How do I convert more of those leads into customers?
Focusing on the second issue, if you have got that vital first meeting, you should really be in with a very strong chance of closing it. You will need to have 3 to 5 power questions prepared in advance,
So why do so many business owners and sales people alike, have problems securing the deal with a hot prospect. This article helps you unlock your magic code, to securing far more business at sales meetings.
The human brain has difficulty seeing more than 3 things at any one time. In fact to see 5 objects, we actually process that as a 2 and a 3. It is the same when we hear, see or do things.
So we break meetings into 3 precise parts. You might remember being told in school, that when you write a story, it should have a clear beginning, middle and end. Your sales call is no different, though what you do in each of those 3 parts is vital.
The first part of the sales call - the opening.
Smile! This is so essential, if you don't smile, you might as well not turn up! Then in your most honest, open and gracious way thank your host for taking the time to see you.
Next ask how much time they have allocated to spend with you. Write it down and make a note of what time, 15 minutes from the end will be. Because that is when you finish the second part of the call and move onto the all important 3rd section of the call.
The second part of the sales call - Power questioning.
So what is a power question? I define it as a question which you ask your prospect about their business, that uncovers a need or desire that your offering can fulfill.
You will need to have 3 to 5 power questions prepared in advance, and you will use the questions as jump points, to lead your prospect or buyer along, with a series of questions.
Say you were selling a drill. Some power questions would be as follows.
What do you need to make holes for?
Where will you be drilling the holes?
Say, the prospect had told you that he wanted to put up a shelf, against a concrete wall.
You could then ask him;
Would you be putting up a lot of shelves?
What sort of things would be on the shelves?
Have you any price in mind?
Now and only now do you have enough information to show him a drill, since you now have an idea of what sort of drill would suit him.
The third part of the sales call - the close.
Some sales, the close will mean an actual sale, in many however it will require a follow-up action or call.
It is key however to start this process, with 15 minutes to go. Start by summarizing all of his issues, what he wants, what solving his problems will do for them, etc. Basically regurgitate all that you have learned about his business.
Confirm that they do want to own your offering. Check with them, as to how they would value your product or service.
Agree any actions required on both parts. This might be that you will go and write a draft proposal, they will read it, and you will meet again to discuss it and move forward.
Seems simple enough - guess what, most people assume the other person will have time to read your proposal, ask if they do and ask that they promise they will schedule it in.
Finally SET A DIARY APPOINTMENT for the follow up call, which could be a phone call, but ensure that it, is in the other person's diary!
Just try it; you will be amazed at the results.
Think you can manage that on your own, if you need more help, maybe you would like some sales coaching or mentoring, we can run sessions specifically tailored around your needs, desires, time and budgets.
Sample Sales Call Reports
Back in 1978, when I made my first ever sales call, the thought of doing anything but meeting my client face to face was not an option. Sales was an industry of first names and firm handshakes, of looking your client in the eye and saying their name. That was the way you did it (because that was the way your father did it, and the way his father did it).
Back then, computers were the domain of the government, research scientists, taking up whole buildings. There were a few video games, but most were the size of refrigerators and sat in arcades. We had no idea what we were in for in just a few short decades.
Welcome to the year 2007 and the maturing of not just the PC, but the internet as well. A time when personal computers are more than just glorified word processors. It is time to update your selling methodology: the internet is the new hotspot for meeting with prospects. No the internet is not replacing the face to face sales call; it's just changing its purpose and order in the sales process. If this is news to you, you aren't on the cutting edge. You're not even a step or two behind. Your competition has discovered WebX and Go to meeting and are talking to their prospects right now, from across town'or across the country. How do we know that? Look at the stats: ? Founded in 1996, WebEx has grown into the worldwide leader in online meeting applications, with 64% market share. ? More than 3.5 million people use WebEx every month to communicate and collaborate online. As for their competition Go to Meeting'we know the numbers are not quite as strong, but when you combine these two, you get a sense of what is really happening in new business development these days---and more importantly, where it's happening: the first sales call is being done at virtual meetings not on site meetings anymore.
Decision makers are more likely to commit to on line meetings because they are faster, more convenient. There is no driving to another venue, no getting situated in the conference room?heck, he might not even have to leave his own desk. He can sit in his chair, sip his coffee, have your meeting, listen to your introduction, and then get right back to work.
When a prospect commits to a online meeting it's not the same as committing to an on site meeting. Online meetings are less intrusive and less interrupting to your prospect's workflow. There's a pretty good chance your prospect would PREFER an online meeting to one that takes place face to face. That's not a bad thing, because in sales, any opportunity to give your pitch is chance to step up to the plate (even a virtual one)?and that's better than sitting in the dugout.
On-site meetings that result from a cold call require getting a bigger commitment from a prospect nowadays. They may want to check references, see your pricing and feel more confident about your services before even letting you step foot in to their office. Then there is the matter of scheduling, coordinating the team (if it's a team decision) and finding a place to accommodate everyone. Compare that to simply opening a computer program on your desktop with a click of the mouse, and you start to see the appeal. So, while you're in the lobby waiting on your prospect?who's on the other side of his computer monitor?
Both Peter Lawlesss & Al Davidson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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