Secrets to Prospecting: What the Top 1% Do to Prospect
Let's cut to the chase and put it on the table with regards to prospecting.
You want to up your game, but you're stuck for any number of reasons when it comes to prospecting. In my role I get to meet with thousands of salespeople every year, whether it be in my coaching program, a keynote speech I'm delivering or a training program I'm giving.
Name any excuse for not prospecting and I can guarantee I've heard it. So let's not deal with excuses today. Let's deal with what the top 1% are doing to prospect.
The list I'm sharing has taken me years to build out, and yes, it's morphed with changes in technology, communication and the role millennials play in the workforce.
Over the next several weeks, I'll be sharing with you more of what makes the top 1% the top 1%.
Below are the first 7 items:
1. Commitment to prospecting, regardless what else needs to be done. The top 1% never view prospecting as an activity they'll get to when they have time. It's at the top of the list, as they know they have to continually prospect to keep their pipeline full.
2. Focus on quality leads, not just a list. Too much time is wasted prospecting people who never will buy. The top 1% ask the tough questions up front to help them validate each lead to gauge better its value.
3. Persistence that goes beyond what anyone else will do. Persistence can range from continually reaching out to the high-value prospect who has gone dark to never giving up on to the lead who has never responded.
4. Multiple processes that fit each segment they prospect. Unlike most salespeople who have one process they try to fit everyone in to, the top 1% have 3 to 4 processes they use depending on the prospect. Multiple processes allow them to use their prospecting time more successfully.
5. Don't rely on Marketing for leads. The top 1% are many times skeptical of leads that come from Marketing, as they value far more the leads they generate themselves.
6. Embrace technology, but don't let it control them. Top 1% see the value in using technology and have a solid sales stack, but as much as they use it, they do not allow it to control them. They know sales is still an emotional activity that requires human interaction, and the best decisions are many times those made by gut instinct.
7. Commitment to help others that goes beyond their customers. Those in the top 1% value relationships and their network. They are continually putting themselves into a position to help others. In their drive to help others, they fully expect nothing in return, but do it because they know it's the right thing to do.
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Copyright 2018, Mark Hunter "The Sales Hunter." Sales Motivation Blog. Mark Hunter is the author of High-Profit Prospecting: Powerful Strategies to Find the Best Leads and Drive Breakthrough Sales Results
This week I have printed out and read all 3 of the articles that make up "prospecting 1%" and I went on Amazon and ordered Mr Hunter's book. Not finished as I went and signed up for a potential future webinar and got a wonderful gift of the last virtual kick-off with Mark and 3 other experts for prospecting and sales. I am going t be a busy boy tomorrow when Mark's book arrives from Amazon. I cannot thank you enough Mark. "Focus is the currency of effectiveness" is one of the most powerful tidbits I have seen/heard in some time, whether you said it or one of your colleagues. I also want to point out to others that you have eclipsed 250,000 followers on LinkedIn and every day it seems you are adding several hundred more, that's quite a bit more than many other sales "gurus" out there. I think it speaks to a couple of things including the precision(short and sweet) of your videos and your respect for other's time. I'm eager to learn more of what you know. Cheers Mark!!! And would you please approve my connect request, thank you!
Thanks Mark for keeping these keys to success at the forefront. Great ideas!
Asset Portfolio Manager
6 年Spot on! And agreed with Joe. Nail it.
CA Professional Geologist #8963
6 年no but hydrothermics was one tough class
Sales Leader at Samsara | Driving Revenue Growth (NYSE: IOT)
6 年Matt Tabor Angie Nahe Randy Arroyo spot on.