Objections are par for the course on any sales call. It is how you handle objections that makes a sales call successful and leads the prospect to the next step in your sales pipeline. Nine times out of ten, the lead is using objections because he or she does not understand how your offering is different from the other sales calls received this week. These five ways to respond to objections during a sales call can help.
Many of the most common objections, e.g., “I’m not interested,” do not give you any insight into why your lead wants to end the sales call prematurely. Respond to these sales call objections by allowing the prospect to clarify his or her stance. “Out of curiosity, are you not interested in improving X, or is there something I could have said differently that would interest you?”
Since many sales call objections involve the lead retreating, many sales people are stymied on how to move the conversation forward. Changing the conversation dynamic by acknowledging the lead’s position while gently continuing the conversation is a good way to overcome this problem.
Prospects often use “This is not a good time” as one of their go-to objections. Clarify the reasons behind this objection so that you can build value and lead the sales call forward. Use a response that gives the prospect the ability to step back, such as, “If you knew you could improve your productivity in X area by the end of this month, would 2 PM on Thursday be a better time?”
Price is one of the most, if not the most, common objections you hear on a sales call, especially if your prospect introduces the subject first. Even if you have done a great job at building value, the bottom line price can still be a concern for your prospect. Help your prospect allay those concerns with responses like:
Objections based occur at all stages of the sales call, whether it is the first or fifth time you have been in touch with a prospect. These objections can be delicate to handle because sometimes the objection does not even come across as a rejection. However, these can be delaying tactics that stall the momentum of a deal:
You can overcome any of these objections, and many similar objections, by understanding that these statements are usually made when there are other concerns, such as fear of change or concerns on price. The best way to handle this is to be direct. Ask a question like, “I understand. Since we’re on the subject, is there anything else that concerns you about this purchase?” If you have good rapport with your prospect, he or she will disclose the underlying objections and give you an immediate opportunity to allay those fears and move forward.
Rhys is a tenacious, top performing Senior Sales Recruiter with 15+ years of focused experience in the Digital Media, Mobile, Software, Technology and B2B verticals. He has a successful track record of headhunting top performing sales candidates for some of the most exciting brands in North America. He is a Certified Recruitment Specialist (CRS) and has expert experience in prospecting new business, client retention/renewals and managing top performing sales and recruitment teams. Rhys enjoys spending quality time with his wife, son, and daughters, BBQing on a hot summer day and tropical vacations.