Same Side Selling Podcast

Same Side Selling Podcast

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Same Side Selling Podcast episodes

  • 029 Chris Yoko | Focusing on Digital Marketing Results
    How do you know if you are measuring and tracking the right metrics on your site? Are you fully utilizing the power of digital marketing to grow your revenue and your business? Because there are many avenues to go down when talking digital marketing I brought in an expert to answer those questions and more: Chris Yoko.
    On this episode of Grow My Revenue Chris joins us to share his wisdom on the the biggest mistakes most businesses are making in digital marketing today. We also dive into why a high bounce rate from your site can be a good thing and how to increase yours if needed, plus the transformation that focusing on value has created in his business and with his clients.
    Listen to this episode and discover:
    -What metrics are valuable to measure from your web site?
    - What is a bounce rate and when would you want a high bounce rate?
    - Why you want to repel certain people from your business.
    - A real life example of how to focus on results and value, versus pricing.
    - Chris shares the greatest business lesson he's learned.
    And so much more…
    Episode Overview
    Chris is the founder of Yoko Co and widely regarded as an expert on digital marketing. In his time in the industry one of the biggest and most common mistakes he sees is businesses focusing on the short-term issues with their website rather than the big picture.
    Often a company will say they need their site to be more mobile-friendly and to rank higher for certain keyword terms. While those are valuable considerations Chris has learned to take the conversation one step further: what will happen when more customers can find them with those search terms and what will their customers do with the new mobile-friendly site?
    More traffic and better usability are important but only if the company is clear on what happens next. If they have more traffic but it isn't targeted the company will only gain unqualified leads that drain the company's resources. It's important to go beyond the short-term fixes and look at the big picture according to Chris.
    Also important according to Chris is the bounce rate. Often clients have called him in a panic because their bounce rates are very high. To know why this isn't necessarily a bad thing you have to know what a bounce rate is exactly: it's the number of people who visit your site and then leave after the first page.
    Having a high bounce rate isn't bad because it can simply mean your customers are getting what they need from that one page. Maybe they want to find you on social media and they can do that from that first page they visit. Maybe they want your address or phone number and they get it from the first page, so they leave or "bounce" from your site.
    A high bounce rate can also help a company sort out the unqualified leads without using resources from their sales and marketing staff to do so. Chris gives more details about this on the show including his tale of one of his clients who offered services starting at $50k. By spelling that out on the first page of the site they were able to field calls and emails only from highly qualified potential clients and that helped their staff save time and create more revenue.
    If you're still getting unqualified leads and wasting precious resources sorting through them Chris explains how to change your site so you can increase your bounce rate too.
    On this edition of Grow Your Revenue Chris and I discuss how to shift client conversations from pricing to results and value, he gives an actual example of doing so and what that has meant for his business. We also get into the importance of feedback. Tune in to hear all of that and more!
    To learn more go to http://www.growmyrevenue.com/business-cast/
    27 min
  • 029 Chris Yoko | Focusing on Digital Marketing Results
    How do you know if you are measuring and tracking the right metrics on your site? Are you fully utilizing the power of digital marketing to grow your revenue and your business? Because there are many avenues to go down when talking digital marketing I brought in an expert to answer those questions and more: Chris Yoko.
    On this episode of Grow My Revenue Chris joins us to share his wisdom on the the biggest mistakes most businesses are making in digital marketing today. We also dive into why a high bounce rate from your site can be a good thing and how to increase yours if needed, plus the transformation that focusing on value has created in his business and with his clients.
    Listen to this episode and discover:
    -What metrics are valuable to measure from your web site?
    - What is a bounce rate and when would you want a high bounce rate?
    - Why you want to repel certain people from your business.
    - A real life example of how to focus on results and value, versus pricing.
    - Chris shares the greatest business lesson he's learned.
    And so much more…
    Episode Overview
    Chris is the founder of Yoko Co and widely regarded as an expert on digital marketing. In his time in the industry one of the biggest and most common mistakes he sees is businesses focusing on the short-term issues with their website rather than the big picture.
