You, if you’re selling price.
Price is the fair market value (amount of money) one is asking for to acquire goods or services. Cost refers to the money it will take to do business over the lifetime usage (total value) of a product or service.
Master sales trainer Ron Karr says, “If your sales presentation revolves around price (or the false fear that the customer is only interested in the price), then your prospect will focus on price, too and misperceive what you’re selling as being price based, and or too expensive.
Karr continues, “If your sales presentation centers around the future and current challenges facing your customers, and the solutions you have to offer, then they will perceive your solution as being an investment in solving their problems.”
Big Opportunity: Many salespeople have the right products and services Yet, they struggle on the price vs. cost issue. But take heart, there’s a way to get rid of the price issue, however it requires hard work and creativity. Rats.
Big Mistake: Often the customer will play right into your hands and ask “how much does it COST?” And you erroneously give him the PRICE as an answer. Never give the price until the value and the cost have been established.
Big Secret: It’s harder to sell this way that’s why so few salespeople rise to the top. There is no quick answer to this situation. Sorry. But there is good news. Not many salespeople can handle it, so if you become the price/cost master, you win. The secret is to be the master of how your product is used and be able to communicate that value.
Success Strategy: Go out in the field and watch your products and services in use. Get real world examples of how the value of what you sell is employed. Become versed in how your product is used not what it does.
Success Tactic: Ask “value driven” questions. Determine how the customer uses what you sell, and how that use impacts the long term cost of your product or service in his business. Questions will draw out real issues as opposed to the stated issue “How much is it?”
Big Reality Check: The difference between making a commodity sale vs. a value added sale, is the difference between making a low profit sale vs. a good profit sale. Sales people get paid on profits, not sales. If there is no profit, there is no money left over for bonuses and commissions.
Bigger Reality Check: Many companies and salespeople will dub themselves as a “commodity sale” just because there’s a lot of competition and price cutting. When the word “commodity” creeps into the sales language, you are branding yourself, and establishing an internal mindset that lowers the morale of the sales team and discourages creative solution selling.
Biggest Reality Check: A sale based on price has no loyalty attached to it. If you make it on price, you’ll lose it in a heartbeat to the next lowest bidder.
Challenge: Leave the word “commodities” where it belongs in the corn and cattle markets.
Time is Money: It takes a little more time to make a (value driven) profitable sale than it does to make a (price driven) break even sale. Invest a little more time, and you’ll earn a lot more money.
Success Mindset: Think “use of product” and “value over time” when you enter the sale, and you’ll leave with your own commodity the order.
FREE GitBit… Want a great list of books that will build your success library and your success if you read them. Just go to www.gitomer.com click Access GitBits then register and enter the secret words SALES PILLS.
