{"id":8120,"date":"2020-10-28T10:32:15","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T10:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/?p=8120"},"modified":"2020-11-13T18:55:01","modified_gmt":"2020-11-13T18:55:01","slug":"how-to-close-a-sales-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/?p=8120","title":{"rendered":"How to Close Sales Calls If You\u2019re a Coach, Consultant, or High-Ticket Course Creator"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This blog will teach you the process we use to close 45% of our sales calls\u00a0at Growth Tools.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a process we\u2019ve honed over years of practice, hundreds of iterations, and thousands of sales calls. It\u2019s simple, our clients love it, and most importantly,<strong>\u00a0it flat out works.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>But fair warning:<\/strong>\u00a0This post will not include a big list of a million\u00a0sales tactics\u00a0or sales closing techniques. There is no \u201cmagic bullet\u201d that will increase your sales overnight.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, if you want to close sales\u00a0consistently, you have to <strong>build a successful <\/strong><strong>sales process<\/strong><strong>. <\/strong>The way you talk, the questions you ask, and the order in which you ask them all have a huge impact on how many clients you close.<\/p>\n<p>Building this kind of process will take some time, but you can <em>cut that time down in half \u2014 <\/em>at the least <em>\u2014<\/em>\u00a0by implementing what you\u2019re about to read.<\/p>\n<p>Consider this blog the ultimate shortcut to a better sales process\u00a0and a higher closing rate. We\u2019ll explain:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 0; margin-left: 0;\">\n<li style=\"display: flex; list-style-type: none;\">\u2714 <span style=\"padding-left: 10px;\">How to predict what your customers will say before they say it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"display: flex; list-style-type: none;\">\u2714 <span style=\"padding-left: 10px;\">How to make sure your prospects are a good fit before you ever get on a call.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"display: flex; list-style-type: none;\">\u2714 <span style=\"padding-left: 10px;\">How to keep your prospects engaged and excited after they&#8217;ve signed up for a sales call.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"display: flex; list-style-type: none;\">\u2714 <span style=\"padding-left: 10px;\">How to run a strategy session so your prospect is pre-sold before you ask them for the sale.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"display: flex; list-style-type: none;\">\u2714 <span style=\"padding-left: 10px;\">The number one mistake new salespeople make on every call.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"display: flex; list-style-type: none;\">\u2714 <span style=\"padding-left: 10px;\">How to ask for the sale and improve your close rate.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We\u2019ll show you how to adapt this process to your own coaching, consulting, or high-ticket course business. The info we\u2019ll cover can be broken down into two basic sections:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Pre-Call Preparation<br \/>\n<\/strong>We\u2019ll show you how to identify your ideal client, set up a pre-qualification questionnaire, and create a follow-up\u00a0email and text sequence to keep your prospect engaged.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Three-Step <\/strong><strong>Sales Call<br \/>\n<\/strong>You\u2019ll learn how to qualify your prospect on the call, educate them on how to solve their problem, and deliver a killer sales pitch.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8119\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47.png\" alt=\"Want to know how to close a sales call? Do your homework, then head into the call with the step-by-step strategy we lay out in this post. (Pre-call preparation: Identify, Screen, Follow Up; Three-Step Sales Call: Qualify, Educate, Pitch)\" width=\"1600\" height=\"548\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47.png 1600w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47-300x103.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47-1024x351.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47-768x263.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47-1536x526.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8119\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47.png\" alt=\"Want to know how to close a sales call? Do your homework, then head into the call with the step-by-step strategy we lay out in this post. (Pre-call preparation: Identify, Screen, Follow Up; Three-Step Sales Call: Qualify, Educate, Pitch)\" width=\"1600\" height=\"548\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47.png 1600w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47-300x103.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47-1024x351.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47-768x263.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/47-1536x526.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Want to make more sales? Keep reading.<\/p>\n<p><i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">Want us to audit your business strategy and help you skyrocket revenue in the next 90 days? <a href=\"https:\/\/lp.growthtools.com\/skyrocket?utm_source=gc&amp;source=closesalescall-blogpost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Schedule a complimentary strategy session with a certified coach<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h.p4vdxpi0g7cv\">Part 1: Start Closing\u00a0<em>Before<\/em>\u00a0the Call<\/h2>\n<p>Closing sales calls\u00a0starts well before you even get on the phone. First, you need to prepare, gather intel on your prospect, and keep them engaged right up until you get on the phone. This gives you a better understanding of where your prospect is coming from and will help you tailor your sales presentation in later steps.