Top ways to tell if you're being pushy in your sales process

Have you ever worried that you’re being perceived as ‘pushy’ in your sales process? I’m sharing today how self-aware individuals, ironically, often overcompensate for fear of being pushy, leading them to avoid effective sales processes altogether.

It’s a topic that I know many people have been concerned about and it's a conversation I've had countless times with both seasoned professionals and budding entrepreneurs throughout my 18 years in sales. 

This episode is all about helping you understand the fine line between effective B2B sales strategy and practices that can inadvertently push potential corporate clients away. We’ll explore what "pushy" really means in the context of sales, particularly when you're aiming for significant business development, and how to ensure your corporate sales process is built on transparency and genuine support, not pressure. 

Ultimately, the key point from this episode is to help you to run a sales process that serves both you and your clients effectively. It's about giving your prospects all the information they need to make the best decision for themselves, efficiently and transparently so, whether you're working on client proposals or refining your sales proposals, this episode is for you!

As the summer ‘lull’ approaches it’s time to plan your B2B sales strategy for September, and for those of you looking to generate more qualified leads from real decision-makers in the UK, I share exciting news about my new Expert Services Directory, which is specifically designed to help coaches, consultants, and service providers connect with organisations actively seeking their expertise.   

Here are some key takeaways from this episode:

• Understanding "Pushy": We define pushy sales not as specific activities, but as forcing a decision onto a buyer for your benefit, rather than focusing on their needs.  
• The Buyer's Role: Buyers also have a responsibility to be clear and transparent about their needs and expectations within the sales process, helping to avoid misunderstandings.  
• Standardisation Isn't Pushy: Standardising parts of your B2B sales strategy, such as sales call structures or follow-up processes, doesn't make you robotic; it enhances customer experience and allows for better troubleshooting and predictability.  
• Attitude Over Activity: The effectiveness of your sales activities, like follow-ups or discussing commercial terms in client proposals, hinges on your attitude, tone, and language, not the activities themselves.  

And here are four ways that improper sales practices can hurt your B2B sales process:

• Forcing Decisions Over Diagnosing Needs: When you attempt to force a decision that primarily benefits you as the salesperson, onto a buyer who doesn't want it, you come across as desperate and uninterested in their actual problems.  
• Assuming Sales is Just a Numbers Game: Relying solely on putting "as many pictures in front of decision makers as possible" without focusing on quality input often leads to inadvertent mistakes that make you appear inattentive, or pushy.  
• Lack of Standardised Processes: Over-personalising every sales interaction due to a fear of being pushy can lead to a lack of structure, making it incredibly difficult to troubleshoot your sales process, standardise results, manage buyer expectations, and can even hurt your overall service delivery.  
• Poor Attitude, Tone, and Language: While sales activities like following up on sales proposals or making cold outreach calls aren't inherently pushy, a negative attitude, harsh tone, or aggressive language can immediately alienate potential corporate clients and damage your brand.  

Tune in to gain a more profound understanding of these concepts and refine your approach to business development. You'll gain valuable insights into conducting effective B2B sales, ensuring you build trust and long-term relationships with your clients.

Key Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

If you want to learn more about The Expert Services Directory, copy and paste this link: http://bit.ly/4f3ch1I

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The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this article, video or audio are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this article, video or audio. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this article, video or audio. Jessica Lorimer disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this article, video or audio.

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