Rebound From Rejection Rejection got you down? Pick yourself up, and turn that no into a yes.
By Barry Farber
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
One of the most consistent traits among high sales achievers is their ability to bounce back from rejection and be relentless in their pursuit of the sale. Knock me down eight times, and I'll get up nine. Here are four ways to sell through the setbacks and constant nos:
1. No pain, no gain.Let's just start out with the fact that most people say no many times before they say yes. I'm sure you've read the statistics where some research firm says the average sale happens on the fifth call, after the seventh no and so on. Whatever the statistics say, it's important to maintain your belief in your product and the benefits the customer will receive, even when all you're getting are nos. That belief will help you come back with a positive attitude, new ideas and valuable information to change your prospect's mind.
2. Learn more, and use it.We can never know too much. Sometimes we just need to revisit the prospect and account with a new set of questions, and dig a little deeper for hot buttons that would build a stronger case for closing. Ask questions like "What's stopping us from moving forward?" and "What would we have to change about our offer to change your mind?" In one of my largest accounts, I faced setbacks for a year until we figured out how to customize the product offer to satisfy many parts of the organization, ranging from legal to product packaging to the customer's customer. In the end, we sold millions of products. Every time you face a setback, return with a more intelligent proposal. Remember what Hall of Fame basketball coach John Wooden said: "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."
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