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Maxim

Maxim Emmanuel  |391 Answers  |Ask -

Soft Skills Trainer - Answered on Mar 26, 2024

Maxim Emmanuel is the marketing director of Maxwill Zeus Expositions.
An alumnus of the Xavier Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, Maxim has over 30 years of experience in training young professionals and corporate organisations on how to improve soft skills and build interpersonal relationships through effective communication.
He also works with students and job aspirants offering career guidance, preparing them for job interviews and group discussions and teaching them how to make effective presentations.... more
vijay Question by vijay on Oct 26, 2023Hindi
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I am in the manufacturing of the Industrial Chemicals and Lubricants with a team of 7 people. We have 10-12 very good products. We are lacking in the Sales / marketing and therefore not able to achieve the desired growth. We have hired experienced sales people, retained them for a year but sales not picked up. How can i tackle it? Is Digital Marketing can help to grow ?

Ans: Interesting.. to know that, however sorry to say you got the wrong people.. Experienced Sales people are not marketing people that's where you went wrong.

The marketing strategy and USP for those 10-12 products need to be evolved, then the sales will happen ..you can't expect a fish to climb trees.. So the way to tackle it. Get a Master Marketer to do the job... Now.. Digital Marketing ..is only a Medium..Like using any other media, print, outdoor, electronic Sorry to say it's not Core Marketing.. However if you have the inclination to make it big.. Happy to assist!
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Harsh

Harsh Bharwani  |69 Answers  |Ask -

Entrepreneurship Expert - Answered on Oct 19, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 20, 2023Hindi
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I have been trying to scale my Digital Marketing and Advertising Agency since 2 years. but i am still not able to touch 1 lakh a month consistently. I know where i am going wrong, its the sales mostly. Please suggest me a way off how to a get a proper sales channel to get clients , how to manage funds for sales channels, and maybe some channels you can suggest.?
Ans: The different sales channels include traditional and modern marketplaces, retail and wholesale, and your own online store. All of these channels have their own pros and cons to take into account when choosing the right channels for your business.
Ecommerce
Ecommerce is any transaction that is completed online. For example, when you buy clothes from your favorite online store, that is ecommerce. Every time you order food from a delivery app like Doordash or Postmates, that is also e-commerce. Ecommerce is a huge market, worth over $5 trillion, and it’s expected to make up 24.5% of global sales by 2025.
Pros:
Lower startup costs, since you won’t have to pay for a physical storefront.
Can sell internationally and 24/7, as long as your website is active.
You can collect customer data to help you figure out what your target market wants.
Cons:
Problems in your distribution channel may cause the end of customer relationships.
Might have higher return rates because customers can’t try before buying products.
Direct sales in brick-and-mortar stores is still more popular despite ecommerce’s rising popularity.
Traditional marketplaces
Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Walmart Marketplace, and Google Shopping are examples of traditional marketplaces. These channels feature a wide range of product offerings and, for the most part, customers search by the product they’d like to buy rather than the brand they’d like to purchase it from.
While traditional marketplaces come with a preexisting customer base, these platforms require you to give up control of customer service and fulfillment speeds, and to compete on margins.
Pros:
You get your products in front of the existing customer base of those marketplaces.
You can use their distributors and marketing channels already in place.
Being part of a traditional marketplace can give you legitimacy in the eyes of your target market.
Cons:
Indirect sales mean you have to pay a commission for every sale made using a traditional marketplace, and those commissions can change.
Marketplaces can have really strict terms and conditions for how you communicate and represent yourself in their stores.
There might be a lot of different brands selling similar products in these stores, so it may be hard to find a way to stand out.
Modern marketplaces
Modern marketplaces are content-driven platforms that enable commerce. This includes social media channels like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest. It also includes places like Spotify. One of the reasons these modern marketplaces are so successful as sales channels is because buyers are already there. Adding a Buy button allows you to meet buyers where they are.
Pros:
There are apps that can help you track various metrics on your social media platforms to help you optimize your posts and reach.
You can collaborate with other brands and influencers to cross-sell and cross promote.
Most social media platforms have useful templates you can use for your ads and store.
Customer support can be instantaneous on social media.
Cons:
You constantly need to create content to stay visible.
You need to be vigilant against any negative feedback or trolls.
If a social media site goes down or your account is hacked that could really affect your business.
Retail
The retail channel includes both permanent and pop-up shops, like a short-term rental in a mall, a booth at a craft fair, or a stall at a local farmers market. Retail channels provide the opportunity for you to build relationships with your customers in person and get real-time feedback. Retail is a powerful piece of the modern commerce playbook.
Pros:
You get face-to-face contact with your customers
Cut out the middlemen and get products straight into the hands of your customers.
The sales process is direct and ends with you having payment in hand at the end of the sale.
Cons:
May have added cost of hiring sales team (sales reps, sales manager, customer support team).
Can be expensive paying for overhead on brick-and-mortar shop.
Dealing with interpersonal issues with staff and customers.
Wholesale
Wholesale involves selling your products to other businesses who then retail them. Some businesses choose to make wholesale their only sales channel; others use wholesaling as one leg of an omnichannel sales strategy. Wholesale is a great way to move a lot of inventory at once.

