Data-Driven Selling By Sales Insights Lab

Salesinsightslab.com

This data-driven sales podcast helps reps and business owners generate more meetings and close more sales at higher prices without the cheezy old-school high-pressure sales tactics. Each Thursday, we will give you step-by-step techniques that you can immediately implement into your daily selling to blow up your sales. Also, be sure to register for the free training on the 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without Price Pushback, ‘Think-It-Overs’ and Ghosting by visiting http://closing.training read less
Business

Episodes

Increase Your Sales by 39% with One Easy Sales Trick
Jul 2 2024
Increase Your Sales by 39% with One Easy Sales Trick
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Welcome to another episode of Data Driven Insights by the Sales Insights Lab! There are difficult ways to increase your sales—and then there are easy ways. I personally prefer easy ways, and I’m willing to bet you do too. A few years ago, I discovered an incredibly easy way to increase sales. At the time, I was working with one of my favorite clients, Danny.Danny sells software to enterprises and, before I met him, his sales were stagnant for about three years in a row. Then I helped him implement one weird little sales trick—and we were able to increase his annual sales by 39%, in just one year. The greatest part is that it was incredibly easy. Danny didn’t have to work more, and he didn’t have to make more calls. Would you like to know what we did to increase Danny’s sales by 39%?In this episode, I’m going to show you one weird trick that increases sales by 39%. Check it out!So, there you have it. One easy trick that increases sales by 39%. Of course, 39% is a tough number to be exact about. But, if you actually use this approach, you’re going to see a dramatic increase in your sales. I want to hear from you. Have you ever used a trick like this before? Be sure to share below in the comments section. I’ll respond to every comment that I can get to.
The Most Overlooked Sales Technique in the World…?
Jun 25 2024
The Most Overlooked Sales Technique in the World…?
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Welcome to another episode of Data Driven Insights by the Sales Insights Lab! What’s the single most overlooked sales technique in the world? Once you find out, you’ll start closing more sales right away.For a free eBook on How to Crush Your Sales Goals, head over to http://www.marcwayshak.com/opt1/ right now!Looking for an easy technique that can boost your sales and transform your selling style? Most salespeople use the same sales approach, so it’s hard to stand out from the competition. If you’re not constantly looking for ways to up your game, then you’re missing out on some of the most valuable sales techniques out there.This failure to innovate costs salespeople a tremendous amount of money in lost sales. In particular, there’s one stand-out sales technique that’s arguably the most overlooked selling approach in the world. And if you use this technique, you’ll unquestionably close more sales.In this video, I’m going to show you the most overlooked sales technique in the world…? Check it out!So, there you have it. The most overlooked sales technique in the world. Have you been overlooking this sales approach? Or are you one of the few salespeople who use it? Be sure to share below in the comments section. I’ll respond to every comment that I possibly can. If you enjoyed this video, visit www.marcwayshak.com/opt1/ to get a free eBook on 25 tips to crush your sales goal.
3 Crushing Mistakes Most Salespeople Make
Jun 18 2024
3 Crushing Mistakes Most Salespeople Make
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Welcome to another episode of Data Driven Insights by the Sales Insights Lab! I'm your host, Marc Wayshak, and today we’re diving deep into the common pitfalls that hold salespeople back. Drawing on my experience working with thousands of sales reps every year, I’ve identified the three most crushing mistakes that are costing you sales and, more importantly, how you can avoid them. Whether you're selling like everyone else, winging your questions, or falling into the trap of sporadic prospecting, these missteps are killers. Tune in as we uncover actionable strategies to break free from these habits and start closing more deals today. Let's get started!Most salespeople make the same three crushing mistakes. Watch this video to make sure you’re not one of them!Every year, I work with thousands of salespeople across industries. As a result, I get a bird’s eye view of what’s going on in today’s fast-changing marketplace. What I’ve discovered is this: The vast majority of salespeople make the same mistakes, over and over again. And they don’t even seem to realize it. The challenge is, most salespeople can’t recognize when they’re making one of these critical mistakes. If they did, they’d stop right away—because these mistakes are slowly killing their sales. In this video, I’m going to show you three crushing mistakes most salespeople are making—and most importantly, how to avoid them. Check it out!So, there you have it: Three crushing mistakes most salespeople make. Have you ever made one of these mistakes before? If so, what was the result? I want to hear from you. Be sure to share below in the comments section. I’ll respond to every comment I possibly can.