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h.dag8tgfw1ngb\">First Things First: Know Your Customer<\/h3>\n<p>As you read through this blog post, you\u2019ll probably notice a recurring theme in every section:<\/p>\n<p><strong>You have to know what your customer is going to say <\/strong><strong>before they say it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When you know <em>what<\/em>\u00a0your prospect is thinking, you can address objections <em>before<\/em>\u00a0they come up and guide the conversation so it touches on all the most important points for your clients.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re just starting to build out your sales process, defining your ideal prospect is where you should begin. Ideally, you should be able to clearly define your niche, like this:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI teach suburban families how to grow delicious food in their backyards.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Just based on that example, you can predict a few things your target audience might ask:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8118\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50.png\" alt=\"(1) Can I grow food in a small, suburban yard? (2) Do I need prior experience to be successful with gardening? (3) Will this work with my family's packed schedule? (4) Can my kids help?\" width=\"1600\" height=\"746\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50.png 1600w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50-300x140.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50-1024x477.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50-768x358.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50-1536x716.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8118\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50.png\" alt=\"(1) Can I grow food in a small, suburban yard? (2) Do I need prior experience to be successful with gardening? (3) Will this work with my family's packed schedule? (4) Can my kids help?\" width=\"1600\" height=\"746\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50.png 1600w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50-300x140.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50-1024x477.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50-768x358.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/50-1536x716.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>Then, you can come up with answers <em>before <\/em>the call. You just need to set aside some time to think about your ideal prospect\u2019s questions and concerns.<\/p>\n<p>If you don\u2019t know your niche, check out our other blog post, <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/blog\/how-to-find-a-profitable-niche\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Niching Down to Grow Your Business: How to Find a Profitable Niche<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Then, take a few minutes to fill out this <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1uPW6Wqk6lZ2N-ueqYkI9R04JWlhIUTThDWeTEZtZmtI\/edit?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Best Fit Client Worksheet<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1uPW6Wqk6lZ2N-ueqYkI9R04JWlhIUTThDWeTEZtZmtI\/edit?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8116\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-08-at-12.29.16-AM-1.png\" alt=\"Best Fit Client Worksheet: Demographics, Current Situation, Jobs to Be Done, etc.\" width=\"811\" height=\"786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-08-at-12.29.16-AM-1.png 811w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-08-at-12.29.16-AM-1-300x291.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-08-at-12.29.16-AM-1-768x744.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 811px) 100vw, 811px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8116\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-08-at-12.29.16-AM-1.png\" alt=\"Best Fit Client Worksheet: Demographics, Current Situation, Jobs to Be Done, etc.\" width=\"811\" height=\"786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-08-at-12.29.16-AM-1.png 811w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-08-at-12.29.16-AM-1-300x291.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-08-at-12.29.16-AM-1-768x744.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 811px) 100vw, 811px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p>When you\u2019re done, take 30 minutes and write down all the questions you think a prospect could ask. Write down the questions <em>and <\/em>answers, and refer to them as you build the rest of your process. Don\u2019t overthink this. You can (and should) refine the list of questions as you get more experience with sales. Remember that ongoing adjustments come with the territory. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h.dofqlp2csxke\">Pre-Qualify Prospects<\/h3>\n<p>Pre-qualification is like a bridge between marketing and sales. It helps you sort through everyone who\u2019s interested in your product to find leads who are\u00a0a good fit. Here are a few factors to look out for when defining fit:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ability to afford your program.<\/li>\n<li>Desire to complete the program.<\/li>\n<li>Likeliness to succeed with your help.