6 Prospecting Tips

Picture by Tony Oliver

In my opinion, we must always be in the prospecting mode. Wherever you go.  You don't have to always tell people about your business. But keep a notebook with you to contact them later if the time is just not right.

6 Powerful Prospecting Tips for Building Wealth Online and Off!

by John Boe

Sales is a contact sport and prospecting for new business is the name of the game! You will never meet a salesperson that failed because they had too many prospects to talk to. For the majority of salespeople, finding new customers is without a doubt the most difficult and stressful aspect of the profession. Prospecting should be viewed more as a mindset rather than merely as an activity. It is something you need to be constantly aware of because you never know where your next prospect will be coming from.

It really doesn’t matter how competent you are or how well you know your product line, if you don’t have a qualified prospect in front of you, you don’t have a sale.

1. Prospecting for new business is similar to working out.
You know it is good for you and it will produce positive results if you do it routinely. Professional salespeople prospect daily. It is important to block-off specific time on your calendar for prospecting activities such as phone calling and emailing. Treat your prospecting time with the same respect as you would any other important appointment, otherwise, there is a tendency that it will slip through the cracks. This is not the time to check your emails, play solitaire on the computer, and make a personal phone call or chat with your associates. Stay focused and take your prospecting seriously. Set the tone by closing your office door and have your incoming calls held unless it is a call from a client or a prospect.
2. Be prepared, get organized and take good notes.
It is critical to have a computerized contact system to record remarks and suspense future contacts or appointments.
3. Use a script – don’t shoot from the hip.
There is only one thing worse than listening to a salesperson read a script over the phone and that is to listen to a salesperson without a script. Obviously, it is important to not only have a script but to practice it until it sounds smooth and natural. Set aside time to role-play with an associate over the phone. By taking turns presenting and critiquing you will gain confidence, polish your script and be more effective. When prospecting, avoid the temptation to sell over the phone. Your objective is to gather information and make the appointment.
4. Strike while the iron is hot!
When working with a new prospect, it is important to make contact quickly. Prospects are perishable. No matter how interested a prospect may appear, don’t wait for them to call you. You are only one of many competing interests for your prospect’s time and money.
5. Keep the high ground and avoid the temptation to badmouth your competition.
While it is fair to make head-to-head comparisons, you should avoid personal attacks. Attacking your competition makes you look unprofessional and petty. Emphasize the benefits of your product or service by guiding your prospect through a comparison of quality and price. Play to your strengths and not the weakness of your competition. Let your prospect draw their own conclusions from a well-presented comparison.
6. Rejection is a natural aspect of the sales process so don’t take it personally.
Learn from rejection, use it as a feedback mechanism and look for ways to improve your presentation. Salespeople who take rejection personally lack perseverance and seldom make the sale. Sales is a numbers game pure and simple. As a professional baseball player, if you can average four hits out of ten times at bat you are heading for the Hall of Fame. Research indicates that in sales you can expect your prospect to say no five times before they buy. With this in mind, realize that with every sales rejection you receive, you are one step closer to making the sale!

John Boe John speaks to corporate and public audiences on the subjects of Personal and Professional Development, including the executives and staff of many of America's largest corporations. His exciting talks and seminars on Leadership, Selling, Management, Goals, Business Development, Communication Skills and Customer Service bring about immediate changes and long-term results. Today, John is a successful entrepreneur and an internationally recognized authority on customer service, leadership, body language and temperament styles. His motivational and sales training articles have been read by millions of people worldwide and translated into over a dozen languages. He has written and produced several highly acclaimed and successful audio and video training programs. John co-authored the book Mission Possible with Dr. Stephen Covey. SalesDog.com named John to their list of “America’s Top 50 Sales Trainers and Customer Service Experts.”

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