5 Steps to Closing the Sale Faster [Don't Let It Slip Through the Cracks!]
Jun 11 2024
5 Steps to Closing the Sale Faster [Don't Let It Slip Through the Cracks!]
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Welcome to Data Driven Insights, the podcast that helps sales reps and business owners elevate their game and close more deals at higher prices. I’m your host, Marc Wayshak.In this episode of Data Driven Selling, we delve into a fundamental challenge faced by sales professionals: How to close deals more quickly and prevent them from slipping through the cracks. Marc emphasizes that many issues encountered at the end of the sales process actually stem from how the process was initiated. To address this, Marc introduces a five-step strategy designed to accelerate any sales cycle and drive more effective results:1. Organize your entire process.Every professional salesperson, and every sales organization as a whole, must have a good CRM system in place to organize everything. The last thing you want to do is just have your entire sales process organized in some Excel spreadsheets, on paper, or in Google Docs.You don't ever want to walk into the office wondering what your day will look like. Your process should be so organized that you already know exactly what each day is going to entail. There must be a particular system through which you can see your entire pipeline, so that way nothing is ever slipping through the cracks. The more organized your process, the better off you'll be. Having a good CRM system that really holds it all together is simply key to closing the sale faster.2. Disqualify prospects.This is less about organization and more about how you're actually selling. One of the reasons many sales start to slow down is that they were never truly qualified in the first place. You must become adept at using a systematic process to understand whether each prospect is actually qualified or disqualified. This is essential to closing the sale faster, because otherwise you’ll spend all of your time with disqualified prospects that have just kind of hung around in your pipeline. You've got to clean those people out, and move on. By learning to disqualify prospects early on, you’ll enable yourself to focus your time and energy on prospects that are actually a good fit.3. Present only what’s relevant.Salespeople constantly want to present their entire offering to every single prospect. But the reality is that you probably have an offering that's pretty broad. And so your prospects often don't need everything that you do. They only need certain things.Presenting features or components of your offering that are outside the scope of what the prospect is really trying to solve only distracts them—and slows down the sale.If you really want to close the sale faster, you must present only what’s relevant.4. Be NSO.NSO stands for Next Step Obsessed. One of the most common reasons sales start to slow down is a lack of clear next steps. If you really want to start closing the sale faster, then you need to become absolutely obsessed with next step. As in, you can’t sleep at night if you know that you didn't schedule a next step in that last meeting.Once you prioritize next steps and become militant about scheduling them in every meeting or sales conversation, you’ll noticed that you’re able to hold sales together far more effectively.One of the biggest mistakes you can make in sales is to give a proposal to a prospect and then plan to “reconnect in a couple of months” or something similarly vague. Instead, there should always be a scheduled appointment in the calendar. Become obsessed with asking every prospect, “Do you have your calendar in front of you?” before ending any sales conversation. (And by the way, everyone has their calendar in front of them nowadays.)Always get that next step in the calendar right then and there, and send out a calendar invite while you're actually on the phone or on the Zoom or for face to face with the prospect. Always be obsessed with next steps.That's going to hold the sale together. And it's going to condense your sales cycle, so you can start closing the sale faster.5. Live by your pipeline.The next step to closing the sale faster is to become crystal clear—and truly honest—about your pipeline’s strongest opportunities, and where you need to focus your time. Living by your pipeline and only focusing on the very best opportunities means condensing that sales cycle and closing the sale faster. And, quite frankly, more frequently. Marc wraps up the episode by offering listeners the opportunity to register for a free video training session, designed to provide additional tactical advice on closing deals without facing common issues like price pushback or ghosting. To access this valuable resource, visit closingtraining for instant access.
5 Quick Sales Questions to Get ANY Prospect to Open Up
Jun 4 2024
5 Quick Sales Questions to Get ANY Prospect to Open Up
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Welcome to "Data Driven Insights," the podcast that merges tactical sales advice with data-backed strategies to help sales reps and business owners generate more meetings and close more sales at higher prices. Hosted by Marc Wayshak, each episode dissects critical sales techniques and methods supported by real-world data, ensuring you have the tools to elevate your sales game. Tune in to discover how you can leverage data to improve your sales outcomes.In this episode, host Marc Wayshak dives into five strategic questions designed to get prospects to open up and share their true challenges and needs. Marc emphasizes the importance of effective communication and how asking the right questions can reveal invaluable insights, leading to more successful sales outcomes. The episode covers:1. **Quick Opening Play**: Utilize the "opening play" method by sharing the top three challenges your prospects typically face and asking if these issues resonate with them.2. **Tell Me More About That**: Prompt deeper conversations by asking prospects to elaborate on their statements, helping uncover core issues.3. **Why Do You Think That Is?**: Get prospects to explore and explain the reasons behind their problems, providing deeper understanding and context.4. **What Prompts You to Say That?**: Use this question to clarify the motivations behind a prospect's statements or questions, ensuring a focused dialogue.5. **Why Is That?**: A simple yet powerful question that encourages prospects to delve into their objectives and challenges, allowing you to address their needs more effectively.Marc's insights reveal that successful selling hinges not just on presenting solutions but on understanding and unpacking the true challenges prospects face. By incorporating these five questions into your sales conversations, you'll be equipped to foster more meaningful interactions and achieve better sales outcomes.Tune in to master these essential sales techniques and transform your approach to selling by making every conversation count. For further resources, visit closingtraining where you can access additional free training on the five-step formula to closing more deals.
