Category: Frontline Reps

Free Resources to Help You Sell More

by mike

If you are new to receiving these sales tips, or even if you have been subscribed for a while, I want to give you something that will help you sell more.

It’s not often that we get something for free, but I’m going to give you some resources, some inside sales techniques that will help you sell more with less resistance.

Now here’s the crazy thing about this no-strings attached offer: Over half the people reading this won’t take advantage of these valuable resources. They’ll either think they already know it all, or they’ll be too busy to open a few links or browse through a backlog of proven and helpful blog posts, or they’ll choose to watch other things on YouTube.

And that’s not only okay, it’s actually great for those of you who will take advantage of this material to get better! The less competition for you, the better, right?

So, dive in to these absolutely free and helpful resources. Take what you need, adapt these scripts and techniques to your selling situations, and then use them.

And then watch your sales go up, your confidence go up, and your income go up!

Resource #1: Access to proven prospecting skills by getting a free chapter right from my bestselling book, Power Phone Scripts. If you want to get better selling over the phone, then start where it counts: getting better at making outbound calls.

Click here to find all the new skills, scripts, and techniques that will help you blow past gatekeepers and connect with decision makers!

Resource #2: If you’ve been enjoying this blog and finding useful tips, scripts, and skills in it, did you know you can search my blog for hundreds of other free scripts and techniques? You can! Simply click here and then use the handy search function to find everything you’ll ever need to help you prospect, close, or overcome objections more effectively.

It’s free, proven, and available to you now!

Resource #3: Do you like to watch quick videos? If so, you should check out my channel on YouTube and binge a few quick tips you can use on your very next call to get better. And if you’re a manager, you can watch some of these videos during your next sales meeting to not only help train your team, but to start a good discussion as well.

As you see, there is no dearth of quality sales training material for you to use to get better. If you want to rise above the rep sitting next to you, then tune in and learn how to outperform your competition.

It’s free, easy, and it’s guaranteed to make you better.

Need More Proven Responses to the Selling Situations You Face Every Day?

ON DEMAND SALES TRAINING THAT GETS RESULTS!

If your team is struggling with call reluctance and is tired of the endless rejection they face, then get instant access to our On Demand training today. We provide the exact talk tracks, templates, and proven tools your team will be motivated to apply, all structured around an award winning comprehensive inside sales approach that gives your team the confidence to succeed in every selling situation they face today.

Unlimited License: One to 100 reps can attend for one low price!

Perfect for reps dealing with the following issues:

  • Reps struggling with call reluctance
  • Getting screened out by the gatekeeper
  • Overcoming blow off objections like, “Just email me something”
  • Identifying decision makers
  • Qualifying prospects
  • Setting call back appointments that stick
  • Giving successful presentations and dealing with objections
  • Staying motivated
Get Access Today

My Favorite Closing Line

by mike

I was giving a training today and emphasizing the importance of directing the sale, assuming the deal, and leading the prospect through the close.

As I did, I reminded the team of closers of my very favorite closing phrase, and one that has literally made me millions of dollars in my career.

When you get to the reason to place the order now, or purchase your product or service, what’s important is not to ask if they agree, or if they have the budget, or anything like that.

Instead…

What you do is end your close with, “Here’s what I recommend we do…” and then suggest the order.

If you want to take it even further, you can say, “Here’s what I recommend we do. Since we’ve got just five left right now, I’ll go ahead and ship them to you while we have them. That way, you’ll have them on hand when you need them. Where would you like me to ship these to?”

Do you see how I combined the, “Here’s what I recommend we do…” with a buying/assumptive question, “Where would you like me to ship these to?”

This is the ultimate way to assume the sale.

But let’s back up to that initial order phrase: “Here’s what I recommend we do…” There are many variations on this, like:

“Here’s what my best clients are doing right now…”

“My biggest clients are thinking ahead and they’re….and I recommend you do the same…where should I ship these to?”

“Smart companies are picking these up now, while they’re available, and not waiting until they go on back order. Here’s what I recommend you do…”

You see how this goes. The point is: if you want to dramatically increase your number of sales, then take the prospect all the way through the sale by leading them to the buy action.

