The Sales Training Series: Five Buying Decisions

Have you ever had a customer that seemed toon each buying decision. This is exactly how
reject nearly everything that you wereprofessional salespeople orchestrate their sales
presenting? We all have. Research on thecalls. IN THE FIELD: Jerry Montgomery, one of the
customer's buying decisions has revealed that ahorticultural industry's top sales and marketing
customer's resistance may not be caused byconsultants, recently spoke about how the Action
what you present. It could be the sequence ofSelling Sales Training Program has impacted sales
your presentation.performance.
Our research has shown 76% of sales"Today, product and service differentiation is
presentations are out of sync with buyingharder to define and communicate." noted
decisions. When making a major purchase decision,Montgomery. "But the right training can translate
your customer goes through a process of fiveinto increased sales. Action Selling is especially
sequential decisions. 1. SALESPERSON. Customerseffective because it focuses on unique methods
decide if they like and can trust you. 2. COMPANY.for uncovering the customer's needs, resulting in a
What is your company's reputation? Is yourdifferentiated solution."
company a good match for them? 3. PRODUCT.As the playing field becomes increasingly
Is your product the right solution for their needs?competitive and the buyer's time is at a premium,
4. PRICE. Is your solution competitively priced? Isinnovative sales skills are key to success. "And
it a good value? 5. TIME TO BUY. Is now a goodyet," said Montgomery, "many companies provide
time for them to move forward with thetheir sales organizations with little or no sales skills
purchase? Customers will find reasons not to buytraining with which to meet these challenges."
when your presentation is out of sync with their"With Action Selling," he went on to say, "Sellers
buying decisions. To increase your chances ofcan turn to the work at hand, confident that they
success, you must sequence your salesare utilizing the most advanced sales techniques
presentation to follow the decisions of theavailable today. And that's beneficial to the seller,
customer. When you do, you'll sell the customerthe buyer and the bottom line!