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News for the wholesale distribution industry | January 4, 2007     Best Practices  Don't be held back by common sales challenges Become a leading member of the sales team by conquering some of the main issues facing salespeople, including the "80/20" rule and management that lacks interaction. MarketingProfs (free registration) (12/19) Pinpoint customers' wants in sales ads Find out what your customers really want and make that the focus of your next sales advertisement. "To generate the best bang for your advertising buck, focus your ads on customer needs as opposed to your specific products," says one business consultant and columnist. American City Business Journals/Company Doctor (1/1)   Management  Delegate work to get more done Successful leaders break down organization tasks to better allocate their own resources. Managing your own time wisely, knowing when and how you're most productive, and allowing employees to be entrepreneurial are crucial management skills, one speaker and consultant says. Entrepreneur (11/2006)   Customer Relations  Web 2.0 functions are great, if customers know how to use them Providing customers with the most up-to-date Web technology and ensuring a positive online customer experience are two very different processes. Measuring customer satisfaction with podcast and blog tools is critical to the success of such newer, more tech-savvy applications. CRM Daily (12/4)   Training and Presentation  Hone personal skills to capture ideal job Recent research shows that employers are looking for discipline, cooperation and savvy, among other skill sets, in employees, and it is of a job-seeker's best interest to learn these skills and exhibit them while career-hunting. Manage Smarter/Training (12/30)   Closing the Deal  Recognize sales team's effort, see more results Recognition pays off in improved performance, so managers need to understand its value and effective methods for providing it," says Maritz Vice President Rodger Stotz in SellingPower. When giving recognition, make the cost and effort worthwhile.   NAW Insider  NAW and The Hartford NAW has partnered with The Hartford to offer insurance expertise and comprehensive coverage tailored to the specific needs of wholesaler-distributors. The Hartford also offers expedited claims handling services and a countrywide network of loss control and risk management experts to help wholesaler-distributors protect their businesses and minimize loss costs. More information available here. Elevate your organization to the next level of performance Deloitte and NAW have released Driving Growth and Shareholder Value: The Distribution Value Map. Known as the DVM, this extraordinary mapping tool helps distribution executives make crucial strategic and operational improvements through a systematic approach to higher efficiency, greater profitability, and added value to distributors and their customers. Use it to reenergize existing programs or jump-start new initiatives.   Weekly Poll  Would you take time off work to volunteer? After voting once, check out the real-time poll results on NAW's All Access page as often as you would like. Yes. I have done it before and would again. Yes, I would consider it. No, I wouldn't consider it. No. I have done it before but wouldn't again.     Subscriber Tools       Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Advertise Sales Account Director:  Mark Lasser 303-284-9864 Download Media Kit   Read more at SmartBrief.com A powerful Web site for SmartBrief readers including: Breaking News Industry Home Competitor News Readers' Choice Press Releases Search Archive Who's Hiring? Get this RSS Feed Publish your Press Release       Recent NAW SmartBrief Issues: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 Tuesday, January 02, 2007 Friday, December 29, 2006 Wednesday, December 27, 2006 Tuesday, December 26, 2006     Lead Editor:  Jessica Strelitz Contributing Editor:  Ashley McMaster     Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2009 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information