Objection Handling Tips to Handle an Objection for More Time Part 2

What to say when someone says to you I need to think about it, I don’t have the time, or I don’t have the money.

One of the biggest challenges I see network marketer’s face is what to do when the prospect says I need to think about it, I don’t have the time, or I don’t have the money.

This is a challenge for the network marketer and it is also a challenge for most everyone on their team. We know that at the end of a presentation the prospect is going to say one of four things.

1. I am ready to sign up.
2. I am not interested.
3. I have some questions.
4. I need to think about it, I don’t have the time, or I don’t have the money. (or raise some other concern)

Prediction is a form of power. Because we know what they are going to say we can then prepare a powerful, persuasive response to overcome their concern and move the prospect to action. Persuasion is about leading. It is about moving people to action. Great network marketing leaders are great at moving others to take action.

After you have given the prospect your presentation you are going to ask them to take action. After you ask them to take action that is when they typically say I need to think about it, I don’t have the time, or I don’t have the money. I want you to imagine that when you ask the prospect to take action it is if you are giving them a hot potato. When they say to you I need to think about it, I don’t have the time, or I don’t have the money they are giving you the hot potato back. We now need to give it back to them. Here are some ways to do that.

The prospect says to you I need to think about it. You can say:
1. Other than thinking about it is their anything else preventing you from moving forward today?
2. Other than thinking about it I am sure that you have some other concerns. Can share with me your other concerns.
3. Tell me more about that.

The prospect says to you I need to check with my spouse. You can say:
1. If the decision where up to you would you move forward today?
2. On a scale of 1-10 how motivated are you to get started today?
3. Other than checking with your spouse is their anything else preventing you from moving forward today?
4. What would you do if your spouse says no?

In each of these responses you have now given the hot potato back to the prospect. The prospect now needs to respond in some way back to you. When they respond back to you they are probably not ready to take action yet. Your next step would be to tell them a story and then ask again for them to take action. This process is like a dance. After you ask them to take action the first time they raise a concern. You then respond to the concern. They then raise another concern. You then respond with a story and ask them to take action again.

You want to tell a very specific type of story. You want to share a story of someone in a similar situation. A story about someone who had the same concern they did. For example if the prospect tells you they don’t have the money to get started. Tell them a true story of someone else who did have the money either. They went and found the money and now they are financially free because of it. After you tell the story the next step is to ask the prospect to take action. One way you might do this is to say (right after you finished telling them the story of someone in a similar situation) based on what you have shared with me so far I really believe getting involved with our company could help you achieve your dreams. What do you say we give it a try? After you say this be silent. The prospect is now in a place where they need to make a decision. At the end of each presentation you deliver you want the prospect to make a decision. A no is OK. A yes is a lot better. One of the most important things you can do though is to have the prospect make a decision.

Success,

Eric Lofholm

Closing Techniques to Preframe the Sale

One of the most powerful closing techniques you can use to close more sales is the preframe. And the best part is that it’s easy to use. It just requires some preparation.

Selling is a thinking man’s game. Selling is a thinking woman’s game. Selling is like mental chess.

Preframing is a way to shape someone’s listening. It is also a way to handle objections before they come up.

Reverse engineer the sales process. This means begin with the end in mind. What is the end result you are looking for? You can use preframing to assist in you getting that result.

The Close is the Natural Conclusion to a Well Delivered Sales Presentation!

A preframe is simply letting someone know in advance what is going to happen. The close is the natural conclusion to a well delivered sales presentation. By preframing the sale, you are letting someone know in advance what is going to happen.

So, how do you actually preframe the close? Here’s the exact language I use, “I have 2 outcomes for our presentation. My first outcome is to share some great ideas with you. My second outcome is to share with you how my ongoing coaching program works. I will give you all the details at the end of our meeting.”

How do you normally deliver your presentation? What can you say early in your presentation to preframe the sale?

Looking for additional techniques to help you close more sales?

Click here to learn my secrets the easy way!

Success,

Eric

7 Ways to Make More Sales Now!

increase_salesLike most business owners, you're probably interested in strategies to make more sales. The world of business has changed over the last 18 months.  What always sells is value.  What people perceive as value has shifted.  In today’s blog post I will share 7 ways to make more sales now.

1.  Embrace Sales

Millions of business people have a resistance to selling.  The reason for this is there is a stigma about sales in our society.  Sales is viewed as a negative thing.  Because of this many people deliver their sales presentations and try to do so without being viewed as a salesperson.  This is like going to see the doctor and the doctor trying to hide the fact that he/she is a doctor.  Selling is an honorable profession.  I teach people how to sell by serving others and adding value to their prospect.

2.  Deliver a Great Sales Presentation

The fastest way to increase your sales results is to improve the quality of your sales presentation.  Always remember that when you wing your presentation you get wing it results.

3.  Focus on Opportunity

Many people are in a place of fear, panic, and worry.  I have learned from personal experience that fear, panic, and worry do not manifest sales.  Focus on opportunity.  Here is one of my primary questions I ask myself.  “Where are my best opportunities right now?”

