Tuesday, July 25, 2006

The Green Eggs and Ham Sales Seminar

I would not eat green eggs and ham... Sam I am.

Who knew Dr. Seuss's Sam was a sales guru? One of my earliest reading experiences with my mom and dad was a Dr. Seuss book. Whether it was the colorful characters or the rhyming that made them stand out and forever be etched in my mind, I don't know. What I do know is that obviously that reading set the table for my future sales background.
There were many sales techniques Sam exuded but three in particular should be considered.

1- Staying the course and not wavering
2- Offering potential customers choices
3- Refusing to give up.

If you stop to ponder those traits they will most likely be the consistent traits for any superior salesperson. Crazy at it seems, not all salespeople posess these traits.

Fisrt, when you are in sales it's easy to lose your focus especially when confronted with the common responses of "no", "not interested", "get lost". But, it is the superior salesman who refuses to heed those responses and continues his/her course.
Second, offering your customer choices will offer several perspectives. Sometimes those unique angles demonstrate your product in an improved or enhanced light.
Third, refusing to give up might be the toughest of those traits to realize. Tough skin is not inherent in all people. But, those who do have it aren't detered when they hear negativity. In fact, they will often feed on that pesssimism and make that sale that much more essential and will go to any lengths to in fact aquire or secure that person as a customer. It becomes a principal goal at that point.
So, take a lesson from my green friend Sam and learn the importance of polite persistence. The most successful sales people ask for the sale seven or eight times and don't give up at the first sign of resistance. For Sam was in fact green with envy... envy over finding a new mark whom he hadn't secured as one of his own... yet.

1 comment:

Dennis Nixon said...

Liked the post E. One might say that Sam would make a great telemarketer. In fact, if the general telemarketer could be that entertaining then one might listen. I too believe that persistance pays off. A "no" to an effective salesperson means they haven't answered the right question, identified the clients real need or solution, or found the problem or pain that the product or service can solve. Thanks Sam and E for pointing out such an effective aspect of professional salesmanship!