Treating Prospects Like Children - Bad Sales Advice

In my career, I've been fed phrases like "the squeaky wheel gets the cheese" or "be the freshest face in the pile" by sales managers/owners of companies I've worked for.


I agree with these sentiments but I think there's a misinterpretation of these that sets apart good reps from bad reps.


Good reps follow up in a way that treats buyers like they are a trusted partner. Cutting through objections by being concise and disarming but still providing guidance to the buyer that ultimately gets them what they want.


Bad reps think that follow up consists of "Have you done this yet?". I see so much bad advice on LinkedIn and in comments that provide a quick pathway for prospects to feel steamrolled/ like you're an egotistical prick who knows more about their internal processes than they do.


Best advice I have ever been given as a sales pro is treat your prospects how you want them to treat you. Getting in the door is only part of the deal. Don't make the tone of the relationship shifty and condescending by asking questions just to get a response. Be a confidante for your clients and be a strategic extension of their reputation that they can trust to represent them in their company.

🔎 Prospecting
👑 Sales Strategy
📈 Closing
36
Beans
Big Shot
14
Enterprise Account Executive
You don't build rapport by being condescending and you can't properly demonstrate the value of your product without understanding their pains either.

Sales is a two way street, unless you're in used cars or insurance - then fuck off. 
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
2
SaaS Eater
@funcoupons care to share your thoughts on the latter here? 
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
5
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
@Incognito might have some hot takes
Incognito
WR Officer
6
Master of Disaster
Orly. So I don’t need to know my clients pains to ensure that they have adequate coverage to remain in contractual compliance upstream and downstream (and therefore giving those 3rd parties grounds for lawsuits and holding retainage), make sure that they know what policy they are buying in relation to their revenue exposure to maintain enough cash flow to keep their jobs rolling, explain the difference between a hard and soft hammer clause (aka, are their subs carrying the same limits of insurance so the carriers either deny or demand a ridiculously high deductible), help them choose between an auditable vs non-auditable (depending on projected revenue), and generally guide them to an appropriate level of risk retention vs transfer based on their balance sheet? 

I don’t need to know any of that? 

Cool. My job just got a fuckload easier. 

Also, @Beans , how about YOU fuck all the way off when you’re making generalizations out of your ass. 
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
4
SaaS Eater
Dont stop there
Incognito
WR Officer
9
Master of Disaster
@UrAssIsSaaS no one cares about insurance. You know this.

It’s fine though. Everyone can keep their assumptions based on whatever shit State Farm policy they bought while I keep rolling with my 6/7 figure deals. 

“wOuLd YoU LiKe To SeE a PrOdUcT dEmO?”
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
3
SaaS Eater
Im about to be unemployed and uninsured so I need to talk to you. I was really enjoying your systematic dissection of @Beans and was hoping for more. 
Incognito
WR Officer
4
Master of Disaster
That’s benefits. IDGAF about those sorry. 
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
3
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
Oh lord, I opened a whole can of beans with that tag 
Incognito
WR Officer
3
Master of Disaster
Like you expected differently @InQ5WeTrust 
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
3
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
I was SHOOK I say! Positively SHOOK! 
Incognito
WR Officer
4
Master of Disaster
@UrAssIsSaaS  - if you really want to know more, just Google “NY Labor Laws”. That should be sufficient to scare anyone away from insurance forever.
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
3
SaaS Eater
Ya Im already in way over my head. 
Beans
Big Shot
3
Enterprise Account Executive
I was going to be sassy af in my response. But you’re right, I shouldn’t deride an entire industry based on my small set of experiences with their folk. I apologize.
Incognito
WR Officer
0
Master of Disaster
Curious, which experiences were those? 

To be fair, there are bad actors in every field.  The least I can do is give you insights as to why they were fuckwads so it never happens again in the future. 
Diablo
Politicker
2
Sr. AE
Absolutely, for our product line pain points are something that we try to build our conversation around.
Biznasty
Opinionated
1
Lead Business Development Manager
big facts. 
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
8
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
To add to this don't just paint by numbers it's super obvious to the person on the other side.

