Personal Development and Success Marketing

Gary Boye

I have a question. I would like to get some insight from people here who market training and training tools, as well as personal development venues. Everything from fitness to selling skills to personal motivation, etc. I would also be interested in replies from potential buyers or subscribers for such intangibles--I think that means all of us.

My question is this: In the areas described above, are people looking for solutions "in a box"? I'll assume most of you know what that figure of speech means--but if not--I'll elaborate on it down the road.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Gilbert

As a potential buyer my guess is that the answer would be, "Yes."

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Mikey

I'm not sure I know what you mean by "solutions in a box" but if was wanting sales training, for example, and signed up for a seminar on sales training then I would expect at the end of that seminar to have a working model to sell from. Is that what you meant?

Gary Boye

I guess the expression usually is a methaphor for something that is perceived as self contained, simple, yet comprehensive. It certainly doesn't have to be a tangible. For instance, Weight Watchers could be in that category.

"Hey--you look good! Lost a few pounds?"


"Yep. I joined Weight Watchers

Self contained, simple, comprehensive. At least as perceived and/or marketed.



But you mentioned a sales training seminar. Not so simple. There are more than 400 members here and several who actively post daily. A very small percentage are trainers themselves. Much of the discussion is about learning and training. Yet--I only recall three posts that revealed that anybody had ever signed up for formal training. One was my own. One was Jeff's--recalling attending an Anthony Robbins seminar years ago. And--I think somebody once mentioned they took a Dale Carnegie course.

So maybe sales training seminars are not solutions in a box--so to speak.

That's just an observation--I'm in no way being judgmental. And--we have no proof that the members here are a reliable measure for the selling culture at large. Maybe. Maybe not.

Thanks for your input, Mikey. But back to the original question. I'm hoping I'll get more replies.

Houston

I haven't heard of any sales training seminars that were solutions in a box.

Usually, I hear just the opposite. Actually, I'm really surprised at how often I hear different trainers programs being cut down.

Gary Boye

Houston, thanks. I'm not sure I get the meaning of "cut down". Do you mean shortened in content--or--criticized as noneffective?

Is it possible, do you think, that sales training is less marketable (a relative term I realize) because it lacks the mental association we're calling "in a box"? In other words--something a person can just go out and grab, plunk down some money, and say..."I'm all set!"?

Houston

I was referring to sales training program being criticized as non-effective. This criticism typically starts off with something like this, "Traditional Sales Techniques Don't Work..."

Gary Boye

Yes, I hear that from some people in sales, and from people who teach less conventional methods. In a certain context, I often say something similar myself. Do you have an opinion? And in terms of this thread's query, would an unconventional method or model be more likely to be perceived as "a solution in a box"?

I appreciate your input. I'm trying to work something out in my own mind.

Houston

My opinion is that some sales training helps some people but doesn't help others.

As for models, I would think a conventional model would be more likely to be perceived as "a solution in a box".

terriz

Coming at this from a different angle--anyone who purchases training, isn't really purchasing training. They are purchasing the result that they get for that training...say, the ability to close sales in 50% less time.

So when you market training, to me "putting it in a box" means packaging it as a specific result in a specific period of time: "Learn how to close sales 50% faster in 30 days!"

Terri Z