss the importance of not making assumptions about a person before, during, or after the sales process. Participants frequently nod and tell me that they NEVER make assumptions. One person (Doug Maquire, www.MaquireMarketing.com) sent me this story of a situation that occurred in a department store he worked in many years ago.

1. Sign-up to win web site awards. When you win, some award sites publish your web site link, name and description on their site. 2. Join online business associations or clubs. If you join, they will usually list all their members on their web site. It will give your business extra exposure. 3. Utilize a simple form of viral marketing. Write or have someone else write a small report with your ad included on it and allow others to give it away.

There's more to what he does than meets the eye With so many different programs, and reruns andre-packaging of older programs, we can assumethere are few people on the planet who do not knowabout Bob Vila. Starting with the original "ThisOl' House" programs on PBS in 1979, Bob Vila andhis empire, have grown into a major force in theHome Improvement Television genre.

I love the art of selling. LOVE IT. When I first entered the field of sales, the one thing I quickly grew to appreciate was the fact that anything I did to increase my ability in selling also increased my ability in life. Sales skills are life skills.

1. Multiply your marketing and advertising efforts on the Internet. You can accomplish this by starting an affiliate program or using viral marketing. 2. I.ncrease your ratio of visitors that purchase your product(s). You could change your headline, o.ffer a stronger g.uarantee, add testimonials, etc. 3. Find out who are your strongest leads for buying your product by offering a f.ree ezine. The visitors that are very interested will subscribe to it.

Based on his most recent e-mail, "Everything looks good -- I'll get back to you so we can move this forward"--everything points to a probable sale. You feel so relaxed, happy, and hopeful. Then a couple of days go by with no phone call or e-mail. You tell yourself, "He's probably busy. I know he'll get in touch tomorrow." But tomorrow comes and goes with no word.