<\/li>\n<li>Coachability and responsiveness.<\/li>\n<li>Personality fit.<\/li>\n<li>Work ethic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The questions you ask during pre-qualification will also give you useful information that you can reference during your call.<\/p>\n<p>One of the easiest ways to qualify your customers is to ask them to fill out a questionnaire <em>before<\/em>\u00a0the sales call. This can happen right as they sign up, or via a follow-up\u00a0email or text you send right after their appointment confirmation. Try sending it both ways and see which one results in more calls and sales.<\/p>\n<p>The questionnaire you send should be detailed enough to help make sure you\u2019re talking to people who are a good fit, but simple enough that it won\u2019t turn quality customers away. Somewhere in the neighborhood of five to 10 questions should be just right.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the questions we currently use:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>What is your current monthly revenue? \ud83d\udcb5<br \/>\n<\/strong>Here at Growth Tools, we ask for current monthly revenue, but you can change\u00a0\u201crevenue\u201d to whatever you help your customers improve. If you\u2019re a book writing coach, for example, you could say \u201cHow many pages of your book have you written?\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>What is your desired monthly revenue? \ud83d\udcb0<br \/>\n<\/strong>Again, we ask about revenue because that\u2019s most relevant to our business, but you can change it up. For example, you could try \u201cWhat kind of book do you want to write?\u201d or, \u201cWhere would you like to be in three months?\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>What do you feel separates you from other business owners who have applied to our program? \ud83e\udd47<br \/>\n<\/strong>This question helps you to get to know your prospect better and gives you a sense for how motivated they are to join your program. If they answer in depth and put a lot of effort into their answer, they\u2019re more motivated. If they give you nothing or just say, \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d that could be a red flag.<\/li>\n<li><strong>What\u2019s the #1 thing that has held you back from hitting your goals? \ud83c\udfaf<br \/>\n<\/strong>This question helps you tweak your messaging during the call so it feels tailored to the prospect\u2019s individual goals, and it helps you make sure the prospect\u2019s needs are aligned with what you offer in your program.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do you consider yourself responsible? \ud83d\udcbc<br \/>\n<\/strong>This is a simple yes or no question to get your prospect in the right frame of mind and makes it more likely they\u2019ll show up for the call.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Together, these questions give you a solid base of information to refer to during your call.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s especially important to know all about the prospect\u2019s business so you can provide a ton of value during the sales call. In fact, we often refer to our calls\u00a0as \u201cstrategy calls,\u201d because we give away a lot of free advice on each one. The information in this questionnaire helps you tailor your call to the prospect\u2019s needs while making sure they\u2019re a good fit ahead of time. That\u2019s what I call a win-win!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h.55dv36umn27g\">Follow-Up\u00a0After Sign-Up<\/h3>\n<p>After your prospect has filled out the questionnaire, you should still follow up\u00a0to keep them pumped and engaged until the sales call.<\/p>\n<p>Text or email the prospect, and send success stories, case studies, lessons, or anything else you have that will remind your prospect of the value your product provides.<\/p>\n<p>You can even start off with congratulations and reiterate what will happen next. Try something like this:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cCongrats! You made a great choice signing up to learn more about Amy\u2019s 90-day fitness boot camp. We\u2019ll walk through your goals on the call and figure out a free 7-day fitness and nutrition plan just for you.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Take that message and adapt it for your own product or service.<\/p>\n<p>In our experience, people usually schedule sales calls\u00a0about 48 hours in advance, so you only need a handful of other messages for follow up. Start with four:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Intro and Congratulations<br \/>\n<\/strong>Use the template\u00a0above. Send immediately after sign-up.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Case Study<br \/>\n<\/strong>Send your best case study or success story. If you have several, send one that\u2019s most relevant to this prospect. Send this 15 minutes after signup so the prospect has time to read the congratulations message first.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Relevant Blog or Other Content<br \/>\n<\/strong>Send one of your most popular or relevant blog posts with a short message explaining why the content is valuable. Send this the day before the sales call.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reminder for the <\/strong><strong>Sales Call<br \/>\n<\/strong>Just shoot over a quick message reminding the prospect they have a sales call. Send on the day of the call.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 id=\"h.3h18ejr3y6rm\">Part 2: The Three-Step Sales Call<\/h2>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve pre-qualified the prospect and followed up to keep them engaged, you\u2019re ready for the sales call.