    Often a company will say they need their site to be more mobile-friendly and to rank higher for certain keyword terms. While those are valuable considerations Chris has learned to take the conversation one step further: what will happen when more customers can find them with those search terms and what will their customers do with the new mobile-friendly site?
    More traffic and better usability are important but only if the company is clear on what happens next. If they have more traffic but it isn't targeted the company will only gain unqualified leads that drain the company's resources. It's important to go beyond the short-term fixes and look at the big picture according to Chris.
    Also important according to Chris is the bounce rate. Often clients have called him in a panic because their bounce rates are very high. To know why this isn't necessarily a bad thing you have to know what a bounce rate is exactly: it's the number of people who visit your site and then leave after the first page.
    Having a high bounce rate isn't bad because it can simply mean your customers are getting what they need from that one page. Maybe they want to find you on social media and they can do that from that first page they visit. Maybe they want your address or phone number and they get it from the first page, so they leave or "bounce" from your site.
    A high bounce rate can also help a company sort out the unqualified leads without using resources from their sales and marketing staff to do so. Chris gives more details about this on the show including his tale of one of his clients who offered services starting at $50k. By spelling that out on the first page of the site they were able to field calls and emails only from highly qualified potential clients and that helped their staff save time and create more revenue.
    If you're still getting unqualified leads and wasting precious resources sorting through them Chris explains how to change your site so you can increase your bounce rate too.
    On this edition of Grow Your Revenue Chris and I discuss how to shift client conversations from pricing to results and value, he gives an actual example of doing so and what that has meant for his business. We also get into the importance of feedback. Tune in to hear all of that and more!
    To learn more go to http://www.growmyrevenue.com/business-cast/
    27 min
  • 028 Jenny Shtipelman | Tips for Successful Business Banking and Funding
    For many businesses outside funding is an important tool that is instrumental to their growth. If you're in that position or ever have been how do you know whether you should work with a banker or a venture capitalist? How do you know what banks are looking for? And are there ways you can increase your chances of getting financing?
    Joining us to answer those questions and more is commercial lending expert, Jenny Shtipelman. On this episode of Grow My Revenue Jenny and I discuss how to create and sustain the best possible relationship with your banker, and much more.
    Listen to this episode and discover:
    - What are the biggest pitfalls businesses make when requesting a loan?
    - What it says to a bank if you aren't willing to sign a personal guarantee.
    - What is the two bucket scenario and why is it important to the lenders?
    - What can you do to increase chances of a good relationship with your bank?
    - Why systems are so important to your potential lender.
    - And so much more…
    Episode Overview
    Jenny Shtipelman is a rarity in the banking world: she's the type of person who will give you honest advice, even if that advice is to work with someone else. And the advice she gives is always solid: she's spent nearly 15 years in the commercial banking industry and worked in personal finance before that. If it involves lending or finances she knows about it!
    On this episode Jenny shares the three things banks look for when you're requesting a loan for your business, why personal guarantees are so critical and when you should approach a bank for financing and when you should ask a venture capitalist, or if you should do a combination of the two.
    Jenny says the three things banks look for when deciding whether or not to approve a loan for your business are:
    1. You must show the bank either via history or projections that you will be able to service the debt you are requesting.
    2. You must have some type of collateral. It could be real estate (but doesn't have to be), or it could be something like accounts receivable. The types of collateral will vary depending on your business but be prepared to have something of value to back up the loan.
    3. It's critical that the principals behind the business have a habit of showing they pay their bills. If they can prove this they are showing the bank they are responsible, and it will weigh in favor of the loan being granted.
    Whether you approach a bank for a loan or a venture capitalist for funding will depend on your business, and your business goals. Banks in general are far more bottom line-driven, meaning they are looking for cash flow and profits. Venture capitalists are top line-driven, they are looking for revenue growth and other top line indicators.
    So if you are anticipating exponential growth you should talk to investors. If your bottom line is solid and you are projecting an increase there you should approach a bank.
