Guest Post: 10 Steps to Inking Successful Deals by James Adams

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It’s a question many in business ask themselves: how do salespeople become successful? The answer is that they spend most of their time cultivating meaningful relationships with their clients, providing advice and assistance where possible throughout the buying cycle. Closing the deal is just the natural result of the relationship building process. Here are ten tips gleaned from successful salespeople designed to help you ink that successful contract.

  1. Knowledge: Find out everything that you  can about the products that you are selling. Read the latest technological reports, study the trends, and understand how your products can be used. The more information that you have at your disposal, the more authority you develop with your customer.
  2. Honesty: Never lie to your customer. Answer their questions truthfully. Don’t elaborate on your answers unless prompted. You do not want the single contract, you want your client to give you the first option on any upcoming deals.
  3. Listen: Ask your clients questions about what they want. Listen carefully to their answers. Help them solidify their vague concepts with concrete solutions. Your client’s desires trump profit margin. Sell customers items which are just right for their needs. Do not offer an Escalade when your customer wants a tiny vehicle. Conversely, do not show the miniature vehicle when the customer is looking for an SUV.
  4. Ask for the deal: You have cultivated the relationship and developed a strong rapport with your customer. Your prospect wants to work with you. Take that rapport to the next level by turning it into an active business relationship. If the customer says ‘no,’ find out their objections and address them.
  5. Offer solutions: You are not providing products, you are offering solutions to your customer. If your customer wants a copier which can print double sided, you are answering that call. In future interactions, make sure that you place emphasis on the fact that your product will provide X, Y, or Z.
  6. Give something for nothing: Add an extra incentive to the customer to close the deal. Entice them with an offer of a free gift or a discount on a related service. The perk that you offer could be just what your customer needs to agree to the sale. Roll the price of the incentive into the total sale price. Emphasize the fact that the offer will last for a limited time.
  7. Research: Know about the customer’s business before you make the first call. Let them know that you are offering a sympathetic ear. That familiarity will translate into more closed deals. Use Facebook and LinkedIn to find out about your prospect’s hobbies or interests.
  8. Overcome objections before closing: Deals will often fall through because the customers do not have the money or they are not the only decision maker in the process. Ask probing questions in the beginning of the interaction. Discover their specific requirements. Ask the customer what you need to provide in order to gain their business. Tailor your solutions to meet their requirements.
  9. Follow up: Follow up with your clients to make sure that they have gotten the experience that you advertised. Address any concerns that they have with your product and offer the value added service of training. Clients will return to use your services if you show that you genuinely care about them.
  10. Confidence: You need to have the confidence to close the deal. You deserve the success that you are achieving. You are sure about the product that you are selling. You are confident that you have chosen the right widget to suit the customer’s needs. Display that confidence when making the sale.

Closing the deal does not have to be a harrowing experience. Learn about your customer and anticipate their objections. Approach your client with honesty and listen to their needs. Practice your closing techniques and you will soon be getting your clients to sign on the dotted line.

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Author: James-Adams

This is a guest post from James Adams who is a writer covering the latest releases of consumables for HP printers.

29 thoughts on “Guest Post: 10 Steps to Inking Successful Deals by James Adams”

  1. Having confidence about closing the deals are very important because without this we can’t reach success. everything is important to its own status however ending it with confidence is must because without that your whole effort will goes down. fantastic writeup.

  2. Well, these are certainly interesting steps. I am still far from selling something, but I think I may end up with it in order to earn some cash. I guess I should consider them, thanks for sharing 🙂

    I just wonder if step 6 really works. I’ve watched recently a program on TV, where a man offered knives for $50 and then he also gave three gifts. The moment he showed these three gifts, I suspended him. Because it would be a too great deal…

  3. Thanks for the post. Giving back is an excellent point. we are too much concerned with getting link and paranoid about loosing our link juice. Fact is that the more you give the more you receive. Bet you mum told you that one day, but it’s true. Spread the love people

  4. What a very comprehensive article you have here! For me, the most essential thing when your owning a business is KNOWLEDGE because it’s a must that you know all the things, aspects and etc. of your business the fact that your trying to sell your products and services. Customers are intelligent enough that they do know if your or your not well versed with your own business.

