Outside the mobile technology infrastructure, business owners are tied to a physical point-of-sale model to take credit card payments. When the mobile payment model is adopted, however, anyone who can access the Internet via a connected device can, in essence, run a mobile “cash register.” This means not only accepting credit card transactions, but also managing inventory and handling other merchant services vital to a successful business.

In addition to this mobility for the merchant, the complimentary evolution of “near field technology” has put a new level of purchasing power in the hands of consumers. Chip-based credit cards, long the standard in Europe, are making rapid moves toward universal acceptance in the United States. These cards, which process one-time transactional data, are a huge step forward in shutting down identity theft and fraud.

The technology used in chip cards is easily utilized by today’s smartphones, primarily the iPhone and Android devices, allowing consumers to leave their cards at home and to make payments with just a wave of their mobile device. When the two payment structures converge, consumers can make payments anywhere at anytime, and merchants are prepared to process those payments regardless of the setting.

As mobile technology becomes an accepted day-to-day standard, merchants will be compelled to accept mobile payments as just a regular part of doing business. The rationale for taking credit cards in the first place is to cater to a major consumer desire for convenience. The smartphone is the connected wallet of the 21st century, and increasingly, tech savvy customers will want to utilize that mobile power.

The ways in which mobile payments can liberate a business from a physical presence and facilitate payment acceptance at the point of service are myriad. Added advantages of the mobile technology to businesses include the the ability to issue and to redeem coupons and discounts offers that can be used by the customer automatically, with no need to remember to bring along a piece of paper. Add to that advertising via social networking through customer “check ins” and on-the-spot reviews, and it’s clear that the flexibility and versatility of mobile payments will only make the services more desirable to consumers in the coming months and of greater benefit to merchants.

John Daymond, co-founder of FUBU, is now an experienced advisor on both business and positive living.  His is also a correspondent for MSNBC (www.msnbc.com) and he mentors upcoming entrepreneurs.
Below the video of the elevator is an interview with John about how he started.

Elevator Pitch

Interview with John Daymond

How do you sell “you”? The first step is to establish credibility. Credibility is begun by sounding knowledgeable about the prospect’s industry and company. Are you able to relate how their issues can be solved by what you have to offer? Once you paint a picture that you understand their situation, you will attract their attention.

Now that you gained their attention, the next step is to establish trust. Your prospect will ask you a series of questions to determine if you are telling the truth. Are you willing to admit your company does not handle a specific service well or that your competitor may do a better job on a product that you both carry? Your prospect will make requests of you that may be tedious but it is your job to follow through within the timeframe upon which you both agreed.

Still in the testing phase, your prospect may make statements using jargon with which you are not familiar. Rather than glossing over what was said and hoping for the best, are you willing to ask, “I’m not certain what you mean, would you please explain?”

While these mini tests are being conducted, the prospect is all the while determining if you are in for only a quick hit sale or are truly interested in their business. Ask questions related to what they tell you. Once you build credibility and trust, your prospect will seriously consider purchasing from you.

The third step is to sell yourself and your dedication to delivering service. Let it be known should anything go wrong with your product or service during the course of the term, you will be available to take care of the issue. Make certain your prospect understands the importance of your service to both them and to yourself.

Fourth in line is to sell value. Take price out of the equation by painting a picture of you being the representative standing behind what you are selling; that you have the solution(s) to their problems; and the price is fair for what they will receive.

The last piece of the puzzle to what prospects seek is ease of doing business with you. If you were the prospect trying to do business with someone just like yourself, how easy would it be for you? If you can admit to one or two things being a tiny bit difficult, seek ways to improve your systems. The easier it is to conduct business, the more assured you will be of gaining additional business.

In summary, clients want to be able to find you credible and trustworthy, they know they can depend upon you in a time of need and you make it easy for them to give you their business. Finally, make your prospects feel good about giving you their money. That’s what clients really want.

Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC and Author, transformed her highly successful sales career into training entrepreneurs, network marketers and beginning salespeople. “We help you turn stormy sales cycles into a Smooth Sale”.

Smooth Sale Delivers:
Original work in the form of Professional Sales Training, Licensing, Coaching, and Motivational Speaking and a full Product Line.

Products Include:
“Nice Girls DO Get The Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results”, published by Sourcebooks, “The Sales Toolkit”, “Smooth Sale audio training seminar” and Entrepreneur kit – “How to GROW Your Business: mindset, strategy and implementation.
“Nice Girls DO Get The Sale” was featured in TIME Magazine, translated into multiple languages and is selling worldwide. Elinor writes a column for Bay Area BusinessWoman News and contributes articles to Diversity Edge Magazine.
For more information call 800-704-1499 or visit www.smoothsale.net

Men, on the other hand, have no problem asking for beyond what they are worth and frequently get what they ask. Many times, when you sign up for one of their events, you will only receive about 90% of the information you expected; the rest of the deliverables will be had when you sign up for another program.

Women need to pay attention to asking for not what you think you are worth, but what your male counterparts believe they are worth. You will find a major discrepancy between their value and yours. Yearly, do your research to find your new value. Remember, most often females are worth more than their counterparts because rather than up-sell a future program, women tend to share everything they know all at once.

