Posts Tagged ‘sales tips’

Talk specifics – people listen more

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

When you’re making your telesales or telemarketing calls talk specifics. Your prospects will listen more. You’re simply more persuasive if you give actual, real and specific examples.

Don’t use generalities. I often receive sales calls which include the time honoured line ”We’re one of the leading suppliers of blah-blah in the UK.” It is simply a load of words, because everyone can say that about their product or service – whether they are or not.  Or “we operate to professional standards.” Or “all our staff are experts in dealing with blah-blah.” Says who? Says you? ok, and of course you the salesperson are completely objective aren’t you?!

sales pitches on the phone

Talk specifics - no blah-blah

Instead talk about specific examples “we already supply our software to 11 of the 47 health trusts in England.” Or make bold but specific claims “our engineers are never more than 50 miles from any customer’s site.”

Even talking manufacturing output may give credence to the scale of your operation. “Yes we turn out 10,000 of those every day.”

The more obvious examples to boast about are where you’ve won awards (as by nature these are competitive) and show you must be good. “By royal appointment” will always carry a fair bit of clout, as will “we were class winners this year” in the fastest growing company in our industry sector at the annual awards in Birmingham last month.

There are always great things you can talk about, even if you can’t think of any examples at the moment. Develop them, weave them into your script and you will simply become more persuasive and someone your prospects will listen to.

If you want to develop a stronger, meatier sales approach to your sales calls give us a call on 01858 461148. We work with companies across the Midlands, in Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Oakham and wider parts of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, West Midlands and Cambridge.

Sex sells – make the most of yourself

Friday, July 15th, 2011

Sex sells – make the most of yourself – honestly.

We may like to deny it, and we may like to think in these modern times that we judge people on what they say and what they know. And all these things are important in the post-industrial era. However ………….. physical appearance still plays a big part in determining whether someone wants to deal with you or not, or at least if they’re going to choose you over a competitor when there might not be much to choose between you.

I was reminded of this during a recent conversation with a client. He was talking about the company they use for their printing and talking about how they support local businesses where they can and how they’d been using this company for a number of years.

He went on to say that what he remembered about the first meeting when a lady came to introduce the company’s services was that she had nice shoes. He didn’t elaborate, but the key point was that it was an item of clothing rather than the presentation that he’d remembered. Admittedly if she’d have communicated badly or offered poor products, I guess she wouldn’t have been considered further – however nice her shoes. But, assuming there was a fair bit of competition, her pride in her appearance and the thought she put into choosing what she would wear clearly paid dividends. Whatever her shoes cost, was no doubt repaid many times over.

Shoes can make all the difference

Your shoes could ultimately make all the difference

 

Of course, you may or may not like the shoes pictured, you’re hardly on this site looking for fashion advice are you?! But make the most of whatever your creator has given you. Make sure you’re smart, tidy and professional looking, and wearing something appropriate for your market sector. The latest SuperDry t-shirt may be fine if you’re a web designer, but probably not if you’re a commercial solicitor.

And then if you trust your judgement to try that one bold item that will get you noticed and then remembered so much the better. Remember fortune favours the brave and it is true that most men will enjoy looking at a shapely pair of legs just as women appreciate a man who’s made the effort and looks smart in her company (even if the goal is to sell something!)

To Market runs telephone sales and telemarketing training courses across the East Midlands, Peterborough, Cambridge, Leicester, Northampton, Derby, Nottingham, Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Coventry, Birmingham, Lichfield, Solihull, Peterborough, Wolverhampton, West Midlands, Milton Keynes, Lincoln, East Midlands as well as wider parts of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Why do sales people fail to close ?

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Why do sales people fail to close ? This is a question we spotted on a forum recently and it is an interesting question. With over 140 responses so far it has clearly got the juices going.

The key reason why sales people don’t close effectively is out of fear. They either don’t ask the question at all, or ask it at the wrong time.

Closing the sale - is all about overcoming the fear of rejection

Closing the sale - is all about overcoming the fear of rejection

For a sales person to close at the right time, all they need to do is understand where they are in the process and trust themselves and the process.

As a rule of thumb it is a good idea to open the prospect up by asking them some open questions (so that’s your 7 ‘W’s.) Then just listen attentively and pick up on both what they are saying and how they’re saying it. This will allow you to decide which aspects of your product or service are most relevant to them. You support this with some benefit statements explaining clearly and concisely why this is what they need – and then you watch for buying signals. Once you get a buying signal, the close should be the natural and logical next step.

And it should be remembered that the close is simply a question that’s all. No great drama, it’s just a closed question.

 If they decline at this stage you merely go back to asking questions to uncover more about their needs. To ask the question at the wrong time means you’ve not used the above process accurately enough.

Finally, remember that “everyone lives by selling something” so there should be no great shame attached to going for the close.

Like most things be relaxed, remember you’re a human, relate to them as a human and the close and successful selling should become a natural ‘next step.’

To Market offers telephone sales training, telesales training, telemarketing training for companies across the Midlands ; Leicester, Northampton, Kettering, Wellingborough, Coventry, Birmingham, Daventry, Melton Mowbray, Cambridge, Newmarket, Warwick, Stratford on Avon, Leamington Spa, Loughborough, Nottingham, Derby, Solihull, Lichfield, and wider parts of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Suffolk plus the East and West Midlands