Sales Tips From Top Sales Performer (April) - Richard Ling

What makes people sign up for the online programmes? What makes these people sell PurpleTrain programmes successfully? What are the secrets to their success? If these are questions you are curious to know, this series of articles on sales tips from last month's Top PurpleTrain Sales Performers is a definite must-read for you.

One of the six top sales performers last month, Richard Ling, Acting Course Consultant Manager from Informatics Singapore (Tanjong Pagar) signed up 9 students single-handedly in April 2001. Richard does not restrict himself on who he speaks with, as he feels that anyone can sign up for PurpleTrain due to its convenience and flexibility. His conversion rate averages about 50%.

Richard's maxim is "Nothing is impossible!" and his words of wisdom for all sales personnel is:

"BE A CONSULTANT AND GIVE ADVICE AND CONSULT, DON'T BE A SALES PERSON WHO IS DESPERATE TO MEET HIS OR HER TARGET. If you can figure out the right course the person is looking for, the deal is 50% done."

Want to know his motivations and the secrets to his success? Here, Richard Ling shares his views and tips on selling PurpleTrain programmes:

Qn:	How do you get leads? How do you decide who are potentials?
Ans:	Leads are generated from pass students who have actually dropped out of a certain taught course, we would call up this students and gather information on why they have actually dropped out of the taught course. Some reasons were because they did not have the time to attend classes so we would convince them sign up for online programmes. Other leads were from just cold calling and leads passed down from Marketing or from roadshows and exhibitions. I don't normally decide who the potentials are, even if they have doubts, I would try my best to convince them. Nothing is impossible.
Qn:	Of all your sales closed, where's the majority of the contacts made from?
Ans:	Majority of my sales closed are from students who have dropped out from taught programmes and walk-ins. Because of the flexibility of e-learning, it is the students who are not able to attend class that are more keen on adopting e-learning.
Qn:	What is your key selling point(s) to get people to sign up for the PT course?
Ans:	Key selling points are :- Method of teaching in much more consistent compared to classroom mode because of online course notes and online facilitators. Learning retention is 100% higher because you log on when you are ready, not like when in a traditional classroom mode where you would need to rush to class after work or feel sleepy during class. Statistics show that online passing rates are higher than traditional classroom mode and drop out rates are also much lower. The last but definitely not the least, PurpleTrain.com is 24x7. The course notes are there for you anytime and anywhere. You will not miss classes and you do not have to worry about spending more time with your family or girlfriend/boyfriend.
Qn:	What makes people sign up?
Ans:	People see the urgency to sign up, mainly due to the course commencement dates and promotions. Of course, the flexibility and convenience that online learning offers is a big bonus consideration for students.

We hope everyone can take a leaf from the book of these Top Sales Performers. Besides what was shared above, of course, the basic qualities of Persistence, Initiative, Belief in e-Learning, Aggressiveness and a Positive Attitude are also a must to successful PurpleTrain sales.

With this new insight and ideas, we hope that we can all work closely hand-in-hand to get the PurpleTrain sales up and soaring every month. Let us all keep up the good work and strive towards achieving even more!

About PurpleTrain

PurpleTrain.com is the e-learning service provider which offers a one-stop service for business and IT education programmes, corporate training courses and education-related services.

By combining innovative technology with world-class training content, PurpleTrain.com offers companies and individuals a high value, quality and effective online training solution. Over 300 online courses are available, offering masters, degrees, diplomas and certificates in business and IT programmes. Our online learning community now stands at over 40,000 users.

PurpleTrain.com is a 100%-owned venture of Informatics Holdings Limited, a leading training and education provider listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.

For more information, please contact :

Jolyn Chua
Marketing & PR Manager
PurpleTrain.com
DID : 568 0810
Fax : 569 7060
Email : jolyn@purpletrain.com
Website : www.purpletrain.com
               www.informaticsgroup.com

All trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. Certain of the statements in this press release are forward-looking in nature and, accordingly, are subject to risks and uncertainties. The actual results may differ from those described or contemplated.

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