How to Navigate Calls - Client, Connection, or Just Networking?
Release Date: 02/03/2025
Using AI in Sales - What to Automate and What to Say Yourself
Sales Maven
Are you unintentionally sabotaging your sales by relying too heavily on AI? In this episode of The Sales Maven Show, Nikki Rausch dives into the hot topic of using AI in sales—and where it helps versus where it hurts. If you’ve ever sent a message written by AI that got zero response, only to realize later it didn’t sound like you, you’re not alone. Nikki shares why authenticity is more crucial than ever in sales and how overreliance on AI can erode trust, disconnect you from potential clients, and stall your business growth. AI can be a powerful assistant when it comes to idea...
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Is It a Lead or a Distraction? How to Gracefully Handle ‘Just One More Thing’ People
Sales Maven
Have you ever had someone say, “I’m definitely going to hire you... I just need help with one more thing first”? You help them. You offer your expertise. And then... silence. In this episode of The Sales Maven Show, Nikki Rausch breaks down how to spot the difference between a legitimate lead and a time-wasting distraction, and how to handle those people who always have just one more thing they want from you (for free). Nikki opens up about her own experiences with repeat freebie seekers, people who continually reach out under the guise of becoming paying clients, only to ghost after...
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Audience Engagement Strategies - What To Say When Your Audience Isn’t Engaging
Sales Maven
If you’ve ever felt discouraged by the silence on the other end of your emails, social posts, or offers, you're not alone. In this episode of the Sales Maven podcast, Nikki Rausch breaks down what that silence actually means (spoiler: it’s not failure) and shares powerful audience engagement strategies that help you move from broadcasting to genuinely connecting. Nikki explains that engagement isn’t about instant replies or high numbers. It’s about building relationships over time. Every small interaction, or “micro-touch,” contributes to the bigger picture. Research shows that it...
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The Power of Silence - A Surprising Sales Skill That Changes Everything - Sales Success Story
Sales Maven
What if the most powerful thing you could say… was nothing at all? In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, Nikki Rausch sits down with Carol Becker, a member of the Sales Maven Society, who shares her remarkable transformation from mechanical design engineer to caregiver support specialist. After surviving a coma and navigating life with memory loss, Carol found a new purpose: helping caregivers, especially those supporting dementia patients, feel seen, heard, and understood. Carol opens up about the emotional toll caregiving can take, and how silence, patience, and intentional...
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What Not To Say - The Rapport-Breaking Mistake You Don’t Realize You’re Making
Sales Maven
Have you ever said something in a sales conversation that landed the wrong way—even when your intentions were good? In this solo episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch breaks down what not to say if you want to build trust and close more deals. Sharing a recent personal experience at a dentist’s office, Nikki illustrates how one offhand comment can unknowingly damage rapport. She explains why every word matters when interacting with clients and how to ensure your message aligns with your intent. You'll learn practical strategies to reframe your communication for stronger client...
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Ego Thinking vs. Strategic Thinking - Are You Selling or Reacting?
Sales Maven
Are your sales conversations being driven by confidence and strategy—or by your ego? In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch unpacks the critical difference between ego-driven reactions and strategic thinking in sales. She highlights common traps that entrepreneurs and sales professionals fall into—like rushing to pitch, taking objections personally, hesitating to send offers, or feeling deflated when clients don’t take action. With relatable examples and actionable tips, Nikki shares how to shift into a more empowered, service-focused mindset. You’ll learn how to...
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Sales Confidence That Converts - A Client Shares Her Journey
Sales Maven
Want to boost your sales confidence while juggling business, family, and faith? In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch chats with Shana Cooper—CPA, entrepreneur, and mom of five—about the power of sales confidence in both personal and professional life. With over 30 years of experience, Shana shares how she blends biblical principles with practical financial strategies to help women lead with clarity and confidence. She opens up about her journey from employee to entrepreneur, the lessons she’s learned raising five kids while running a business, and how improved...