The Absolute Best Way to Start a Sales Conversation [WITH ANY PROSPECT]
May 28 2024
The Absolute Best Way to Start a Sales Conversation [WITH ANY PROSPECT]
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Welcome to Data Driven Insights, the podcast that helps sales reps and business owners elevate their game and close more deals at higher prices. I’m your host, Marc Wayshak. In today’s episode, we’re diving into one of the most crucial aspects of the sales process: how to start a sales conversation with any prospect. It's often said that starting strong leads to ending strong, and this principle is especially true in sales. In this episode, I'll be sharing our unique approach known as the "opening play," which goes beyond the typical elevator pitch. We’ll explore how to kick off your conversations with key insights about what you help clients achieve, the challenges they face, and prompt engagement to enter a meaningful dialogue. If you’re ready to transform the way you approach your prospects right from the start, stay tuned for actionable insights that can change your selling game. Let’s get started!KEY POINTS Introduction and Importance of Starting a Sales Conversation:- Impact of how you start on ultimate outcome.- Philosophy taught by one of Marc’s mentors: strong start leads to strong end.- Goal: Develop a way to start conversations that prompts prospects to open up and make buying decisions.Develop Your Opening Play:- Explanation of the "opening play" concept.- Contrast with traditional methods like 30-second commercials or elevator pitches.- Importance of a structured approach in the first 20 to 30 seconds.    - Problems with typical salespeople getting off-track.    - Need for a tight and concise opening.Start with What You Help Clients Achieve:- Problems with starting conversations focusing on what you sell.- Suggested approach: Start with what you help clients achieve.    - Examples:        - Insulation company focusing on a warm house.        - CRM systems focusing on organized leads and increased revenues.Discuss Key Challenges You’re Seeing:- The importance of addressing key challenges prospects face.- Demonstrating insights into common challenges affecting prospects.    - Importance of showing value and insight.    - Conversion of these challenges into engagement.    - Analogy to a doctor's perspective.Close with Engagement Prompt:- How to end the opening play with a prompt.- Preferred closing question: "Do any of those issues ring true?"    - Purpose of prompting the prospect to engage.    - Contrast with common pitfalls of traditional closing.Practical Example of Opening Play:- Sample opening play sequence Marc would use.    - High-level overview focusing on salespeople or small businesses.    - Key elements:        - Clients leverage data to drive revenues.        - Challenges like low-price competitors, generating new business, and difficult sales environment.        - Closing question to prompt engagement.Conclusion:- Recap of the power of a well-constructed opening play.    - Insight demonstration.    - Prompting prospect engagement.
The Martial Arts Approach to Closing Sales
May 21 2024
The Martial Arts Approach to Closing Sales
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/In this episode of Data Driven Selling by the Sales Insights Lab, host Marc Wayshak dives into the fascinating parallels between martial arts and sales techniques. Drawing from his personal experience in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Marc explores how the principles of martial arts can dramatically enhance your sales game. From treating your prospect as a training partner to replacing force with skill, Marc shares invaluable insights that can transform your approach to closing deals. Learn how to harness the energy of your prospects, think multiple steps ahead, understand likely outcomes, and develop an intentional training process for long-term success. Whether you're a seasoned salesperson or just starting out, these strategies can help propel you to the top of your field. Stay tuned for a dynamic episode that blends the art of martial mastery with the science of selling.KEY MOMENTS1. Your prospect is the best training partner2. Replace force with skill3. Let their energy lead where you want to go4. Think many steps ahead5. Understand the likely outcomes6. Intentional training leads to long-term success7. The best athletes often don’t become the best martial artistsTOPICSUsing Prospects as Training Partners- Role of a training partner in martial arts.- Prospects as the best training partners in sales.- Importance of learning from each sales interaction.Replacing Force with Skill- Common beginner's mistake: using force.- Transition from using force to using skill in martial arts.- Applying skill over force in sales.- The discomfort prospects feel when reps use forceful techniques.Letting Energy Lead- Traditional selling techniques versus guiding energy.- Embracing objections rather than opposing them.- Steering the prospect’s energy in the desired direction.Thinking Many Steps Ahead- Advanced martial artists’ ability to think multiple steps ahead.- Parallels in sales: having a process and planning future steps.- Differences between trained and untrained salespeople.Understanding Likely Outcomes- Predictability of human behavior in martial arts.- Predicting prospects’ responses in sales scenarios.- Preparing for various potential outcomes.Importance of Intentional Training- Need for a structured training process in martial arts.- Importance of having an intentional training process in sales.- Long-term benefits of consistent and intentional training.Misconception About Natural Talent- Observations about top martial artists not always being top athletes.- Comparison to sales: natural charisma versus learned skills.- Emphasis on focusing on skill development rather than innate traits.Conclusion- Summarizing the martial arts approach to closing sales.- Encouragement to focus on skill development and continuous learning.