    You can do both venture backing and bank financing. This is especially true if you have controlled growth - the type of controlled growth that allows you to give some equity and take on debt while still meeting your numbers and serving that debt. Banks generally look favorably on companies with investor backing, it shows them other people have some skin in the game of the business' success too.
    Also on today's show Jenny and I discuss why personal guarantees are a necessity (at least in the early stages of your banking relationship) as well as her top tip for creating a strong relationship with your banker. You'll hear her candid and knowledge advice on all of that on this edition of Grow Your Revenue.
    For more information go to http://www.growmyrevenue.com/business-cast/
    23 min
  • 028 Jenny Shtipelman | Tips for Successful Business Banking and Funding
    For many businesses outside funding is an important tool that is instrumental to their growth. If you're in that position or ever have been how do you know whether you should work with a banker or a venture capitalist? How do you know what banks are looking for? And are there ways you can increase your chances of getting financing?
    Joining us to answer those questions and more is commercial lending expert, Jenny Shtipelman. On this episode of Grow My Revenue Jenny and I discuss how to create and sustain the best possible relationship with your banker, and much more.
    Listen to this episode and discover:
    - What are the biggest pitfalls businesses make when requesting a loan?
    - What it says to a bank if you aren't willing to sign a personal guarantee.
    - What is the two bucket scenario and why is it important to the lenders?
    - What can you do to increase chances of a good relationship with your bank?
    - Why systems are so important to your potential lender.
    - And so much more…
    Episode Overview
    Jenny Shtipelman is a rarity in the banking world: she's the type of person who will give you honest advice, even if that advice is to work with someone else. And the advice she gives is always solid: she's spent nearly 15 years in the commercial banking industry and worked in personal finance before that. If it involves lending or finances she knows about it!
    On this episode Jenny shares the three things banks look for when you're requesting a loan for your business, why personal guarantees are so critical and when you should approach a bank for financing and when you should ask a venture capitalist, or if you should do a combination of the two.
    Jenny says the three things banks look for when deciding whether or not to approve a loan for your business are:
    1. You must show the bank either via history or projections that you will be able to service the debt you are requesting.
    2. You must have some type of collateral. It could be real estate (but doesn't have to be), or it could be something like accounts receivable. The types of collateral will vary depending on your business but be prepared to have something of value to back up the loan.
    3. It's critical that the principals behind the business have a habit of showing they pay their bills. If they can prove this they are showing the bank they are responsible, and it will weigh in favor of the loan being granted.
    Whether you approach a bank for a loan or a venture capitalist for funding will depend on your business, and your business goals. Banks in general are far more bottom line-driven, meaning they are looking for cash flow and profits. Venture capitalists are top line-driven, they are looking for revenue growth and other top line indicators.
    So if you are anticipating exponential growth you should talk to investors. If your bottom line is solid and you are projecting an increase there you should approach a bank.
    You can do both venture backing and bank financing. This is especially true if you have controlled growth - the type of controlled growth that allows you to give some equity and take on debt while still meeting your numbers and serving that debt. Banks generally look favorably on companies with investor backing, it shows them other people have some skin in the game of the business' success too.
    Also on today's show Jenny and I discuss why personal guarantees are a necessity (at least in the early stages of your banking relationship) as well as her top tip for creating a strong relationship with your banker. You'll hear her candid and knowledge advice on all of that on this edition of Grow Your Revenue.
    For more information go to http://www.growmyrevenue.com/business-cast/
    23 min
  • 027 Jack Quarles | Understanding The Mind of The Buyer
    One of the most important things a seller can do is understand where their client, the buyer, is coming from. Knowing what the buyer needs and wants is pivotal to not just making the sale but also building a trusted relationship that lasts.
    An expert on this topic, and my co-author on Same Side Selling, is here for today's episode: Mr. Jack Quarles. Jack has been in the procurement/buying side of the sales equation for nearly two decades. On this episode of Grow My Revenue Jack shares his insights on what's going on in the minds of buyers and why those insights are so important for sales professionals.
    Listen to this episode and discover:
    - What is the biggest mistake sellers make when approaching buyers?
    - Why focusing on saving your buyer money will often backfire.
