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Post Info TOPIC: sales and marketing: qualifying the prospect in tough times


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sales and marketing: qualifying the prospect in tough times
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I learned a long time ago not to waste too much time energy money gas mileage etc on a prospect (I call them suspects) until I find out how serious they are.
After some nice small talk, the first thing I do is find out where they got my name.
GOLD: referral or previous customer
SILVER: response to a recent promotion (mailer, flyer, ad etc)
BRONZE: yellow pages (these people shop you) and internet
DOG TURD: ex wife, ex mother in-law (just hang up lol)

Don't get me wrong I think the Internet is great for lead generation, but just because they have contacted me doesn't mean I have to devote 2 hours and 2 gallons of gas to them without finding out how serious they are.

Simply put, just ask in a nice way how they found you and you will be way ahead of the game.

One of the books I read once a year....How To Win Friends And Influence People. Its an oldie but a goodie!

Best wishes to all the roof cleaning brethren out there selling,
KP


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Ada Mobile Wash

2694 Ashville Dr. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49525


616-285-8115

kennethpaul@vzw.blackberry.net


Roof Washing Exterior House Cleaning Grand Rapids, MI



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With all due respect, I don't fully agree with judging customers to quickly over the phone and by asking where they found me. The main thing is,...it's an opportunity to make a sale.

I treat every caller the same,... as a prospective sale and putting money in my pocket.

I use the phone call mostly to get on the property and to sell myself and the service to the prospective customer.

In my experience it's not to common for people to waste their time making a phone call inquiring about a service they have no interest in. So, if someone calls me they are as important as all the other callers,.no matter how they found me.


Jeff




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Raystown Roof Cleaning
Central, Pa

(814) 644-1396 or 1-800-236-0322

Roof Cleaning Central Pennsylvania

Huntingdon, State College, Lewistown, Altoona









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Jeff, what kind of radius do you cover?

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Ada Mobile Wash

2694 Ashville Dr. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49525


616-285-8115

kennethpaul@vzw.blackberry.net


Roof Washing Exterior House Cleaning Grand Rapids, MI



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Within 50 miles seems to be where my calls come from.

Jeff

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Raystown Roof Cleaning
Central, Pa

(814) 644-1396 or 1-800-236-0322

Roof Cleaning Central Pennsylvania

Huntingdon, State College, Lewistown, Altoona









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Asking "How did you hear about us"? will be helpful.  In addition to that, I was thinking of something like...

  • "Is your roof covered in leaves and branches or does it have algae, moss, etc. growing on it?"
  • "Most people fall into these categories... You are scared of heights. OR You don't have the time.  OR  You are just too smart to bother with the whole thing - ya wanna leave it to the pros."

Even if we were to determine that we have a tire kicker on our hands, we owe it to ourselves to give an estimate.  Take solace in the fact that those prospect are likely going to talk to at least one other person about his/her experience with you.  I think that the important part of KNOWING is that we can better handle the sale.  We can anticipate the objection and deal with it better. These pointed type of questions should help us find the customer's "hot button". 

I'm NOT a salesman by any stretch so, if someone can set (us) up with some good "canned" responses to typical objections, that would be great.

Here are a few that I was thinking of:

Objection: Price too high
Response: "Get a job stupid"!

Objection: I'm going to get a few other prices
Response: "No you won't"!

Objection: I'm probably just going to do it myself
Response: "You better let me clean your roof or I'll break your face."!

I've found that yelling and threatening my prospects (especially the elderly ones) works pretty well (50% closing).  The other half must be weird or something because they tend to pull guns and knives on me...  Is it me? 

Did I mention that "sales" is not my strong suit?



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PaneLess Window Washing
Roof Cleaning

panelesswashtint@yahoo.com
Mongomery Bucks County PA
Harleysville,Pennsburg
Pennsylvania
(215)234-4333



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I agree with Jeff. I rarely prequalify people. I understand the logic behind it, but I'm pretty sure I would have done a few less roofs if I had not made the trip.

I have had quite a few people tell me that they didn't get any more estimates after they talked to me because they felt comfortable with me and my knowledge of roof cleaning. Building trust with a customer is the biggest step in selling your work. It is much easier to build trust with someone when you meet them face to face.

Everyone has their own methods that work for them. I am a firm believer in selling myself in person.

Don't forget that some of the people that get prices from you may just be waiting until next season to get the work done. I did a few jobs this year that I priced last year. The people decided they wanted to use me, but they wanted to budget the cost in. If you make a good impression, it goes a long way!

Brian

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Brian Friel
The Roof Cleaners llc
Oxford PA 19363
610 842 2104

 

 

 



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Like my grandfather always said, "if you can't make a profit then go fishing, at least you can eat what you catch". I didn't say a word about judging people or not selling face to face. This post was about qualifying people. If someone thinks they are going to get something done for $100, have a nice day but I ain't wasting my time. If I know they called from the phone book I can track my advertising results and bank on the fact that they are probably getting at least one other estimate.

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Ada Mobile Wash

2694 Ashville Dr. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49525


616-285-8115

kennethpaul@vzw.blackberry.net


Roof Washing Exterior House Cleaning Grand Rapids, MI



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confuseconfuse

Well this is what you posted in the BID TOO HIGH? post....

