Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Navigating Sales Process Ebook
Navigating Sales Process Ebook
JOURNEY
Before you start your sales journey, prepare to Be patient, hold to your bottom line, and talk
walk a mile in your prospect’s shoes. about value before numbers. Only draw up a
contract when you’re ready.
STARTS STAGE 2
Qualifying Leads STAGE 6
STAGE 3
Providing Value
STAGE 7
Pack the right gear for the sales pitch, starting
Closing and Keeping Commitments
with vision, data, and value.
Reach the summit with your pact intact—
utilise the right teams and technology to keep
your new customers happy and on track.
STAGE 4
Handling Objections
Move prospects along the trail by using
objections as opportunities to learn more
about their needs.
Stage 1
Contacting Leads
your key tips
Think about how your brand can address customer pain | How do they spend their money?
points and offer them something of value. Make your | What are they passionate about?
digital presence user-friendly and customer-focused.
| What is their idea of fun?
Interacting with Customers and Prospects | What are their values?
on’t just offer a one-way message: ask for feedback,
D | Where do they spend time online?
offer individualised advice, and provide a forum for
| How do they prefer to be contacted?
customers to interact with you and with each other. Content-based
Sales AI can come in handy here! Whether you contact them by email or through social marketing costs
media, don’t just focus on promoting your company.
Offer them relevant, engaging content. Your well-formed
brand and community will take it from there.
62%
less than outbound
marketing, while
generating three
times more leads.1
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 STAGE 6 STAGE 7
You’re leading your hiking group further up the Why put one hiking leader in charge of all of your
mountain, educating them along the way. But are hikers, when you have a whole sales team who can
you also learning more about them, or just listening collaborate to create the best hiking trip possible?
to yourself talk?
Assign roles based on each team member’s strengths, THE FIRST QUESTION
To really understand what your customers are after, and and carefully plan the timing of these roles in the process. WE ASK WITH EACH
whether that’s your company, you need to reverse the OPPORTUNITY IS,
Not only will your customers receive expert care
typical sales pitch structure. Don’t just explain what your
throughout the customer journey with your company, ‘WHAT IS THE CLIENT
company can do for them. Have real conversations, rather
than just giving presentations and pitches. Put yourself in
a team selling approach also allows you collect in-depth OUTCOME?
knowledge about your leads. Learn about the obstacles
their shoes.
they face to figure out if your company is right for them,
Collaborate with your leads: ask them questions, evaluate and whether they think so, too.
their responses, stay up to date on the latest news about
their companies. Listening to your customers more than
you talk allows you to offer them solutions to their needs,
rather than just products.
High-performing
sales reps are up to
10 times
more likely to use
collaborative
language such as
we and us.3
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 STAGE 6 STAGE 7
Once you’ve made contact with a lead and are Account Executive or Overall Hiking Group Leader
allocating roles for the rest of the sales process,
You need someone to introduce the company to the hikers and set the
it’s important not to lose sight of your customer-
tone for the whole trip before you actually hit the trail. He or she will then
focused approach.
maintain that interaction throughout the trip. Choose one team member
Again, turn around the typical pitch concept. Think for the initial CRM and customer-focused interactions throughout the
about what you can offer customers vs. what solutions sales process.
they seek. Start with their idea of the perfect view at the
mountaintop and work from there. Team members can
come from outside your sales department, including Sales Engineer or Camping Skills Instructor
engineering, customer service, marketing, or logistics.
Along the way, another team member can explain and demonstrate
the complex technical aspects of climbing to the summit and answer
questions. Team members with technical know-how can be brought
in to demonstrate complex products and demonstrate your
These team members do more than push hikers company’s expertise.
to reach the summit - they learn about every
traveler along the way and help decide the
next steps. Whether they’re focused on account Customer Success Manager or Navigator
management, technology, or deal structure and Another team member focuses on where to set up your last basecamp
delivery, all your team members are in a position to and what happens when you reach the summit. Let one or two sales team
collect and organise information about your leads members take care of structuring the deal and planning how to deliver
throughout the sales process. agreed-upon solutions once the deal is made.
Stage 3
providing value
4 TOP TIPS FOR SHOWING
CUSTOMERS A FUTURE TOGETHER
3| B
uild on the education you’ve already provided along
the path.