    - This key phrase instantly positions you to be seen as a trusted advisor: what is it?
    - When someone leans on price what is Jack's immediate response as a buyer?
    - What is the value of disarming the potential buyer?
    - And so much more…
    Episode Overview
    With almost 20 years of experience under his belt, Jack Quarles has earned the title of expert in the world of procurement. He has seen and experienced firsthand nearly every possible scenario a buyer could, and he's lived to tell the tale!
    One of the many reasons I brought him on as a guest is because of his experiences and expertise. On today's episode he specifically shares the biggest mistake he believes sellers make when they approach buyers, why focusing on price doesn't work with today's sophisticated buyers, and the two questions he always recommends buyers ask a prospective vendor (and why they are important to know as a seller).
    The biggest mistake he sees sellers make when approaching buyers is focusing on price. Buyers today have gone beyond the budget-based buying of times past; they are sophisticated and understand the lowest price is not necessarily the best fit or the best value for their company.
    As a seller it's imperative you convey to them that you understand that they are a sophisticated buyer, one who looks at both price and at value. Let them know you know they are looking for long-term value and a long-term relationship that goes beyond what you are selling and in fact can overlap and reduce their costs in other areas as well. When you can share that understanding they will begin to see you as a trusted advisor.
    In alignment with the focus on value and price, there are two questions Jack always recommends you be prepared for from a potential vendor. These are the two questions he encourages any buyer to ask during a sales meetings with potential vendors.
    The first question is what kind of company is your best fit and what are some of your success stories? The second question is who are you not a good fit for and who are some customers you brought in that didn't work out and why wasn't it a match?
    These questions are important because authentic answers from you as the seller will give you an honest assessment of where you deliver a ton of value and results, and where you do not. If you can give real answers to the vendors, your potential new clients, they will again trust you as an advisor and a resource. Even if you don't make the sale if that vendor trusts you they are very likely to give you referrals from people they know: all because you were honest and authentic.
    Also on today's show Jack shares the difference between resources and results in a sales situation, we play a word association game where he says whatever comes to mind when I ask him certain phrases sellers use during a sales process and Jack gives the greatest advice he has on creating a better relationship between buyer and seller. Be sure to listen in and then apply what you've heard today grow your revenue.
    Discover more at http://www.growmyrevenue.com/business-cast/
    34 min
  • 027 Jack Quarles | Understanding The Mind of The Buyer
    One of the most important things a seller can do is understand where their client, the buyer, is coming from. Knowing what the buyer needs and wants is pivotal to not just making the sale but also building a trusted relationship that lasts.
    An expert on this topic, and my co-author on Same Side Selling, is here for today's episode: Mr. Jack Quarles. Jack has been in the procurement/buying side of the sales equation for nearly two decades. On this episode of Grow My Revenue Jack shares his insights on what's going on in the minds of buyers and why those insights are so important for sales professionals.
    Listen to this episode and discover:
    - What is the biggest mistake sellers make when approaching buyers?
    - Why focusing on saving your buyer money will often backfire.
    - This key phrase instantly positions you to be seen as a trusted advisor: what is it?
    - When someone leans on price what is Jack's immediate response as a buyer?
    - What is the value of disarming the potential buyer?
    - And so much more…
    Episode Overview
    With almost 20 years of experience under his belt, Jack Quarles has earned the title of expert in the world of procurement. He has seen and experienced firsthand nearly every possible scenario a buyer could, and he's lived to tell the tale!
    One of the many reasons I brought him on as a guest is because of his experiences and expertise. On today's episode he specifically shares the biggest mistake he believes sellers make when they approach buyers, why focusing on price doesn't work with today's sophisticated buyers, and the two questions he always recommends buyers ask a prospective vendor (and why they are important to know as a seller).
    The biggest mistake he sees sellers make when approaching buyers is focusing on price. Buyers today have gone beyond the budget-based buying of times past; they are sophisticated and understand the lowest price is not necessarily the best fit or the best value for their company.
