Sales Training Ideas - Four Steps to Qualify the Prospect During the Cold Call

One of the most important steps while cold callingyou?"o "What is your current time frame for
is to qualify the prospect. By qualifying properly,making changes?"
you will be using your selling time most effectively.3) Find out exactly what the prospect is looking
4 steps to qualifying on the cold callfor - A question that applies to almost any
1) Make sure you have the decision maker -product or service is, "What's most important to
After the opening of your cold call, your firstyou-price, bells and whistles, or options,
question should simply be: "Are you the one whoopportunities to upgrade?"
makes the buying decisions for (whatever it isHere are more good questions:o "Do you have
you're selling)?" Once you get an affirmative reply,any suggestions as to the best way for me to
find out if anyone else is involved. Ask, "And whohelp you?"o "What most concerns you about this
else is involved in the decision-making process?"type of product (or service)?"o "What do you
2) Make sure there is a need for your product -hope to achieve by evaluating how this is
The next step in your cold call is to make surecurrently being handled?"
there is a need for your product. In addition, you4) Make sure the prospect can afford your
are looking for ways in which you can best helpproduct - You now need to qualify for
the prospect.affordability.
Examples of cold calling "need" qualifyingExamples of cold calling "money" qualifying
questions:o "Joe, let me ask you: What systemquestions:o "Joe, what is your annual budget for
are you using currently for information storage(your product)?"o "What price range are you
and backup? You could also ask, How are youlooking in?"o "How much money would you have
currently handling the need for (your product)?"oliquid and available if the right investment were to
"Who is your current vendor?"o "How's that beenpresent itself today?"o "Do you plan to mortgage
working out for you?"o "What do you like bestmost or all of the investment?"o "Do you already
about your current situation (or vendor)?"o "Inhave a bank you're working with that has
what areas do you think I might be able to helppre-approved you for a certain amount?