3 Point Shot - Random Thoughts on Selling #2

I probably have dozens of article drafts on selling that have never been fully developed to the point where they are fit for publication. I might get started writing them and then lose interest or, there might not be enough meat in the topic to meet my standards for a complete article.

All these partial posts are like annoying threads that keep popping up on the edges of my favorite worn out bell-bottom jeans. Well, I’m getting out the scissors and here are three and we’ll follow up with three more on a regular basis. Bon appetite! [Tweet “Here are three of my random thoughts on selling!”]

Old Folks Need Hobbies. This Happens to Be Mine

I remember when my dad retired to Vancouver Island and did the snowbird thing with a second winter home in Sun City, Arizona. Visiting him in Arizona, we went to their rec center and they had shops for every hobby known to man (or woman). There were auto shops, body shops, metal fabrication, woodworking … you name it.

My dad did none of these but, he did have golf. When he had to give that up due to bad hips … he died shortly thereafter. My dad and I shared much in common. I also have no craftsman-related skills. Worse yet … I don’t golf. I used to play until I decided that it was the stupidest game on earth. Not that my scores had anything to do with that.

I go to the gym but, I hate gyms. I like camping, fishing, four wheeling, biking, kayaking, and inline skating but, you can’t do much of that in winter. When I was younger (under 50), it was water polo, hockey, volleyball, and softball. Now, with my back, I can’t. I’m teaching myself to play guitar but, I’m not much good at that either.

This work is my hobby. As such, I don’t chase new business. I’m happy to accept your money if you want to contract with me for services but, I’m also perfectly happy if you don’t. It keeps me busy and engaged and is something that is not tied to my old age aches and pains. It keeps me alive, pays for my Aleve, and that’s enough for me.

I Must Be the Only Idiot

I’m guessing that there is a good reason for this since just about every social network that I am aware of encourages indiscriminate connecting. Only LinkedIn will sometimes allow you to personalize a request to connect. The emphasis is clearly placed on reach. Quantity vs. quality.

I get that for some businesses, and for some business models such as network or affiliate marketing, reach works. Maybe if you have the kind of product or service that everyone needs. Toilet paper comes to mind but, for B2B and limited or vertical markets?

I guess that even someone who has no business value to you might know someone who does but, it seems like a complicated avenue of travel to me. Maybe I am the only idiot who thinks that you can only build so many relationships of value with so many people and that it should not be that hard to find those specific folks.

Things that make me go … hmmmm.

Which Sucks Worse – Mobile Apps or My Expectations of Them?

Mobile is the fast growing segment and it include phones, tablets, wearables, and cars. It becomes a question of want vs. need. I want it all, but do I need it? If I have it all in a mobile app, will it even be usable? After all, we are dealing with a decidedly smaller canvas.

Because of these limitations, platforms are breaking apart their apps in order to either provide a better experience for specific functionalities or, in order to occupy more of our space and to create more profits. While it may be the latter, a case can be made that breaking apart apps will provide a more complete and satisfying user experience.

Witness …

Facebook and Messenger
LinkedIn, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, LinkedIn Jobs, and more LinkedIn

Then again, an equally compelling case can be made for the exact opposite. Why should I have to navigate multiple mini-apps in order to have the complete functionality of the web-based version?

By and large, I hate most mobile apps. What I have found is that, unless the application is very simple (Twitter, email, text messaging, contacts, calendar) mobile apps always leave a lot to be desired and this includes LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, and CRM.

Good apps, in my opinion, are designed to do specific and simple but critical tasks and the less tasks the better. Most importantly, they are not a subset of a more complex application. They are the application.

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Craig M. Jamieson

Managing Member at Adaptive Business Services

Craig M. Jamieson is a lifelong B2B salesperson, manager, owner, and a networking enthusiast. Adaptive Business Services provides solutions related to the sales professional. We are a Nimble CRM Solution Partner. Craig also conducts training and workshops primarily in social selling and communication skills. Craig is also the author of "The Small Business' Guide to Social CRM", now available on Amazon!