What is a belief system? Wiki would have it described as a mental representation of an attitude oriented toward the likelihood of something being true. I like that concept, because it identifies a model that supports the way someone likes […]
Negotiation comes from the root word ‘negotiat’ meaning ‘done in the course of business’. In other words, it’s a natural part of the conversation process when dealing with prospects, so if you feel you’re not good at negotiating, or you […]
One of the keys to increasing sales is getting under the skin of the prospect or your customer, so ascertain the real needs and to get them to understand how they can improve their business using your solutions. Without that […]
Many salespeople have nightmares when trying to present solutions to their prospects because they perceive their competitors are stronger than them in certain areas, or their prices are higher and they are convinced the buyers will always go for […]
What’s most important to your prospects? When we ask this question, many salespeople we train will answer “to save money!” And, while that’s often the main topic of conversation, it rarely transpires as the REAL criteria prospects use to decide […]
If you want to create a true emotional connection with your prospects and clients, then I recommend that you improve storytelling skills. Indeed, in my opinion sales storytelling can be your superpower and really separate you apart from your competition. […]
One of our clients approached us recently and said “I need you to run a motivation session for our sales team. Their figures are down and I want you to give them a boost”. We discussed the situation with him, […]
“The customer is always right” I’m sure you’ve heard these oft-quoted words from Harry Gordon Selfridge, the founder of the department store that bears his name. And how often have you thought of those words and cringed when the customer […]
Have you ever had that feeling when you’re talking to a prospect that the person isn’t who they say they are? By that, of course I don’t mean they are an impostor! No, but maybe they are claiming to have […]
Sometimes, even the words ‘cold call’ can send shivers down salespeople’s’ spines. The very thought of picking up the phone or writing an email to a prospect who has never heard of you or knows little about your products […]
According to Charles Darwins’ Origin of Species, “It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust […]
We all know the benefits of using quality questions in uncovering the current position our prospects are in. The better the quality of the questions, the more information you will gain. Now, imagine if there was one simple question you […]
You’ll no doubt agree that one of the most important key skills you need to develop today as a salesperson is that of communication. Ok, it’s a well-banged drum, but I’m going to say it again anyway…you simply will […]
Unless you’re working with customers who are purely in transactional mode, the holy grail of sales is gaining repeat business. Turning a one-time customer into a loyal client increases revenue, profit and probable recommendations exponentially. So, how can you tell […]
It’s a common subject brought up on our Sales Training Courses, and it can affect even the most experienced of salespeople. How do we overcome the feeling of nervousness before having a sales interaction? First, let’s highlight why nerves may […]
There are many times when a client tries to intimidate or get the better of salespeople. Whether it’s because they feel they have to in order to get a better deal, or their ego is associated with getting one over […]
Trying to get your prospect to interact with you can often be a frustrating nightmare. Making a call that is interrupting their day, especially when it sounds like a typical sales call, can be the quickest way to get a […]
We’ve all had them; those customers for whom nothing you ever do is enough, or everything you do is wrong, or you’re blamed for everything that isn’t your fault. A picky customer is usually like that with every situation. It’s […]
Yes, it’s that old chestnut again: the age-old-how-can-I-get-rid-of-this-pesky-salesperson answer. Most prospects will use this simply to get rid of you and if you take it on face value, you might feel there might be a chance in six months’ time. […]
When sales managers have opportunities to develop their sales team, it’s something they should throw their whole time and attention at, as they seldom have the chance to get out of the fire-fighting mode and spend time working on. So, […]
You know well how customer don’t buy on price alone. The risk that is taken when they buy the cheapest option is sometimes too great and so other components are taken into account when decisions are made. We often say […]
Selling today is all about recognising the true motivations of buyers and aligning your presentation/solution to match their needs and desires. We all know that! And we cover is excessively in our Sales Training. Or take a look at our […]
You will be aware of the changing nature of sales, driven by the ever-evolving requirements of businesses and their decision-makers. The old way of selling (cold-call, qualify, present, resolve, close) is being superseded by the consultative and insightful approach of […]
We had an enquiry last month from a sales manager who asked us to work with his sales team for half-a-day on closing techniques. He said his team was good at relationship-building but when it came to the close, they […]
The sales interaction went well. The prospect seems very interested, and you feel that you have covered all of the possible objections. However, the prospect sees no reason or need to act NOW. Even though you can expose problems the buyer […]
No matter how good your discussions have been with a prospect, there will come a time when you simply have to talk about lowering your prices. Even though you’ve built up your value, it still seems the prospect wants to […]
It’s an exciting time when you meet a client or prospect for the first time. It can also be nerve-jangling as you try to make a good impression, so your products or services virtually sell themselves. Opening the first meeting […]
You’re all ready to go. You’ve got all your leads for the day prepared and lined up in front of you. You have all your rebuttals ready, and you have rehearsed your main talking points. You’re ready to begin […]
What strikes me as strange and rather puzzling is a piece of research I read this week that said less than 10% of salespeople actually follow up a prospect more than once after they have sent a proposal. I had […]
Let me say something that, on the face of it, may sound puzzling. You learn more when things are going badly than when they are going well. Go on, admit it…that’s an interesting statement (even if you don’t agree with […]