SOS, also known as Morse code, is a universal distress signal. For salespeople, a “Save Our Ship,” becomes a “Save Our Sales” distress call. Each salesperson likely has their own universal distress call. Here are ideas to save salespeople, introvert and extrovert, suffering from four common sales problems.
1. Cancelled appointments
Are you confirming any appointments you set with prospects? Either the day before or the morning of, telephone or email prospects. If something has come up for the prospect, I reschedule with them right then; they’re already on the telephone. If they just don’t show, that’s an entirely different problem and solution. NOTE: never assume that a no show means not interested. Introverts can make this work to their advantage as it’s another chance to build your connection.
2. Prospects buying from competition
Are you going through all that you know how to do and losing sales to the competition? What about losing to the competition of procrastination? Examine your qualifying process. If you are an introvert this examination process allows you to bring in your natural planning skills. You have a qualifying process, right? At a minimum, early on you want to be certain of four things: you are working with someone with a budget for your product or service; you are talking with all decision makers; the prospect has indicated a need by conveying a problem they want to eliminate or a solution they need, and their timeline fits with your sales process timeline.
3. Not following up because of whatever excuse
I’ve heard most of the excuses: “I don’t have time, I feel like I’m bothering people, I don’t know what to say next, I don’t have enough energy, I’m afraid.” If you have this SOS call, run, don’t walk, and get a sales coach. Selling IS about follow up. And as an introvert this follow-up, it’s about deepening that relationship.
4. Poor presentation skills demonstrates lack of confidence
If you are at any business function, or even social for that matter, you want to speak with confidence. Be confident with your elevator pitches. Drop the “ums,” the “ya knows,” and any other puffy fillers that chip away at your image. Why be careful even at social events? It is absolutely true that it is a small world; you are only ever about six people away from who you want to meet. Your ability to speak in a way that people want to listen to will help you meet them.
Selling has a beginning and a continuation. It really never ends. Don’t ignore the SOS coming from your lack of sales results. Instead, when you examine your sales results, get to the problems that are hurting you and then take a different approach to solve them.
Join me on Tuesdays in 2009 for Tuesday Tune-Ups guaranteed to demolish your devastating doubts: Sales Tips for Introverts.