4| G
ive them a glimpse of the view from the top by
showing, not telling.
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 STAGE 6 STAGE 7
You’ve spent all of Stages 1 & 2 of the sales If you really want potential customers to Offering useful information at the pitch
process learning the needs, wishes, and visualise a future with your company, frame stage has the following advantages:
concerns of your target audience. your solutions to their problems in terms
–C
ontinues the dialogue between you and
most relevant to them.
Don’t just pitch your product and wait for your leads, strengthening your future
them to catch on to your message – describe Along the hike, you’ve been paying close customer relationship.
a bright, shared future, in which your company attention, and gathering data – hopefully
–G
ives leads an opportunity to express their
offers them solutions to their problems. using Sales, CRM, or even AI software for even
needs further and describe their obstacles
more detailed data recording and analysis.
Remember, you initially created the product to working with you. You can use this
you’re selling to solve a problem. This your Pay close attention and frame your pitch information about that target audience to
“why,” as Jacob Layani of Forbes reminds us, in the terms your leads use to express their continue the pitch and to tailor your future
drawing from Simon Sinek’s famous TED talk. pain points and goals, while staying true to the sales messages.
Align your “why” with that of your customer, specific value your company can successfully
–B
oosts your company’s image as a helpful
remind them you’re both out to solve this offer.
authority and thought leader. Showcasing
problem, and emphasize how you can do it
the value your trustworthy expertise offers
together.4
should be central to the pitch.
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 STAGE 6 STAGE 7
COMMON OBJECTIONS
Here are some of the most common objections, translated into opportunities:
Objection Opportunity
HANDLING LAST-MINUTE
OBJECTIONS
FOLLOWING UP
It’s time to follow up. Here’s how to handle it: Ask for a Response
Did your response to the objection satisfy the
Determine Cost vs. Value customer? Make sure to ask this question –this Top sales performers
Don’t get stuck trading numbers with your lead. Move way, you’ll be able to continue the dialogue if the counter client
the conversation back to the question of value. If your answer is no. objections with
customer is thinking of the value your company offers questions over
them, and your bright future together, they are less Encouraging leads to make “incremental
likely to fixate on price. commitments” to your company from the first
encounter is a much better approach than 23%
Stay on Track putting on pressure at this late stage.5 more often than
Don’t lose focus. Offer a response to your customer’s average performers.6
objection that addresses those specific concerns. Don’t The good news is: by nurturing your customer
repeat yourself or offer unrelated information about relationships from the very beginning of the
your company. You don’t want to wear the customer sales process, you’ve been doing this all along.
out or lose their attention. Handling objections is just a continuation of the
conversation you’ve been having with potential
Give Them the Facts customers since you first encountered them as
Offer more than promises to customer objections. leads. If you can negotiate a way upward that
Back up your follow-up pitchwith concrete proof: addresses customer concerns, it’s time to climb.
testimonials, product information, performance data,
sales figures and ratings, etc.
Stage 5
STRUCTURING
what’s in the pack:
THE DEAL
1 | FOCUS THE DISCUSSION ON VALUE - Know what
you have to offer & how the customer will benefit.
PRELUDE TO A NEGOTIATION
You’ve spent all of Stages 1 & 2 of the sales Principles Before Numbers Have Patience
process learning the needs, wishes, and Numbers are important, but they shouldn’t It takes at least three attempts to sort out the
concerns of your target audience. precede the principles of the deal. If you get terms for most deals. You’re unlikely to figure it
tangled up in haggling over price, try to move all out in your first meeting after your customer
Pricing and other terms should not be on the
the negotiation back to a discussion of value - tells you that they’re ready to buy. Don’t let
table before you and your customer have a
what you have to offer and how the customer haste rule your decision-making.
solid idea of the exact value they will receive
will benefit.
when using your products and services. Trade, Don’t Give Away
If you head for the summit without a clear Know Your Limits If your customer demands a reduced price,
sense of everyone’s role and confidence in their You can expect to give a little bit of ground get something in return - a longer contract
satisfaction, you’re in for a shaky climb. during a deal negotiation, but you should know term, promotion on their website, etc. Don’t
your bottom line before going in. This way, you let yourself be bargained down without any
True cooperation means meeting in the middle.