<\/p>\n<p>The process we recommend for all of our clients can be broken down into three parts:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8117\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48.png\" alt=\"Qualify, Educate, Pitch\" width=\"1600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48.png 1600w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48-1024x256.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48-768x192.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48-1536x384.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8117\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48.png\" alt=\"Qualify, Educate, Pitch\" width=\"1600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48.png 1600w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48-300x75.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48-1024x256.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48-768x192.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/48-1536x384.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/p>\n<p>This process is simple to understand and implement, and most importantly,<strong>\u00a0it works.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h.g5q6r6ejbo89\">Qualify<\/h3>\n<p>The \u201cQualify\u201d step is your opportunity to pick up where you left off during prequalification.<\/p>\n<p>Start by asking, \u201cCan you tell me why you booked this call today?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll probably hear the same thing you read in the prequalification questionnaire, but now you can dig deeper.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll follow up\u00a0with example questions in a moment, but first let\u2019s dive into what you should be looking for during the conversation.<\/p>\n<h4 id=\"h.m69zfjrlrrl7\">What to Look for During Qualification<\/h4>\n<p>As you work through qualification, your primary goal should be to confirm the prospect is a good fit for your company. The exact criteria you use to determine fit will vary a little depending on your industry, but there are a few characteristics that <em>all<\/em>\u00a0business owners should look for.<\/p>\n<p>In our experience, here are two of the most common:<\/p>\n<p><strong>#1: <\/strong><strong>Resourcefulness and Dedication<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Most coaches and consultants we\u2019ve talked to work best with clients who have at least a few wins under their belt. For example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A marketing freelancer will get the best results for a client who\u2019s made enough sales to verify there\u2019s demand for their product.<\/li>\n<li>A fitness coach will have the most success teaching someone who already has a regular gym habit.<\/li>\n<li>A book publishing coach will be most helpful to someone who already has a book idea and has written the first chapter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What\u2019s the pattern here?<\/p>\n<p>These clients have already shown they\u2019ll put in the effort and do what it takes to succeed. They just need a little push or guidance to get to the next level.<\/p>\n<p>Again, this idea works for every business, so look for your own version of the \u201cproof of concept\u201d as you go. Has the prospect at least made <em>some <\/em>progress on their own? If the answer is yes, that\u2019s a great positive sign.<\/p>\n<p><strong>#2: Strategy Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Most people who hire a coach or consultant have tried to fix the problem by themselves but simply can\u2019t get results. Often, they\u2019re stuck in a tactical nightmare, jumping from one tactic to the next, while nothing seems to stick.<\/p>\n<p>This is true for any industry:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>People who want to get in shape will try eight different workouts before they get a trainer.<\/li>\n<li>Business owners will try every marketing tactic they can think of before hiring a marketing coach.<\/li>\n<li>Writers will try writing in the morning, noon, and night. Then they\u2019ll hire a writing coach when they don\u2019t make any real progress going solo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Basically, the ideal coaching or consulting client doesn\u2019t have any problem taking action \u2014 they\u2019ve tried a bunch of ideas to try to improve. <strong>The problem is that they\u2019re treating their business like a slot machine.<\/strong>\u00a0They\u2019re just trying random strategies and hoping one lines up, but they can\u2019t tell with any accuracy which one will actually work.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8115 size-full\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49.png\" alt=\"You playing it cool praying last month's blog finally goes viral\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49.png 1600w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49-300x254.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49-1024x865.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49-768x649.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49-1536x1298.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-8115 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49.png\" alt=\"You playing it cool praying last month's blog finally goes viral\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49.png 1600w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49-300x254.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49-1024x865.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49-768x649.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/49-1536x1298.