It’s surprisingly effective and once you get in the habit of doing it, you’ll wonder why you never thought of it before!

Need More Proven Responses to the Selling Situations You Face Every Day?

ON DEMAND SALES TRAINING THAT GETS RESULTS!

If your team is struggling with call reluctance and is tired of the endless rejection they face, then get instant access to our On Demand training today. We provide the exact talk tracks, templates, and proven tools your team will be motivated to apply, all structured around an award winning comprehensive inside sales approach that gives your team the confidence to succeed in every selling situation they face today.

Unlimited License: One to 100 reps can attend for one low price!

Perfect for reps dealing with the following issues:

  • Reps struggling with call reluctance
  • Getting screened out by the gatekeeper
  • Overcoming blow off objections like, “Just email me something”
  • Identifying decision makers
  • Qualifying prospects
  • Setting call back appointments that stick
  • Giving successful presentations and dealing with objections
  • Staying motivated
Get Access Today

Don’t Handle the Objection—Eliminate It!

by mike

One of the best things about sales is that you already know what all the objections are.

For every sale, there are only about five core objections: price, think about it, talk to someone else, etc., and then some outliers you get less frequently.

But overall, you know what’s coming. So, why not eliminate, in advance, your top one or two objections?

Here’s how:

If you’re qualifying a prospect to pitch later, and you know that price is the biggest objection you get, then qualify for it so you’re not ambushed when you get to the close.

Ask:

“Ballpark, what is your budget for this?”

And then:

“And do you have that budget available should you like what you see during our demo?”

Or:

“Our solution is adaptable to most budgets, and runs anywhere between $5,000 and $15,000. If you like what you see next week, is something like that within what you have available right now?”

I’m sure you can come up with other budget related qualifying questions, but the point is that it is ALWAYS best to qualify for this objection in advance so you don’t waste 45 minutes + pitching only to find that they can’t afford your solution.

If you are dealing with a customer who buys their products from another vendor, then ask:

“Who are you getting that from now?”

And:

“I’ve certainly heard of them, just out of curiosity, what keeps you coming back to them?”

And:

“What would it take to earn a portion of your business?”

You get the idea here. It’s ALWAYS better to qualify out an objection before you get it. Take some time this week to script out ways to qualify for and overcome your common objections before they ruin your sale.

Remember: You can’t close an unqualified lead!

Need More Proven Responses to the Selling Situations You Face Every Day?

ON DEMAND SALES TRAINING THAT GETS RESULTS!

If your team is struggling with call reluctance and is tired of the endless rejection they face, then get instant access to our On Demand training today. We provide the exact talk tracks, templates, and proven tools your team will be motivated to apply, all structured around an award winning comprehensive inside sales approach that gives your team the confidence to succeed in every selling situation they face today.

Unlimited License: One to 100 reps can attend for one low price!

Perfect for reps dealing with the following issues:

  • Reps struggling with call reluctance
  • Getting screened out by the gatekeeper
  • Overcoming blow off objections like, “Just email me something”
  • Identifying decision makers
  • Qualifying prospects
  • Setting call back appointments that stick
  • Giving successful presentations and dealing with objections
  • Staying motivated
Get Access Today

Work on One Thing a Week to Get Better

by mike

It’s mid-July, and I’d like to ask you a question: How much better of a sales rep are you today than you were in January?

Can you identify the areas you’ve improved in and measure their impact on your closing rates?

If you’re like the vast majority of sales reps (or sales teams), the answer is, “I don’t really know…”

Here’s a quick tip: If nothing changes, nothing changes.

You’ve all probably heard this before, but in sales this has an added weight: If you aren’t actively working to improve your skill set, then you’re likely making the same mistakes you always make—and getting the same results.

There is an easy way to change this. Simply buy a good book on improving sales, pick just one technique or idea you feel applies to your selling situation, and then commit to adapting, using, and perfecting that one technique for a week.

If you do that, within 90 days you’ll have picked up twelve proven new sales skills that will have a dramatic effect on your bottom line.

This is a simple solution to getting better, but it isn’t always easy to commit to. We’re all very busy, and we may be doing okay with sales now, and who wants to put in all that extra work anyway?

The top 20% do, that’s who.

