Fortune's Most Admired Companies- Where does your company Rank?
Fortune Magazine Published their list of America’s Most Admired Companies, how did your organization do and how can you use this information to increase sales?
You see it every year, the lists of best companies to work, and Most Admired companies etc. How valid are these lists and as a sales rep how can you use this to your advantage?
Well, I did have the experience of working for one of the best companies on Fortune’s list when I worked at SAS. While it was always salt in the wound for us folks that did not work in the Cary Headquarters (they were the folks that worked for the company outlined in Fortune, we satellite employees referred to ourselves as “orphans”) The news did trickle down to my customers, and they were impressed.
I used this as a great lead- highlighting it proudly in my power point dog and pony shows. We also had a high retention rate of employees, and this was a good selling point to our customers as well as our commitment to R&D etc. I notice SAS is not even making the top 40 these days, but is still in the top 100. There is definitely a value in this claim, and that a nationwide magazine recognized that value and looked at thousands of organizations to rate them in certain areas, it truly something to bring forward to your customers.
There is enough “FUD” being tossed around when you are in a competitive situation, leading with the positive aspects of your company, and tying that value back to the customer, is very important. For example- I liked using the employee retention aspect as an asset- let’s face it our customers have seen the turnover- multiple sales reps handling their accounts, changing support people etc. This really get’s on their nerves, as life is simpler if you can deal with the same people over and over again.
This value can be driven home in customer satisfaction and it can be a benefit that you know the competition cannot claim, as no matter how much they can “say it” and they might be true- you have this claim that really amplifies the value.
Take a look below at the Top 10, and investigate the links that take you to the entire list. See if your company is on the list, and if it is prepare some strong value statements around the reasons they were selected. It is a powerful tool to use to differentiate yourself from your competition.
This year’s top 10 companies to work for are:
1. Google
2. Genentech
3. Wegmans Food Markets
4. Container Store
5. Whole Foods Market
6. Network Appliance
7. S.C. Johnson & Son
8. Boston Consulting Grp.
9. Methodist Hospital Sys.
10. W.L. Gore & Associates
Fortune Best Companies To Work Article
This Year’s Most Admired Companies are
1. General Electric
2. Starbucks
3. Toyota Motor
4. Berkshire Hathaway
5. Southwest Airlines
6. FedEx
7. Apple
8. Google
9. Johnson & Johnson
10. Procter & Gamble
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