Connect & Convert: The Sales Accelerator Podcast

Dennis and Leah explore the power of priming in sales communications. They discuss how exposing people to specific words, images, or psychological states can unconsciously influence their receptivity and decision-making. Through examples like sales call agendas, discovery questions, price positioning, and social proof, they illustrate how strategically priming prospects can enhance their openness...

In this episode of Connect & Convert, Dennis Collins sits down with Brian Tewes, founder and owner of Tewes Lending in Orlando, Florida. Brian shares his entrepreneurial journey, detailing the challenges he faced while starting his own mortgage company and the strategies he employs to successfully market his business in a competitive landscape. He emphasizes the importance of being hyper-local...

In this episode, we delve into the concept of the "I knew it all along" bias, also known as hindsight bias. This cognitive bias leads people to believe that past events were more predictable than they actually were at the time. We explore how this bias can affect decision-making in business, causing companies to resist change and overlook past mistakes. By recognizing and challenging this bias, bu...

In this episode, we explore the power of focusing on process over goals when training high achievers. Through the story of Jay, a highly motivated individual with no prior sales experience, we learn how a well-designed deliberate practice regimen can transform a "blank slate" into a top performer. By prioritizing the mastery of skills and processes, rather than just setting lofty targets, we can u...

In this episode, we explore the concept of emotional contagion and its impact on sales. Just as we learned about physical contagion during the COVID pandemic, salespeople and customers unconsciously mirror each other's emotions. Negative emotions can hinder sales, while confidence and positivity are more likely to lead to success. We discuss strategies for salespeople to convey confident language...

In this episode, discover the power of nanotools - quick, effective techniques based on brain science that can be learned in just 15 minutes. Explore how these bite-sized lessons from Wharton professors can boost your confidence, communication skills, and productivity. Learn practical tips you can apply immediately to enhance your success in business and beyond.

This podcast episode delves into the transformative power of relational marketing, emphasizing the crucial role of staff training in fostering profitable customer relationships. Through a compelling conversation with Craig Arthur, listeners gain insights into creating a customer-centric business culture that aligns advertising messages with actual customer experiences, thereby enhancing loyalty an...

Get ready to learn the secrets behind building loyal, profitable customer relationships. In this insightful interview, Craig Arthur draws on decades of marketing experience to break down the difference between transactional and relational customers. Discover tactics for transitioning your more fickle transactional customer base into reliable, high-value relational buyers who will stick with you fo...

Experienced sales trainers Dennis Collins and Leah Bumphrey discuss the power of curiosity in sales conversations. They explain why curiosity leads to better questions, more engagement from prospects, and ultimately more closed deals. Through an example sales dialogue, they demonstrate curiosity in action and provide real-world advice for implementing curiosity-based questioning.

Every salesperson knows that connecting with customers is essential. But taking rapport too far by forcing unwanted bonding can hurt your credibility and cost you sales. Host Dennis Collins and co-host Leah Bumphrey offer insider tips for small business owners, helping them walk the delicate line between developing authentic connections and coming across as fake or overly aggressive, resulting in...

Dennis Collins and Leah Bumphrey discuss scientific research on how to speak persuasively and with confidence. They provide practical tips on word choice, admitting mistakes, using emotions and stories effectively, eliminating verbal fillers, and more to help listeners improve their communication skills.

Dennis Collins and Leah Bumphrey kick off the new year by sharing practical strategies for small business owners to improve sales and achieve success in 2024. Topics include the importance of asking questions, listening, and accountability; making agreements instead of having unclear expectations; consistency; and pushing outside one's comfort zone.

Business leadership and culture expert Paul Boomer joins Dennis Collins and Leah Bumphry to discuss how to recognize and transform dysfunctional workplace culture into a high-performing environment.

Three experts discuss the critical role leadership plays in accelerating small business growth, including the blindspots most leaders face, the benefits of good leadership, and practical solutions using psychometric assessments.

This podcast episode provides small business owners expert guidance on hiring a sales manager. It outlines key qualities to look for in potential candidates as well as common mistakes to avoid during the recruitment process. With insightful recommendations on interview tactics, must-have competencies, and the benefits of finding the ideal fit for this crucial leadership role, the hosts offer actio...

In this sales and marketing podcast, hosts Dennis Collins and Leah Bumphrey discuss the psychology behind the principle of liking and how it can be used to influence customers. They explore research on the halo effect, similarity bias, physical attractiveness bias, and the power of compliments, explaining how these psychological principles can be ethically leveraged in business to build rapport, t...

Dennis and Leah discussing the common tendency for salespeople to make assumptions about what potential customers are thinking during the sales process. They cover research showing people are generally poor at accurately determining others' thoughts, even with close friends and family. The hosts advise salespeople against guessing what customers are thinking and instead recommend asking direct que...

Dennis shares his deep knowledge as a certified Cialdini Influence practitioner, explaining overlooked tactics around FOMO, inventorying your skills for leverage, emphasizing losses over gains, controlling access to information, and negotiation tips using scarcity. He stresses using scarcity ethically and not artificially manufacturing it.

Hosts Dennis Collins and Leah Bumphrey discuss strategies for getting the most out of sales training events. They explain why most sales training is ineffective as a one-time event, and emphasize the importance of continuous learning and reinforcement. Topics covered include evaluating current training methods, implementing a culture of ongoing education, utilizing tools like roleplaying and virtu...

Dennis Collins, sales trainer and founder of Wizard of Ads, discusses using Dr. Robert Cialdini's principles of influence to ethically improve sales skills. He covers how to apply each principle - reciprocity, scarcity, authority, consistency, liking, social proof, and unity - during different stages of the sales process. Dennis provides examples of using the principles and stresses using them eth...

Dennis discusses research by Dr. Adam Grant showing that focusing salespeople on their purpose and how they help others significantly increased performance. Dennis proposes starting each day by reflecting on why you and your company exist, who you've helped recently, and the impact made to get salespeople focused on purpose and boost results.

In this sales training video, Dennis Colins discusses how the sales process has evolved over the years from a focus on slick presentations and coercive closing techniques to a more consultative approach based on asking questions, listening, and genuinely helping customers. Dennis explains the differences between the traditional sales mindset of "I want to sell you something" and the more modern, c...

Discover the secrets to crafting compelling elevator pitches in "Connect & Convert" with Dennis Collins, as he shares expert tips for effectively communicating product value without sounding like a sales pitch. Learn how to create captivating and concise elevator speeches that leave a lasting impact and prompt action from your audience.

The host, Dennis Collins, delves into the nature of cognitive biases, illustrating their pervasive influence on human behavior and decision-making. He emphasizes the significance of understanding and mitigating the false consensus bias in the context of sales, highlighting its potential detrimental effects on sales strategies and customer interactions. The following key points are discussed: Intro...

Explore the art of "Value Stacking" in this episode of Connect and Convert with Dennis Collins. Discover how to demystify pricing for products with no clear reference point, especially in the home services industry. Dennis walks you through a proven technique that breaks down the factors influencing HVAC system pricing, empowering customers to make informed choices. Gain insights into equipment qu...