The Way Successful & Rich Salespeople Think
May 14 2024
The Way Successful & Rich Salespeople Think
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Welcome to Data-Driven Selling, where today our host, Marc Wayshak, dives into the powerful mindsets that distinguish successful and wealthy salespeople from the rest. Marc will share the crucial mental shifts that can elevate your sales game from thinking you're the best to recognizing sales as a strategic game, not a life-or-death struggle. Discover why seeing your interactions with top-tier prospects as equal footing encounters is essential and how embracing sales as a game can replace stress with enjoyment and effectiveness. Whether it’s adopting the mantra "The best prospects need me,” or understanding that losing a sale is just part of the game, this episode is packed with transformative insights. Moreover, Marc emphasizes the importance of loving what you do, believing in your product, and having a clear sales plan. Tune in to learn how to shift your mindset and dramatically increase your sales effectiveness and enjoy the pursuit of your sales goals with a renewed vigor and strategy.Here is a comprehensive sequence of topics covered in the podcast episode "Sales Mindset - The Way Successful & Rich Salespeople Think," with sub-topic bullets detailing the main points discussed under each primary topic:1. Introduction to Sales Mindsets   - Explanation of common traits among successful and rich salespeople.   - Importance of adopting certain mindsets to reach the top of one’s sales game.2. Critical Sales Mindsets   - I Am the Best     - Believing in oneself as top in their field.     - The necessity of self-belief to achieve top performance.   - The Best Prospects Need Me     - Viewing oneself as a solution rather than an annoyance.     - Recognition that certain prospects inherently need what you're offering.   - Sales Is Just a Game     - Conceptualizing sales as a game to improve engagement and reduce stress.     - Changing perception of sales from a high-stress environment to a playful competition.   - Can Go Toe to Toe with Any CEO     - Confidence in dealing with high-level executives.     - Not being intimidated by the status of the prospect.   - If I Lose a Sale, So What?     - Acceptance of losses as part of the sales process.     - Maintaining composure and perspective when a sale falls through.3. Focusing on Process Over Outcomes   - Activity and Process Over Closing     - Emphasis on consistent activity and refined processes.     - Importance of building a robust pipeline and engaging in effective sales practices.   - I'll See If You're a Fit     - Evaluating prospects for fit rather than trying to close every possible sale.     - Moving on quickly if a prospect is not a fit.4. Goal Setting and Planning   - Having a Clear Plan to Sales Goals     - Importance of having specific, measurable steps to reach sales targets.     - Breaking down goals into actionable items like number of meetings and deal sizes.5. Passion for Selling   - I Love What I Do and Sell     - The necessity of passion and belief in the product for sales success.     - How enjoyment and belief in the product impact sales performance.6. Conclusion and Additional Resources   - Summarization of key sales mindsets.   - Invitation to access further sales training resources.Each of these topics provides a detailed overview of the various mindsets and strategies that, according to the podcast, are essential for achieving and maintaining success in sales.
7 Keys to Handling the “This is Too Expensive” Objection
May 7 2024
7 Keys to Handling the “This is Too Expensive” Objection
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/In this episode of "Data Driven Selling," hosted by Marc Wayshak, we delve into a common challenge faced by sales reps and business owners: the "This is Too Expensive" objection from prospects. Marc provides seven strategic keys to effectively handle this objection, emphasizing a shift in both mindset and tactics. The episode is rich with actionable advice aimed at helping listeners not only overcome the objection but also ensure they are aligning their sales process to showcase the value of their offerings clearly. "7 Keys to Handling the 'This is Too Expensive' Objection" by Marc Wayshak covers a comprehensive guide to navigating price objections in sales. Here’s a breakdown of the primary topics covered, with sub-topic bullets for each:1. Determine How You Got Here- Exploration of the sales process to identify potential improvements.- Understanding that price objections often stem from a perceived lack of value.2. Own Your High Price Upfront- The strategy of proudly owning and justifying a higher price point.- Discussion on the negative implications of competing on price in your industry.3. Remember That 20% Must Be DQ'd- Categorizing prospects into three buckets based on their price sensitivity and value perception.- Emphasis on immediately disqualifying the bottom 20% who are price-focused.4. Slow It Down- Tactical approach to pause and slow down the conversation upon encountering the objection.- The importance of not rushing into defensive or justifying responses.5. Ask What Prompts You to Say That- Turning the objection back to the prospect to understand their perspective.- The value of listening and prompting further explanation from the prospect.6. Dig Deeper- The importance of digging into the objection to truly understand the prospect's concerns.- How effective questioning can reveal the underlying reasons for the objection.7. Can I Throw Some Ideas at You?- Strategies for collaboratively exploring potential solutions or alternatives with the prospect.- Seeking permission to offer ideas, enhancing the receptiveness of the prospect.Conclusion and Additional Resources- Summary of the key strategies to handle the "This is too expensive" objection.- Invitation to access additional free training material to improve closing skills without price objection.Each of these topics collectively aims to equip sales professionals with strategic responses and a deeper understanding of handling price objections effectively, turning potential setbacks into opportunities for value demonstration and closing sales.
How to Sell Bigger Deals [Whale Hunting!]
Apr 30 2024
How to Sell Bigger Deals [Whale Hunting!]
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Welcome back to another educational episode of "Data Driven Insights." I'm your host, Marc Wayshak, and today we're joined by the head coach at the Sales Insights Lab, Coach Tiffany Torres. In this episode, Marc and Tiffany discuss the significance and benefits of targeting larger deals in sales, challenging common assumptions, and realigning mindsets toward high-stakes opportunities. Marc Wayshak begins by explaining three ways to increase sales: more prospects, higher closing rates, and bigger deals, emphasizing that the latter is often overlooked despite its potential impact on revenue.Coach Tiffany advises sales professionals to focus on the value of the problems they solve for prospects rather than just the cost of their product or service. By doing so, salespeople can effectively communicate the worth of their offering in relation to the prospect's challenge, creating an opportunity to discuss and justify higher budgets.The conversation shifts to strategies for increasing deal sizes, such as dynamic pricing, offering tiered service packages, and targeting bigger companies with larger budgets. They highlight the importance of understanding the prospect's language and tailoring the value proposition accordingly.Marc and Tiffany advise on pipeline management, emphasizing the need to cultivate multiple large opportunities so any single deal doesn't become disproportionately crucial, a concept likened to balancing on a beam at different heights. With a full pipeline, salespeople can operate from a position of power, less concerned about individual losses and more focused on the many opportunities ahead.Finally, they wrap up with a discussion on adopting a "some will, some won't, so what" attitude, recognizing when to move on from a lost prospect, and how small increases in average sales size can lead to significant overall growth.Listeners are also invited to access a free video training to learn a five-step formula to close more deals, available at closing training.Key Topics:1. Introduction to Wholesale Hunting2. Benefits of Targeting Big Deals3. Strategies to Increase Sales4. Approaches to Increase Average Sales Size5. Pricing Tactics 6. Strategy in Selling Big Deals7. The Importance of Mindset8. Pricing Structures and Optionality9. Benefits of Multiple Options in Offering10. Working with Larger Companies11. Importance of a Full Pipeline12. Analogy of the Beam and Height00:00 Focusing on increasing sales and landing bigger deals.04:40 Analyzing the decision-making process for high-cost items.07:29 Bigger sales challenge mindsets, worth and confidence.11:14 Expanding options leads to successful sales strategy.14:40 Multiple dates reduce pressure, increase opportunities, comfort.16:50 Focus on closing good deals, not lost ones.
