Web Based Sales Training - 9 Steps in the Consultative Selling Process - Part III

In Part I and Part II of this three part series onaction she needs to take next. Do not assume
Web Based Sales Training, we started learning thethat she knows what to do, even though you
9 Steps in the Consultative Selling Process. Thesehave already asked her to buy. You must invite
nine steps are:her to participate and show her how. This is
- #1 Your Opening Statementclosing the sale. Now you are prompting them to
- #2 Tell Them What You Have and the Benefitstake out their credit card.
- #3 Prove it! (Tell Your Story)We believe that your prospect deserves to be
- #4 Special Bonuses and Guaranteesasked to buy. We liken it to a personal invitation.
- #5 The PriceAfter all, after you've set up your whole entire
- #6 Call to Action - Ask For the Sale!table of appetizers and refreshments to
- #7 Answer Questions and Objectionscompletely entice your house guest, don't you
- #8 A Further Call to Action - Closing the Salethen invite them to partake of the supper?
- #9 FollowupExactly!
In Web Based Sales Training - Part III, it is timeWalk Mary onto your company website and show
"close" on the sale, and that means, make someher exactly where to click to select the product
money! But don't get overly excited yet. In fact,package you discussed with her. Then take her to
this is the time to really keep your cool andthe place where she sets up her account and
continue to position yourself as a true consultantenters her payment information. Or take her
interested first and foremost in your customer'sorder over the phone and process it for her.
needs, problems and challenges.Whew! Congratulations, you just made your first
In this article, I am going to cover how tosale using the consultative selling process. But
effectively close on a sale by taking the followingyou're not finished! Now for the followup.
steps in the consultative selling process:Step #9 Followup
- #7 Answer Questions and ObjectionsCustomers who buy from you have the potential
- #8 A Further Call to Action - Closing the Saleof becoming repeat customers so you must
- #9 Followupcontinue to remain in consistent contact with
Step #7 Answer Questions and Objectionsthem and present other Calls to Action to move
Objections are not to be feared. They are yourthem through your sales funnel. After a
prospect's questions and concerns and they needconsultation, your prospect may need to think
to be addressed before your prospect canthings through. But the old adage "out of sight,
comfortably move forward. There's not a singleout of mind" is very true so you need to "stay in
sales person alive who has avoided objectionsfront" of your prospect and further prompt them
from their prospects. It's actually a healthyto take action
exchange and helps you to determine whatThis sales process may take several more calls
exactly the hesitations are for your prospect.before your prospect makes a decision to buy. In
Some people will not make up their mind withoutfact, some statistics report that nearly all sales
a grand inquisition of every detail of your product,take place on or after the fifth contact to the
service or opportunity.prospect. So be patient. It's all part of the natural
Objections are good! Your own comfort level alsoprocess of digesting information and allowing the
will increase as you start addressing orprospect to make a decision based on their needs.
"overcoming" these objections. Don't beFollow up is not only critical, but also essential to
concerned if you don't have all the answers either.any sales person's success. But just calling the
No one is expected to. You have the option toprospect again to see if they are ready to buy is
say, "I don't know the answer to that very goodnot going to be enough to get the sale. In fact,
question. But I do want to answer it. I'm going toyou run the risk of becoming downright annoying
get the answer and I'll give you a call later today."if you call your prospect over and over again.
Then be sure to do just that. Not calling yourCalling is an inefficient use of your time. You need
prospect back will result in losing a huge amountto automate the follow up process as much as
of ground you covered in developing thispossible as well as vary the ways in which you
relationship. Getting back to them as youfollow up.
committed to do will continue to increase yourWhen you follow these 9 Steps in the
credibility.Consultative Selling Process you are laying the
As you move forward in your marketing andgroundwork for turning prospects into loyal
sales career, you're going to hear thousands ofcustomers who buy from you over and over
objections. Mostly, you'll hear the same ones overagain and feel confident in referring others to you
and over again. Always respond with a "feel good"as well. This is the best way to build a customer
response, such as, "Mary, that's a very goodbase who will be with you through the good times
question. I'm glad you asked me that. Here isand the inevitable challenges that every business
why...."faces as it evolves.
Step #8 A Further Call to Action - Closing theTo refer back to Part I and Part II of this three
Salepart series on Web Based Sales Training - 9
You are a pro at this by now. You've been givingSteps in the Consultative Selling Process, please
your web visitors, email readers, and newslettersee our Part I and Part II Articles in our author
subscribers Calls to Action all along. Now you areresources section.
going to tell your prospect on the phone what