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why they\u2019re such good clients for coaching. If you can use your experience and knowledge to set these kinds of people on the right path, they\u2019ll go all-in and get great results.<\/p>\n<p>You know you\u2019re on the right track when you hear phrases like, \u201cI need a guide,\u201d or \u201cI need a coach\/plan\/strategy.\u201d That\u2019s a good indication that you\u2019ve found someone who will listen and take your advice seriously.<\/p>\n<p>Now let\u2019s jump into some of the questions you can ask to find out if the prospect is a great fit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Intelligence Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We call the first types of questions \u201cintelligence questions\u201d because they help you gather intelligence about your prospect. Most of them are a variant of \u201cWhy?\u201d \u201cWhat?\u201d or \u201cHow?\u201d because these kinds of questions help you get to the root of any problem.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few questions to get you started:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Why did you book this call?<\/li>\n<li>What are you doing that\u2019s working or not working?<\/li>\n<li>Why do you think you\u2019re having this problem?<\/li>\n<li>What are you selling?<\/li>\n<li>What traffic sources are you using?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Let\u2019s walk through an example.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s something we often hear our prospects say at the beginning of a strategy call:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not making any sales, but I\u2019m always busy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Notice that this statement doesn\u2019t explain <em>why<\/em>\u00a0the problem is happening. We need more detail if we want to act on the problem.<\/p>\n<p>You could follow up\u00a0with, \u201cWell, if you had to guess, why would you say you aren&#8217;t making any sales?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The response could go something like this:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not sure. I\u2019ve tried five different methods, but none of them seem to work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s still not enough information to work with. Keep asking questions.<\/p>\n<p>Eventually you\u2019ll reach the root of the problem, and as I mentioned previously, the core problem for all coaching, consulting, and high-ticket course customers is that <strong>they need a better strategy.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It might take a little while to dig up that information on a call though. Be prepared to ask some kind of \u201cWhy?\u201d question at least five times \u2014 sometimes even more.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mindset Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Mindset questions are the second kind of \u201cWhy?\u201d questions you\u2019ll ask. Some examples include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Why is now the time to do something different?<\/li>\n<li>Are you ready to stop what you were doing and focus 100% on something different?<\/li>\n<li>Why did you choose our program?<\/li>\n<li>What makes you different from anyone else?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In our experience, a great mindset is one of the top success indicators for our clients, so we use these questions to make sure we\u2019re working with motivated, dedicated people.<\/p>\n<p>They also help you preframe your product as something that should be taken seriously and valued highly. When you ask, \u201cWhat makes you different from anyone else?\u201d you\u2019re implying that your product is in high demand, and you\u2019re getting valuable intel that will help you make sure your product is a great fit.<\/p>\n<p>Then, when the prospect becomes a client, they\u2019ll respect your process, take your product seriously, and get great results. It\u2019s a win-win situation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Trial Closing<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Trial closing questions \u2014 sometimes called a \u201csoft close\u201d by pro sales reps \u2014 are the least common questions you\u2019ll ask, but also some of the most important. They help your prospect picture themselves using your product and committing to your program, even before you ask for the final sale.<\/p>\n<p>Examples include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If we walk through a strategy that makes sense for you today, would you be ready to take action when I ask you to onboard?<\/li>\n<li>Is this a strategy you think will work for you?<\/li>\n<li>Can you see yourself committing to this process over the next three months?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As your prospect responds positively to these questions, they\u2019ll slowly get in the habit of saying \u201cyes\u201d to your program and committing to your product. This makes them more likely to buy when you ask for the final sale at the end. The questions also help you uncover important objections all throughout the sales call, so you can address them <em>before<\/em>\u00a0asking for the sale.<\/p>\n<p>If they say \u201cNo,\u201d that\u2019s OK too. Give them the full value strategy call they signed up for. They may change their mind later in the call. And if they decide it\u2019s not for them, that\u2019s fine. Not every prospect is a good fit.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h.az5t6k6gtdc0\">Educate<\/h3>\n<p>The second phase of the sales call\u00a0is where you\u2019ll explain your product. The best case scenario is that you have a step-by-step\u00a0framework you can follow and present to your prospect.