Using Better Tonality to Disarm Your Prospects
Apr 23 2024
Using Better Tonality to Disarm Your Prospects
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Welcome back to another educational episode of "Data Driven Insights." I'm your host, Marc Wayshak, and today we're joined by the head coach at the Sales Insights Lab, the insightful Coach Tiffany Torres. Together, we're diving deep into a skill that often flies under the radar yet holds the power to dramatically shift the outcomes of your sales calls: mastering tonality to disarm your prospects. You'll hear real-world insights into the widespread overcompensation of salespeople's enthusiasm, why this can sabotage your efforts, and the proven strategies for adjusting your tone to one that's engaging and authentic. From Tiffany's eye-opening statistics on call success rates to our touching on the crucial doctor's mindset approach, this episode is packed with actionable advice. Are you ready to learn how to strike the right note with your prospects and revolutionize your sales approach? Listen in as we uncover the secrets to turning your voice into a compelling tool for connection and sales success.00:00 Different approaches and tonality affect effectiveness.04:38 The speaker discusses the tone difference between talking to a prospect and a personal connection in an office setting.09:12 Doctors must balance friendliness with professional boundaries, while sales should be based on delivering value and not just relationships.12:14 Focus on progress, not perfection in sales. Recognize failure is part of the process.13:18 Trust in learning process, approach tasks strategically.Key takeaways:**The Power of Tonality**: Learn how the right tone can triple your effectiveness, transforming 1-in-80 calls to 1-in-20 for setting appointments.  **Value vs Enthusiasm**: Discover why oozing genuine value trumps fake enthusiasm every time, and why prospects prefer insights over excitement. **Practice Makes Perfect**: Embrace the importance of role-play in mastering the art of disarmament through tonality—minimize stakes, maximize comfort.
How to Create Immense Value in Sales Conversations
Apr 16 2024
How to Create Immense Value in Sales Conversations
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Welcome back to another episode of Data Driven Insights. I'm your host, Marc Wayshak, joined by our esteemed head sales coach, Coach Tiffany. Today, we're diving into a fascinating discussion that every salesperson needs to hear: "How to Create Immense Value in Sales Conversations." This episode peels back the layers of traditional selling techniques to show you a revolutionary approach that speaks directly to the buyer's needs. We'll dismiss old-school, pitch-focused methods and move toward a genuine, conversation-driven strategy that empowers prospects to unpack their own value. Expect to explore the crucial differences between simply agreeing with a client and engaging them in a deeper dialogue that leads to understanding their unique challenges. Coach Tiffany and I will guide you through real-life scenarios, equipping you with the insights to transform your sales conversations from one-sided presentations to collaborative exchanges that lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. So, if you're ready to enhance your sales process and empower your clients, tune in and let's unlock the secrets of creating immense value together.00:00 Prioritize initial value in sales interactions.03:42 Avoid waiting for opportunity, focus on understanding.09:38 Against strict rules, prefers understanding real costs.10:25 Roa calculators project a sales dictatorship: guide prospects.13:26 Creating understanding, building value, and commitment.Here are 3 key takeaways to transform your sales approach:- **Unpack the Prospect's Perspective**: Step into their shoes. Your role is to guide them through their own challenges, not dictate the journey with your solutions. This builds trust and positions you as a partner rather than just a vendor.- **Dialogue Over Monologue**: Engage in a conversation, not a pitch. Ask probing questions to understand the pain points deeply. When you let prospects articulate their issues, they’re more likely to see the value in your tailored solutions.-  **Expertise Through Inquiry**: Admitting that you don’t have all the answers might feel counterintuitive, but it’s actually a powerful demonstration of expertise. It shows you're attentive, you care, and you're committed to understanding their unique situation.
How to Deal with the Alpha Prospect [Bullies!]
Apr 9 2024
How to Deal with the Alpha Prospect [Bullies!]