    As a seller it's imperative you convey to them that you understand that they are a sophisticated buyer, one who looks at both price and at value. Let them know you know they are looking for long-term value and a long-term relationship that goes beyond what you are selling and in fact can overlap and reduce their costs in other areas as well. When you can share that understanding they will begin to see you as a trusted advisor.
    In alignment with the focus on value and price, there are two questions Jack always recommends you be prepared for from a potential vendor. These are the two questions he encourages any buyer to ask during a sales meetings with potential vendors.
    The first question is what kind of company is your best fit and what are some of your success stories? The second question is who are you not a good fit for and who are some customers you brought in that didn't work out and why wasn't it a match?
    These questions are important because authentic answers from you as the seller will give you an honest assessment of where you deliver a ton of value and results, and where you do not. If you can give real answers to the vendors, your potential new clients, they will again trust you as an advisor and a resource. Even if you don't make the sale if that vendor trusts you they are very likely to give you referrals from people they know: all because you were honest and authentic.
    Also on today's show Jack shares the difference between resources and results in a sales situation, we play a word association game where he says whatever comes to mind when I ask him certain phrases sellers use during a sales process and Jack gives the greatest advice he has on creating a better relationship between buyer and seller. Be sure to listen in and then apply what you've heard today grow your revenue.
    Discover more at http://www.growmyrevenue.com/business-cast/
    34 min
  • 026 Robert Richman | What Makes a Successful Culture
    Often when we talk about the success of a company we say "it's their culture". But what does that mean? What exactly is culture in a company and why is it so closely linked to the success (or failure) of an organization?
    Widely regarded as an expert on the topic of culture is Robert Richman, our guest on this show. He was the chief culture strategist at Zappo's under Tony Hsieh and founded Zappo's Insights which went on to be a multi-million dollar business on its own. He is also the author of Culture Blueprint and is here to answer those questions.
    Listen to this episode and discover:
    - What is the power of a strong culture?
    - What did Steve Jobs say was his greatest invention?
    - Why a quiet culture can be a bad sign, and what to do about it.
    - Why explicit permission is so vital to your company's culture.
    - What are the two conversations around culture?
    And so much more…
    Episode Overview
    When asked to explain what he thinks culture is Robert says the very act of defining culture is valuable to organizations. He has asked numerous audiences during his speaking career and has gotten various answers - all of which are correct. The important takeaway he emphasizes to his audience and on today's show is to start talking about culture. It's how you'll define yours and how you'll start to shift it.
    He also explains culture is something we can all pick up on within just a few minutes of being in a company's offices. Even though you may not be able to put words to it you'll know what a company is like just by being around the environment and the people for a short length of time.
    Because of that we are all experts on culture, we all understand culture is important to the success of an organization. Much like watching a good basketball team that is well-coached, has played together for awhile and knows each other, connections in a company are formed among the individuals and trust is created through those connections.
    That's when a culture is strong, but what happens when it's not and it's time to work on strengthening or repairing the culture? Robert has seen more than his share of mistakes made in this area, the biggest of which is telling people what to do. Giving people directives, even to do things they want to do, only backfires. You have to let people opt in, participate and choose for themselves otherwise whatever you tell them to do won't work.
    Some of the companies he's consulted with have had leaders who wanted a certain performance or objective to be reached. And rather than allowing their people to give ideas and feedback the leader simply mandates the actions needed to be taken by the staff to achieve that end result.
    The best way to work with your team to create a strong culture and implement objectives is to present the idea, ask for feedback, ask for your staff's input and ideas on how to make that happen. And always be open along the way: your team may have better ideas than the ones you have thought of so be open to hearing them and changing direction accordingly.
    Also on today’s episode Robert shares the symptoms indicative of a culture issue, the first and most important step to take to address the culture issue and the top excuses he hears from executives on why they can't make changes to their culture.
    Because culture is such an important factor in the success and growth of a company be sure to listen in and get ready to implement what you learn on this episode of Grow My Revenue with Robert Richman.
    31 min
  • 026 Robert Richman | What Makes a Successful Culture
    Often when we talk about the success of a company we say "it's their culture". But what does that mean? What exactly is culture in a company and why is it so closely linked to the success (or failure) of an organization?