And that’s why top producers across industries earn more money, enjoy better bonuses and perks, and find their jobs easier and more enjoyable than 80% of their so-called competition.

Hey, you deserve all those perks and extra income, but they aren’t going to just fall into your lap. You’re going to have to do something to get them.

Focusing on learning and applying just one new skill or scripted technique is an easy, proven way to make more sales with more confidence.

And that’s worth a little bit of effort, isn’t it?

If you’re wondering where to start, check this book out.

It makes it easy to find and adapt proven sales scripts that will instantly make you better!

Need More Proven Responses to the Selling Situations You Face Every Day?

ON DEMAND SALES TRAINING THAT GETS RESULTS!

If your team is struggling with call reluctance and is tired of the endless rejection they face, then get instant access to our On Demand training today. We provide the exact talk tracks, templates, and proven tools your team will be motivated to apply, all structured around an award winning comprehensive inside sales approach that gives your team the confidence to succeed in every selling situation they face today.

Unlimited License: One to 100 reps can attend for one low price!

Perfect for reps dealing with the following issues:

  • Reps struggling with call reluctance
  • Getting screened out by the gatekeeper
  • Overcoming blow off objections like, “Just email me something”
  • Identifying decision makers
  • Qualifying prospects
  • Setting call back appointments that stick
  • Giving successful presentations and dealing with objections
  • Staying motivated
Get Access Today

One Difference Between Top Sales Reps and You

by mike

Each time I work with a new company, the first thing I ask for are recordings of both their top two or three sales reps, and then recordings of everyone else.

And each time I do, I immediately identify one thing that the top reps are doing that the other reps aren’t.

I’ve been doing this for over 30 years, and things have remained constant during that time: top sales reps are better for many different reasons (personality, work effort, etc.), but they all share this one thing.

And it is…

They are assumptive.

Most sales reps beat around the bush and are timid, hesitant, and resistant to taking control of the call.

In other words, they often ask for permission, rather than be assumptive.

An example is how most sales reps open their calls. When greeted by the receptionist, they’ll ask:

“Ah, would it be possible to speak with Dave Anderson?”

OR

“Is Dave Anderson available?”

What these approaches have in common is they are passive, and they give the gatekeeper control of the call.

Top reps, on the other hand, are assumptive. Given the example above, this translates to:

“Hi, Dave Anderson, please.”

OR

“Hi, could I speak with Dave, please?”

OR

“Oh hi. Could you connect me with Dave, please?”

While this may not sound like a big difference, IT IS.

There are many other examples of this (too many for this limited blog post), and if you would like a book full of them, then check this out.

Otherwise, listen to your own recordings and see where and when you give control of the conversation to the prospect. Chances are, you do it much more frequently than is good for your sales results….

Need More Proven Responses to the Selling Situations You Face Every Day?

ON DEMAND SALES TRAINING THAT GETS RESULTS!

If your team is struggling with call reluctance and is tired of the endless rejection they face, then get instant access to our On Demand training today. We provide the exact talk tracks, templates, and proven tools your team will be motivated to apply, all structured around an award winning comprehensive inside sales approach that gives your team the confidence to succeed in every selling situation they face today.

Unlimited License: One to 100 reps can attend for one low price!

Perfect for reps dealing with the following issues:

  • Reps struggling with call reluctance
  • Getting screened out by the gatekeeper
  • Overcoming blow off objections like, “Just email me something”
  • Identifying decision makers
  • Qualifying prospects
  • Setting call back appointments that stick
  • Giving successful presentations and dealing with objections
  • Staying motivated
Get Access Today

Best Thing to Do After You Write a Deal?

by mike

Writing a deal (making a sale), is an exhilarating thing, and there are many ways to celebrate.

Some companies have a deal board where you can write down your latest sale so the other team members can see it.

Other companies have a bell to ring, so, again, other team members can be encouraged by your success.

I’ve seen some reps strut around the office, stopping at their workmate’s desk to share their glory or tell the (often long) story of how that deal went down.

Some sales reps go directly into the kitchen where they’ll find a group of other reps—and even a manager or two—and they share the good news there.

Other reps may go down to the café or coffee shop and treat themselves to a latte or piece of pie.

Question: What do all of these forms of celebration have in common?