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Today, we're diving deep into a high-stakes topic that makes many in sales visibly shudder—the Alpha Prospect. These are the tough, intimidating sorts that can dominate a sale, often leaving even the most seasoned reps feeling like they've stepped into the ring with a heavyweight champion. But fear not! Coach Tiffany and I are here to deconstruct the mythos of the alpha prospect and provide you with the game plan to not only survive but thrive in these daunting encounters.We'll be revealing why it's essential to stand your ground. We show you that sales, at its core, is a game—a game where intimidation is purely psychological and can be conquered through a steadfast strategy and an unwavering mind frame.From reframing our perspective, to sticking to our process, engaging fully in the conversation, and delivering undeniable value, we're unpacking the tactical approaches that will help you engage with alpha prospects on an equal footing, turning potential adversaries into allies in your sales journey.By the end of our conversation, you'll be equipped with the insights and confidence needed to tackle those high-octane sales meetings. Change the way you perceive these prospects and transform trepidation into excitement. Remember, it's just a game, and we're here to win.Sales Strategies for High-Value Clients: "Alpha prospects are some of those people that can, like you have nightmares about actually running into a sales scenario with, but in reality they're people just like anybody else. And if you're coming in with a strong strategy, you're going to be fine with them."— Coach Tiffany [00:00:46 → 00:01:00]Navigating Power Dynamics: "And they, you know, a lot of times people in this space are walking around thinking like you're either a predator or you're prey and you're kind of walking in with that sign that says you're one or the other."— Coach Tiffany [00:03:16 → 00:03:27]Business Communication Candidness: "Exactly. And they're not taking the meeting to be nice. And you'll know where you stand with them, which is really cool. They'll tell you. They'll be really blunt often and say, I don't see how this makes sense. Or they'll tell you, like, I can kind of see that. And you know exactly where you stand."— Coach Tiffany [00:04:36 → 00:04:50]Sales Leadership in Negotiations: "What they want to have happen. The issue is that in sales, you have to take that leadership position and own this opportunity for them. So you have to define it by your process and not let them push you into a space where they're deciding and dictating what comes next or how things go."— Coach Tiffany [00:05:28 → 00:05:43]Sales Approach Wisdom: "sales is about having a conversation. It's not about a performance."— Coach Tiffany [00:06:48 → 00:06:51]The Art of Conversation: "And that back and forth that happens with somebody when you're just, like, kind of guiding them through questions can be so powerful for them. And that's what usually breaks that wall that they've got built up around what they really think or what's going on in their situation."— Coach Tiffany [00:07:59 → 00:08:14]Building Better Business Relationships: "Yeah. It takes them from feeling like adversaries to feeling like partners. Right. Like, that's the goal. That's the trajectory you're aiming for."— Coach Tiffany [00:08:58 → 00:09:04]Understanding Value in Sales: "It's what they're fishing for. It's the thing that's going to open up the door and they're not looking at value as like, what can you tell me about your service?"— Coach Tiffany [00:10:32 → 00:10:41]Understanding Sales Dynamics: "Every time you show up to a sales experience, you're kind of just, like, exploring the space and being like, oh, so that's the game we're going to be playing today. And then you can really come at them from this, like, informed perspective."— Coach Tiffany [00:12:33 → 00:12:44]Turning Anxiety into Excitement: "when your heart starts to beat faster and stuff like that, there's no real difference physiologically between excitement and anxiousness. So I would always just say as like, oh, I'm excited."— Coach Tiffany [00:13:43 → 00:13:55]
The Future of Cold Outreach: Targeted, Resonant, and Purpose-Driven
Apr 2 2024
The Future of Cold Outreach: Targeted, Resonant, and Purpose-Driven
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/In this podcast episode, Tiffany from Sales Insights Lab and the host discuss evolving cold outreach strategies. They stress the importance of tactical approaches and avoiding generic methods due to advanced email filtering by G Suite and Outlook. They advocate for high-value, purpose-driven outreach and the use of multichannel communication to engage prospects meaningfully. The conversation also covers the necessity of a multi-step, personalized approach to outreach that resonates with prospects' needs. The episode wraps up with a call to action for listeners to access a free video training on effective deal-closing strategies.The importance of purpose in cold outreach (00:00:00) Tiffany emphasizes the importance of purpose in cold outreach, stating that prospects deserve to know there's a solution to their problems.Changes in cold outreach due to technical filtering (00:00:45) Discussing changes in cold outreach, including filtering emails by G Suite and Outlook, and the decreasing open rates of emails over the years.Impact of G Suite changes on email volume and spam (00:01:14) Explaining the impact of G Suite changes on email volume and spam, and how it affects the effectiveness of cold outreach.Multichannel approach in cold outreach (00:05:13) Highlighting the importance of a multichannel approach in cold outreach to demonstrate high value and reach prospects effectively.The offer and its importance in cold outreach (00:12:13) Emphasizing the need for a compelling offer in cold outreach to entice prospects and make them willing to engage in a conversation.Effective personalization in cold outreach (00:16:21) Discussing the significance of good personalization in cold outreach to demonstrate understanding and relevance to the recipient.Segmentation in cold outreach (00:17:58) Explaining the importance of segmentation in cold outreach to narrow down the target audience and send more relevant messages.Cold Outreach Strategies (00:20:14) Discussion on the impact of changes in cold outreach and the importance of narrowing down the target list for better resonance.Tactical Advice (00:20:58) Promotion of free video training on a five-step formula for closing more deals without price pushback.
