Video Conferencing

A few years ago, one of my reps and I were on a video conference with a prospect based in Portland. Without our prompting, he began to talk about all of the issues he was having with one of our competitors. We let him vent, because it was clear he needed someone to listen to his complaints. Then, much to …

I am the queen of video conference calls. That’s right. I hid three pregnancies, the chicken pox, and a hideous rash — all while videoconferencing my way into the ranks of the Mother Nature Network. Here’s the lowdown on how to do it, and do it well. Never wear anything that gives the illusion that you’re naked This may seem …

In today’s world, searching for a job or a qualified applicant to fill that job is an almost entirely digital affair. Powerful networking sites like LinkedIn allow recruiters to quickly identify, filter and contact top talent. Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook give job seekers unprecedented access to companies and their employees. And easy-to-use video conferencing solutions have shrunk …

Next time you’re on a busy train or stuck in a line of traffic, remember this sobering thought: by 2015, there’ll be 7 billion people on the planet – that’s one heck of a busy train! 1.5 billion of those people will be mobile workers, some of whom are already using technology that brings us closer together and allows us …

You’ve got your business plan for 2013, have set some goals to grow, are hitting the ground running, but chances are you’ve neglected a very important area for growth. You. With all the demands of work and life, we tend to neglect the life side of the equation and even more often, ourselves. One way to stretch your mind and …

Telecommuting has recently been touted as one of the top four trends for 2013; oDesk CEO Gary Swart expands on this evolving work experience: It’s no secret that telecommuting, flexible work arrangements, distributed teams and even entirely virtual companies have exploded over the past few years. We’re bringing the work to the workers, reversing the almost antiquated model of bringing …

The new business market is pushing workers toward increasing mobility and availability, regardless of work location. IDC estimated that by the beginning of this year, “mobile workers” would comprise one-third of the world’s working population. According to the Unified Communications Interoperability Forum (UCIF), a non-profit alliance of technology vendors: “one important driver for the growth of unified communication is mobility …

It’s January 3rd and health is in the air. As many of us are wrapping up the first week of our New Year’s resolution diets, you may be wondering how much longer your celery and kale weight loss plan will last. However, diet cannot be the only component to a healthy lifestyle. Incorporating exercise is an important key to staying …

I recently read a survey on change that asked people if they wrote New Year’s resolutions. It might seem like a given, but it’s clear: the people that wrote either resolutions or goals—or even a series of questions—ended up achieving more than those who didn’t. My favorite part was the fact that it didn’t matter when they wrote them—January, February, …

The herald angels have been harking (and hawking their wares) before Fall even adjusted its woolen scarf. We’ve been swathed in red-and-green packaging and dunked in faux-snow ad décor since before the fine Halloween episode of Modern Family. But no matter the name of the holiday we celebrate, now it’s mid-December—we’re all in. Holidays are in our heads: it’s, as …

When it comes to making a good first impression, there’s a reason why you avoid making them over the phone. Maybe it’s because, over time, you’ve learned the building blocks of establishing critical relationships—how you dress, body language, and your ability to focus on the other person—are all predominantly visual. These go out the window if the person on the …

Why? My 6 year old son asks me this question at least 10 times a day—and his endless curiosity has led me to believe that sales people win when they use the same elementary approach to closing deals. So take out your pencils and jot down some notes—here are 3 communication strategies for becoming a better sales rep: 1. The …

It’s that time of year: Halloween. The day when the spirits of restless sales reps come back to roam our halls and cubicles once again. Their ghostly cries foretell dangers more ominous than we could ever imagine: Tech back your sales results – or else! The meeting is coming… from inside the house! This year, I thought we could take …

When you see a good thing, you know it. And here at PGi, we have seen how much people have enjoyed our iMeet® video meetings, especially on our iPhone® and iPad® mobile apps. Meeting on the go is very much a part of how people work. And the ever increasing popularity of our mobility solutions got us thinking. There’s no …

At my breakout session at AAISP a few weeks ago, I asked the audience to raise their hands if they used some sort of conferencing tool. A ton of hands went up. Then, I asked those people if they themselves had picked that tool. Most of the hands went down. This illustrates a critical problem in sales organizations today. As …

Join me TODAY in Chicago at AA-ISP’s Frontline Conference Series!   The War on Talent is nothing new. I’m serious. The technology may have changed, but the basic principles you need to attain top talent haven’t changed at all in the last 15 years. Don’t believe me? Check this out: “Today, we are faced with a greater challenge than ever …

Last week I described the typical, nightmarish scenario that characterizes many sales calls. In the introduction, I mentioned a real-life conference call I had with a prospect when I heard the following comment: “I had no idea someone had brought this type of technology to the cloud – it’s about time.” And you know what? It is about time. Have you …

Once strictly reserved for Max Headroom, Marty McFly and the crew of the USS Enterprise, audio-video communications technology — videophones, webcams, videoconferencing, telepresence and the like — is now as ubiquitous as once-far-out contraptions such as microwave ovens and laptop computers. Although now a standard method of communicating with friends and loved ones in distant locales and conducting business in …

Whenever you’re meeting with a group, diverse meeting personalities emerge. Sometimes they work in harmony, fostering collaboration, creativity, and ultimately, productivity. However, occasionally more dangerous personalities bubble to the surface, personalities that have the capability to empower your meetings if properly handled, or ruin them if left unchecked. Here are 7 of the worst offenders and suggestions on how to manage …

It’s possible to get your inside sales team to the level of an outside sales team. But not with your technology. And not with your existing sales processes. Many organizations have responded to pressure from the C-Suite by re-organizing with an inside sales model. However, these organizations struggle to build trust and close sales because their reps aren’t face-to-face with …