Category: Top » Business » Sales »


Author: jwk8199 | Total views: 53 Comments: 0
Word Count: 727 Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 10:56 PM

Are You Making These Mistakes Closing Sales?

I receive many emails from sales people who are having basically the same problem. Repeatedly I hear the same story. It goes something like this: "I get the appointment with the prospect, the meeting seems to go well, however, I can't close the sale".

When I answer the email or speak with them on the phone, I find they are all making the same mistakes. They are common mistakes with the majority of sales people, so if you are one of them, you are not alone.

So, what mistakes are they making? I can sum all these mistakes up by saying, they are skipping steps in the sales process. They have not prepared themselves to have the best opportunity to make the sale and then they blame the prospect for not buying

How can you overcome these mistakes?

First, accept responsibility for not closing the sale. If you walk out without the sale, you did something wrong. I know it's easier to blame the prospect, however, the prospect is not at fault, you are.

At some point during the process, you didn't do your job!

Don't close the sale, assume the sale. By assuming the sale you are putting your self in the strongest possible selling position. When you assume the sale, you believe you will make every sale you attempt.

It's simple, however, it's not easy. It takes a lot of work both before and during the sale.

It begins by having a positive attitude, enthusiasm, and complete self confidence in your self and your abilities. You need to have a thorough knowledge of the product or service you are selling and the belief it will benefit your prospects.

You need to have a heart felt desire to help your prospect that exceeds your desire to earn money for making the sale.

Furthermore, you need to master all the steps in the sales process and complete each step during every meeting with a prospect, before moving to the next step.

If you have...

Built rapport and the prospect likes you and trusts you.

Asked the right questions to determine the needs of the prospect.

Concluded your product or service will satisfy their needs.

Presented the benefits of your product or service as the solution to their problem.

Then assume the sale and it should belong to you. You see, closing the sale is only one step in the sales process. You don't close the sale, you follow the steps of the sales process and guide your prospect to making a wise decision, the decision to purchase your product or service.

Many sales people are searching for some magic technique to use on the prospect to close the sale, when learning and applying the steps of the sales process is all they really need.

I understand the magic technique would be easier, because then they could take the easy route, skip all the steps and go right to the close.

I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this...

There is no magic technique, so stop searching the internet looking for one. Instead, spend your time in a much more effective way, mastering the sales process. Then watch your sales soar.

Another big mistake these sales people are making is not getting the proper sales training. Again, they are looking to cut corners and find that magic technique. They don't want to put in the effort to become the best.

The U.S. Open Golf Championship was this past weekend and whether you are a fan of golf or not, I'm sure you've heard who was right there again, as he usually is, in a position to win.

Tiger Woods.

If you know any thing about Tiger, you know how he got to be one of the greatest golfers to ever play the game. He made a commitment to "master" the game of golf.

In sales it's the same. Ask any of the top 10% sales professionals how they got to the top, and they'll tell you they did so by mastering the sales process.

About the Author

Jim Klein helps salespeople fine tune the sales process so they can confidently close more sales and create long term relationships. Get free sales training by subscribing to our free newsletter "The Sales Advisor".




Rate, comment or bookmark this article

Seed Newsvine

Rating: Not yet rated

Bookmark this article in your preferred program
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Comments RSS

No comments posted.

Add Comment

Your Name:


Your Email:


Comment

Enter the code shown

Visual CAPTCHA



Popular Articles in this cathegory

1: Value-Pricing Strategy: "We're Not the Cheapest But..."
In this highly competitive online marketplace, it can be difficult to persuade customers to buy from you. And trying to beat competitors on price alone is a cut-throat business, very risky and not recommended. Have you tried value-pricing strategies?

2: The Value of Open Ended Questions in Sales
Open-ended questions are one of the salesperson's most vital tools (if followed up by listening). They help gather information, qualify sales opportunities and establish rapport, trust and credibility..

3: How to Prepare for Your Sales Job Interview
Advice to sales job applicants on interview skills & strengths and weaknesses. We look at questions that may be asked at a sales rep job interview and show how to stand out in a final job interview. There are tips on how to present yourself in the first interview and sales interview questions and sample answers. We give tips on questions to ask interviewers and how to ace a second job interview.

4: Learn How Predicting An Increase or Decrease In Demand Can Increase Your Profits
Predicting shifts in demand can help you surf the profit waves generated by demand fluctuations. Whether you correctly forecast the increase or decrease in demand for a particular product, you can profit from both scenarios.

5: The Customer Is Always Right. Even When They Are Positively Wrong
This article is about the greatest consumer relations story of all times. How the way Nordstrom's view and practice customer service is the only way to view and practice customer service.


Creative Commons License
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Spanish taslation