Mastering the Art of Handling "Think it Over" Objections in Sales
Mar 28 2024
Mastering the Art of Handling "Think it Over" Objections in Sales
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Handling "Think It Over" ObjectionsIn this episode of Data-Driven Selling by the Sales Insights Lab, Coach Tiffany and I delve into the challenging world of handling "think it over" objections in sales. We start by acknowledging the potential confrontational nature of addressing objections and emphasize the importance of softening our approach.The episode kicks off with a listener question from KC Carlyle, who expresses frustration with solid conversations with prospects that end in a "think it over" response. Coach Tiffany and I discuss the need to push prospects for clarity rather than accepting a soft rejection to avoid a hard no.We explore the different types of objections, including cover, concern, condition, and complacency, and highlight the importance of understanding the underlying reasons behind a prospect's "think it over" response. By slowing down the conversation, acknowledging the objection, and helping the prospect clarify their thoughts and feelings, we aim to move towards a decision rather than leaving them in decision purgatory.Throughout the episode, we stress the significance of creating a collaborative and supportive environment with prospects, rather than adopting a pushy or desperate sales approach. By focusing on building trust, understanding the prospect's concerns, and addressing objections with a structured process, sales professionals can navigate "think it over" objections effectively and ultimately drive towards a decision.We conclude by emphasizing the importance of mindset in handling objections, highlighting the need for sales professionals to be willing to let go of a potential sale if it's not the right fit. By approaching objections with a strategic and empathetic mindset, sales professionals can enhance their sales process and increase their chances of closing deals successfully.Join us in this insightful episode as we provide practical tips and strategies for handling "think it over" objections in sales and empowering sales professionals to navigate objections with confidence and clarity."We can't take the soft rejection so that we don't get that hard no." - 00:01:15-00:01:25"The goal isn't at that moment to push the prospect across the finish line. The goal is to push them for the clarity to get them to want to voluntarily cross the finish line." - 00:02:24-00:02:34"Yeah, I mean, really all we want is a decision. Whether it's a yes or a no is OK. We just want to get to a decision." - 00:02:56-00:03:07"So we've got to really like soften it. To me, this is the most important part of handling any objection because like I think you always talk about is like this may be the end of the objection." - 00:13:13-00:13:23"Getting them to clarify sometimes like when people just articulate what they're thinking, that kind of solves their thing." - 00:14:47-00:14:58"You can't get to effective tactical implementation until the mindset's solid." - 00:18:35-00:18:45"You may need a sale, but you don't need this sale." - 00:18:35-00:18:45"You need to be willing to let somebody go. You can't try to hold onto them if that sale is not gonna happen." - 00:18:55-00:19:05"Once you just say like, hey, I'm okay with losing this, there's others out there, then all of a sudden that frees you up to really help them and help yourself to figure out, is this a." - 00:19:07-00:19:18"Thanks for listening. Want more tactical advice on selling? Register for our free video training on the five-step formula to closing more deals without price pushback, think-it-overs." - 00:19:19-00:19:29
6 Sales Secrets (Your Competition Doesn’t Want You to Know)
Feb 27 2024
6 Sales Secrets (Your Competition Doesn’t Want You to Know)
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Sales Secret #1: Know your lead gen math.This sales secret often seems counterintuitive to salespeople. Why? Because few salespeople out there are focused on the math behind their success.Instead, they’re focused on what they have to say, or do, to be successful. But knowing the math behind your lead generation efforts is absolutely critical, too.This is one of those sales secrets that truly separates top performers from the rest of the pack. Assuming your lead generation processes are strong enough (you have a decent prospecting call, and you send out solid emails), knowing the math behind your lead generation is the next imperative for success.Sales Secret #2: All that matters is what leads to sales.When it comes to sales secrets that really make a difference, this one creates a tremendously important distinction. The vast majority of salespeople get so distracted throughout the day by tasks that are not sales-related. But in the end, all that matters is what leads to sales. Every single task you do that’s not helping you close more sales is ultimately a distraction. You need to become really, really strong at removing all that clutter from your day.You only have so many hours in the day. Make sure those hours are spent toward generating sales, and nothing else.Sales Secret #3: “No” isn’t bad.There are three potential outcomes in any selling situation: yes, no, or some wishy-washy version of “I’ll get back to you” or “I need to think it over.” Getting a “yes” is great, of course. And getting a “no” is also a good thing. (The only outcome we want to avoid at all costs is the no-man’s-land “think it over” answer.)There’s a simple reason why getting a “no” is good: You never want to be pushing your prospects to tell you “yes” because it will ultimately lead to way more “think it overs.” If a prospect doesn’t want to do business with you, then they’re not going to.When you make “no” a viable option for prospects, they feel so much less pressure in the selling interaction. This is one of the few really powerful sales secrets that only the best salespeople know. Remember, “think it overs” are what you actually want to avoid. Getting a “no” is fine. Sales Secret #4: Don’t serve. Help people make the right decision.Don’t be a doormat. This shouldn’t be one of the best-kept sales secrets out there, but unfortunately it is. Far too many salespeople are just glorified customer service reps who do whatever the prospect asks. That’s not your job. Your job is not to serve your prospects.Your job is to serve your clients, sure—but your clients are those who are already doing business with you. Anyone who has not done business with you yet is not a client. They are prospects. And so, your goal is simply to help those people make the right decision.If a prospect is a good fit, they should ultimately be making the right decision (with your help), which is to work with you. If they are not the right fit, move on. That's it. Don’t be a doormat.Sales Secret #5: Great salespeople aren’t talkative.As far as sales secrets go, this might be one of the most surprising to you. We’ve all been bombarded by the myth that effective salespeople are chatty, friendly, super-talkative people. But in reality, the data shows that great salespeople aren’t necessarily extroverts. In fact, most great salespeople fall right in the middle of the spectrum between extroverts and introverts.Great salespeople are great listeners. They're great at engaging people in conversations. They're great at disarming prospects and making them feel comfortable to share what's going on in their world. That's what a great salesperson does. It's not about telling funny jokes. It's simply about being able to effectively engage prospects in the types of conversations that you want to have.Sales Secret #6: Have a process. Don’t make it up.I saved this for last on my list of top sales secrets, because it’s so important. Very few salespeople have a formalized sales process in place. Let me ask you a question: Do you have a formalized sales process where you know exactly what to do at every single phase of the sale? Do you know every question you're going to ask? Do you know exactly what you’re going to present to your prospects? And if so, is that process working to the degree that you want it to?The truth is, the vast majority of salespeople don’t have a process in place at all. You must commit to having one. Don’t make it up. Use a data-driven approach to more effectively engage prospects in conversation, and ultimately present your solution to the challenges they have mentioned.
