Last week I was asked if I'd been eaten by alligators, told I was harder to reach than Jennifer Lawrence and asked if Stayful wanted to be as big as Priceline. All sales pitches -- while cute and fun to read -- forgot to tell me the most important thing: How their product would specifically improve my business.
We all probably receive 1-3 email sales pitches each day. I read each one. I try to respond to as many as possible but -- probably like you -- my email box is spoiled with an overwhelming number of opportunities.
I've been selling most of my career and as most salespeople know the easiest person to sell is a fellow salesperson. So why do these pitches fail? Better yet, how will a pitch succeed 100 percent of the time?
Here you go:
1. Know your Prospect.
2. State your Value Proposition.
3. Apply your value proposition to your prospect's business.
4. Provide proof of success.
5. Give a free trial. (Ask for payment following success).
6. Ask for the business.
Here's what this looks like:
I noticed you do not have a refer-a friend program. RAF programs we've implemented with our easy, seamless solution result in X new leads and Y new customers. Our customers achieve X% conversion rate on referral leads. Based on what we know about your business from public data, we think our solution can help Stayful get at least the same results our other customers. ABC Company achieved the above results with our solution. We'd love to have you speak with them.
We can offer a trial of our solution free for 3 months. If we make your goals, we would appreciate if you paid us a success fee in the form of a share of the revenue we helped you produce. But only if we earn it.
We'd love to get started increasing your business by implementing a RAF program.
Let's talk or meet on Friday at 2pm for 25 minutes. We will not waste your time and we will show up with a plan.
I find it easy to say yes to this approach, unless of course, increasing business is not part of the plan.
So no, alligators have not eaten me. Yes, I am swamped. However there is always time for people and products that can help me come up for air and stay there.