Techniques for Qualifying Prospects…

If your business relies on a great deal of cold calls and referrals, then you know the importance of properly qualifying prospects. Qualifying allows you to learn about your prospect and their needs in order to determine how your product can meet those needs. Guerrillas can save time by using the telephone as an effective tool to pre-qualify customers. The phone enables you to play the odds, covering a large geographic area to screen potential customers and set up appointments.

It is essential to accurately track these calls and designate whether a prospect provides low or high customer potential. When organizing your call schedule, move the lower-potential prospects to the bottom of the list. Catalogue all the calls you make, maintaining a call-back schedule. Update this schedule frequently. It may be helpful to employ a software program specifically designed for tracking calls.
As a salesperson, your ability to qualify depends on the number of different questions you can ask in each type of selling situation. When its time to meet the customer face-to-face, be prepared with a list of those questions. Include every single question you might ask of a prospect in order to make her aware of an overlooked need or buried dissatisfaction.
A helpful technique is to ask qualifying questions to determine the customer's needs without mentioning your product. Your interest alone can pave the way to a sale.
By asking specific questions of your prospect, you can determine whether the prospect doesn't have a need for your product or buys the product from another supplier. If the customer doesn't offer your product, find out what she is currently doing so you can explain how your product can enhance her operations.
Often when a customer says "I don't need this," she may really mean "I don't need this right now." Your competition may have beaten you to the punch. If the customer isn't locked into a long-term purchasing contract, you may still be able to set up a future sale. Unless you can come up with a way for the customer to move her current inventory, though, this is a tough sell.
If your prospect reveals displeasure with her current supplier or product, your presentation should emphasize how your product can meet and exceed their expectations. When prospects are shopping for an item with specific features or a stated price, remember that they are "shopping." They may be flexible if you can capture their interest and extol the benefits of your offering.
Listen to your prospect's wish list and then present the merits of your product. Your presentation should include the key features, benefits and prices. Don't laud all the bells and whistles if the customer might perceive them as frivolous and get sidetracked. And unless a specific feature jumps out at you, determine the sequence of your presentation with the visible, tangible benefits up front.
Remember, you won't lose a sale by asking too many questions or learning too much about a customer. Many customers are not conscious of their needs. Your questions will stimulate their awareness, qualifying them and hopefully, getting you the sale.
 Chris Wilkinson.                              

Certified Business Behaviour & Attitudes Analyst.               

Business Coach.

Tel: (905) 275-2907 (Mississauga).

E-mail: buspilot@bell.net