Closing skills will be a great persuasive tool to get under your belt, and the sooner you do so the better. Remember, as the salespersonwhether youre selling a product or trying to get your teenager to understand your point of viewyou are in an advisory role. You are your prospects advocate. The more you can operate in her/his best interest, the more s/he will sense this and agree to your input. The closing skills you have learned in this chapter will help you to persuade more effectively. Now, knowing the process, you will understand what is happening each step of the way and you will intuitively recognize where to guide your prospect. When you get these skills down, you will be pleasantly surprised that effective persuasion is an easy, fun and natural process. In the beginning, you will experience moments of awkwardness when you forget exactly what to say or do. There will also be times when your prospects will throw you for a loop and you wont remember how to respond. When this happens, dont be too hard on yourself. As time goes on, youll experience a natural learning curve. Just make note of areas youd like to strengthen and work on them along the way. This kind of conscientious attention will soon help you hone and polish your selling abilities. After every sales attempt, take the time to analyze the situation. What did you do well? What could you have done better? 1. Direct closeSimply ask for the sale. Shall we get the process going for you? Sounds like a great fit! Are you ready to move forward? Lets get the ball rolling, OK? 2. Assumption closeRather than ask if your prospect wants to move forward or not, assume the sale and give her/him a choice of one option or another. This closing technique solidifies the sale. For example, Would you like the blue or the green? Do you want it delivered, or will you be picking it up? Will that be cash or charge? 3. Take-away closeWhen your prospect hesitates, say, Just a minutelet me make sure we have this in your size. Let me see if we have this item in stock. Let me check with my manager. This product is not appropriate for you. Closing strategies like these create the impulse to move ahead with the purchase so your prospects dont forfeit their opportunity. 4. Summary closeRestate the list of benefits your prospects have cited as important to them and list them in order of priority. This closing strategy confirms and validates in your prospects mind all the valid reasons for the purchase. It also shows your prospect that you have been attentive and understand her/his needs. 5. Puppy-dog closeLet your prospects touch, taste, feel and experience the product or service as much as possible. Put them in the actual situation, either literally or through helping them create a vivid imaginary experience. This closing strategy helps the prospect become attached. 6. Procon closeWalk the prospect through the thinking process. On a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle and write down factors that help your prospects compare and contrast how many more pros your product has than cons. This closing strategy is excellent for analytical personalities. 7. Order-sheet closeFill in the order sheet from the start of the conversation. This closing strategy reinforces a subconscious commitment on your prospects part. If they hesitate, explain that the form just helps you get all the details. In completing the form, be clear on what your prospects are looking for. Assure them that if they arent ready to make a decision, the order form will not be processed. 8. The relevant-story closePeople think in terms of stories. Relate to your prospects the experience of another client in a similar situation who moved forward and was very happy with her/his decision. This closing strategy also works in the reverse: someone who did not purchase and later regretted it. 9. Ascending closePose a series of questions to your prospects that will all elicit a yes response and lead to the point of purchase as the obvious step to take. This closing strategy reinforces subconscious affirmation of the products benefits and ability to meet your prospects needs. Yeses increase desire, while nos decrease desire. 10. Reduce-to-the-ridiculous closeBreak down your products costs into minute units: For a mere 22 cents a day, you can enjoy the benefits of our product. You can change your life by investing only 50 cents a day. 11. Real-reason closeAfter you have tried everything, thank your prospects for their time. They will then sense that the exchange is ending, so their resistance will subside. Ask your prospect something like this: Mr. Smith, I tried to present the information the best I knew how. What is the real reason you did not buy today? After receiving an answer, see if you can address the concern and re-close. Last but not least, remember that in this process, everyone wins. Salespeople are what make the world turn. You will often be the one who nudges a person just enough so that s/hell take action. There are countless things that would remain undone if it were not for a sales reps guidance and instruction. In the end, your prospect is happy because you gave her/him the courage to act, and youre happy because you know youve made a difference. |
Index