Answer: They all take you (and your successful energy) away from your desk—and your next pitch.

Years ago, when I was telling the fourth sales rep of my latest big sale, my manager pulled me aside and asked me if I was excited by my successful close. “Heck yeah!” I replied.

He then suggested that my next presentation might benefit from the success and momentum I had. He said that wasting that on other sales reps (and taking them off the phone) was a waste of that energy, and that the best thing I could do after making a sale was to pick up the phone and make another one.

I was a little offended by this, but I took his advice and channeled my energy into my next pitch, and guess what? I closed that deal, too!

And that’s when I got it. “Strike while the iron’s hot,” the expression is.

Nothing breeds success like success, and prospects and clients can feel when you’re successful. And they want to buy from someone who is enthusiastic and successful.

So, the next time you close a sale, stay at your desk! Pick the phone up and keep that momentum going!

Remember: The best time to make a sale is right after you’ve made one!

Need More Proven Responses to the Selling Situations You Face Every Day?

ON DEMAND SALES TRAINING THAT GETS RESULTS!

If your team is struggling with call reluctance and is tired of the endless rejection they face, then get instant access to our On Demand training today. We provide the exact talk tracks, templates, and proven tools your team will be motivated to apply, all structured around an award winning comprehensive inside sales approach that gives your team the confidence to succeed in every selling situation they face today.

Unlimited License: One to 100 reps can attend for one low price!

Perfect for reps dealing with the following issues:

  • Reps struggling with call reluctance
  • Getting screened out by the gatekeeper
  • Overcoming blow off objections like, “Just email me something”
  • Identifying decision makers
  • Qualifying prospects
  • Setting call back appointments that stick
  • Giving successful presentations and dealing with objections
  • Staying motivated
Get Access Today

“How to Avoid: ‘Will He Know What This Call is About?’”

by mike

How many times have you been stopped by the gatekeeper asking you:

“Will he/she know what this call is about?”

OR

“Have you spoken to him/her before?”

OR

“Is he/she expecting your call?”

Frustrating, isn’t it?

In all likelihood, you yourself are creating this objection by the way you’re opening your dialogue with the gatekeeper.

The number one mistake inside sales teams make when asking to speak with someone is not using a directive statement afterward. In other words, just asking to speak to someone and then not saying anything else.

The number two mistake is not giving your company name, thereby forcing the gatekeeper to do her/his job and ask you for it.

Here’s what not to do:

Gatekeeper: “Johnson company, may I help you?”

Sales Rep: “Can I talk to {prospect’s name}?”

OR worse:

Sales Rep: “Is {prospect’s name} available?”

The problem is that you didn’t use the magic word: “please.”

Using “please” instructs the gatekeeper to put you through, and, at the very least, encourages them to be polite to you. Here’s how it usually goes:

Gatekeeper: “Johnson company, may I help you?”

Sales Rep: “Hi, can I speak with {prospect’s name} please?”

Gatekeeper will now ask: “Can I tell him who is calling, please?”

Note here that the gatekeeper will use “please” right back to you—this as a good sign! The gatekeeper is now taking your lead and being polite to you!The

You reply exactly with:

“Absolutely! Please tell him/her {your first and last name} with {your company name} is holding please.”

That last part: “is holding please” is the directive part that both instructs the gatekeeper to put you through, and signals the end of your transaction with them.

This technique works 80%+ of the time.

So, if you’re getting any of the previous screening questions, you can end that today by learning and using a better approach.

Try it for a week and smile as you get put through to more decisions makers!

Need More Proven Responses to the Selling Situations You Face Every Day?

ON DEMAND SALES TRAINING THAT GETS RESULTS!

If your team is struggling with call reluctance and is tired of the endless rejection they face, then get instant access to our On Demand training today. We provide the exact talk tracks, templates, and proven tools your team will be motivated to apply, all structured around an award winning comprehensive inside sales approach that gives your team the confidence to succeed in every selling situation they face today.

Unlimited License: One to 100 reps can attend for one low price!

