Our printer at home is broken. Actually, that's not true---I wish it were broken. Because if it were, and I mean really broken, like someone backed over it with their Ford Focus and cracked it in half, then I wouldn't be wondering whether or not I could fix it. The problem, in short, is that it won't stay on our network. One minute it's there, all happy and green check-marked, ready to print. Other times, like a belly button on a 53-year-old solo professional marketing consultant, it seems to have vanished without a trace (or is that just me?). And so I did what I always do when I have a printer-related dilemma. I went and visited Will, over at Cartridge World. Will doesn't sell many printers, mostly just printer supplies. But he knows all about them and, as I've learned over time, he's more than happy to help you troubleshoot your problems. I asked him what he thought. He said, œYou need a new printer.  I asked if he could sell me one. He said, œYou don't want one of these. Go pick one up at Staples. And oh, by the way, one week out of every month, they put their printers on sale. Make sure you wait for that.  And that, my friend, is why I buy all my printer supplies from him. He knows that by helping me solve my problem today---and without any regard for his wallet---it will come back to him in the long run. Compare that to the conversation I had recently with the vice president of business development of a video production company that I was thinking of hiring. I said: What kind of companies do you tend to work with? She said: All kinds. We've worked with really big, really small and lots of start-ups. I said: Any particular industries? She said: All industries! Tech, banking, manufacturing, professional services ¦you name it. I said: What types of videos are you best at? She said: All types. We can do a great job with whatever you need. Finally, and realizing that my attempts to ferret out the company sweet spot were going nowhere, I switched direction and asked, œWhat would make me the wrong client for your company?  Uh oh, long silence. She eventually uncorked a few mouthfuls of salesy blah blah, but she was clearly stumped. The idea that somehow I wasn't a potential sale, today, had apparently never occurred to her. So what's the difference? Will didn't sell me a printer and she didn't sell me video production services. Didn't they both lose, equally? No, and here's why:

Focus. Will will sell you a printer, occasionally, but it's not his business. He sells printer supplies and he's developed a reputation for that. I don't buy those anywhere else. Biz Dev Woman will sell anything to anyone who's willing to write a check. I'm sure it works for her here and there, but because she's so broad, I associate her with nothing in particular. Word-of-mouth referral requires focus and consistency in what you do and for whom you do it. If you're known for everything, you're known for nothing. You'll spend your life chasing prospects (as opposed to them chasing you) and get squeezed on price along the way.

Credibility. Will could have sold me a printer that day. But instead he sent me to Staples, because they were a better match for what I needed. Now I know I can trust him. The day he suggests I buy one of his printers, I won't hesitate to reach for my credit card. Biz Dev Woman? I don't know what to believe. Instead of using her knowledge and expertise in the world of video production to help me sort through my options, she squandered an opportunity to position herself as a likeable expert. I can't imagine why I would ever go back to her, let alone send anybody in her direction.

Here's the bottom line. It took me a long time to realize that effective selling---the kind that leads to positive word of mouth, enjoyable work and terrific clients who happily pay you what you're worth---has nothing to do with learning how to œclose  people. It's nearly all about learning how to help them. Sure, sometimes helping people means sending them on their way. But if you view that as a marketing opportunity---a chance to demonstrate both your knowledge and your trustworthiness---as opposed to a œlost sale,  you'll make a lot of friends today and a lot of money tomorrow.

Michael Katz

Michael Katz is Founder and Chief Penguin of Blue Penguin Development. He specializes in helping professional service providers talk about their work in a way that is clear and compelling. Sign up for his free newsletter, The Likeable Expert Gazette, at http://bluepenguindevelopment.com/free.