On an almost daily basis, I find myself talking to organizations who are looking for advice on how to increase sales, close deals faster and drive results for better sales growth. What blows my mind is that with very few exceptions, all of these organizations are doing the same things, using the same old traditional sales methods, chasing the same carrots at the end of the same sticks.

Like it or not, social media gives people a platform for commenting on your products, your service orientation, your pricing, your people, your competitors, your industry, and more. These conversations happen candidly in real time and have the potential of turning into global discussions in the blink of an eye. Ignore these conversations at your peril -- monitoring social media matters now more than it ever has.

Do you remember "The Wide World of Sports"? There was a moment in the opening that is the definition of epic. Every episode began with Jim McKay's iconic monologue on the struggle of sports that peaked with, "The thrill of victory  -- and the agony of defeat" -- complete with sporting imagery to make your heart surge, then immediately cringe in pain. That's email marketing. For marketers, few things feel better than a highly successful email send with astronomical open and click through rates. And fewer things hurt more than an email that results in bounces and unsubscribes. 

If you haven’t already done so, check out Part I here.  Below are the final three keys in creating some killer sales content.  Keep in mind that this is a long term play and not just a short term solution, so make sure you are committed to the long haul.  The results will be worth it!