Cold Calling Enterprise: "Flipping" People?

Was on a cold call today with a prospect who wouldn't open up to me about their current process + mentioned that timing was bad on their side for our product.


I asked him if Q4 would be a better time because there seemed to be somewhat of a need, but not a current concern --> he said sure.


Thought I handled it alright, CEO then says that I should've asked more questions like:


  1. Why is it not a concern
  2. Explained more about how we could potentially help --> ask him if he thought that our solution could help his process


The problem is that we sell a complicated fintech product with a deal cycle of about 6 months-1 year. My thought process is that if they don't have an open project or need (especially if they aren't telling me their process or are super cagey), there is no point in "flipping" them. Regardless, I've never really found an answer to the "I'm not interested" objection that hits home with this product.


I guess my TLDR question is: should I be asking more questions here + trying to flip people or am I just wasting my time/pissing off customers?


How to approach these situations?

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๐Ÿ“ž Cold Calling
12
Revenue_Rambo
Politicker
5
Director, Revenue Enablement
If the current process is good enough what you deliver has to be absolutely amazing for them to even consider a change.
js2458
Politicker
4
Enterprise SDR
This is my thought as well. Maybe it's different with dealing with SMB, high turnaround deals. I could convince people all day long to attend a meeting when I was with my conference company.

However, for products that require long deal cycles, multiple teams involved, huge contracts, and typically multiple year deals: to me, I'd already have to be in the mindset (or at least open to hearing) about fixing that problem already.

My CEO and direct Manager are French and often tell me things that seem to make no sense within the US market + both haven't really cold called in the past (and for sure don't cold call now) so I'm just kind of frustrated.

Would love to put the blame on myself here, but seems like every time I pick up the phone there is always a comment about how I'm doing something wrong which just makes me even less encouraged.
jefe
Arsonist
5
๐Ÿ
That's pretty typical of leadership that's out of touch/has no sales experience. "Just handle the objection and turn em around!" Simple, right?
js2458
Politicker
5
Enterprise SDR
Maybe I should watch more Wolf of Wall Street..then I can sell anyone this pen ๐Ÿ˜†
SalesBeast
Politicker
1
Sales Leader
Boss is probably just getting a shitload of pressure and would rather put a fakeass deal in pipeline than have a clean pipeline with actual deals. You did the right thing.
Filth
Politicker
1
Live Filthy or Die Clean
Gotta love working under them slippery wizards lol.
js2458
Politicker
0
Enterprise SDR
It's actually odd because they are pretty picky about what deals go through. I have to book everyone for a qualif call before it gets handed over to my AE.
But, about other things, they really are fixated on learning information even when it's not needed (aka this situation). I'm all for learning info and asking the right questions, but when bro doesn't want to tell me anything --> not sure he will be happy with me prying more.
JustGonnaSendIt
Politicker
1
Burn Towns, Get Money
In large or complex sales (or both), I have found that Timing is 80% of what gets the deal done. It needs to be a current priority for the customer to get the resources needed to get a deal over the line.

Now your mission is to keep in touch, keep reinforcing why you think this is a valuable move for the customer to make when timing is right. Along the way, learn as much as you can about what it takes for them to make the decision to buy, how you can help that along, and how you can shape the impression of what a high-value solution looks like.

When it does make the list of 'stuff we're definitely doing this year' you'll have a supporter who can help you bring home the bacon.
js2458
Politicker
0
Enterprise SDR
Yep. This exactly. Put a bunch of tasks in CRM already so that I'm up to speed.

Will keep sending out periodic automated emails to check in but nothing more than that.
JustGonnaSendIt
Politicker
0
Burn Towns, Get Money
The best would be to meet them in person at an event, trade show, or while you're in town for another reason.

Automated follow-up is great, but I am encouraging you to sincerely build a relationship with this person. In the big, complex sales world, that is the big difference-maker on getting the timing right VS your forecast.

Get the trust, get the information before the other guy.
Pachacuti
Politicker
1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
MY 2cents - you weren't talking to the right person. And the person you were speaking with gave you the brush off. Its never the right time to talk to someone in sales until you have to have it yesterday. Then you become an order taker.

I would look for another way into the account, if possible.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive ๐Ÿฐ
I'm all about asking questions, which is why I picked 2. That said, sometimes it's just the wrong time, or you have the wrong person. And I don't like banging my head against a wall when I could be talking to someone who is interested or who can make a decision.
jefe
Arsonist
2
๐Ÿ
Asking questions is key, but I think the goal shouldn't be to flip them. The goal should be to understand what might compel them to flip. In an ideal world, would that happen? For sure. But it's not likely and shouldn't be the main driver, IMO
BigShrimpin
Catalyst
1
Account executive
The hard truth is that you both expect more out of a prospect like that than is realistic, if its not a priority now it probably wont be one later and the push off is just a polite no

you can always ask something along the lines of "typically when people say (objection) its a nice way of saying they aren't interested if thats the case im totally cool with a no and we can leave it at that but if (objection) is genuinely the problem what do you expect to change when (objection) is resolved?"

either theyll tell you why its worth following up later or admit its a polite no either way you get clarity but bulldozing your way into a shit meeting is a waste of everyones time
RandyLahey
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Most times managers are โ€œpushingโ€ reps to bring in their deals, it shows a lack of experience and trust in your reps. Let them do their jobs.
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