9 Basics of Sales [EVERYONE MUST KNOW!]
Feb 13 2024
9 Basics of Sales [EVERYONE MUST KNOW!]
Be sure to register for my free training on, "The 5-Step Formula to Closing More Deals without the Price Pushback, 'Think-It-Overs' or Ghosting"https://salesinsightslab.com/training/Basics of Sales Tip #1: Trial and error isn’t a strategy.I’ll repeat that: Trial and error is not a sales strategy.If you compare sales as an industry to virtually any other profession—such as law, accounting, dentistry, medicine, etc.—it becomes apparent that sales is one of the only professional industries where there isn’t a governing body that regulates who gets to do that job, and what training they need to be able to do it.Tip #2: Have a process.We need to have a sales process that we can follow—a sales process that we know actually works.When we use the sales process the same way every single time we sell, it makes it possible for us to diagnose exactly what went wrong when things don’t go as expected. Without a consistent sales process, it’s impossible to get useful feedback on what’s working and what’s not.Tip #3: Bring insight to the table.Now, demonstrating insight is the first part of any successful sales process. (At my firm, we teach this as the first component of our Sales Insights Methodology.) You must bring insight to the table up front, at the start of the sales interaction.You need to engage your prospects with insight, demonstrating that you know what the heck you're talking about. And you can do that by giving them valuable industry information that provokes them or tells them something they hadn't thought of before.Tip #4: Disqualify prospects.This may feel counterintuitive if you haven't followed a lot of my content before. Disqualifying prospects is the opposite of what most salespeople are taught to do. Maybe you've been taught to qualify prospects, or that you need to convince or persuade them.Instead, what you should be doing is determining whether each prospect is a fit—that’s it. If they’re not a fit, that’s cool. Focus on disqualifying people who aren’t a fit so you can move on and spend your time and energy on those who are.Tip #5: Solve, don’t present. The presentation phase of your sales process should demonstrate that you can solve your prospects’ challenges. When you take them through that disqualification process, you’re going ask them a lot of questions about what's going on in their world, so you can really understand their key challenges. Then, in the presentation phase, you should exclusively present to those challenges that the prospect mentioned. Leave out your features and benefits—your prospects don’t care. All they care about is whether you can actually solve their problems.Tip #6: Be N.S.O.N.S.O stands for Next Step Obsessed. Next steps are one of the most fundamental basics of sales. You want to be completely obsessed with next steps in your sales process.One of the biggest reasons that sales fall apart is simply that the salesperson isn’t scheduling a clear next step.And of course, the next step can be a sale. That's fine, too. But always have a next step in place, and be obsessive about scheduling next steps.Tip #7: Use a prospecting blueprint.The point is that your prospecting blueprint should be a prospecting campaign with a whole bunch of “touches” to the prospect over the course of a few weeks, so that even if they don’t respond to you, you get on their radar and demonstrate that you have valuable insight to share.By the time you ultimately get them on the phone or you send them that fifth email, they remember who you are. They’ll think, “Oh yeah, that person left me a message on Monday. They tried me a couple of times last week. They just sent me a LinkedIn request. I’ll respond now.”Remember that it can take more than 20 touches like this before the average prospect is going to respond. That's why we need that blueprint in place to keep us on track.Tip #8: Think like a top performer.Simply put, top performers have such great success in large part because of how they think. I challenge you to start thinking like a top performer. Top performers think confidently, calling as high up as possible at their prospect organization. They motivate themselves on a daily basis, getting up early and immediately doing their set sales activities. And they view sales as a game, so they aren’t afraid of getting no’s and they don’t take rejection personally.Tip #9: Have a sales mentor.Maybe you already have a sales mentor. If so, that’s awesome. But if you don't, you absolutely must get a sales mentor. If you’re just trying to figure out this whole sales thing on your own, it's going to be a very long and arduous road ahead. And there’s a good chance you’ll never make it to the end of the journey. Having a sales mentor who can guide you is so important.