Posts Tagged ‘selling on the telephone’

Telephone selling in commodity markets – ask for the order

Friday, November 26th, 2010

Telephone selling in commodity markets – ask for the order.

You may well work in some form of commodity market. I always feel selling in these situations is particularly challenging. You don’t get much chance to use your selling skills, and certainly limited opportunities to talk benefits. The customer is simply doing a phone round, and frankly unless you’re the cheapest – the lowest price, you’re unlikely to get the order. This may make you feel a bit downhearted like the lady in the picture below. 

Ask for the order - telephone sales tip
Ask for the order – telephone sales tip

It is important though to remember to ask for the order. Basic advice I know, but how often is it neglected? Especially when you’re already conditioned to think that they won’t want to buy from you, at least not until they’ve completed a phone round.

I was recently sat with a client who is in a commodity selling market. We have carried out a range of training and one of the key things has been to get the team of 7 to ask for the order whenever they quote. The client proudly told me that the team has generated 13% more sales in the 3 months since training than in the 3 months before! Admittedly this is not all down to the team just asking this one question. We’ve done a fair amount of training, and the client has also been proactive in developing more attractive packages and training on product knowledge. However a 13% increase in sales volume is good – however it has been achieved.
Part of my advice was to ensure that the question – asking for the order accompanied requests for quotes. Then back it up with a benefit statement. So it might sound like this “OK, I can supply that for you at £120 per kilo, and we can have it delivered for you by the day after tomorrow. Would you like me to organise that for you?”  After all, remember the old maxim if you don’t ask they can’t say yes!
You might be expecting a fob-off, but ask the question anyway, you’ll be surprised how many times it works. And what’s the worst that will happen? They’ll give you the fob-off anyway. Remember customers just want life to be made easy for them. And sometimes, they can’t really be bothered to carry on phoning around especially if what they may save is fairly small beer.
Remember fortune favours the brave! So be brave and you will be rewarded. Enjoy your selling.
To Market runs telephone sales, telemarketing and customer service 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.

Telesales masterclass – 14th & 15th December 2010

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

Our final 2 day telesales masterclass will run on 14th & 15th December 2010 in Northamptonshire or Leicestershire.

telesales training - 2 day Masterclass - Leicestershire / Northamptonshire

telesales training - 2 day Masterclass - Leicestershire / Northamptonshire

We’ve chosen these dates as clients tell us things often get a bit quieter just before Christmas and as a result it is a better time for training.  This course will cover all the key elements of communication skills and how to structure an effective sales call. We’ll be covering top tips and techniques for dealing with objections, listening skills, questioning skills – what the different questions are, when to use them and how to structure a powerful telephone sales call around good questioning. Add into that an introduction to the 2 stage process for directing the conversation, and a couple of hours on how to structure powerful telesales and telemarketing calls and you have the basic tools to make sure you convert more opportunities that come your way on the phone. Contact us for more details on 01858 461148. You can download a copy of a telesales course schedule directly from the site http://www.tomarket.co.uk/course-schedules.php 

This 2 day course is ideal for anyone in Derby, Nottingham, Coventry, Leicester, Birmingham, Cambridge, Peterborough, Northampton, Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Oadby, Market Harborough, Hinckley, Oakham, Warwick, Leamington Spa, Stratford on Avon as well as wider parts of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, West Midlands and East Midlands. BOOK NOW for places on  14th - 15th December 2010 course.

Telesales closing – it’s only a question that’s all

Monday, November 8th, 2010

Telesales closing technniques. It’s easy really, it’s only a question that’s all.

Closing techniques for telesales - easy really

Closing techniques for telesales - easy really

I am often asked about closing tips and techniques for telesales and telemarketing people when clients commission me to run training courses for their sales teams. Sometimes people tell me that their sales team doesn’t close well enough, or that they are frightened of the close. Frightened of what ? Asking a question ? Surely not ?

No, the close should be the natural extension of the conversation you are having with the person you are talking to. The key to effective closing is really about doing the other bits right first. The only reason you should be going for the close, where you ask the prospect for their commitment is because you’ve done everything else and you think they should say yes.

The earlier parts of the sales process are where you ask questions at the identifying needs stage. Your questioning skills and listening skills are the most important elements here. Once you’ve listened to, and got clear about what the prospect’s needs really are, you can then offer your matching statements by telling them how you offer a product or service that matches their requirements. This will frequently involve reinforcing the fact that their requirements are entirely logical and that is why you offer that product or service.

You use the seek and speak circle to control the conversation, and benefit statements to create interest and hopefully a little excitement. That is the quality that will ultimately make them decide to commit NOW – today. This is what you want to aim for.

If you’re getting the right signs and the right level of interest, then you simply ask the question. There are many ways of doing this and your words will need to fit the situation, but they should sound soft and consensual, “Ok, so is this what you want to go for then ?” or “Shall I go ahead and set them up for you now ?” or “great let’s start the ball rolling then shall we ?”

The close really is only a question, nothing more, nothing less. Do your groundwork properly first, and greater conversion rates will be yours! The world definitely has room for one more superstar.

