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Entrepreneurship . Chapter 5 Smart Selling and Effective Customer Service. Many Great Entrepreneurs Started as Salespeople. Ray Kroc, founded McDonald’s Billy Durant, founded General Motors King C. Gillette, invented safety razor
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Entrepreneurship Chapter 5 Smart Selling and Effective Customer Service Mariotti: Entrepreneurship
Many Great Entrepreneurs Started as Salespeople • Ray Kroc, founded McDonald’s • Billy Durant, founded General Motors • King C. Gillette, invented safety razor • Aristotle Onassis, sold tobacco wholesale before becoming multimillionaire in shipping business Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
Essence of Selling is Teaching • Teach customers about the benefits of your product/service, don’t just tell them about its features. • Listen to customers: Their complaints teach you how to improve your business. Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
Principles of Selling • Make a good personal impression • Know your product/service • Believe in your product/service • Know your field • Know your customers • Prepare your sales presentation • Think positive • Keep good records • Make appointments • Treat everyone you sell to like gold Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
Sales Call A sales call is an appointment with a potential customer to explain/demonstrate your product/service. During the call: • Focus on the customer • Listen to uncover his/her needs • Be honest, if your product/service will not meet those needs Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
8-Step Sales Call • Prepare yourself mentally • Greet customer politely • Show product/service • Listen to customer • Deal with objections, always acknowledge them • Close the sale • Follow up • Ask for referrals to other potential customers Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
3 Behaviors of Successful Salespeople 1.Let the customer talk more than you do. You are there to learn about the customer’s needs. 2.Ask the right questions. Be a friend. Your goal is to uncover problems your product/service could solve. 3.Wait to offer product/service until later in the call. You cannot offer a solution until you know your customer’s needs and problems. Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
Analyze Your Sales Calls After each call, ask yourself: • Did the customer open up to me? • Which of my questions helped the customer describe his/her needs? • Was I able to make a good case for my product/service? • Did I improve my relationship with my potential customer? Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
Turn Objections Into Advantages • Study objections you have received • Group into categories and develop objection-proof answers for each • Price • Performance • Follow-up service • Competition • Support • Warranties Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
Customer Service Is Keeping Customers Happy Examples of customer service: • Know your customers by name • Deliver products on time • Help customer carry product to the car • Suggest a less expensive product that might meet the customer’s need • Provide a full refund when a customer is dissatisfied • Listen politely and with empathy to customer complaints Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
4 Costs of Losing a Customer Customer complaints can be difficult to listen to, but losing a customer will cost you: • Loss of current dollars customer was spending with your business • Loss of jobs • Loss of reputation • Loss of future business Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
Customer Complaints are Valuable • Always acknowledge and address complaints and criticism. Valuable source of market research! • Never overreact to negative remarks from customers. Do not take these personally. • Always tell the truth about any negative aspect of your product/service. When you admit a negative, you gain customer’s trust. Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
Customer Service Is Marketing Your customer service should always reinforce your marketing and competitive advantage. • If your competitive advantage is speedy service, make sure your employees move fast. • If your competitive advantage is a cozy atmosphere, employees should not rush customers. Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
Collect Market Research Via Customer Service • Include brief market surveys with purchases. • Ask selected customers to fill out longer surveys, offering a discount as incentive. • Have employees regularly ask customers if they are satisfied with product/service. • Keep database of customer contact info, preferences, previous purchases, etc. Marriotti: Entrepreneurship
Build Long-term Relationships with Customers • Ask customers to refer you to new customers. • A successful business is built on repeat customers! Stay in touch via Web site, email. Offer customers birthday discounts, etc. Marriotti: Entrepreneurship