Virtual Selling is the New Sales ‘Normal’

I frequently hear salespeople say, “Once we get back to ‘face-to-face’ sales, I will be back on my game!” This is often used as an excuse for poor performance over the past months of Virtual Selling. Well, the reality is that Virtual Selling is the new sales ‘normal’. We may get back to more face-to-face interactions but to succeed in sales in 2021 and beyond, you MUST master selling virtually.  

recent article on Forbes included the following stats about virtual selling: 

  • “High-performing sales reps now spend 22% more time with customers — and they often prefer that time to be spent remotely.What’s more, 70 to 80% percent of B2B customers say they prefer remote interactions.” 
  • “Since the pandemic, the power of video as a way to connect with customers has surged, and digital interactions with sales reps are up 41%.”
  • “The health crisis is reshaping the profession, with sales organizations in the U.S. and Europe finding remote sales models to be as — or more — effective than traditional approaches.”

Studies show that salespeople prefer to work from home. 

I was speaking to a colleague who said, “I don’t want to fly all over the place anymore.” He has embraced virtual selling and is using the time he saves to reach and engage with more prospects.  

And he is not alone. In a 2020 report by the Center for Sales Strategy, of the salespeople surveyed, the vast majority said that working from home has made them more productive.  

Companies are also noticing the savings.  

In a Global Sales Enablement Survey report compiled by Hubspot, they found that “64% of sales leaders who invested in remote selling met or exceeded revenue targets” in 2020. And that is for a year where ‘surviving’ was considered a ‘success’!  

In the same report, they stated, “the adoption of remote selling is creating a competitive advantage” and found that “63% of sales leaders believe that virtual meetings are just as, or more, effective than in-person meetings”. 

Virtual selling is the new sales ‘normal’ and we need to embrace it if we want to stay competitive!  

What changes when you move to virtual selling? 

The venue: 

Getting comfortable with the new, virtual venues can be a challenge. Technology has advanced tremendously in just the last year. Tools like Zoom and Teams that you may have not used before are now needed daily. Make sure you are familiar with and comfortable with these new options.  

For some, this can be daunting. Like anything, learning something new can take a bit of time. Allow yourself some time to practice and don’t worry – you can do this!  

Your mindset: 

Changing your mindset may be both the biggest and most important change. Virtual Selling is the new sales ‘normal’ and embracing that reality is key to your success. Read back through the stats if necessary and the EMBRACE this change. Your future success depends upon it. 

Many things will stay the same. 

I am a strong believer that many things will actually stay the same when you shift from live to virtual selling. Most of the important skills remain key across all platforms and modes. Memorize your script so you can deliver it naturally and use a CRM to track your prospects. Listening is just as important and invaluable as ever! 

Selling is COMMUNICATING – it is about making a human connection. That hasn’t changed and successful salespeople know how to communicate, no matter the venue or platform.  

Focus on the prospect, whether it is in person, over the phone or via video call. Make that connection and make that sale!

Do you need help making this transition? Does your team need training to get them ready to succeed with virtual selling? Give us a call at 908-879-2911 – we can provide you and your team with the skills and training you need to succeed. 

Texting Sales Prospects

I was recently asked what I thought about texting Sales Prospects. Here is my response; it really depends on the industry and the individual prospect. 

First some stats*: 

As of January 2020, 292 million people in North America use text messages  that’s 80% of the total population. 

The country with the highest percentage of mobile users is Russia where 89% of the population sends and receives text messages. 

China and India have the most people who send SMS messages  China comes first with 1,081 million people and India second with 730 million. 

For prospects who actively text, texting CAN be a HIGHLY effective way to follow-up and keep in touch with them. Some people totally avoid using the phone wherever possible and for them, it may actually be NECESSARY to use texts to interact.  

But there are still many industries, especially white-collar organizations in the US, which have not yet embraced texting. Texting a prospect there may be a turn off, or worse yet, may never even be seen!  

The same is true of some of the older “C suite” occupants. It doesn’t mean they aren’t a good fit or a strong prospect, it just means that texting might not be their ideal choice of platform. And making the prospect COMFORTABLE it key. Texting them, if they are not used to texting, could be the reason you don’t get an appointment. Why take that chance?  

We often talk about how you should ‘mirror’ a prospects tone, speech patterns and speed. This helps create a connection and builds trust. The same applies to your messaging. If they are phone people, pick up the phone to connect. If they are wedded to texting, by all means, text them. If you aren’t sure, pick up the phone and ASK THEM. 

I also want to caution Salespeople who use texts, to be sure they are not using it as a crutch. In my training experience, I have seen many people who prefer to use texts for outreach, rather than picking up the phone. Yes, it can be easier, and it can give you a (false) sense of control, but it is NOT an effective way to Cold Call and is especially ineffective for building relationships. 

Remember, Cold Calling is NOT about SELLING but about creating RELATIONSHIPS. Interaction doesn’t happen on platforms like texting – at best, it is just a messaging platform. The phone allows you to interact, hear, and really LISTEN to the prospect. And then you can pivot and respond appropriately. There are way too many ways to miss what is being said (or being left unsaid) when texting so keep it to appointment confirmations and quick follow-ups. 

Another caution is that it can be very easy to get too ‘casual’ when texting. I know that I personally DISLIKE it when someone I don’t know sends me a text or email with a really casual opening like ‘Hey Nan’ or ‘Hi Nance!’. If you are going to use texts, keep them professional. They don’t have to be FORMAL but don’t get too ‘friendly’ in your messages with the Prospect until you are actually that comfortable in person. 

