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Why We Treat Buyers Like Family #507

Each January I travel to a small island at the southernmost tip of the United States. Key West has a motto: “All people are equal members of One Human Family”. Not only do I agree with this, but apply this to prospective buyers.  In this episode, we investigate the power of building rapport and how viewing perfect strangers as Family can erase skepticism and cultivate trust, which is the foundation of any successful selling opportunity.

Today’s Chapter: Being a Cousin 

When selling
be a stranger to no one
Cousin to all
just like family, you rarely see
at the wedding or funeral.

Respectful yet genuine
catching up on their lives.
Gregarious yet authentic
accepting them for who they are.

The Master Seller is easy to know
Trusted at the start.

Today’s Story

Pat and Chris registered for a trade show. It was to be attended by many prospective clients. At the first panel of the opening day, the attendees were seated at round tables. Throughout the morning Pat chatted with everyone asking about their travels,  where they were from,  where they had eaten the night before,  and what they hoped to learn at the event. Pat treated them like old friends.

During the break, Chris asked Pat “Why aren’t you telling them more about our company and the new product announcement?  These people seem like a perfect fit for us!”   

Pat agreed, “They are a good fit but now is not the right time. Our goal is to build relationships, connect, and follow up at a later date. They are here to build relationships. The last thing they need is an infomercial!”   

“So what’s the plan?” asked Chris.  Pat responded,  “Throughout the conference, I’ve asked each of the prospects if they would like to continue the conversation at a later time. They all said yes.  

“Back at the office I’ll follow up and say how great it was to meet them and mention some detail they shared when we met. You become memorable this way.  When I ask to schedule a sales call, they’ll be happy to agree”.

Take Action Quote

Lao Tzu wrote, “Masters don’t accumulate, the more they help the happier they are. The more they give, the wealthier they are. ”

This is true for sellers too.

People are more alike than not and just like you have the same hopes, fears, wants, and needs. To know this is to know the interconnectedness of all humanity. Treating everyone as family cultivates trust, even with strangers. When buyers are open to listening, it’s effortless for sellers to help.

How to Connect with Pat Helmers at Sales Babble

Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have, and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com

I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discussed all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most importantly the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it.

This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net

Got a Question?

Something about today’s episode got you thinking? Do you have a question or a comment you’d like share?

If so “babble me” an email here, or if you can’t wait chat Pat now.

Maybe you’d like to share your musings on the podcast? Leave a voice message here. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Don’t worry about babbling, we prefer it.

Listening Options

You can find us on:

• • Spotify
  • iTunes
  • Stitcher
  • Player FM
  • Spreaker
  • The SalesBabble.com website    click the player above on this page!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

How to Own Your  Mistakes #504

Nobody likes being called out for making a mistake or screwing up. It’s even worse when you have to apologize for your mistake or, worse yet, your company’s mistake.  Unfortunately, once in a while, this situation pops up and it’s extremely uncomfortable for the sales professional. It’s not the end of the world. You just have to own up to it and move on. If you’ve made a mistake, don’t worry. Apologize, learn from it, and move on. It’s not rocket science. It’s just common sense. That’s the topic for this episode: How to own your mistakes.

Today’s Chapter: Owning Up To Mistakes

A Master Seller knows they are not perfect.
When they make a mistake, they realize it.
Having realized it, they own up to it.
Having owned up to it, they correct it.
They consider clients who point out their faults as their teachers.

They think of their competition,
as being as perfect and flawed as themselves.

Today’s Story

Chris screwed up and Chris knew it. Lee asked Chris for two simple requests, but Chris forgot and now Chris was scrambling. The lack of attention was noticed and Lee considered yanking the contract. What was Chris to do?

Chris turned to Pat and asked, “I know I messed up but it’s not all my fault. Lee never returned the evaluation report and our own support department never got back to me and now we’re in this predicament! I’m afraid Lee is going to leave us for the competition. How can I fix it?”   

Pat answered. “We’re only human. People make mistakes and when they happen it’s best to come clean and own them. I get that it’s not all your fault, but we’re the face of the company. It’s for us to take the blame and make it right. Tell them it’s all our fault. Tell them we should have done better. Don’t get into the details,  ask them what we can do to make this right. Own it completely. “

“You think that will work?” asked Chris.

Pat responded, “Yes, in fact, you may find  Lee to be very generous and forgiving. What Lee mostly wants is to be heard. Listen and this client can be saved. 

Take Action Quote

Humans make mistakes. You are flawed and so too your company. Pretending to be perfect only lasts so long. Customers know when they’ve been wronged and the sooner you own the mistake the faster you can make things right.

No one is perfect. Neither are your competitors. All customers want to know is that you are looking out for them. Show them you do.

Joe Hyams the author of “Zen and the Martial Arts” wrote, “When a problem arises, don’t fight with it or try to deny it. Accept and acknowledge it. Be patient in seeking a solution or opening, and then fully commit yourself to the resolution you think advisable.”

Sales Babble

Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers.  Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have, and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours. See https://salesbabble.com

I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discussed all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most importantly the right selling mindset. Stop fearing sales and embrace it.