    Widely regarded as an expert on the topic of culture is Robert Richman, our guest on this show. He was the chief culture strategist at Zappo's under Tony Hsieh and founded Zappo's Insights which went on to be a multi-million dollar business on its own. He is also the author of Culture Blueprint and is here to answer those questions.
    Listen to this episode and discover:
    - What is the power of a strong culture?
    - What did Steve Jobs say was his greatest invention?
    - Why a quiet culture can be a bad sign, and what to do about it.
    - Why explicit permission is so vital to your company's culture.
    - What are the two conversations around culture?
    And so much more…
    Episode Overview
    When asked to explain what he thinks culture is Robert says the very act of defining culture is valuable to organizations. He has asked numerous audiences during his speaking career and has gotten various answers - all of which are correct. The important takeaway he emphasizes to his audience and on today's show is to start talking about culture. It's how you'll define yours and how you'll start to shift it.
    He also explains culture is something we can all pick up on within just a few minutes of being in a company's offices. Even though you may not be able to put words to it you'll know what a company is like just by being around the environment and the people for a short length of time.
    Because of that we are all experts on culture, we all understand culture is important to the success of an organization. Much like watching a good basketball team that is well-coached, has played together for awhile and knows each other, connections in a company are formed among the individuals and trust is created through those connections.
    That's when a culture is strong, but what happens when it's not and it's time to work on strengthening or repairing the culture? Robert has seen more than his share of mistakes made in this area, the biggest of which is telling people what to do. Giving people directives, even to do things they want to do, only backfires. You have to let people opt in, participate and choose for themselves otherwise whatever you tell them to do won't work.
    Some of the companies he's consulted with have had leaders who wanted a certain performance or objective to be reached. And rather than allowing their people to give ideas and feedback the leader simply mandates the actions needed to be taken by the staff to achieve that end result.
    The best way to work with your team to create a strong culture and implement objectives is to present the idea, ask for feedback, ask for your staff's input and ideas on how to make that happen. And always be open along the way: your team may have better ideas than the ones you have thought of so be open to hearing them and changing direction accordingly.
    Also on today’s episode Robert shares the symptoms indicative of a culture issue, the first and most important step to take to address the culture issue and the top excuses he hears from executives on why they can't make changes to their culture.
    Because culture is such an important factor in the success and growth of a company be sure to listen in and get ready to implement what you learn on this episode of Grow My Revenue with Robert Richman.
    31 min
  • 025 Your Three Biggest Sales Questions With Ian Altman
    On this episode I delve into the three questions everyone keeps asking: (1) What do you do if you're competing against an existing vendor? (2) How do you create a sense of urgency on the part of your client? (3) What about the issue of qualifying - how do you know if you're addressing what your clients need versus your own?
    Those are the three hottest questions I've been asked of late, and because they've been coming up so often I wanted to spend this time answering them for you on today's show.
    Listen to this episode and discover:
    - How do you tap into what's really important to your client?
    - What is the key to qualification and urgency?
    - How to remove the risk of working with you over your competitors.
    - Can urgency ever be created by you for your clients?
    - And so much more…
    Episode Overview
    Of the three questions I've been asked so often lately the first one to start with is qualification. On this topic the one thing you have to remember when qualifying any deal or potential client is this: it doesn't matter what you think is important, all that matters is what the client thinks is important. When you understand that and work with that knowledge, then you have the chance to create a long-lasting partnership.
    And that moves us to the second question around urgency. Can you actually create urgency on behalf of your client? Can you make them feel the urgency of doing a deal? And the short answer is no.
    The longer answer is you can ask questions that will help create an awareness of certain conditions that could create urgency for them. This is often a risk/reward situation so if you approach it factually you can better assess whether or not there is the potential for urgency down the road.
    The third question I've been asked so often lately is what to do in competitive scenarios. How can you tell where you stand among your competitors in a given situation? The first rule here is to never talk trash about anyone else in your industry, not ever. Even if you're telling the truth it will still sound like sour grapes to other people, and that's not a reputation you want to have.
