The best way to demonstrate your expertise is not always by answers. What separates experts from newbies is making questions. The right kind of questions. Questions where you guide your prospect to dive deeper into what's their situation. Questions where you listen to understand, before coming with a solution. Questions where you show that you've done your thing before. Questions that make it a conversation.
2 days ago • 1 min read
That's the stench of desperation. When sellers try to demonstrate by saying they're the best option to their customers situations. With the eagerness. The anxiety. The overexcitement. Because they bring solutions (all their competitors claim they bring problems, right?) The more you chase them, the more they'll retreat. Learn to retreat, and they'll follow.
3 days ago • 1 min read
Pop quiz: Price is the amount of money that... A.- the customers pay to receive what the company's offering B.- the company charges for what they offer.
4 days ago • 1 min read
A price increase might feel like too risk (whatever that price increase is). And when your customer gets back to you with sticker shock, they'll ask you what justifies it —you will be tempted to do so. Whether you justify it or not, you need a structure. One that lets your customer know that they're not risking their money for less value. One that is clear on how they get helped.One that doesn't give up your numbers on how you run your business. A structure could be like this: - What...
5 days ago • 1 min read
"If you have to have a prayer session before raising the price by 10%, then you've got a terrible business" — W. Buffet Which begs the question: will you be able to double your prices without a prayer session?
6 days ago • 1 min read
David C. Baker had a post today about AI. But it hit deeper. To me, it's one of the most accurate definitions of what generic, inexpert, and pushy salespeople are: AI is amazing at deeper research. Two examples of that for me, today. It's great at summary analysis, a brainstorming partner, data shaping and synthesis. And especially coding. Where it sucks (so far) is faux personalization at scale. It's like a real smart college friend who isn't self-aware and has no social skills and who knows...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Jonathan Stark wrote this daily email on OpenClaw and how it much makes things easier for him. "As it turns out, it’s pretty hard to explain exactly why OC is way easier.I’ve given it some thought, and I think it’s because what OC does really well is to remove hundreds of “microsteps” from every process." Things that you do and know how to do, and get stuck in trying to explain why it's so simple and easy for you. It's the invisibility of its parts. They're engrained into your brain as...
8 days ago • 1 min read
A conversation with your prospect. Maybe was referred to you. Maybe found out about you some other way. And you ask: "Will it help if I send you these? (your docs, slide deck, presentation, technical info, etc.)" Your Yes/No question gives them no alternative. If they wanna be polite, all you'll hear is "Yes" (a fake Yes). You'll get excited because you got it. Now, you got your foot in the door and it's only a matter of time before the big purchase comes. You convinced them. Just a matter of...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Following, an actual conversation. A new price set. I asked, walk me through the process on how you got to this price. - Well... I grabbed the cost and factored it in. + Ok. What did you factor? - Well... on the standard. + What standard? - The standard for the industry. + What kind of industry? - In the distribution / reseller. + For what kind of industry? - Well... companies like Lidl, or like restaurants. I factored in 30% and the price is good. + Are you in the food industry? - Erm... no....
10 days ago • 1 min read