This is a production of Habanero Media https://habaneromedia.net

Got a Question?

Something about today’s episode got you thinking? Do you have a question or a comment you’d like share?

If so “babble me” an email here, or if you can’t wait chat Pat now.

Maybe you’d like to share your musings on the podcast? Leave a voice message here. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Don’t worry about babbling, we prefer it.

Listening Options

You can find us on:

• • Spotify
  • iTunes
  • Stitcher
  • Player FM
  • Spreaker
  • The SalesBabble.com website    click the player above on this page!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

How To Not Oversell #420

Today’s episode is an act of faith. By faith I mean trusting in what you know is true and sharing it as honestly as possible. Too often sellers persuade by adorning their pitch when they would be better off, sharing a straight forward value proposition. Great products and services sell themselves. Learn how to not oversell. That’s the topic for today.

Today’s Chapter: Proper Preparation

Fill your presentation to the brim and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your pitch and it will blunt
Chase after money and the deal will spoil
Care about people’s approval and you will be their prisoner.

Do your work, then step back and it will all work out.

Today’s Story

Chris said good morning to the prospects at the presentation and kicked it off with a slide deck that shared a personal biography, the companies biography, their history in the industry, testimonials of their products and three deep dives into the benefits buyers could expect. Chris was trying to build trust, but all that was built was boredom. The audience started to get restless. 

In the back of the room, Pat could sense the crowd’s impatience and spoke up. “Chris, why don’t we jump ahead a bit to the solution design?”  Immediately Chris pivoted and by the end of the meeting, Chris had a verbal commitment. 

Afterwards Pat said to Chris in private “I’m sorry I made that awkward for you. But I could sense the people didn’t believe the benefits without any context. It was a case of the cart before the horse, or the benefits before the features!” Chris laughed and responded, “I have to admit, it did seem the decision maker paid more attention, and asked all those questions after the pivot. Since we got the order you can’t argue against success”. “Nope,” said Pat.  “we just need to do our work and let the chips fall where they lay.”

Take Action Quote

The Stoic Epictetus said “If you are tempted to look outside yourself for approval, you have compromised your integrity. If you need a witness, be your own.” 

I am wary of the overuse of PowerPoint and the repeated failure to treat people like people and connect one on one with buyers. Instead do this: have faith that if you just share your product unvarnished, it’s all going to turn out right in the end. Deals close easy when we focus on helping our clients versus winning their approval.

Thank Our Sponsor Wingman

I’m excited to share that Sales Babble has a new sponsor, Wingman. Wingman is an actionable conversation intelligence platform that unlocks insights from every sales interaction. You can use Wingman to record your calls, review deals, scale coaching and build a repeatable sales machine. Wingman uses best-in-class Automatic Speech. Recognition (ASR) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms specifically for sales.

Go to trywingman.com/salesbabble and get a free trial today. Wingman, your source for actionable sales intelligence. 

How to Connect with Pat Helmers at Sales Babble

Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers. There is no need to be pushy, aggressive or uncomfortable reaching out to prospective buyers. Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours.

You can be yourself when selling. It’s all about helping others with their challenges and aspirations. I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset.

Stop fearing sales and embrace it. Learn the selling secrets for non-sellers and start making a difference today. Here is the entire back catalog of episodes in the sales podcast. 

This is a production of Habanero Media 

Got a Question?

Something about today’s episode got you thinking? Do you have a question or a comment you’d like share?

If so “babble me” an email here, or if you can’t wait chat Pat now.

Maybe you’d like to share your musings on the podcast? Leave a voice message here. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Don’t worry about babbling, we prefer it.

Listening Options

You can find us on:

• • Spotify
  • iTunes
  • Stitcher
  • Player FM
  • Spreaker
  • The SalesBabble.com website    click the player above on this page!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

When Selling Treat Buyers Like Family #419

Today we talk about having a point of view that we are all one family, buyers and sellers alike. In this episode we investigate the right way to build rapport, familiarity and how that’s  the foundation for soliciting trust. When we give strangers the feeling that they already know us, they will be curious in turn and want to learn more about you and who you represent.

Today’s Chapter: Being a Cousin 

When selling
be a stranger to no one,
cousin to all,
just like family you see rarely
at the wedding or funeral.

Respectful yet genuine
catching up on their lives.
Gregarious yet authentic
Accepting them for who they are.

The Master Seller is easy to know
Trusted at the start.

Today’s Story

Pat and Chris registered for a trade association conference. It was to be attended by many prospective clients. At the first panel of the opening day the attendees were seated at round tables. Throughout the morning Pat chatted with everyone asking where they were from, did their flights go smooth, where they ate last night,  what they hoped to learn and if they wanted another cup of coffee. Pat treated them like old friends.

During the break, Chris asked Pat “Why aren’t you telling them more about our company and the new product announcement?  These people seem like a perfect fit for us!”   

“They are a good fit”, Pat agreed, “but now is not the right time. Our goal here is to build relationships, connect with them and follow up at a later time. They are here for a reason, not an infomercial!”   

