The Sales Representative’s Checklist for Collaborating with Procurement: Part 1
Do you see view procurement as a threat and necessary evil that must be managed carefully on each deal or do you view them as an ally that can help you facilitate the procurement process? In Part 1 of this blog we will describe the changing role of purchasing and describe the lens of how […]
30 Words or Phrases That Resonate With Hospital Buyers!
Newsflash! Hospitals don’t simply buy products and services; they seek out quality solutions to solve problems. Healthcare professionals are looking for partners that can help them to fix gaps in service delivery and help them to avoid complacency in order to achieve exceptional results. If you want to connect with hospital buyers, it’s essential to […]
Sales Call Preparation is for Amateurs & Rookies!
Let’s be honest most of you reading this missive don’t routinely plan for sales calls and you haven’t’ written out a sales call plan in years. This is not meant as a criticism. It’s just fact, based upon our experience and informal polls in working with sales organizations all over the world and in a […]
Do You Know the Pathway to the PO?
Hallelujah you have just been told you won the sale. Now the next challenge is to get the purchase order (PO). Be careful about celebrating too soon, you are not home yet. You would be wise not to include this order against your sales goal at this time. Finally, don’t forecast it yet and above […]
“Negotiating the Complex Sale: 10 Questions to Guide Your Preparation”
Preparation is key to every effective negotiation strategy. Brian Mandell, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, says that a good negotiator prepares by understanding fully what he/she wishes to accomplish. A great negotiator prepares by understanding what the other side wishes to accomplish. At the heart of your preparation should be […]
“Negotiating the Complex Sale: Five Fatal Myths”
In a recent workshop on negotiation, we asked the sales representatives “When that long awaited telephone call comes from your client, what steps do you take in preparing yourself to negotiate the contract or deal?” It was relatively easy to tabulate the data. One participant raised her hand and said that she does a quick […]
Are You a “Memorable” Sales Rep?
You just made a sales call. You think it went well. The buying influence addressed all of your questions. You now believe that you have developed a corporate connection that lays the foundation for a mutually agreed upon next step. In retrospect, ask yourself, “Did you make a lasting impression, one that will resonate throughout […]
Don’t Be a Talking Leaflet!
In every sales call there is a fine line between gathering information and providing information. Savvy sales professionals gather information by asking thought provoking, insightful questions. They spur intense conversations by sharing insight and asking for opinions. They ask tough questions especially those around change, opinions and risk. Once they understand the buyer’s requirements they […]
Differentiation: Standing Out in a Meaningful Way!
To differentiate is to stand out in a crowded field and to be different in a way that is meaningful to each individual buying influence. Without differentiation the status quo looks pretty good and there is no reason to consider your product, service or solution. Differentiation prevents the buyer from commoditizing you even when they […]
12 Ways to Build Professional Credibility in Hospital Sales
There is an old adage in sales that one can never have too much credibility. This is especially true in hospital sales where the “the new normal’ is for sellers that can provide proven measurable value. Think of credibility as building a bank account. You constantly have to keep making credibility deposits because one day […]