Even if it's your 25th call of the try and engage and don't be robotic. 

Especially if it's a more transactional sale, always a competitor out there. 
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
🦊
I do enjoy an occasional paint by numbers with my Claw.
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
3
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
Bear or white? 
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
3
SaaS Eater
Both?
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
3
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
A combo from the heavens 
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
Both are delicious.
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
6
sales
most the people I sell to are 50 years old, the people servicing the contract are 25. it's tough. Neither age group knows anything and both need to be educated in different fashions. it's why i'm going grey.
Biznasty
Opinionated
2
Lead Business Development Manager
Hah. That’s the grind right there. Just herding cats 24/7
jefe
Arsonist
5
🍁
Definitely awful advice. I always try and be very consultative and position myself as a trusted advisor.

That involves respect, and actually listening the prospect. Not being a doormat, but being realistic.
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
3
SaaS Eater
And you wonder why sales gets a bad wrap.

Well said
Biznasty
Opinionated
1
Lead Business Development Manager
1000% because when I was a new rep my sales manager was all I had. Now I'm older and wiser and this place exists. 

mitts2
Politicker
3
Account Executive
I've said it before and I'll say it a million more times. Make yourself a consultant to the business (obvi, easier said than done). Gotta do your research on how the business works, how they make money, what challenges they are trying to fix, where they want to go next quarter / year. if you can become an extension of their business conversations there is not limit to what you can sell them (hyperbolic but you get the point).
Biznasty
Opinionated
1
Lead Business Development Manager
Consume every ounce of content you can get on your top prospects and you will never be blind sided
Kinonez
Celebrated Contributor
3
War Room Enthusiast
 "Have you done this yet?" Soooooo true! you got me with this!
Biznasty
Opinionated
1
Lead Business Development Manager
What pisses me off is that sales reps do this to other sales reps... Like we don't know the infancy of what you are trying to accomplish!
Kinonez
Celebrated Contributor
1
War Room Enthusiast
That hurts even more! I'm with you there. 
ultraman
Tycoon
1
Shepherd
Squeaky wheel gets the cheese? You need to circle back with that dude and tell them it’s grease, not cheese. Solid takes here tho 👊 LinkedIn is 🗑
Biznasty
Opinionated
0
Lead Business Development Manager
😂 just wondering if I’ve been saying this wrong to myself after mishearing it. Because cheese really doesn’t make any sense
thebishop
Catalyst
1
Sr. Sales Executive
Definitely - position yourself as their ally and good things will happen. Also it allows you to be real when shit isn't getting done. 
Biznasty
Opinionated
0
Lead Business Development Manager
yes! Nothing is better than being able to speak freely with a client/soon to be client. 
TheValueProps
1
Sales Leader
Always position as an advisor. Steam rolling and peppering follow up never works.
Jbeans
Opinionated
1
Director of Sales
Actually caring helps. People can sense when you actually give a f .. and when you don’t. No one wants to be a quota. 
Blackwargreymon
Politicker
1
MDR
To add to this don't just paint by numbers it's super obvious to the person on the other side.
Clashingsoulsspell
Politicker
1
ISR
That involves respect, and actually listening the prospect.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
0
🦊
The golden rule is applicable to everything. 
MR.StretchISR
Politicker
0
ISR
To add to this don't just paint by numbers it's super obvious to the person on the other side.
Mr.Floaty
Politicker
0
BDR
Shows them even the enterprises with all their resources need help, but also the SMB ones need us to help keep employee overhead low. Depending on what you're slinging.
Cyberjarre
Politicker
0
BDR
Shows them even the enterprises with all their resources need help, but also the SMB ones need us to help keep employee overhead low.
6

So, most people I know did not plan on becoming a sales person initially, it just happened. So, curious to know how my fellow warriors here ended up in sales anyway ? The more interesting stories the better..!!

Question
7
8

Do we think sales GURUs are full of shit or just like mostly full of shit?

Question
9
Are sales gurus
37% Full of shit or
55% Mostly full of shit
8% I’m a sales guru and I’m full of shit
65 people voted