How To Sell Anything

Christiaan Janssens
Executive Coach
CRO @ Spa Akwa Belgium

PSS

PSS - 'Professional Selling Skills'

 

 

We have all heard the term Professional Selling Skills, the highly structured selling process pioneered by the Xerox photocopier sales organization, but how many of you have heard the term Unprofessional Selling Skills? Although the terminology is not commonly known, many salespeople are actually practicing it. Professional Selling Skills (or “PSS”) is not about throwing a price on the table, allowing the customer to respond to it, and then offering up a discount. To succeed in today’s sales world, it takes a person who is dedicated to continually improving their selling skills. This means they’re willing to invest their time and money into learning as much as they can about how to sell more effectively. They’re not afraid to try new things and, most importantly, they embrace an attitude that drives them to always find success. Start today by examining how “professional” your skills really are and then make the changes where necessary.

 

Eight essential selling skills

1. Researching Prospects

Chances are your prospect knows plenty about you, your firm and your competition. In order to add real value, you'll need to know even more about the prospect, the prospect's business and the prospect's own customers.

2. Planning Meetings

Every contact with a prospect or customer should end in some kind of commitment from the customer—an agreement to do something that will move the process forward. This is only possible if you plan carefully to make it happen.

3. Creating Rapport

The first decision that every buyer makes is: "Do I want to do business with this person?" To create that all-important instant connection, you've got be curious, personable and really care about the people you're trying to help.

4. Asking Questions

If you can't satisfy a customer's real needs, you can't make a sale. And if you don't ask the right questions–or if you ask them the wrong way–you'll never know what the customers really need, and therefore will never be able to help.

5. Listening Actively

This is even more important than asking the right questions. When customers are talking, it's not enough to keep your mouth closed. You've also got to keep your mind open to discover ways to truly be of service.

6. Presenting Solutions

This means creating and describing a specific solution to previously agreed-upon needs. Note: It is the exact opposite of a sales pitch, which is a one-size-fits-all way to say "all I care about is making a sale."

7. Asking for Commitment

All of the above is completely pointless if the activity doesn't eventually result in some sales. If you don't ask for the business at some point, it's not going to happen. So learn how to ask.

8. Building Relationships

Your short-term goal is to walk "arm in arm" with the customer as they arrive at the best possible solution. Your long-term goal is to become part of that customer's essential business network ... and vice versa.