4.  Meet People Where they are at

People need a hand up right now.  Do what you can to meet people where they are at.  Adjust your price points if you can to connect with what prospects can afford.  Make payment plans available if you can.  Not everyone can adjust price or offer payment plans.  If you can’t do this strategy focus on the other ideas I have shared.

5.  Strengthen Relationships

The strategy that is working the best for me right now is an idea I call a “Reciprocal Referral Relationship”.  The way it works is you look for people or companies that you can work in harmony with to help each other.  I have built one of these relationships with Jeff Combs.  Jeff is a trainer.  He has a large network like I do.  I refer Jeff to my clients and Jeff refers me to his clients.  We also look for other ways to help each other.  In the last 12 months I have picked up about 40 clients from referrals from Jeff.

6.  Massive Action

If there was ever a time to take massive action it is right now.  I was speaking with my friend and client Brian Traichel.  Brian told me he has been seeing me show up in many places on the internet.  Brian commented to me that he is observing that I am in massive action.  Action is a skill set.  This is not a time to slow down.  This is a time to speed up.  I will be in massive action until Christmas Eve.  Once the first day in January hits I will be back in massive action!

7.  Look for what is Great about the Economy

There are many great things about the economy.  One great thing to me is the economy has really motivated me.  It has also helped me reevaluate what is most important to me.  One of the great things about the economy is there is some tremendous talent available right now.  If you are looking to recruit or hire people the talent pool is very deep.  If you are looking for free lance people to help you with marketing, social media, website work, etc. there are many very talented people who are willing to help you at very fair rates.

Eric Lofholm
Master Sales Trainer and Coach

P.S. - SPECIAL BONUS - Would you like to learn how your sales can thrive in any economy? I invite you to purchase my new blockbuster book "How To Sell In The New Economy" for under $20 and I'll include over $398 in sales training bonuses for FREE!

Closing Techniques to Preframe the Sale

Preframe Sale Closing TechniquesOne of the most powerful Closing Techniques you can use to close more sales is the preframe. And the best part is that it’s easy to use. It just requires some preparation.

Selling is a thinking man’s game. Selling is a thinking woman’s game. Selling is like mental chess.

Preframing is a way to shape someone’s listening. It is also a way to handle objections before they come up.

Reverse engineer the sales process. This means begin with the end in mind. What is the end result you are looking for? You can use preframing to assist you in getting that result.

A preframe is simply letting someone know in advance what is going to happen. The close is the natural conclusion to a well delivered sales presentation. By preframing the sale, you are letting someone know in advance what is going to happen.

Let your Prospect Know in Advance What Will Happen!

So, how do you actually preframe the close? Here’s the exact language I use, “I have 2 outcomes for our presentation. My first outcome is to share some great ideas with you. My second outcome is to share with you how my ongoing coaching program works. I will give you all the details at the end of our meeting.”

How do you normally deliver your presentation? What can you say early in your presentation to preframe the sale. State the outcomes up front. That way, your prospect will know what to expect. That's how to preframe the sale.

Eric Lofholm
Master Sales Trainer and Sales Script Writing Expert

Sales Scripts: Seven Secrets of Persuasion and Influence Secrets 5: Reverse Engineering and Stage Selling

sales_scriptsSales scripts are one of the most powerful ways to persuade and influence your prospects and can help transform you into a Master of Persuasion and Influence, only if you know the secrets.

Secret #5 Reverse Engineering
Sales pros look at their Sales Cycle and Sales Presentation strategically. The strategic viewpoint yields insights as to how all the various pieces of the presentation fit together. Sales Pros transition from one section of their sales presentation to another; it is practically seamless! The prospect may not know or sense that one part of the sales presentation has been reached; however, Sales Pros definitely know what section of the presentation they are in.

How do the Sales Pros do it?
Sales Pros reverse engineer their sales presentation, and this is how it works. They start at the end of the presentation where the prospect buys; then the Sales Pros ask themselves: "What would need to happen before that?" The Sales Pro then analyzes all the components of the phase where the prospect presents an objection. Then the Sales Pro asks: "What would happen before that?" Sales Pros continue this process of Reverse Engineering from a happy customer who bought the product all the way back to when the customer was just a lead. The Reverse Engineering process in your sales presentation is what Stephen Covey calls: "Begin with the end in mind."

Each Stage of the Sales Process has its own Unique Characteristics!

Stage Selling
Stage selling is another concept that Sales Pros handle differently from most salespeople. A Sales Pro understands it at a deep level that each stage of the sales process has its own unique characteristics. They do not try to do too much too soon! At the Lead Generation stage, Sales Pros know that the only goal is to just get a lead. That's it! The goal of appointment setting is just a scheduled appointment. If your only goal is to set an appointment, this takes the pressure off and makes it much easier to make more appointments.

On the other hand, some salespeople make the error of trying to do too many things at once! When the prospect has agreed to an appointment, the salesperson then tries to sell the whole product right then and there!  More often than not, the prospects are not ready to hear a full presentation because they thought they were just agreeing to the appointment, so they become scared and cancel it. Sales pros don't make that mistake.

Be sure to check out my next blog post:
Secret #6: Handling Objections