Leadership, Communication, Presentation & Sales Development Blog

What Are You Really Selling?

You might have encountered many sales people who focus mainly on the functions of what their product or service does. Beware of this trap! 
What your product or service may do is very interesting, and it may even convince the prospect that you know your business and understand the functions of your product. However, functions probably won’t cause a prospect to give you their money. That will happen when and only when you persuade them to take action by clearly articulating and painting a picture in their minds of What’s In It For Them (WIIFT). 
When you show an interested prospect the overriding advantages and outcomes they will gain and experience from your product or service, you are truly selling.
The successful sales professional talks about and demonstrates features and benefits leading to advantages and outcomes.
Personalise the advantages and outcomes for the prospect. You can only do so by asking enough relevant questions of the audience to understand their interest level + if and how your product / service suits + tier level of urgency. Then wisely paint the prospect into the picture driving that luxury car, receiving compliments on the beautifully designed dress or suit, looking at the sunset on the lake where the new home has been constructed, or sitting in the comfortable retirement environment provided by the investment being made. 
Paint the picture so your prospect sees themselves personally gaining are turn on their investment by purchasing the advantages and outcomes your product or service offers.
You might not think of award-winning actor, writer, director, and producer Alan Alda as being a salesman, but in a speech he made to a medical school, Alan gave doctors And salespeople some good advice. He said, “The head bone is connected to the heart bone. Don’t let them come apart.” 
From a sales perspective, Alan is telling professional salespeople that when we demonstrate or explain the advantages and outcomes of our product / service in a clear and logical manner, we must also involve the prospect emotionally. We must let the prospective client know how it will FEEL to experience, enjoy and own the product or service.
We need to add the bridge. The bridge is a phrase preparing the prospect to hear the advantage and outcome. The phrase shouts, “Look out, here comes the reason for you to invest!!!.” Sample bridges might include:
“The advantage to you, Mr. Prospect, is...”
“You will enjoy this because...”
The benefit to you, Ms. Prospect, is...”
Try this advice to see prospect confusion decrease and sales go up.

All the best with your ongoing sales!
 


Posted in , , , by effectivecommunication.com.au

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