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Susan Bell

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Boost Your Virtual Sales Results Using Industry Intelligence

Posted December 17, 2020 by Susan Bell

The red lights are blinking, the sirens are blaring, the signs that say “Danger Ahead” are flashing: Sales professionals of all stripes are in for a challenging 2021. Yes, 2020 was a rough one, but if you think next year is going to be smooth sailing, I have some unwelcome news for you.

The Competitive Advantage of the Community Bank

Posted October 30, 2020 by Susan Bell

Community banks have had a challenging year; it’s been unlike anything our nation has experienced in the past century. Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which are among community banks’ bread and butter, have suffered record job losses and closures. Between the March 13 COVID-19 emergency declaration and mid-April, total private...

Keep it Real: Initiating More Meaningful Client Conversations

Posted August 14, 2020 by Susan Bell

This is the fourth in a series of five blog posts about how to create and implement a “SMART” strategy to manage client relationships — one that incorporates personalization and industry expertise into every client interaction. By using this tailored approach, your team will boost your organization’s sales conversion success and deepen...

Making More Informed Recommendations with Industry Intelligence

Posted July 28, 2020 by Susan Bell

This is the second in a series of five blog posts about how to create and implement a “SMART” strategy to manage client relationships — one that incorporates personalization and industry expertise into every client interaction. By using this tailored approach, your team will boost your organization’s sales conversion success and deepen...

Using the 10-Second Rule to Improve Your Client Meetings

Posted April 02, 2020 by Susan Bell

You’ve heard of the 5-second rule, whereby food that has been dropped may be eaten without any stigma. But are you familiar with the 10-second rule? If you are a professional services provider who works directly with clients, you should learn about this important principle.

Key Takeaways From the 2019 Small Business Banking Conference

Posted December 06, 2019 by Susan Bell

Members of the Vertical IQ team recently attended the American Banker Small Business Banking Conference in Los Angeles. The agenda for the three-day conference included outstanding expert panels, workshops, and keynote presentations. Here are some of the highlights.

Building SMB Client Relationships with Insight and Foresight

Posted October 31, 2019 by Susan Bell

Of course every business services firm that calls on small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) says they are a trusted advisor to their clients, but reality doesn’t always support that claim. I read a great article this week about how most firms that call on SMBs instead tend to provide “Random Acts of Consulting.” 

What’s Your Story? Paint a Clearer Picture Using Financial Data

Posted March 28, 2019 by Susan Bell

Accounting Today published an article a few weeks ago entitled, “Why accountants need to be data storytellers.” Now, the storytelling concept might be familiar to people in a marketing context—it’s a technique commonly used in that field to convince you to take that next step in the sales funnel—but personally, I’ve never considered...

Industry Spotlight: Calling on Law Offices

Posted August 03, 2017 by Susan Bell

When I was a private banker in the late ‘90s in Wilmington, North Carolina, I found a successful niche prospecting law firms. There were a couple of things I learned first-hand about attorneys that I believe contributed to my success:

The Numbers Don't Lie: Why Barlow Research Matters To Every Business Banker

Posted August 13, 2015 by Susan Bell

If you've never heard of Barlow Research, your world is about to get rocked!

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