<\/p>\n<p>Our rule of thumb during the strategy session is this: <strong>It\u2019s impossible to<\/strong><strong>\u00a0give away too much value<\/strong><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/j09oEe3jcoojaV9ML0\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Your prospect <em>should<\/em>\u00a0have your entire system laid out for them by the end of the call. If you feel like you just gave away the farm, you\u2019re on the right track.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, most people who hire a coach or consultant have tried different tactics and strategies before. If they need a coach, they\u2019ll hire you even if they know the entire system. If they\u2019re a good fit, they\u2019ll want an expert\u2019s help, not just another tactic to try.<\/p>\n<p>So explain everything about your product. And use simple language. Make your product clear and easy to understand.<\/p>\n<p>As you talk, remember to trial close and prompt the prospect to visualize themselves using your strategy. For example, you could say something like, \u201cHave you ever considered using the One-Meal-a-Day [OMAD] diet to make healthy eating more simple?\u201d to prompt the client to picture themselves using that diet.<\/p>\n<p>Then if the prospect responds positively, you could follow up\u00a0with a trial-close a bit later. For example, \u201cDo you think OMAD will work for you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other examples of trial closing and visualization questions include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Does this seem like it\u2019s what you\u2019re looking for?<\/li>\n<li>Would this idea be a good fit for your business?<\/li>\n<li>Is this a strategy that you\u2019re ready to commit to and double down on?<\/li>\n<li>Does this system make sense to you?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Alternate between explaining your product and asking questions to keep the prospect engaged. Ask questions like\u2026<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What thoughts do you have?<\/li>\n<li>Do you see how this could help with [pain they identified]?<\/li>\n<li>What questions do you have so far?<\/li>\n<li>Is this making sense?<\/li>\n<li>Could you see yourself executing this strategy?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The end goal of the session is to make sure your prospect perfectly understands the strategy you\u2019ll be working on together. If the prospect is a great fit, just understanding your strategy will become a \u201clightbulb moment\u201d where they think, \u201cWow, that\u2019s exactly what I need. If I just executed on this, I\u2019d be set.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Not every prospect will lead with, \u201cWow, that\u2019s exactly what I need,\u201d but pay attention to tone and body language. If someone seems upbeat and excited, that\u2019s obviously a positive indicator.<\/p>\n<p>You should get at least one verbal confirmation that the prospect wants to move forward to help keep them engaged. If the prospect doesn\u2019t offer verbal confirmation, you might have to trial close a couple of times before moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>Ideally, you\u2019d hear at least one confirmation right before moving into the offer so you start off on the right foot. You can even ask, \u201cWould you like to walk through our offer?\u201d to help smooth the transition.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h.5qymssdgw06z\">Pitch<\/h3>\n<p>The offer is where the rubber meets the road during the sales process. Now, instead of just asking questions and explaining your product, you have to <strong>push your prospect to do something they\u2019ve never done before.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Why?<\/p>\n<p>Because you want to help your prospect get a result they\u2019ve never experienced before.<\/p>\n<p>In our experience, coaching clients are often in a weird state of mind when they look for help: They want to change, but they\u2019re stuck in their comfort zone and can\u2019t seem to get moving. They\u2019ve become used to their current situation and often need a little bit of wake up call.<\/p>\n<p>That means you have to snap them out of it.<\/p>\n<p>This doesn\u2019t mean you need to be rude or pushy.<\/p>\n<p>You just have to be very clear that you\u2019re asking your prospect for a commitment. Don\u2019t shy away from asking for the sale.<\/p>\n<p>If you get a no, at least your prospect has made a decision and can move forward. If they say yes, then you can be a part of that future. Either way, the prospect makes progress.<\/p>\n<p>With that said, here\u2019s how you actually walk through your offer:<\/p>\n<p>First, explain exactly what you\u2019ll do with the prospect when they sign up. You already reviewed your strategy and tactics. Now, you\u2019re explaining what your product experience looks and feels like.<\/p>\n<p>For example, maybe you previously explained that you recommend the OMAD diet and three workouts per week. Now, you explain that if the client works with you, you\u2019ll provide:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Seven customized meal plans per week.<\/li>\n<li>A shopping list to use over the next week.<\/li>\n<li>Two workout plans for solo workouts.<\/li>\n<li>Two video reviews of workouts to correct form or adjust sets and reps per week.<\/li>\n<li>One personal, one-on-one training session every two weeks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Explain your product. Get detailed. Then go for the ask.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve used the trial closing strategy\u00a0correctly throughout the sales call, you\u2019re set up perfectly for a closing technique\u00a0we like to call an \u201cassumptive close.