Sales professionals, new to selling or business development, might view the opportunity to make a presentation on the spot as a positive event, especially when they learn how hard it is to set a steady stream of appointments to make their presentation. But this perceived opportunity is far from the best time to make a sales presentation, because they rarely can command a decision-maker's full attention.
Most prospects are busy with other business or personal activities before your representative walks through the door, so the prospect's mind is rarely on what is being discussed in an on the spot sales presentation. When a sales staff member sets an appointment rather than giving a presentation and then effectively softens the prospect with hand written notes, sales literature, emails or faxes before the sales meeting takes place, a positive tone is set with the prospect for the time that will be spent in the presentation. Some top sales professionals believe if they can set an appointment, they are 90 percent of the way to closing the sale. This belief is based in the concept that if a decision-maker sets an appointment with a sales representative, there is a good chance that there is a need for what is being sold.
Rather than encouraging cold call presentations, set a policy for your staff that encourages them to set meeting times for a presentation on cold calls. You're staff members will be much better off in the selling process by setting appointments, even if the prospective customer or client is willing to learn more about your products or services on the spot.
The "Cold Call Presentations" Myth - To learn more about this author, visit Virden Thornton's Website.
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Virden Thornton
(Visit Virden's Website)
VIRDEN J. THORNTON is the founder and
President of The $elling Edge®, Inc. a 23
year old firm specializing in sales,
customer relations, personal coaching and
management training and development.
Clients have included Sears Optical,
Eastman Kodak, IBM, Deloitte & Touché,
Bank One, Jefferson Pilot, and Wal-Mart to
name a few. Virden is the author of
Prospecting: The Key To Sales Success,
Organizing For Sales Success, 101 Sales
Management Myths, A Realtor's Success
Formula, and two best sellers 101 Sales
Myths and Building & Closing The Sale. He
also has a video/audio tape training
program entitled Close That Sale,
published by Thompson Learning. He has
also authored a Self-Directed Learning
series of sales, coaching & team
development, telemarketing and personal
productivity training guides. To obtain a
substantial discount on two of Virden's
new manuals, 101 Sales Myths and
Organizing For Sales Success, just go to
www.TheSellingEdge.com/book1.htm
Note: You can contact Virden at vi
rden@TheSellingEdge.com. You can also
see an expanded biography at: www.TheSellingEdge.com/bio.htm
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