  5. thanks alot, Excellent points here, James. I like first one best because research can really make our prospects and clients feel that we are an authority in our industry. This feeling will enable them to trust us into providing them the solutions to their problems, so all else will follow.

  6. I am thankful I came across with your blog because it has all. The factors especially the attitude towards running a business is fully discussed here! I am pretty much sure that if you apply these aspects on your own, you will positively be successful.

    1. James brought a different perspective. It’s good to hear from someone who’s successful as a salesperson. That’s definitely one of my weaker areas. Like Catherine, maybe someday, I can hire a sales person! 🙂

  7. thank you James and Sherryl for this post. Sommmeeedayyy I will hire a salesperson. I’m bookmarking this page and using it to create my interview questions.

  9. Good advice!

    Only thing I’m not sure I agree with is that deals frequently fall through because of prize. Actually believe that’s frequently an excuse when the “buyer” hasn’t reallly understood the advantages of whatever it is you are offering. Provided of course that they intended to buy x from someone in the first place.

  10. Excellent post. My biggest problem is asking for the business.

    My background is in the healthcare industry. We are trained to listen to the patient, teach them solutions to their problems and overcome their objections. I have never had to ask for the business. They come to me and expect solutions. The experience has been great for business but I forget to ask for the business. Thanks for the insightful post.

    1. Asking for business is my biggest problem too. I give kudos to James for writing an article that’s being so well received. He’s told me he’ll guest post again for us.

    1. My daughter has been on a serious job search and most of the people interviewing her are surprised that she knows so much about the business/organization. I’d be surprised if someone I was interviewing didn’t.

  12. All 10 suggestions are excllent. #2 is my favorite. Some of the most wonderful business relationships I have are a result of trust (stemming from honesty). These things provide peace of mind … which actually worth paying more money for!

  13. This is an excellent post. What I took away the most is to really listen to your prospective clients and be the solution to their problems. If you understand what they really want and need, then you can give it to them.

    I also like how said to just ask for the deal. It’s simple, but I think too often we just wait around for a prospective client to come to us. We sometimes feel apprehensive about asking. I figure that a prospective client wouldn’t be surprised if you asked, though, so why not give it a shot?! They just might say yes.
    Terez recently posted..Over Cereal And Milk- With Laura ShermanMy Profile

      1. Me too Sherryl
        Everything goes well until I get to clinching the deal or worse still… talking about money.
        Not sure why.

        My wife has no problem talking about money, but me!

        Good guest post.
        Some excellent points from James.
        Keith Davis recently posted..Facts tell… emotions sellMy Profile

  14. Awesome post! Yea i agree with your points. most especially #2, 3,5,7,10. you’ve nailed the post! thanks a lot for sharing have fun.

  15. Excellent points here, James. I like first one best because research can really make our prospects and clients feel that we are an authority in our industry. This feeling will enable them to trust us into providing them the solutions to their problems, so all else will follow.

    Thanks for sharing. 🙂

  16. James
    I like your suggestions. One area that I feel people who try to sell me on a product or service fail to do is the research. Many times I have people ask me about my business, when if they took 10-15 minutes of time to check out my website properly they would actually know what I do, what I sell and who my possible customers could be. By doing this, they could then use some positive comments about my website or my business, without putting their foot in it. Before I go to meet a new customer, or a new customer has placed their first order with me, I then take the time to find out more about them, and to discuss their business or their work or their lives. Showing a genuine interest in my customers and their lives has helped my business grow significantly.
    This is a great article with excellent points thank you.

    1. Excellent point Diane. Customers and clients are always impressed when you’ve done a little homework ahead of time. It’s a great way of differentiating yourself. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.

  17. Just keep this list in your wallet and you’ll have 80% of what you need for affective selling. The other 20% will fill up your garage 🙂

    Nicely done.

    Rick

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