How To Deal With Red Flags

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How To Deal With Red Flags

Written by Mike Brooks

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No Budget? I'm Glad You Said That!

Sellers must realize that people say things according to a script. If you want a different answer than the one you normally get, try saying something dramatically different than that which is expected.

One of the biggest mistakes 80% of salespeople make when qualifying is to overlook or not react to obvious Red Flags prospects give during the initial call.

In their haste or desperation to "generate a lead" or to "fill their pipeline," most sales reps hope that the possible objection they just heard will miraculously go away once the prospect sees their information or product or service, etc.

But you all know from experience -- it never does. In fact, the law for calling back leads is that:

"Leads Never Get Better."

What appears to be an objection or deal killer always is.

Someone wrote me once about a prospect who wasn't calling him back only to find out the prospect was leaving the company. He wrote me and said, "I guess intuitively I knew he wasn't the right guy to make the decision anyway."

And I'll bet he knew intuitively because he heard (but didn't question!) the Red Flags that came up during the initial qualification call.

So how do you deal with obvious Red Flags? Do what the Top 20% -- as soon as you hear something that triggers your intuition or that gives you that sick feeling in your gut, stop and ask the tough questions!

Here's how you do it:

If someone says that they usually buy from ________, but would like to see your information, ask:

"Why would you switch vendors?" Or

"How many other companies have you looked at in the last six months?"

And then: "And how many did you go with?"

If someone says that they will pass it on to ________, say:

"Thanks. So that I make sure I'm not wasting her time it's best that I speak with her for just a few minutes. Can you please tell her that (your name) is holding please?" (If you're then told they are not available, make sure and get their direct line or the person's extension and keep calling until she picks up.)

If someone says that they'd be glad to look it over, ask:

"Great, after you do, if you think that it can help you (or your business, etc.), when would you move on it?"

And so on.

The bottom line is that if you want to close like the Top 20%, then you have to start questioning the Red Flags.

Remember: It's better to disqualify the non buyers early than to spend your time and energy chasing and pitching people who are never going to buy.

Plus it means that you have more time to find real buyers.

So this week, write up questions to the Red Flags you currently get and begin using them! You'll feel so much stronger as a closer, and you'll begin making more money. Believe me, it's a win/win.

If you like this article on how to deal with objections, then click here for more resources.

Mike Brooks
		About the author:
		With over 20 years of inside sales closing experience, Mike Brooks has been billed nationwide as Mr. Inside Sales. Once a bottom 80% producer, Mike learned and perfected the skills of Top 20% producers and became the number one sales rep out of 5 Southern California branch offices. Author of the hot new book,The Real Secrets of the Top 20: How To Double Your Income Selling Over the Phone, Mike's proven techniques, strategies and skills are used successfully by companies in industries such as securities sales, high-tech sales, pharmaceuticals, equipment leasing and other business to business applications. Mike combines proven, current tactics and skills with personal experience to provide a motivational and practical presentation. .