To Market runs telephone sales, telemarketing and customer service 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

Questions really are the answer

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Questions really are the answer. It is true that good and effective questioning skills are key to building good relationships with your customers and prospects. And remember that everyone is a customer, it’s just that some of them haven’t bought from you yet !

Questioning skills are key to build good relationships with customers

Questioning skills are key to building good relationships with customers

I was with a customer yesterday who was talking about the fact that his sales team who deal with customers on the phone and on the trade counter don’t readily offer alternatives when a customer asks for a product which is out of stock. This is so important for a number of reasons.

First it is important to remember that a customer who calls you on the phone or in person really wants to go away with their problem solved. They don’t really want to have to try somewhere else or phone around. So in fact, by offering alternatives you are potentially solving a problem for them. Be proactive – it is good selling and good customer service.

Secondly a customer or client can often go away with a solution that they’re happy with, or in some instances happier with than what they thought they needed ! Use your experience and expertise to offer them other things they may not be aware of.

And the best way of offering advice and alternatives is by questioning. Only by using quality questioning skills will you be able to find out all you need to know about the customer’s application and their requirements. That is important as the advice you come back with, is likely to be more useful to them. They will also respect the fact that you’ve listened and shown some interest in them.

Questions then really are the answer, as they help you find out the things you need to know and at the same time it helps you build rapport because you show interest. It works for professionals such as lawyers, accountants, detectives and doctors. Let it work for you too.

To Market runs training sessions that include beefint up your questioning techniques across the West and East Midlands including Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, Nottingham, Daventry, Solihull, Lichfield, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Leicester, Northampton and London 

Telesales and telemarketing training for contract cleaning companies

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Contract cleaning companies rely heavily on telesales and telemarketing, and To Market gets many training and development enquiries from this industry sector. Having an effective telesales or telemarketing team is important if you are trying to generate new leads and new business opportunities in contract cleaning.

Not all contract cleaners are as cheap to pay as this one !
Not all contract cleaners are as cheap to pay as this one !

Building a good database or list is fairly straightforward if you’re a contract cleaning company as most business of a certain profile will have a potential use for your services.

To Market training for contract cleaning companies usually starts with the onsite team audit where we will come and listen in to your team for 2 hours. At that point we can give you a report back on your team, and areas for improvement. The 2 day in-house telephone communication skills course is then tailored to address the areas for improvement.
In addition as one contract cleaning client said recently “the other good thing about training is that it signals to my team that their role is valued and that I’m serious about their targets too !”
Give us a call on 01858 461148 to discuss your current business situation and your development plans. Maybe we can help.

Telesales training masterclass – 9th & 10th September 2009 – Leicester, Northampton, Coventry

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Telesales masterclass on 9th & 10th September – so straight after the school holidays ! This course is ideal for anyone in Leicester, Northampton, Coventry, Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Peterborough, Milton Keynes, or wider parts of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.

This 2 day telesales and telemarketing training course is for anyone who wants to be selling more on the phone, and covers a range of selling techniques, telephone selling, and closing the sale. The telesales course will be a lively, fun 2 days helping you adopt new communication skills techniques.

We will be covering how to open a sales call, telephone techniques plus communication topics such as questioning skills, identifying needs, probing, dealing with objections, selling benefits.

You can e-mail us for more details including course schedule and fees at info@tomarket.co.uk. If required you can reserve a place at no obligation and then let us know if you want to book. This course will be run by Andrew Seaward – Senior Trainer at To Market

Telesales training course – Corby 22nd January 2009

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

You have an opportunity to join us for a one day telesales course in Corby on 22nd January.

We have been commissioned to run a course by a Northamptonshire training company on that day. Some of the delegates will be theirs, but we have 2 places available at the moment.

This course is highly suitable for any telesales or telemarketing people, especially if you’re based in Northampton, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Peterborough, Leicestershire or Northamptonshire. You can e-mail us at info@tomarket.co.uk for more course details, but the course will cover ;   

·         Discussion on the key things that work and don’t work in verbal communication (and how all these things are mostly based around just 2 key principles !)

 

·         The true impact of Expression, Energy and Emphasis. How just the opening 6 words of a call can tell you 40 + things about a stranger (you can’t even see !)

 

·         Questioning skills. To understand what different types of questions there are, how to know when to use them, and how to structure a good sales call around good questioning techniques. We also demonstrate how it makes people like you more too !

 

·         Understanding the sales process so as to be able to navigate your way through an effective call. How to know what to do, when. This will cover ;

 

o        How to open a telesales call (and how it’s different to face to face sales.)

o        Identifying customer needs

o        Use of quality questions to unearth the right information and build rapport

o        Dealing with different types of customer

o        How to wrap up a sales call

 

·         How to organise your telephone sales activity (to get the most out of your time)

 

·         Who to prioritise to get the best chance of success

 

·         Getting past gatekeepers. Understanding that it is all part of the game

 

·         Opening lines to use to create interest

 

·         Ways of dealing with the dreaded ‘price objection’

 

·         How to sell on things other than price

 

The fee for this course is just £199 + VAT per delegate. In return we will feed you, give you warm drinks, a set of notes and a host of useful and motivational ideas and new techniques to try !