The last large house I bid was almost identical to your in size and price. I didn't get that job either. I have bid quite a few homes that size this year and it is the same story with every one of those people. They think it is too much money. It is not that you are too high, they just don't want to spend that kind of money. no


Qualify the prospect!

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Ada Mobile Wash

2694 Ashville Dr. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49525


616-285-8115

kennethpaul@vzw.blackberry.net


Roof Washing Exterior House Cleaning Grand Rapids, MI



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KP, the dog turd comment sounds very judgmental to me.

As soon as you find out the referral source, you hypothetically hang up.
How is that not judging people, and it certainly doesn't get you face to face.

And I'm not sure why you posted the above quote,...unless I missed something, it just shows he bid the job and didn't get them,...so what? At least he went out and met with the customer.

"Qualify the prospect" is nothing more than a fancy way of saying you're judging th customer before you go meet with them and look at the job.

Not sure why you think it makes a difference in where they found your name. I personally could care less if it's a referral or they stumbled onto it and only called because they're curious as to how much it would cost for their roof. Just another chance to sell to a new customer.


Jeff

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Raystown Roof Cleaning
Central, Pa

(814) 644-1396 or 1-800-236-0322

Roof Cleaning Central Pennsylvania

Huntingdon, State College, Lewistown, Altoona









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Jeff, read it again, I was referring to my ex wife and said so. If you can't relate then good for you, but get a sense of humor. They sell it at Walmart, right next to the IP alcohol

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Ada Mobile Wash

2694 Ashville Dr. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49525


616-285-8115

kennethpaul@vzw.blackberry.net


Roof Washing Exterior House Cleaning Grand Rapids, MI



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And categorizing those who use the phone book?
It's written as if your x-wife gave you a referral the customer must be a dog turd. Simply because your categorizing them by where they got your name. 

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Saturday 3rd of October 2009 06:46:36 AM

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Raystown Roof Cleaning
Central, Pa

(814) 644-1396 or 1-800-236-0322

Roof Cleaning Central Pennsylvania

Huntingdon, State College, Lewistown, Altoona









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By the way, I'm done with this topic,...this stuff just ends up back and forth.

Jeff 

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Raystown Roof Cleaning
Central, Pa

(814) 644-1396 or 1-800-236-0322

Roof Cleaning Central Pennsylvania

Huntingdon, State College, Lewistown, Altoona









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Here is my 2 cents on this subject.

Initially I don't care where the prospect got my name and number. The person called me with an interest in my services. Most people don't have the foggest idea as to the real reasons they need their roof cleaned. They also don't understand how important it is to have a qualified professional do the job. The telephone call gives me an opportunity to get a face to face meeting where I can educate the customer and close the sale.

I consider the face to face to important to reject someone based on how they found my company. I also don't consider the time wasted if I don't make the sale.

Charles




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Charles Emanuel
904-657-9134



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I agree.

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Ada Mobile Wash

2694 Ashville Dr. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49525


616-285-8115

kennethpaul@vzw.blackberry.net


Roof Washing Exterior House Cleaning Grand Rapids, MI



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I think that KP was taken a little to literally on his first post.  I think that he was more or less just pointing out that "not all prospects are created equal".  I'd be willing to bet that KP makes every effort to turn even the "dog turds" into customers.

I can tell you that despite my best intentions, there are some prospects that don't get that follow-up phone call or whatever.  Where a prospect originates from isn't really the deciding factor in determining the amount of effort I put toward a prospect but it does play a part.

What about the "canned" responses to objections.... ?  Anybody got some good ones?  It's not like we can say "Your house is going to fall down if your roof is dirty".  The best we can do (I think) is to inform the prospect that the algae can shorten the life of their roof.  I don't think that most prospects will find that information a clincher.  They already know that a dirty roof looks ugly and will increase curb appeal.  



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PaneLess Window Washing
Roof Cleaning

panelesswashtint@yahoo.com
Mongomery Bucks County PA
Harleysville,Pennsburg
Pennsylvania
(215)234-4333



Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute of America Certified Roof Cleaning Specialist

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Here's a good response that never works: I can get a good look at a T-bone by sticking my head up a bull's ***, but I'll take the butchers word for it.

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Ed Thompson
Woodbridge N.J.

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I guess knowing what does NOT work is nearly as good as knowing what DOES work.

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PaneLess Window Washing
Roof Cleaning

panelesswashtint@yahoo.com
Mongomery Bucks County PA
Harleysville,Pennsburg
Pennsylvania
(215)234-4333



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Yes, I was goofing, but that's a good point. There are many add on services in this field we can offer. I used to try and sell other services upfront. I wound up overselling the job. I try to start the job with the service the customer requested. As I go I can make suggestions along the way. The customer is more likely to allow extras instead of being overwhelmed with everything upfront.


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Ed Thompson
Woodbridge N.J.

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Digital Brochure

 

 

 



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Minus the bantering, this is good info...

Thanks

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Jeromy Ashcraft

Satcahr - Handyman Services

www.satcahr.com

Done once, Done right!



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I think that its best to treat all the customers the same and not worry about wasting time and gas. That is just part of business man. Some you get and some you dont.

And for how they found me.....I only wanna know so i can know which marketing is working the best.

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Blake Meaux
Restoration Roof Clean, LLC.
Phone: 281-853-5753


Houston Texas Roof Cleaning

 

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