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“Technology trends ebb and flow: What’s hot today is yesterday’s news tomorrow.”

That’s just some of the timely technology advice that can be found in the recently published second edition of Proactive Selling, by William “Skip” Miller.

According to Miller, some of the most relevant technological trends that salespeople ought to keep an eye on are:

• Mobility
• Video
• Cloud
• Lead Generation
• Contact management
• Deal management
• Apps

The author advises that salespeople should not be wary of making an investment in software or hardware. “You’re not losing your money or your time, even if the technology eventually becomes obsolete. I now use an iPhone instead of the Blackberry I used before, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t get my money’s worth out of the Blackberry. Investing in a website for yourself is definitely worth the trouble. Your customers can stay in touch with you, look up specials, or explore what they can do with the new products you are announcing. Don’t make them wait for you to call them.

“Also, work up a blog so your customers can talk to each other. Have a monthly WebEx so your customers can stay in touch with your latest offerings and services. Start video chatting or have iChat sessions with your customers to have more useful conversations, Any way that you use social media — and remember to be security conscious while you are doing so — will add to your competitive advantage.”

Proactive Selling, second edition, by William “Skip” Miller, 238pp., $17.95, is available from Amacom Books.