After 20 years and 10,000 deals, I’ve seen some great attempts at closing a sale. I’ve also seen some very bad ones. Of course, those bad attempts resulted in losing the sale. But many times there is just as much to learn from someone who does it completely wrong as there is from a pro. Set aside your training guide and meeting notes for a second, and let’s look at seven sure-fire ways to lose your next sale. 1. Don’t…
There are mistakes a sales manager can make, and then there are the biggest mistakes a sales manager can make. Check out these four costly, and sometimes irreparable, mistakes and then do your best to avoid them. Mistake #1: The Cell Phone If you think having a salesperson use their own cell phone to cut costs is a savvy move, think again. Here’s what really happens: Rather than giving your salesperson a cell phone, you have him use his own. The…
What if I told you there’s a secret to sales lead success that’s as easy as 1-2-3? Would you believe me if I said the secret lies in… business cards? You may not see the connection right away, but you will. Business Cards: They’re Not Just Paper and Ink If I gave you a peek into my pocket, you‘d find three things: credit cards, some cash, and business cards. When someone hands me a business card, that tiny card represents…
Sales scripts have been a mainstay for as long as people have been hocking goods on street corners and from wooden carts. Why do they still work today? Because human nature never changes.Essentially, a sales script helps guide the presentation so it hits the right pain points for the audience. The script ensures that you target the message. It keeps the presentation simple and to the point, so you maximize your time with a prospect.Breaking Down a Sales ScriptTake ActionThe…
The prospect you’ve been dying to speak with finally agreed to a face-to-face meeting. All of your persistence paid off, and you’re ready to make your pitch and seal the deal. Not so fast. All the effort you put into getting that meeting is wasted if you go in for the kill too quickly. When you first sit down with a prospect, you need to prep them in order to get them into buying shape. So, let’s say you’ve scheduled…
Innovation is the mark of a successful business, and that holds true for salespeople, too. We all know that most people really just want to be left alone. They don’t want to talk to a salesperson. But they have a problem. And you have the solution. With the overheard selling technique, you can reach the 49 percent of people who are intrinsic, and would rather die than talk to you—even about a product they really need. Here’s a primer on…
To succeed in business, you must live by this mantra: The customer is always right. But does the same hold true for the prospect? Not always. In fact, if your salespeople can learn how to navigate these uncharted waters, and read a prospect correctly, you’ll increase profits and keep your salespeople very happy. Dealing with Prospects Let’s look at this concept through a comparison. When a customer calls in with a complaint, they’re always right. As a business that prioritizes…
If it’s good, you can win a sale or a customer. If it’s bad, you can lose a lot more than that. The elevator pitch has been around for ages, and it’s here to stay. Businesses use it in person, in print and on the web to convey their value proposition to customers. But it’s gotta be good to be convincing—and to catch busy consumers’ ears. Today’s salesperson has to compete with a lot of noise: information overload, never-ending emails,…
A crack sales team of seasoned professionals securing millions of dollars worth of sales. It’s a business owner’s dream. On the surface, it may seem like building a great sales team takes the skills of a well-practiced human resources professional. But that’s only partly true. The other critical factor that will dictate your team’s success is the quality of sales materials. The topic may seem unglamorous, but the tools you put into the hands of your salespeople do make an…
Selling is tough, and even seasoned salespeople can slip up. These mistakes can hurt your business, especially when times are tough financially. Let's face it, we all have those moments when we're not at our best and make blunders that make us look like rookies.Here are the top 10 sales mistakes that can make you seem inexperienced, even if you've been in the game for a while:Acting like you have all the time: Don't act like you have all day…