Friday, May 16, 2008

A Must Read Book For Sales People

I just finished a book by Steve Marx, "Close Like The Pros". It was one of those easy reads and hard to put down books on selling. Close Like The Pros is about interactive selling that involves the client and builds a respect factor with the client that will have your competition begging to learn. How many times have you met with the client, conducted your needs analysis and then come back with a proposal only to be told that, "you have given us a lot to think about here. Call me next week". This is called the "hand off" presentation and you are almost guaranteed you will not close this deal.

Marx has laid out powerful strategies that involves laying ground rules, partnering, avoiding the ditch, clearing paths, sending up trial balloons, half baked ideas, progress reports and giving the client homework assignments. Close Like The Pros will teach you mini-closes along the way that when you make your presentation it is simply a formality with the client and that the deal was closed long before the presentation, thus Interactive Selling.

What is worth noting is that at the end of each chapter, Steve Marx summarizes what the chapter was about and then asks you to email him what you took away from the chapter. And be prepared to get an email back from Steve acknowledging your thoughts.

Close Like The Pros by Steve Marx will be the best few hours you have invested in your business. Just remember two things: Amateurs built the Ark and Professionals built the Titanic. Come on, never be afraid to try something new!

BB for now

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