\u201d Here\u2019s how it works:<\/p>\n<p>You present the product, answer any questions, then say \u201cThe program will cost $2500. <strong>You can take care of that with Visa or Mastercard. Which is better for you?<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If this method seems very straightforward, that\u2019s because it is. Most new or junior salespeople\u00a0we talk to don\u2019t get as many sales as they could because they simply don\u2019t ask for the sale.<\/p>\n<p>That being said, this close method works because you\u2019ve provided a lot of value and at least have a sense that the client is a good fit before you ask. It\u2019s not a standard \u201chard close\u201d because \u2014 as some salespeople\u00a0would say \u2014 you\u2019ve \u201cearned the right\u201d to ask for the sale. Now you just have to lay out the pricing\u00a0and\u00a0ask for the close.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t get comfortable and take the easy way out by asking questions like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What do you think?<\/li>\n<li>How do you feel about that?<\/li>\n<li>What do you want to do?<\/li>\n<li>What do you like about the program?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These questions are too vague to create a sense of urgency\u00a0or prompt real action. You have to ask for the sale to get the sale. Period.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll probably get some objections or questions the first time you try to seal the deal. When that happens, use a process we call:<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cAsk; resolve; ask.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ask for the sale, resolve the objection, and ask again.<\/p>\n<p>For example, we often get questions about support. Clients will ask:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How much coaching will I get again?<\/li>\n<li>Do I get one-on-one calls?<\/li>\n<li>How long does the program last?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Simply answer the question, reassure the prospect that signing up will be a smart move, and ask again. For example, you might respond:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019ll get on-demand coaching calls and two group calls per week. You\u2019re going to love it! Does Visa or Mastercard work better?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This might feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but once you\u2019ve closed a couple of new customers\u00a0like this and helped them get amazing results, you\u2019ll be so glad you just went for the ask. Remember, your prospect is stuck. You need to push them out of the rut. If your product can help, that means you should ask them to buy it.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h.y62yk3evn1iw\">You Need Two Things: A Script and Feedback<\/h2>\n<p>If you want to close more sales, you need two things:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A proven sales script or process.<\/li>\n<li>A feedback mechanism to help you get better.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This blog is giving you the first part. Here\u2019s your new six-part sales process:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Before the call: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Identify\u00a0your ideal client.<\/li>\n<li>Pre-qualify each lead using a questionnaire.<\/li>\n<li>Keep in touch until the call.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>During the call:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Qualify by asking penetrating questions.<\/li>\n<li>Outline a full strategy for your client to take away\u00a0and implement.<\/li>\n<li>Explain your offer and <em>ask for the sale.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Now you just need a feedback mechanism to get better. You have two options:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Do it yourself.<br \/>\n<\/strong>Record your sales calls, review them regularly, and find ways to tweak your process and improve. Get outside feedback from a peer or a Facebook group or other free community. There will be some trial and error involved, but you\u2019ll definitely succeed if you persevere.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hire a coach.<br \/>\n<\/strong>Here at Growth Tools, we\u2019ve coached dozens of coaches and consultants from zero to sales hero. We\u2019ll answer your questions, give you critical feedback, and connect you with motivated peers in the same situation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>We\u2019ve helped coaches and consultants grow their business for years now, and we\u2019ve found no better way to exponentially grow your business than to hire a coach.<\/p>\n<p>Now that you\u2019ve read this blog post, you have the resources you need to succeed. <strong>What will you do? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><i data-stringify-type=\"italic\">Want us to audit your business strategy and help you skyrocket revenue in the next 90 days? <a href=\"https:\/\/lp.growthtools.com\/skyrocket?utm_source=gc&amp;source=closesalescall-blogpost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Schedule a complimentary strategy session with a certified coach<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This blog will teach you the process we use to close 45% of our sales calls\u00a0at Growth Tools. It\u2019s a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-marketing-coaching","category-tear-downs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8120"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8120\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}