can avoid compromising beyond your means, concession in return.
even if under strong pressure. Know your limits
and you won’t have regrets. Put it in Writing When You’re Ready
Once you’ve worked out the details of the deal,
Listen, Listen, Listen it’s time to draw up a final contract, otherwise
The summit is in sight! Agreement in As with all stages of the sales process, price known as a master service agreement or MSA.
hand, you’re starting to climb the last negotiations should also start and end with
you listening to your customer. They will tell Never move on to the contract stage until
stretch of the mountain alongside your
you what they need and how they can be won you’ve established that everyone involved is
customer. It’s an exciting time when all
over if you only listen carefully and keep the happy. Then, and only then, put it all in black
parties involved are almost ready to sign
conversation going. and white.
the deal and embark on a new business
relationship. Embrace it.
Stage 6
FINALISING
Your key tactics
THE PROPOSAL
Last-minute changes to the contract can be a big
sales hazard. Here are some ready-made tactics
from our sales leaders on how to make it through
5 TACTICS TO AVOIDING unscathed:
NEGOTIATING CHANGES
TO THE CONTRACT
Last-minute requests to change the If a question or objection to the contract Stay friendly and collaborative. Steer the
contract can be frustrating, but before you is raised late in the game, stay confident. negotiation back to the development of the
react, think back on all of the work you’ve Follow these tips to navigate the situation: deal to this point and the reasoning that came
done to get to this point. before it.
PATIENCE, GRASSHOPPER
Commitments
adjusting to the new altitude of their business:
Take a deep breath, enjoy the view, thank your 4 | STAY IN TOUCH, ESPECIALLY WHILE THEY’RE
team and celebrate your victory. But don’t forget ACCLIMATING - Make sure they’re happy and
your companions who followed you on this getting the attention they need.
journey: your new customers.
STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 STAGE 6 STAGE 7
Your next steps with your new customer should be Set Your Customer Up For Success
building the future you’ve planned together.
Maintain success throughout your customer’s journey
A mistake sales teams often make is to close the deal with your company with these tips:
only to drop the ball. Don’t assume your customer is
happy and confident that you’ll fulfill their expectations. 1 | Remember team selling? Assign a member of your
team- likely a customer success specialist – to
Demonstrate this concretely from the get-go: schedule
a follow-up meeting with the goal of reconfirming the
nurture this new customer relationship. They can YOU’VE CLIMBED
take things to the next level with up selling, cross- A MOUNTAIN WITH
path ahead.
selling and other forms of engagement with your
YOUR CUSTOMER -
Then, do as you promise! new customer. Get your customer to the right
THIS IS NO SMALL
expert on your team to help, should issues arise.
THING!
2 | Use technology to manage and nurture customer
relationships with cloud-based CRM software. You
THE WORLD IS OUT
may have used this early on during the acquisition
process, but it can be a powerful tool for
THERE FOR YOU TO
customer service as well. Using automation and EXPLORE TOGETHER.
digital communication, you can respond quickly
to customers, and schedule proactive check-ins to HAPPY HIKING!
be sure they are happy.
This insight on the sales process comes straight from *1 Why is Content Marketing Today’s Marketing?, Content Marketing Institute
Salesforce’s trail-blazing sales teams and thought *2 Personal Recommendations and Consumer Opinions Posted Online are the
Most Trusted Forms of Advertising Globally, The Nielsen Company
leaders. We have created game-changing sales,
marketing, and CRM solutions with an emphasis on *3 How Top-Performing Sales Reps use Language to close More Deals, Chorus
innovation and a customer-centric approach. *4 How To Create The Perfect Sales Pitch, Forbes
Our aim is to provide trailblazers the map and *5 To Increase Sales, Get Customers to Commit a Little at a Time,
Harvard Business Review
technology they need to build successful customer
*6 The 12 Best Objection Handling Techniques for Sales You’ll Ever Read, Gong
relationships and reach the summit with their new
customers. See you on the trail!
FIND OUT MORE
Take your sales process to the next level with Salesforce CRM.
Start your free trial today.
LEARN MORE