I recently wrote about how coaches can use networking skills to advance their program and securing sports sponsorships through social media. One of the things that helps when networking and selling is a little psychology. I recently read Small Message, Big Impact by Terry Sjodin.

She discusses how to serve the needs of decision-makers to get them to do what you want them to do. Here are a few pointers from the chapter on building a persuasive case.

1. Time: How will what you want save this person time?
2. Money: How will what you want save this person money (or make them money)?
3. Sanity: How will what you want save this person sanity? Make their life or job easier?
4. Security: How will what you want provide this person more security? Financially? Are you dependable? Will you be around tomorrow? Is this a safe partnership?
5. Fun: How are you going to make their life or job fun?
6. Ease of use: Is what you want done easy? Or can you make things easy for this person?

I've found that if you can satisfy one of these six needs, then your sale will be much easier, whether you are selling an athlete on training harder, a parent on volunteering or your athletic director on purchasing something.

Take action today. Determine what you need, how you can help someone that can help you,  then make the sale!

If you want to learn how to help your fans save time and make it easy for them to follow you, then register for our Mobile Marketing for Sports Teams webinar that takes place Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 9 PM ET.