..Read more

Chandu

Chandu Nair  | Answer  |Ask -

VC, Angel Investing, Entrepreneurship Expert - Answered on Nov 27, 2023

Asked by Anonymous - Nov 27, 2023Hindi
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Hello, sir. I founded a home decor brand 2 years ago and we are just starting to gain traction in the market. We sell across multiple channels - B2B, B2C and D2C as well. But as a Founder, one of my weaknesses is the lack of selling skills. Should I focus on building a Business Development team in order to generate consistent sales? Also, how do I get better at selling?
Ans: This is a tough one to answer in brief but I am going to try

Each of these channels- B2B B2C D2C - require different kinds of skills. The customer segments too could be different, perhaps the products/ SKUs too. It is my belief that the founder himself should be a salesperson esp in the initial days(years!). The first key thing is to understand the buyer's key problems and how your product is better at solving it than others in the market including alternatives. While doing this, it is important to understand who exactly is your buyer- in B2B, the buyer may be a hotel or restaurant or an office etc. Which sort of B2B segment are you targeting, how are they currently buying, from who, why, what terms do they purchase, how long is the sales cycle time, typical order value, purchase frequency etc? When it comes to B2C, the game is quite different. Are you selling both offline and online? The methods can change.

It would be useful for you to get a co-founder who has deep sales and marketing experience in this sector or B2C online/ offline. Alternatively, get a consultant who can advise you on the phase wise approach to follow, what metrics to use to track effectiveness, the kind of spend required, and so on.

Pl also reach out to others in the D2C community and understand what is working/ not working for them, the kind of structure they have, the outsourced agencies they use.

It is a process of learning. It would be good for you to get a grasp of it; simultaneously, in order to save on time, energy and money, pl consider a co-founder and /or a suitable consultant to guide you through the process. The appropriate hires can be made as required.

..Read more

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Dear experts, I was reading about V Narayanan’s journey from a Tamil medium school to ISRO chief. I’m an engineering student from a modest background. My father works in a private firm and mother is a housewife. Finances are a major hurdle. Are there specific scholarships or support programmes for students aiming to get into prestigious institutions like Anna University?
Ans: Pursuing higher education at Anna University is a commendable goal, and there are several scholarships and support programs available to assist students from modest backgrounds. Some of these include the Tamil Nadu Government Scholarships, which provide financial assistance to cover tuition fees, the DHAANISH BC/MBC/DNC Scholarship, SC/ST Scholarship, Central Government Scholarships, AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls, and Institutional Scholarships at Anna University. The application process involves eligibility verification, documentation, application submission, and tracking deadlines. Additional support includes educational loans at subsidized interest rates for economically weaker sections and fee waivers for meritorious and needy students. It is advisable to regularly check Anna University and the Directorate of Collegiate Education, Tamil Nadu, for the latest updates on available scholarships and application procedures. Also please visit buddy4study website & explore, You will get a lot of inputs about Schoarhsips. All The BEST for Your Prosperous Future.

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on ‘Careers | Finance | Health | Relationships’.

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Nayagam P

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Career Counsellor - Answered on Jan 12, 2025

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Help Needed: Unable to Login to JEE Mains Portal Due to Mistaken DOB Entry Hello Everyone, I’m reaching out to seek advice and support from anyone familiar with handling issues on the JEE Mains portal. Despite entering my correct application details, I’ve been unable to log in to download my admit card, and I believe it’s due to a mistake I made during the application process. The Problem During registration, I mistakenly entered the wrong date of birth. My correct date of birth is 12/08/2008, but I accidentally entered 22/08/2008. Now, neither date works when trying to log in, and I keep getting the error message: "Invalid Application No or Date of Birth." My Details: Name: Shivam Srivastav Application Number: ...................... Registered Contact Number: ...................... Registered Email ID: ................. Request for Help If anyone has faced a similar issue or knows how to resolve this problem, please share your suggestions. I’ve already emailed the authorities but am waiting for a response. I’m also prepared to provide necessary documents, such as my Class 10th marksheet, to verify my correct date of birth. Any help or guidance would be highly appreciated! Thank you for your time and support. Warm Regards,
Ans: Satyam, First step: Verify the following right away: Any SMS on your Registered Mobile Number from NTA from the date you registered in the NTA portal; your Registered email Inbox for any mails from NTA from that date. There's more likely you missed it or the mails ended in SPAM/JUNK Folder.

The second step is visiting NTA Jee Main Website. Click Contacts US Menu. around 4-5 Helpline Numbers can be tried and also send REMINDER MAILS to all mail IDS supplied there from your Registered eMail ID, by providing the following information: (a) Your Application Number (2) Your Registered Mobile Number (3) The nature of the problem & (4) Scanned copy of your Class 10 Marksheet for your DOB proof.

Please be advised; admit cards will only be released on January 19 or 20.

Third step: You have not indicated you are from which place? If you know of any colleagues or family friends in Delhi, ask them to personally visit the NTA Office and try to settle the matter this week; by next week, the Admit Card would be issued.

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