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What is your response when a prospective customer turns you down? Do you push forward, walk away, or something else?

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Question added by Muhammad Adeel , Sales And Marketing Executive , TANZEEM HEAVY EQUIPMENT RENTAL LLC
Date Posted: 2014/09/22
zafar abbas minhas
by zafar abbas minhas , Freelance Writer , DAILY MASHRAQ

NO,,, I WILL  THINK THE PROBLEMS IN MY SALES CALL,,,,,,,,,,, PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE , PROSPECTING ,,, OPENING ,, ETC..............

Divyesh Patel
by Divyesh Patel , Assistant Professional Officer- Treasury , City Of Cape Town

If nothing works after knowing you did your best than its better to walk away.

Vinod Jetley
by Vinod Jetley , Assistant General Manager , State Bank of India

How do you do follow-up right?

1. If you haven't followed up, you haven't really pitched.

This seems like it should go without saying. But too many people will send one email or leave one phone message and never get in touch again if they don't get an answer. If something's worth going after, it's worth trying more than once.

2. Follow up at least two times more than you think you should.

In another case, I sent a pitch, then one follow-up, and then gave up. Four months later the customer got back to me--very apologetically--to ask if I was still interested. I was, and that company has since become one of my best clients. It was sheer dumb luck that this particular customer remembered my pitch or else found it again in her inbox. If she hadn't, I would have missed a really good thing by giving up too soon.

3. Assume your customer has forgotten your pitch.

You'll have the best chance of success if you figure on starting over from scratch every time you get in touch. If your original proposal was an email, include that email in your follow-up. If you have a prospect on the phone, or are leaving a message, remind him or her in as few words as you can what you proposed.

4. Don't act like you're owed anything.

It can be tempting to get peevish the third or fourth time you've followed up and gotten no response. Keep in mind that no matter how many times you've gotten in touch or how perfect your offer is for that client, no one there is obligated to respond to you in any way. Your fifth follow-up should be as polite in tone as your first one was.

 5. Try multiple channels.

Not getting a response to your emails or phone messages? Try an @ message on Twitter, or a message on LinkedIn or Facebook. If you have multiple contacts at a prospective client and one isn't answering you, try someone else. (Make sure to let each contact know who else you've contacted, though, or this can backfire.)

6. Your objective is an answer.

If you've set yourself a "no" quota, you know that an answer, even a turn-down, is much better than getting a non-answer such as "I'll get back to you." (If you don't have a "no" quota, you should.)

But some people are uncomfortable saying no, so they'll try to put off the inevitable. Fight that tendency by giving the person a reason to give you an immediate answer, such as a limited-time discount. And if your contact says something like "I'll get back to you," set a time when you'll get back to him or her instead.

7. Have a plan.

What happens if and when you get that "no"? Have an immediate plan. What other customer can you pitch to next? What other product can you pitch to this client? Getting turned down should just take you to the next step along your planned path. By the way, you should also know what your next step is if the answer turns out to be yes.

8. Say thank you.

Whatever answer you get, someone took the time to read your proposal, or speak with you on the phone. They gave you some of their time and attention, which is a scarce commodity for every professional these days. They may have given you information that can help you make your product better, or some ideas about how to sell it elsewhere. And if you thank them, they're likely to remember how gracious you were--and want to do business with you in the future.

 

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