Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Academy for?
Anyone interested in unconventional, better ways to start and forward discussions with people—using curiosity and change facilitation.
We help sales reps, marketers, recruiters, financial advisors, job seekers and small business owners. Anyone who needs to start a discussion using email, LinkedIn or voicemail.
If you:
- dislike the messages you're sending
- believe there should be a better way to start conversations
- need to overcome the active disinterest of others
- want to earn respect by presenting as an equal
... we can help.
But if you're not open to:
- Thinking differently about sales
- Eliminating weak thinking & habits
- Being held accountable to improve
- Practicing with colleagues
Then you're investment will likely not pay off.
Academy students are open minded, want learn and value experimentation, practicing. We're life-long learners.
What makes the Spark Sellingtm technique different?
We believe in helping people persuade themselves—rather than trying to persuade.
Spark Sellingtm is a community-based practice, not a "program."
In the past, you were forced to choose which sales guru to follow.
Now you have a choice. We are an international community of researchers and practitioners. We don’t tell you “do this because it worked for me back when I used to sell.”
We suggest, “Try this tactic. Because it is working, currently, for sellers in your industry.”
Spark Selling methodology places communication technique at the root of success in sales. What drives sales productivity? What drives sellers to produce new customers at highest levels?
Having a communication edge. Better skills.
What drives sales/prospecting productivity? What drives sellers to produce at highest levels? Having a communications edge. An effective, repeatable way to start discussions with cold prospects—in ways that spark curiosity in a solution to their challenge.
Do you offer a guarantee?
No. Our Academy does not offer money-back. Because we guarantee the skill.
Most members stay, month-after-month, because they are committed to themselves. Specifically, we are always learning, innovating, improving and maintaining a skill.
Nothing in life is guaranteed. Unless you can control all the variables you cannot guarantee a desired result. It is not possible to control all variables involved in your outreach.
Be wary of any sales trainer or company offering guarantees. Guarantees are a sign of low confidence. Insecurity in one's ability to sell an otherwise strong product.
At first, I wasn’t convinced I would get more value from the paid material than I was getting from your free material. I also thought 'who are these guys and are they legitimate?' You talk about how things change… what is effective at starting conversations for a while eventually stops working. I say to myself, 'They do, but not that fast. Therefore, if I can learn all I can from the free materials, I don’t need to invest.' I followed for about a year, then began to see that things did change, and could change fast.
I hesitated because I still didn’t see the value.
The value really changed when I attended my first workshop and saw the long boring emails change right before my eyes into short, snappy, focused, hard-hitting emails. Today my team is better at prospecting because they are believing in the idea of provocation. One team member is seeing a 30-40% lift in response rates. I'm glad to continue investing in your sales copywriting course and membership.
Skip Freeman, Sr. Recruiter
BASIS, Chicago
What is the member Forum about?
The Spark Selling Community has an online Forum... a 24/7 meeting place. It exists to serve members by allowing member-to-member information sharing.
The Forum gives you:
- Critical peer reviews of your outreach messages
- Vetted, effective conversation-starting tactics
- Members only 'Vanishing' Reports on critical topics
... and more!
"Not everyone in the forum contributes. But that's normal. And those who do give and take candid, valuable advice... tips I value and put to immediate use. I really like when another member sees my message differently than I do. The creativity of members is what helps me be the best I can be. "
Jim Edholm
Founder, Business, Benefits, Inc.
At first I was skeptical. But collaborative interaction with like minded professionals is always going to be the better way to get conversations started with customers. The difference between the Academy and other sales training options is community.
Justin Cromer
Director of Sales, Event Management Solutions Group
Why would I invest in SILVER or GOLD?
If you need:
- personalized help adapting a curiosity-driven, provocation technique to your situation
- support of others who, like you, demand accountability of themselves
- fresh ideas from like-minded colleagues
SILVER gives you the chance to be coached, one-on-one, by Jeff and colleagues via twice monthly workshops. These "Member Huddle" workshops allow you to swipe tactics from others and include recorded archives. Think of Huddles as part "communication strategy clinics" part peer coaching. Together, we compare experiences, exchange challenges and invent new ideas. You get real-time feedback, support and ideas -- on any aspect of your conversation-starting challenge. Each month the two zoom workshops are added to a searchable video archive library.
SILVER also includes everything gained in the Transformation Challenge cohort experience. The Quickstart, Deep Dive and other courses... offering advanced tactics and the ability to keep your saw sharp, form better habits. You'll receive access to the members only discussion Forum, workshop archive and proprietary "Vanishing" Reports -- giving you insights sourced from Jeff Molander & our community's experience. You'll participate in small group 'huddles.'
Monthly Review Meetings: Each month, you will hold yourself accountable along with colleagues. We come together and review "lessons learned" from the prior month and set goals for the next month. We stay focused on doing more of what's working -- less of what is not.
GOLD gives you everything above PLUS guaranteed access to Jeff for up to two situational, monthly consultations via email. Bring any messaging challenge to Jeff and he will respond with a recommendation within 48 hours.