    But what you can do is spell out what you understand the potential client's needs are, and then provide the questions you think would be beneficial for them to ask of anyone they work with. Then finish with an offer to begin a working relationship with them on a shorter contract.
    For example if the usual contract is three years offer to work with them for the first six months to make sure they have what they need, and then if you're both happy you'll sign the usual three year contract. You can tell them you are so confident they will be happy with your services you are willing to prove it before getting a long-term agreement.
    By doing so you are removing their risk, you showed them you are more interested in their outcome and their results than you are in just making the sale and closing the deal. And even if they don't choose to work with you you've provided questions they can ask of anyone to be certain they get what they need. You've set yourself apart from everyone else in your industry and every potential competitor by putting their needs ahead of your own.
    Also on this special solo episode I'll talk you through the exact sequence of questions to ask when you're approaching a potential client who is already working with another vendor in your industry. I'll tell you exactly what to say to get an honest assessment of their needs and any potential areas you can fix. Tune in to hear exactly how on this episode of Grow My Revenue.
    21 min
  • 025 Your Three Biggest Sales Questions With Ian Altman
    On this episode I delve into the three questions everyone keeps asking: (1) What do you do if you're competing against an existing vendor? (2) How do you create a sense of urgency on the part of your client? (3) What about the issue of qualifying - how do you know if you're addressing what your clients need versus your own?
    Those are the three hottest questions I've been asked of late, and because they've been coming up so often I wanted to spend this time answering them for you on today's show.
    Listen to this episode and discover:
    - How do you tap into what's really important to your client?
    - What is the key to qualification and urgency?
    - How to remove the risk of working with you over your competitors.
    - Can urgency ever be created by you for your clients?
    - And so much more…
    Episode Overview
    Of the three questions I've been asked so often lately the first one to start with is qualification. On this topic the one thing you have to remember when qualifying any deal or potential client is this: it doesn't matter what you think is important, all that matters is what the client thinks is important. When you understand that and work with that knowledge, then you have the chance to create a long-lasting partnership.
    And that moves us to the second question around urgency. Can you actually create urgency on behalf of your client? Can you make them feel the urgency of doing a deal? And the short answer is no.
    The longer answer is you can ask questions that will help create an awareness of certain conditions that could create urgency for them. This is often a risk/reward situation so if you approach it factually you can better assess whether or not there is the potential for urgency down the road.
    The third question I've been asked so often lately is what to do in competitive scenarios. How can you tell where you stand among your competitors in a given situation? The first rule here is to never talk trash about anyone else in your industry, not ever. Even if you're telling the truth it will still sound like sour grapes to other people, and that's not a reputation you want to have.
    But what you can do is spell out what you understand the potential client's needs are, and then provide the questions you think would be beneficial for them to ask of anyone they work with. Then finish with an offer to begin a working relationship with them on a shorter contract.
    For example if the usual contract is three years offer to work with them for the first six months to make sure they have what they need, and then if you're both happy you'll sign the usual three year contract. You can tell them you are so confident they will be happy with your services you are willing to prove it before getting a long-term agreement.
    By doing so you are removing their risk, you showed them you are more interested in their outcome and their results than you are in just making the sale and closing the deal. And even if they don't choose to work with you you've provided questions they can ask of anyone to be certain they get what they need. You've set yourself apart from everyone else in your industry and every potential competitor by putting their needs ahead of your own.
    Also on this special solo episode I'll talk you through the exact sequence of questions to ask when you're approaching a potential client who is already working with another vendor in your industry. I'll tell you exactly what to say to get an honest assessment of their needs and any potential areas you can fix. Tune in to hear exactly how on this episode of Grow My Revenue.
    21 min

About Same Side Selling Podcast

From the publisher's feed

B2B selling expert, Ian Altman hosts the Same Side Selling podcast. Organizations rely on Ian to modernize their sales approach to achieve business growth. Ian draws on his experience as a former CEO of two decades to help people and organizations dramatically grow revenue.

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