Perfect for reps dealing with the following issues:

  • Reps struggling with call reluctance
  • Getting screened out by the gatekeeper
  • Overcoming blow off objections like, “Just email me something”
  • Identifying decision makers
  • Qualifying prospects
  • Setting call back appointments that stick
  • Giving successful presentations and dealing with objections
  • Staying motivated
Get Access Today

Didn’t Get That Job? Is That a Bad Thing?

by mike

Sometimes, when something doesn’t turn out the way we want, it turns out to be a good thing… This happened to me early on in my consulting career, when I started working from my office in my home:

     One day my router stopped working and my internet went out. I was in the middle of a large work project when the connection went dead. I panicked as I tried to reboot it, and worried about the lost work, the deadlines I’d miss, and all the emails piling up. When it didn’t come back on, my thoughts shifted to the inconvenience and time it would take to fix it. First, I had to find an I.T. person and hope they had the bandwidth to help me quickly, then I had to search for a replacement router, buy it, and go through the hassle of getting it set up.

     I spent a frustrating afternoon at Best Buy sorting through the many routers, wasting precious time I could have spent working. When I got back to my office, I reached the I.T. guy who sometimes helps me, and after pleading with him, he agreed to come over and help me connect it that evening. I stewed until he came over and wondered why this bad thing had to happen to me today.

     Turned out that the install of the router went quickly, and after the I.T. guy left, I found something I hadn’t expected: not only did I have internet again, but I had better, faster internet now throughout my whole house! Because the technology had improved so much, I had upgraded my router, and now I had speeds I never even dreamed of. Even the coverage in the downstairs living room worked without buffering. I was thrilled!

     Later that night, after I had calmed down, I processed the experience—from my initial frustration and stress, my anxiousness at Best Buy, my harried calls to the I.T. guy, and then to the final result of to getting a better, faster internet connection. The result was that whole experience turned out better than I ever imagined it would. As I reviewed the experience, I came up with the saying “Is that a bad thing?” This has become my mantra when unexpected changes or circumstances come up, which they do constantly.

     Meeting so-called problems or situations with this new awareness and attitude has been life transforming. Now, when something breaks, goes out, or doesn’t go the way I planned (like not getting a client I had hoped for) I immediately ask myself, “Is that a bad thing?” Then, with a smile, I begin looking for ways to improve what I had before or begin looking for better opportunities that are now available. When I do, I often find better upgrades for what I had, or better options/opportunities for the future.

     When you think about your own experiences, I’m sure you’ve had instances when something didn’t go the way you thought it should, but that didn’t mean that it didn’t go the best way it could. By remaining open to what comes up and by looking for the opportunities that come with it, you will find a better way of dealing with the inevitable changes life constantly presents us with.

     I’m now quick to ask, “Is that a bad thing?”

     And that has turned out to be a good thing.

Need More Proven Responses to the Selling Situations You Face Every Day?

ON DEMAND SALES TRAINING THAT GETS RESULTS!

If your team is struggling with call reluctance and is tired of the endless rejection they face, then get instant access to our On Demand training today. We provide the exact talk tracks, templates, and proven tools your team will be motivated to apply, all structured around an award winning comprehensive inside sales approach that gives your team the confidence to succeed in every selling situation they face today.

Unlimited License: One to 100 reps can attend for one low price!

Perfect for reps dealing with the following issues:

  • Reps struggling with call reluctance
  • Getting screened out by the gatekeeper
  • Overcoming blow off objections like, “Just email me something”
  • Identifying decision makers
  • Qualifying prospects
  • Setting call back appointments that stick
  • Giving successful presentations and dealing with objections
  • Staying motivated
Get Access Today

Happy With Who We’re Using

by mike

This blog post is for those of you who haven’t purchased and read any of my book of scripts yet (what are you thinking? 🙂 )

For those of you who are prospecting, this objection, “We’re happy with who we’re using,” is something you most likely encounter often.

The question is: what do you say to it?

This objection—like all others—is a perfect one to script an effective response to, and here is one of my favorites:

Objection: “We’re happy with who we’re using” (Or any variation like, “We’re all set”):

Response: “That’s perfectly OK; I didn’t expect you to be in the market today. In fact, because you already have someone, this is the perfect time to compare prices and services with other vendors. That way, when you do have a need to look elsewhere, you’ll have a solid option already vetted.