Note that I am not asking or concerning myself here with which communication mode the SALESPERSON prefers. That is not a factor. The goal is to identify the platform or mode that the PROSPECT is most comfortable with and then utilize that. For those of you who are not yet comfortable texting, you may want to consider it. If nothing else, it is yet another communication tool for your toolbelt. 

As salespeople, we need to take advantage of ALL the tools available to us. Texting is a valuable one for some – use it where appropriate but don’t rely on it exclusively.

*https://www.slicktext.com/blog/2018/11/44-mind-blowing-sms-marketing-and-texting-statistics 

Qualities to Look for When Building Your Ideal Client Base and Sales Team

Two of the most important components to the success of your business are your Client Base and your Sales Team. Select these carefully and you will have greater success, both in your day-to-day interactions and your bottom line. 

What qualities should you look for when building your ideal Client Base and Sales Team? We each have our own impressions of the people we deal with but here are five key characteristics to look for when pursuing Prospective Clients and hiring Salespeople:  

  1. Young: By this I mean YOUTHFUL. Age is just a number and we all know people who are much ‘younger’ (or older!) at heart than their chronological age. Surrounding yourself with clients and a team of ‘youthful’ energetic people who embrace change easily will foster a positive outlook, companywide 
  2. Attractive: We don’t mean Miss America here. This too, is not to be taken literally. I am talking about looking for, working with and hiring people who attract other peoplePeople who are socially adept and that others like to be around. Interesting people who, in some way, have a magnetic personality. People YOU are attracted to and enjoy being with. 
  3. Verbal: Being able to communicate is a KEY trait in any Salesperson – period, end of story. Hiring people who speak well and are easily understood check this box. Identifying clients who say what they mean will also make your life easier. 
  4. Intelligent: We’re not talking about IQ here. Your team members need not have a degree from Harvard to deliver excellent sales results. Being street smart and getting it is what we want. 
  5. Successful: This is not about money, but it does impact the bottom line. Here, we want to look for people who can accomplish what they set out to do. They finish things. They are responsive and take responsibility for their actions and their success. 

These five traits create the acronym YAVISWe can train for skills, but these are innate traits that people are born with. Look for them as you interview clients and prospective employees. You may not be able to consistently find people with all five of these qualities but aim for at least 3 or 4. 

Once you start looking for and requiring these characteristics of those you work with and hire, you will find that building your ideal Client Base and Sales Team will bring YOU more success! 

Which traits do YOU value most in your Sales Team? Is it the same for your Clients? Let us know in the comments below! 

The Truth Will Set You Free….To Move On To Your Next Prospect

This may sound like a hokey statement but there is truth to it. Read on to see how identifying the real root of a prospect’s objection – the truth – early on, can save you time, money and aggravation.

How many times have you had someone tell you they were interested but they need more information. Interested but they are not ready? Interested but they aren’t in the position to make the decision needed? Interested but they cannot afford it? Interested but, but, but. 

Selling is a ‘No’ business – you know you will get No’s. Yet it is the ‘BUTS’ that can waste even more of your time and money. Stalls and objections are common in sales, and maybe never more so than now. My advice is to focus on cutting through the BUTS to get to the TRUTH.

If the truth IS that they need more information, ask them for their email address so you can send them a follow-up package. Ask them what services are of interest and make sure you have prepared materials to send. Set-up an appointment to review the information and then follow through.

If the truth is that they aren’t ready, ask them when they think they WILL need your services. Get out your schedules and set a date – be specific – pick a time, get it on their calendar.

If the truth is that they are not the decision maker, ask for names, numbers and an introduction to the correct person. 

But if the truth is that they are just trying to blow you off without hurting your feelings, let them know that you would rather KNOW that now, than to waste more time.

Here is a sample of what you can say to get a truthful response: 

Gee,(or something similar, to soften the statement) oftentimes when I am asked/told this it is because the person is afraid to tell me that they really are not interested. I don’t know if this is the case here, but if it is, that is okay.”  (at this point, be quiet and let them respond!).  

If this is the case, let them know you appreciate the honesty, schedule a call back and move on. A NO is NOT NOW.  Recycle them for future contact, perhaps 3 – 4 months.  Things change and you want to be in front of them when they do. The truth will set you free – free to move on to your next prospect – moving you closer to a YES and a real sale! 

Selling Right Now

We all know of businesses that went dark during the pandemic. We hear stories of people who closed shop, who decided to lay low and to wait until ‘this passes’.

As I have said all along, that is NOT a viable business strategy and certainly not the way to generate leads! Leads are the life blood of a business and without them, your business will die.

You need to keep dialing, to keep reaching out and making calls – to stay in touch and keep listening. You need to STAY IN THE GAME.

For those of you looking to polish your skills and stay in the game, you are invited to join me Tuesday, June 23rd at [1:00] (ET) for a one-on-one conversation with Mark Hunter, The Sales Hunter on “Selling Right Now”.

During this 45 minute conversation we will discuss the sales stalls and objections we are all currently facing and provide you with the approaches and tactics you need to address and overcome them.  

Prospecting is more critical than ever, join us for this free event to see how to stay on track and succeed despite the current challenges!

Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WfbpiY-pQ-mgbNUahoS6og  

Many of those businesses who stood by, waiting, will not be standing ‘when this passes’. They will be OUT of business.

We all need to figure out how to survive and thrive in today’s environment, and the sooner you do, the sooner you will see results.

There are no excuses – if YOU pressed pause, now is the time to get back into gear. And for those of you who took our advice and never really stopped – good for you – we will see you out in front of the pack! 

Click here to register and join us on the call https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WfbpiY-pQ-mgbNUahoS6og