“So what’s the plan?” asked Chris.  “It’s this” responded Pat.  “When we get back to the office I’ll follow up and say how great it was to meet them, or mention the flight troubles, the weather, or how that one lady who is worried about her dog; those kinds of details.  This will make us memorable, old friends. When I ask to schedule a sales call, they’ll be happy to agree”.

Take Action Quote

There’s an old saying that people buy from people they know, like and trust. People are people, more alike than not when it comes to hopes, fears, wants and needs. Yes, new prospects are complete strangers, but strangers are people too and if you treat strangers like people, with a sense of familiarity, just like a cousin you see every couple years, people will feel like they know you, and like and from that will come trust.

Don’t hesitate to be a human first and treat people as such. Once you do that, then you can start the process of qualifying them as a prospect.

Thank Our Sponsor Wingman

I’m excited to share that Sales Babble has a new sponsor, Wingman. Wingman is an actionable conversation intelligence platform that unlocks insights from every sales interaction. You can use Wingman to record your calls, review deals, scale coaching and build a repeatable sales machine. Wingman uses best-in-class Automatic Speech. Recognition (ASR) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms specifically for sales.

Go to trywingman.com/salesbabble and get a free trial today. Wingman, your source for actionable sales intelligence. 

How to Connect with Pat Helmers at Sales Babble

Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers. There is no need to be pushy, aggressive or uncomfortable reaching out to prospective buyers. Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours.

You can listen to our podcast on any podcast app and if you signup for our newsletter you will be able to download a free copy of the Tao Te Ching of Sales eBook. This book has been the inspiration for these Sales Babble episodes and you can see what topics we’ll be covering in the future. Use this book for daily inspiration with short one page chapters on a balanced non-pushy approach when selling.

You can be yourself when selling. It’s all about helping others with their challenges and aspirations. I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset.

Stop fearing sales and embrace it. Learn the selling secrets for non-sellers and start making a difference today. Here is the entire back catalog of episodes in the sales podcast. 

This is a production of Habanero Media 

Got a Question?

Something about today’s episode got you thinking? Do you have a question or a comment you’d like share?

If so “babble me” an email here, or if you can’t wait chat Pat now.

Maybe you’d like to share your musings on the podcast? Leave a voice message here. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Don’t worry about babbling, we prefer it.

Listening Options

You can find us on:

• • Spotify
  • iTunes
  • Stitcher
  • Player FM
  • Spreaker
  • The SalesBabble.com website    click the player above on this page!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

How To Be Better Unique and Desirable with Thomas Ellis #418

We live in competitive times and more that likely there is another company out there that is looking for and serving customers, just like yours. So it begs the question, what can you do to be better unique and desirable? This week we take a one week break from the Tao Te Ching of Sales  and babble with my good friend Thomas Ellis. Thomas is the author of the just published book BUD Better Unique and Desirable, The Sales Process That Gets Results, a sales philosophy that can positively impact your sales and set you up for success.

How To Connect with Thomas Ellis

• • Website: https://tellissalescoach.com/
  • The book on Amazon BUD Better Unique and Desirable
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaseellis/
  • Email address:  tellis at ewcconsultants.com
  • Phone: 301-343-0001

Thank Our Sponsor Wingman

I’m excited to share that Sales Babble has a new sponsor, Wingman. Wingman is an actionable conversation intelligence platform that unlocks insights from every sales interaction. You can use Wingman to record your calls, review deals, scale coaching and build a repeatable sales machine. Wingman uses best-in-class Automatic Speech. Recognition (ASR) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms specifically for sales.

Go to trywingman.com/salesbabble and get a free trial today. Wingman, your source for actionable sales intelligence. 

How to Connect with Pat Helmers at Sales Babble

Sales Babble shares selling secrets for non-sellers. There is no need to be pushy, aggressive or uncomfortable reaching out to prospective buyers. Masterful selling is understanding what buyers want, discerning if you can help,  showing what you have and helping them to make a decision that is good for their business and yours.

You can listen to our podcast on any podcast app and if you signup for our newsletter you will be able to download a free copy of the Tao Te Ching of Sales eBook. This book has been the inspiration for these Sales Babble episodes and you can see what topics we’ll be covering in the future. Use this book for daily inspiration with short one page chapters on a balanced non-pushy approach when selling.

You can be yourself when selling. It’s all about helping others with their challenges and aspirations. I’ve interviewed 100s of sales experts and discuss all things sales: prospecting, qualifying, value propositions, presentations, demos, closing, generating referrals, earning references, upselling, marketing, lead generation, copywriting, and most important the right selling mindset.

Stop fearing sales and embrace it. Learn the selling secrets for non-sellers and start making a difference today. Here is the entire back catalog of episodes in the sales podcast. 

This is a production of Habanero Media 

Got a Question?

Something about today’s episode got you thinking? Do you have a question or a comment you’d like share?

If so “babble me” an email here, or if you can’t wait chat Pat now.

Maybe you’d like to share your musings on the podcast? Leave a voice message here. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Don’t worry about babbling, we prefer it.

Listening Options

You can find us on:

• • Spotify
  • iTunes
  • Stitcher
  • Player FM
  • Spreaker
  • The SalesBabble.com website    click the player above on this page!