Discovery calls aren’t just the first part of the process - they’re where the close begins. In today’s episode of The Sales Evangelist, Donald will dive into seven common mistakes salespeople make when making discovery calls (and, more importantly, how you can fix them.) Stop the lackluster pre-call prep. We know back-to-back zoom meetings can be tiring. But from the prospect’s perspective, you have just one meeting. So come prepared! It’s not just a discovery for you; it’s a discovery for the prospect to see if they’re interested in working with you. Consider creating an agenda for the prospect to review before the meeting to ensure everyone gets what they want out of it. Don’t ask what you should already know. Call the company ahead, speak to end-users, and get helpful information. Entering the discovery call with the intel you need will set you apart as a salesperson and demonstrate the qualities you want to convey. Talk less Salespeople should not be taking more than 40% of the time. Instead, ask questions that provoke the prospect to spend more time responding. Build a rapport. Top performers engage in 17% less small talk than other salespeople. When it comes to conversations with the prospect, don’t waste time on small talk that doesn’t contribute to a substantial discussion. Even if it isn’t necessarily related to your product, discuss things that further develop a relationship between you and the prospect. (AKA, not the weather.) Fully understand pain points. Only 13% of customers believe a salesperson can understand their needs. 44% of customers feel that only 25% of current providers help them maximize their value As a salesperson, don’t be afraid to have the prospect explain their situation in detail, so you have a comprehensive understanding (and thus provide a comprehensive solution.) Don’t ask a set standard of questions - ask clarifying and follow-up questions to get the most out of your interactions! While a scripted template of questions can be a starting point, it is far from the only thing you should ask. Next steps Don’t end a meeting without setting up a plan for the next one. Instead, consider setting aside the final five minutes of the meeting to ensure time to arrange the next steps. Focus on the wrong competitors. The biggest competitor you have isn’t a company; it’s the status quo. People like keeping things the way they are. What about your product should make them embrace change? 60-80% of deals end in no decision - meaning the prospects don’t see enough of a reason to change their current situation. This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn Sales Navigator. The Great Resignation has become the Great Reshuffle, meaning it can be difficult for sales professionals like you to find leads and close deals. Luckily, Sales Navigator from LinkedIn is here for you! Sales Navigator from LinkedIn is the only tool that uses real-time alerts and up-to-date insights to help you know when prospects are ready to buy. And, with over 30 advanced filters, sales professionals can quickly find genuine leads with the intent to purchase. Gain the advantage of accurate, quality lead generation data from LinkedIn Sales Navigator. You can get a 60-day free trial of Sales Navigator at www.LinkedIn.com/TSE. This episode is brought to you in part by Skipio. Are you sick of crickets? As a salesperson, the pain of reaching...

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related