“Let me ask you this….”

And then use a qualifying question regarding what they use, how often they order, etc.

Bonus response:

“No worries, I’m not going to sell you anything today. Instead, I simply want to give you some information so if things change—and let’s face it, they change all the time—you’ll at least know who to reach out to.

“Let me ask you this….”

Again, use a qualifying question regarding what they use, how often they order, etc.

If you would like eight other proven response, visit here.

Remember: throughout your sales process, you get the same seven to ten objections, stalls, and put-offs over and over again.

Want to be a top producer? Then stop making up an answer to them, and “ace” them by being prepared with proven scripts.

Need More Proven Responses to the Selling Situations You Face Every Day?

ON DEMAND SALES TRAINING THAT GETS RESULTS!

If your team is struggling with call reluctance and is tired of the endless rejection they face, then get instant access to our On Demand training today. We provide the exact talk tracks, templates, and proven tools your team will be motivated to apply, all structured around an award winning comprehensive inside sales approach that gives your team the confidence to succeed in every selling situation they face today.

Unlimited License: One to 100 reps can attend for one low price!

Perfect for reps dealing with the following issues:

  • Reps struggling with call reluctance
  • Getting screened out by the gatekeeper
  • Overcoming blow off objections like, “Just email me something”
  • Identifying decision makers
  • Qualifying prospects
  • Setting call back appointments that stick
  • Giving successful presentations and dealing with objections
  • Staying motivated
Get Access Today

“How are you today?” Use it or Ditch it?

by mike

How do you open your calls?

Do you ask, “How are you today?” or do you use a different opening?

There was a time when I was against using the worn-out opening of, “How are you today?” and provided a slew of different options—all of which had their place, and some of which I still use, on occasion, today.

But after years of cold calling (and calling clients back), I have found that I revert back to this standard opening again and again. And here’s why:

  1. While I used to think it signals that a sales call is coming, what I’ve discovered is that people are so used to hearing—and answering—this question, they don’t really register it. Instead, they just respond.
  2. (And here is the key): The real use of this question is to gage carefully the receptiveness of your prospect and then to respond accordingly.

Let’s dive into #2 a bit more. If you make calls for a living, then you know you can tell exactly what kind of mood a prospect is in simply by listening to how they answer the question, “How are you today?”

You can tell by their tone of voice if they are annoyed at being interrupted; or are bored and happy to have the interruption; are receptive to speaking with you; are not receptive; are in a good mood; are not in a good mood; will engage with you, and even ask how you are in return; are not interested in engaging, etc.

The reason this opening is so important is that it gives you instant feedback as to your prospect’s state of mind—and willingness to engage with you.

Second, because this is inside sales, and you can’t see your prospect’s face, you need this feedback so you know how to respond.

So, while some may think this is a worn out opening that signals a sales call (and, yes, I used to feel that way), I now know it is the most efficient opening to use—if you’re willing to truly listen and respond to your prospect’s mood. For example:

If you hear irritation or a rushed attitude, simply preface your next statement with, “I’m sure you’re busy, so I’ll be brief…”

If they ask you how you are doing, always, start with, “Thanks for asking! I’m doing well also. Is it still hot out there?” And engage a bit and build rapport…

Bottom line, there is a lot in an opening line, and “How are you today?” will give you a ton of feedback—if you’re willing to listen carefully to not only the response you get, but to how that response is given.

Need More Proven Responses to the Selling Situations You Face Every Day?

ON DEMAND SALES TRAINING THAT GETS RESULTS!

If your team is struggling with call reluctance and is tired of the endless rejection they face, then get instant access to our On Demand training today. We provide the exact talk tracks, templates, and proven tools your team will be motivated to apply, all structured around an award winning comprehensive inside sales approach that gives your team the confidence to succeed in every selling situation they face today.

Unlimited License: One to 100 reps can attend for one low price!

Perfect for reps dealing with the following issues:

  • Reps struggling with call reluctance
  • Getting screened out by the gatekeeper
  • Overcoming blow off objections like, “Just email me something”
  • Identifying decision makers
  • Qualifying prospects
  • Setting call back appointments that stick
  • Giving successful presentations and dealing with objections
  • Staying motivated
Get Access Today