how to ask for the sale

Squeaky Wheels: Knowing How to Ask for a Sale

Most people are familiar with the phrase “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” As with any idiom, it is founded in an element of truth — so why is it that salespeople have been afraid to embrace this philosophy in recent years? Perhaps it is because a somewhat negative perception started to follow sales professionals — the used car salesmen stereotype — and as such, many salespeople have tried to distance themselves from it.

But this stigma is hardly fair. As the saying demonstrates, you can’t expect a sale if you don’t ask for one. It is true that modern sales has become less about hard selling and more about guiding customers through potential pain points. Technology plays a major part in the sales process, and sales teams often act more like personal valets, providing information and directing customers towards solutions. However, in-person communication remains sales’ top channel for connecting with customers, and closing the sale in-person is just as important as ever.

Yet when it comes down to it, many sales professionals still feel awkward asking for a sale. This presents a problem, because without this final step you are simply giving out free advice, and ultimately losing money. Most customers go into the situation knowing your intention to close the sale, so there should be no hesitation when it comes down to it. Still, even when the lead is prepared, sometimes the biggest challenge is knowing how to ask for the sale.

How You Ask Can Make all the Difference.

It’s a fine line for any salesperson to walk. Being too timid can make the lead feel as though you don’t have faith in the product or service. On the other hand, excessive assertiveness can sometimes come across as abrasive or forceful. This makes the way in which you ask just as important than the actual asking itself. To help you craft a better technique for asking for a sale, here are some examples that may help:

“Have I answered all of your questions?”

This is a good way to ease into the sale. By asking a question like this, it shows the customer that you are concerned that they have a satisfying experience and that you are there for them. It also leaves the door open for a segway into something that your company offers to solve their common pain points.

“Is there any reason why this wouldn’t work for you?”

This forces the customer to directly evaluate any remaining concerns, and gives you the chance to address them. It also helps the client to grasp the reality of the sale, turning it from a hypothetical situation into a reality

“Where can we begin in order to meet your schedule?”

Most clients will already have a deadline or goal in mind. Reminding them of the deadline not only creates a sense of urgency, but also shows them that you are mindful of their needs and can help them to reach a solution in time.

“Are there any other steps we need to take to approve this project?”

Instead of leading with an open-ended “are you going to buy?” treat it as an almost done deal, where almost everything is already in place — all you need is the go-ahead. A phrase like this allows you to identify any remaining roadblocks to the sale, while still presenting it as something that will happen. Framing it in this way helps put customers at ease, as they see the sale as in-progress, rather than up in the air.

“I think these two options could work for you. Which would prefer?”

This is a good way to simplify things for your client, narrowing things down to create a finite choice, but still providing them the flexibility. In this sort of situation, people will tend to stick to one of the options they have been given, rather than suggesting something else.

“If you sign, I can guarantee _______.”

This is a good way to put customers who are on the fence at ease. Sometimes all they are looking for is a final benefit to sway them, or a guarantee to assuage any remaining concerns they may have. With a statement like this, leads also feel protected, as they know that they can hold you accountable later — so make sure that it is something that you can back up.

“Can I send you the contract today?”

Sometimes being direct is the best way to get results. Additionally, this kind of a question sets a deadline on the sale that makes a customer less likely to back out.

 

 
How to close more deals

Understanding Your Customers is Key to Knowing How to Ask for a Sale.

The best and only way to figure out how to ask for a sale is through understanding your customers. Using cloud sales technology, you can collect analytics that can help your team to do just that. In fact, 70% of sales professionals say that using analytics has improved their close rates. Cloud sales solutions are able to collect all pertinent data, and not only send it to sales teams, but provide analysis and insights that will help them to make much better decisions.

These solutions often work together as part of a larger CRM platform, one that will enable more efficient collaboration between departments. Around 60% of sales professionals say that this kind of collaborative selling has increased productivity by more than 25%, and more than half (52%) say it has done the same for increasing pipeline.

You can’t expect a sale if you never ask for it. Using modern sales technology means that now you can ask for a sale in a way that will be more likely to end in success for you and your clients.

After all, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and when you have a product or service that will improve the lives of your leads, then that’s really something worth squeaking about.

Questions? We’ll put you on the right path.

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