After addressing a prospect's concern, don't assume you've solved it. Explicitly ask if your explanation was sufficient by asking, "Was that enough to satisfy your concern?" This simple check ensures the issue is truly resolved and prevents it from resurfacing later to kill your deal. Most reps answer and move on, which is a critical mistake.
Related Insights
A silent dissenter won't respond to "What are your concerns?". Instead, "soft-float" several potential objections, like giving them a multiple-choice question (e.g., "Is it our integrations, our pricing, or something else?"). This lowers the barrier for them to engage and allows them to latch onto a specific point, revealing their true apprehension.
When a prospect asks for a free pilot, treat it as a sign that you failed to build enough confidence in the outcome. Instead of agreeing, diagnose their uncertainty by asking what they still need help predicting. This shifts the conversation back to value and avoids deploying your best resources on your least committed customers.
When a prospect gives a nasty or absurd objection (e.g., "I'm in a meeting"), don't be defensive. Counter with a ridiculously hilarious response that breaks the tension, calls out the absurdity, and reveals the human behind the phone.
Frame your sales stages around the decisions you need from a prospect (a 'get'), not the tasks you must complete (a 'do'). For example, the goal isn't 'do a demo,' it's 'get agreement that you're the vendor of choice.' This encourages creativity and efficiency, preventing unnecessary activities.
Sellers often avoid scheduling a live proposal review because they fear creating friction. However, this avoidance is what causes prospects to ghost. A live walkthrough is essential to eliminate ambiguity, handle objections, and secure commitment, preventing the deal from stalling.
Before investing time to create a perfect offer, secure a conditional commitment by asking, 'If I can deliver on these specific things we've discussed, do we have a deal?' This tactic prevents the prospect from backing out to 'think about it' and ensures your efforts are aligned with a committed buyer.
Discussing pricing early doesn't mean you're in the proposal stage. True proposal and negotiation begins only after you have secured explicit agreement on the problem, the solution, and from the key decision-maker. At this point, the deal would close if it were free; price is the only remaining variable.
To sell effectively, avoid leading with product features. Instead, ask diagnostic questions to uncover the buyer's specific problems and desired outcomes. Then, frame your solution using their own words, confirming that your product meets the exact needs they just articulated. This transforms a pitch into a collaborative solution.
Prospects often express interest to gather information but lack a commitment to solve the problem. Sellers must differentiate by probing for concrete timelines and stakeholder involvement to avoid chasing deals that won't close, rather than hoping to convert interest into commitment on the call.
When approaching someone, anticipate their mental checklist of objections and neutralize them upfront. Mentalist Oz Perlman did this by establishing a time limit ("I only have a minute"), building credibility ("the owner brought me in"), and removing the fear of a transaction, all within seconds.