The reason women suffer from not valuing their services is because traditionally women have taken a back seat to the men. Many women stay at home to raise children and take care of the household. returning to work they earn 70 cents to the dollar of men. Women in corporate are not promoted as frequently as men. Over the years, women have learned their value has less worth than the men.

Asking for larger sums of money brings fear to many along with a feeling of guilt. But to stay in business you must pay attention to the bottom line and make your time worthwhile. By focusing on service, delivering on promises, adding to your credibility and trust, people will perceive you as a value-add to your services.

Three immediate benefits will come about from asking for more:

1. Prospects will perceive you bring more value to the table.
2. The mere act of asking for the higher price will at the very least put you in a category of negotiating if not getting the full price.
3. You will attract a clientele that appreciates your value rather than one trying to nickel and dime you

Here are a few ideas to ease the pain of “guilt” for charging what you are worth: Offer words of advice without being asked to those coming up behind you. Occasionally offer your services free of charge for those who can’t afford your higher price. Provide articles and audios at no charge and think of these as your marketing effort. On a quarterly basis, adapt your skill set to help communities at large; a side benefit is this good deed will further build your business neighborhood.

My Story:

A friend bragged to me about her ability to get $50 per hour for coaching. This is a woman who raised three highly successful children, went back to school to get her master’s degree and then paved her way to become a manager at a well-known male-dominated high tech company and she was one of the few women who earned a very respectable living.

Considering what she has already accomplished, I encouraged her to research the fees of other consultants and then shared with her what I have encountered. Rather than concentrating on the fee she charges, it will be more helpful for her to describe to her prospects how her program works and how the guidance will improve their life. Then she will be able to ask for higher fees.
To perfect anything takes practice. If you are timid about asking for a higher fee, practice saying out loud, “My fee is $200.” The next time someone asks you what you charge, you will easily be able to answer with a confident smile.

Elinor Stutz, CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC and Author, transformed her highly successful sales career into training entrepreneurs, network marketers and beginning salespeople. “We help you turn stormy sales cycles into a Smooth Sale”.

Smooth Sale Delivers:
Original work in the form of Professional Sales Training, Licensing, Coaching, and Motivational Speaking and a full Product Line.

Products Include:
“Nice Girls DO Get The Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results”, published by Sourcebooks, “The Sales Toolkit”, “Smooth Sale audio training seminar” and Entrepreneur kit – “How to GROW Your Business: mindset, strategy and implementation.
“Nice Girls DO Get The Sale” was featured in TIME Magazine, translated into multiple languages and is selling worldwide. Elinor writes a column for Bay Area BusinessWoman News and contributes articles to Diversity Edge Magazine.
For more information call 800-704-1499 or visit www.smoothsale.net

Are you making this same error?

Time and again, I witness business people walking away from golden opportunities that may never present themselves again. They are golden because these opportunities work well, easily build business, and are offered free of charge.

“Why”, you ask, “would anyone turn down a golden opportunity?” Women are the main culprits. Two such opportunities offered and passed up were: “Have a live interview on camera and receive streaming video for your website”; the next was “Have your picture taken as Entrepreneur of the Month for a bank’s website which will link to your website.”

Uniformly, the women said, “I gained 5 pounds and don’t look good”, “I didn’t put makeup on”, and “It’s very windy outside, I don’t have a comb.” This wasn’t just a few women rejecting the opportunities; it was closer to 95% of huge crowds in attendance of the events. Interestingly, it was “their looks” that discouraged the women from having their picture captured and working to build business.

Female entrepreneurs, please understand that prospects are far more interested in the kind of person you are in terms of integrity, and the type of service you deliver including “will you be there if something should go awry” than what you look like. It is far more important to take offers as they come to build web traffic, your reach to new prospects, and increased awareness of your business.

Promise yourself, from now on to carry a comb, lipstick and dental floss or whatever it will take to make you feel confident about accepting opportunities.

The most important attitude shift toward new opportunities
On behalf of your business is –

“Just say yes”

Coming soon! Watch for new articles from this expert.

In the meantime, to read more about her, go to More About The Author…

The Entrepreneur Handbook
How to GROW Your Business: mindset, strategy and implementation

1. Formulate your idea and establish leadership qualities
2. Your mindset affects your outcome – develop the perfect business model, keys of relationship selling, become unstoppable, and knowledge of fatal errors to avoid
3. Building business at lightening speed – everything you must have in place in order to create and be prepared for your success
4. Creating connections – how to attract the right clientele
5. Relationship building – examines all methods for communicating and the “how-to”
6. Business analytics – how to work with objections, unreasonable people, slow times
7. Your dynamic business – business strategies for a greater Return On Investment (ROI)
8. Further strategies for success

“Last night I read the Entrepreneur’s Handbook, and I love it! Thank you for compiling such insightful information into this useful book. I can’t wait to get the CD’s and the MP3’s. Thank you for your offer to answer my questions, it’s nice to know I have your support.”
– Sunny Suppa, President, 5ft2in.com

Get More Tips, Strategies And Articles About Sales Tips for Women HERE