Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

The 5 Elements of a Qualified Lead

The 5 Elements of a Qualified Lead

People ask me all the time what I think makes up a qualified lead. It's simple, I tell them. There are five things that every Top 20% producer knows when he or she hangs up the phone with a prospect.

Know these five things and chances are real good you're going to close this prospect. Leave one out -- or two out -- and chances are even better that you're never going to close this prospect.

It's a simple as that.

Here are the five things you need to know about every prospect you speak with:

#1) Decision maker and decision process. When speaking with your prospect, you need to be real clear on whether or not they are the sole decision maker, or who else is involved. Are there more than two involved in the final decision?

Also, what is the decision process like? What's involved? Who's in charge? If you're not absolutely clear on this when you get off the phone, you don't have a qualified lead.

#2) Time frame. Part of knowing who and how the decision is made also involves knowing the time frame for making the decision. You must be clear on when they need your product or service, what type of urgency there is (if any), and when they are making the final decision.

Moreover, after getting this information, you need to be clear about what needs to happen next.

#3) Other quotes. You also need to know what other quotes, products, solutions, or options your prospect is considering. If they have a regular vendor and are getting other bids, you especially need to know:

·How many other bids are they getting?
·Why they are looking for other bids? (Do they just need to get to other bids before going with last year's vendor?)
·What are they looking for in another bid/product/solution?
·What will make yours the one they choose?

#4) Buying motives (needs and wants). It is crucial for you to have a clear understanding of what is truly motivating your prospect to buy. Only when you know this will you be able to pitch to their listening. You must be able to answer these questions.

·What exactly is the prospect looking for?
·What are their unique buying motives?
·What do you need to say to sell them?

#5) Why they won't buy. Just as important as knowing why they'll buy is knowing why they won't buy from you. When you hang up the phone you need to know:

·Why are they really getting another quote?
·What are some of their sore spots?
·What are they trying to avoid?
·Why won't they buy?

These five elements are the bare minimum of what you need to know about every prospect you qualify. These points form the basis of your qualifying checklist, and you need to have scripted questions that you ask on each and every call to find these thing out. You do have a qualifying checklist don’t you?

If not, use the above questions to form your initial checklist and start finding and qualifying buyers today!





The 5 Elements of a Qualified Lead - To learn more about this author, visit Mike Brooks's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback
Staging Diva
Debra Gould, aka The Staging Diva®, is President of Six Elements Inc., an internationally recognized home staging company. Inspired by many requests from aspiring home stagers wanting to start similar businesses, Gould created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. Gould has trained over 1000 Staging Diva Graduates worldwide to start staging businesses. Buying decorating and selling six of her own homes in four years lead to an interest in real estate staging which she turned into a career with the launch of sixelements.com in 2002. Since then she has staged hundreds of homes in addition to teaching home staging training. Gould is the author of several home staging resources including a series of popular ebooks made up of a Design Guide, Color Guide and Portfolio Guide. For more information about Debra Gould visit stagingdiva.com. - Visit Staging Diva's Website


To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


Mike Brooks
(Visit Mike's Website) Mike Brooks is president of Mr. Inside Sales, a Los Angeles based inside sales consulting and training firm that teaches companies and sales reps how to become Top 20% producers. Author of, "The Real Secrets of the Top 20%" (Amazon.com), Mike is hired by sales excutives to teach and train their reps how to reach decision makers and close more business. If you do business over the phone, either setting appointments or closing sales, then call Mr. Inside Sales today: (818) 999-0869! Mike specializes in working with business owners who have under performing outbound or inbound inside sales teams either business-to-business or business to consumer. He offers FREE Closing Scripts, and a FREE audio program designed to help you double your income selling over the phone. If you want to close business like a Top 20% Producer, then learn how at: www.MrInsideSales.com If you found this article helpful, then you will love Mike’s new book: “The REAL Secrets of the Top 20% - How To Double Your Income Selling Over the Phone.” You can read about this by clicking here: http://www.mrinsidesales.com/bookma rketing.htm

Mike Brooks is a Gold author on EvanCarmichael.com
About The Author

View Author Blog
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


Mike Brooks's

Complete
List Of
Sales
Articles

Name
Email
Author's Free Downloads
Become a Better Closer! Icon Become a Better Closer!

More Mike Brooks
The Three Real Secrets of Hiring Top Sales Reps
The 3 Secrets of Instantly Establishing Interest
How to Handle the Price Objection
The 5 Secrets of Motivating Your Sales Team
Stop Managing the Pipeline and Start Managing Your Sales Team
Saving Gas and Selling More 5 Secrets of Top 20 Producers
The 5 Elements of a Qualified Lead
Should You Train Unmotivated Sales Reps
The Most Important Word In Sales
How to Hire Successful Sales Reps
Free Downloads


 
 
 


Evan Elite Authors
David Acheson  
Stephanie Robey  
Dave Kurlan  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
Instant Flyers Icon Instant Flyers
Aromatic Networking Icon Aromatic Networking
Instant Scripts Icon Instant Scripts
SEO Made Simple Sample Chapter Icon SEO Made Simple Sample Chapter
Delegation Workbook Icon Delegation Workbook
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
Write The Press Release
Write The PR
Press Release Builder
 
Top 50 Franchising Blogs
Top 50 Franchising Blogs
Top 50 Franchising Blogs
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Victoria Igho Lagos State, Nigeria,
Victoria Igho
Lagos State, Nigeria
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Catherine Daw, > $4 Mil in revenues
Catherine Daw
> $4 Mil in revenues
Brian Scudamore, $200k to $8 Mil in 5 years
Brian Scudamore
$200k to $8 Mil in 5 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Vince McMahon, WWE
J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter
J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
Tom Peters, In Search Of Excellence
Tom Peters
In Search Of Excellence
Paul Kedrosky, Venture Capitalist
Paul Kedrosky
Venture Capitalist
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     Ready for a Fresh Image?
By Jill Reese
     Advertise without saying a word
By Jill Reese

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information