Sometimes it is better to get a “no” than a “yes” when you are looking for sales. How is this the case? Well, when you get a “yes” you proceed to then finalize the sale. Accordingly, your conversation yielded one sale. When you get a “no” instead you have a choice. Your first option is to thank the person for their time and leave with one less sale than a “yes” would have given you. Your second option is to continue the conversation with the understanding that you are not looking to sell to them anymore. You are, however, going to ask if they know anyone who might be interested.
Anyone that they suggest will be in a sense “pre-prospected” since they will only point you to people they know well enough to accurately predict their interest. if they cannot think of anyone at the time you ask that is fine. This can still lead to sales. Leave them with the invitation to refer their friends to you if they express interest in what you are offering. This “no” conversation is likely to yield more sales than the one that a “yes” would have.
The above article in The New York Times describes how a survey estimated the average American knows 600 people while the previous estimate was around 290. Either way, every prospect who turns you down for a sale is still a valuable prospect for future prospects. Six-hundred of them. The best part is that they will often send the most likely buyers out of all of them in your direction if you ask nicely.
hey there nice post. I agree many times rejection is the best way to learn. Failing can teach so much more than succeeding and nailing every single pitch. The goal should always to learn from everything we do so that we can do our best.