The Scratching Post

Stories, insights and tips about marketing, sales and networking, with a little added wit and sass.

Conversational Selling: Why you should stop pitching and start a conversation

By Nicole Gallant / April 10, 2023

Let’s face it – you recognize a sales pitch when you hear one. The overly constructed content and rehearsed delivery make the hidden agenda plain as day. You and your clients can smell it a mile away. Your pain points may be articulated in the infomercial-esque dialogue. However, being pitched at without any interaction around…

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4 Ways to attract clients from your network

By Nicole Gallant / January 2, 2023

As a coach or consultant, attracting clients from your network starts by building confidence in what you deliver. Have you found yourself scratching your head trying to figure out how to attract more referrals/clients from your network? The female founders I work with do. So, you’re not alone. Small business owners, coaches, consultants and those…

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What’s the best way to grow your service-based business as a female founder?

By Nicole Gallant / May 3, 2022

Networking tips for female founders who want quality connections As a female founder, networking is one way to grow your service-based business via the connections made. Naturally, this is so others know what we do. But what is the best way to network, so you get the most out of your time you put into…

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Cold calls: Are they in or out?

By Nicole Gallant / April 6, 2021

The cold call  “Hello, is this the manager in charge of purchasing? Great, well, have I got a deal for you …” Ugh. Let me guess, when you think about sales, you immediately think about getting on the phone and calling people you don’t know and asking them to buy stuff, right? Well, yes. It…

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Nicole Networking

5 Tips for networking effectively

By Nicole Gallant / March 2, 2021

Networking is one of the best things you can do to grow your business, but many people struggle with how to effectively get the word out about what they do at these events. It doesn’t need to be that way though; I’ve learned that networking can be effective (and, yes, even fun!) for all personality…

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Aligning your message to achieve results

By Nicole Gallant / June 22, 2020

Aligning my harmony A self-reflection story of taking my own medicine and aligning my values, beliefs, and skills in harmony in order to help YOU experience the same epiphany and achieve the high-level results you’ve been craving. March 15, 2020 was the beginning, not the end, looking back now. Ever find yourself scratching your head…

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Coffee meetings

4 Essential factors for better coffee meetings

By Nicole Gallant / March 7, 2020

Can coffee meetings be authentic if there’s an agenda? The simple answer is “yes”, if the agenda is beneficial to both parties. Many entrepreneurs engage in business as a transaction, whether we are networking, following up, or having sales conversations. Meeting someone for the first time may not be the opportune time to relinquish everything…

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Working with the right business

By Nicole Gallant / December 19, 2018

As entrepreneurs and business owners we have a lot on our plate. Looking after day to day operations and managing staff take up most of the day. Your own clients take precedence and your focus is getting things done right for your customers. As a solo-preneur you’re wearing all the hats, or least trying to. You’re…

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