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How to Retain Clients When Budgets Are Tight - Sales Strategies That Work
Sales Maven
How do you keep clients coming back—even when times get tough financially? In this episode of the Sales Maven Podcast, Nikki Rausch shares actionable tips on how to retain clients during economic downturns. Learn how to stay top of mind, introduce effective downsell offers, and communicate proactively to meet your clients where they are—without losing the relationship (or the revenue). If client retention is part of your business strategy, this episode is packed with insights you can use right away. Timestamps: 00:43 – Welcome to the Sales Maven Podcast 01:04 – Why budget concerns...
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Pacing The Room - How To Build Instant Rapport With Groups
Sales Maven
Want to build instant rapport with your audience—without feeling fake or forced? In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch reveals how to quickly connect with groups during presentations. Drawing from her NLP background and years of experience, Nikki unpacks the subtle but powerful ways to create a sense of safety, respect, and engagement from the moment you take the stage. You’ll learn how to pace and lead effectively, why positive acknowledgment matters, and how to avoid common missteps that can alienate your audience. Whether you're speaking to a small team or a packed...
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From Default to Design - The Path to a Choiceful, Aligned Life - Mastering Excellence
Sales Maven
What does it really take to live an aligned life—one where your personal and professional goals support each other instead of compete? In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch is joined by bestselling author, book strategist, and coach Stacy Ennis to unpack what it means to live and work intentionally. Drawing from her global lifestyle and extensive publishing background, Stacy shares practical strategies for designing a choiceful life—one that aligns with your values, energy, and aspirations. Nikki and Stacy explore the power of intentional decision-making,...
info_outlineAre you struggling to make the most of your client connections? Do you find yourself wasting time on calls where the purpose feels unclear or unsure?
Is the person on the other end a potential client, colleague, or someone to politely part ways with?
It’s time to bring clarity and strategy to your conversations. In this episode, Nikki reveals how to master the art of identifying your goal in every call, transforming vague interactions into productive opportunities.
Learn how to spot the signs that you're talking to a potential client and how to move them seamlessly into the next step of the sales process.
Discover practical strategies to nurture meaningful relationships with colleagues or friends and how to gracefully "bless and release" connections that aren’t aligned with your goals.
Nikki shares the game-changing question to ask that establishes mutual purpose and sets the tone for every conversation: “What would make this call a valuable use of your time?”
Armed with this powerful tool, you balance rapport and strategy to ensure every call supports your business growth.
Say goodbye to wasted energy and hello to productive, impactful client connections. Listen now to learn how to approach every call with confidence, clarity, and purpose!
Nikki invites you to join the Sales Maven Society. Take advantage of this opportunity to work together with you and Nikki. Bring your questions, concerns, and sales situations; she provides answers and guidance. Join the Sales Maven Society here, click Join Today, and then checkout and use coupon code 47trial to get your first month for $47.00!
In This Episode:
[00:40] We're going to be talking about how to navigate those calls when you're not really sure what the purpose is.
[01:02] It's so important to understand the goal of the call. You could be wasting time on someone who's not a potential client or has a rapport mismatch with each of you having different intentions.
[02:07] My NLP training, where I had to create an outcome statement in a conversation, really highlights the importance of knowing the outcome.
[03:01] Having clarity and being strategic in client conversations is one of the most important things I teach. It's about knowing where you're going.
[03:41] Am I talking to a potential client, friend or colleague, or could this be a "bless and release" situation?
[04:48] We have to make time in our schedule by eliminating people in time sucks.
[05:48] A question to establish the intent of the call. "What would make this call a valuable use of your time?"
[06:39] You also need to establish a balance of power by being able to answer this question.
[07:49] What to do when you identify a potential client. Get the next step in the sales process done. Ask if they're interested in an offer then put together a proposal. Get it scheduled.
[10:05] What to do if there is a potential friend or colleague. Schedule a time to get together. Make an effort to stay in connection.
[12:27] If it's a "bless and release" situation, wrap up the call, "It's been so great talking to you. I wish you all the best in the future. Take care."
[14:51] Your outcome is to quickly establish whether you're talking to a potential client, a possible friend, or someone that you're going to bless and release.
[15:26] Set yourself up for success and be more strategic with your time and your business.
For more actionable sales tips, download the FREE Closing The Sale Ebook.
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