I found a very interesting article about the tips for the shy sales person,and I
have read many many this kinds of articles,but this is the 1st one for the shy
person sales,so I copy the folowing for our shy sales person:
Every
freelancer has a weakness. For some freelancers it’s dealing with numbers. For
others, it’s putting their thoughts in writing. For me, it’s
selling.
However, just because you have a weakness in a particular area
doesn’t mean that weakness can’t be overcome and it doesn’t mean that you
shouldn’t be a freelancer.
As someone whose natural tendency is to be a
bit shy, selling can make me a bit anxious. However, I’ve learned to (mostly)
overcome my shy tendencies by following the principles below. It may be that
they can help you as well.
Here are some tips to follow when talking with
prospective clients:
Avoid being unnecessarily apologetic. Many of us
who are naturally shy tend to be too apologetic. Yet, unless you’ve actually
done something where an apology is warranted, there’s really no need to be
apologetic. If this is your tendency, try to watch for it and eliminate it from
your speech patterns.
Do prepare for sales calls. Natural sales people
may be able to sell without much preparation, but if you’re shy you’ll need to
make sure that you’re well prepared for each and every sales call. I usually
keep some detailed notes beside me while I talk on the phone so that I can
glance at them if I get tongue-tied during a call.
Be prompt when you
reply to prospects. Promptness counts for a lot. When you reply promptly to a
prospect, it usually comes across as being enthusiastic. This doesn’t mean you
have to accept rush work. A reply could be to simply let them know that you’ll
set up a time to get with them as soon as you become available.
Let them
do most of the talking. It will take a lot of the pressure off you and besides,
being a good listener is more important in sales than being a good talker. Just
make sure that you pay attention to what they are saying and take careful notes.
If necessary, repeat a point that you don’t understand back to them.
Be
yourself. Whatever you do, don’t try to project an image that doesn’t fit you.
Instead, talk to the prospect as naturally as possible. I know that sometimes
shy people try to emulate someone else who they believe to be more successful,
but usually this strategy just comes off as being contrived and fake. Don’t do
it!
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You may be afraid that asking
questions will make you seem less knowledgeable. Actually, the opposite is true.
Asking appropriate questions when you need to shows that you are concerned with
the project and with getting it right. And who doesn’t want a detail-oriented
conscientious freelancer working on their project?
Smile while you are
talking. This is a great trick that I read from a blog post somewhere. Having a
smile on your face can help get rid of any anxious tones that you may
unconsciously be using. Smiling also helps you sound more relaxed and pleasant
to the prospect on the other end of the phone line.
Avoid negative
self-talk. Before the sales call begins, avoid thinking about the worst things
that might happen during the call. Likewise, when the sales call is over, avoid
beating yourself up over what you think went wrong with the call. Chances are
your clients didn’t even notice your perceived shortcomings.
have read many many this kinds of articles,but this is the 1st one for the shy
person sales,so I copy the folowing for our shy sales person:
Every
freelancer has a weakness. For some freelancers it’s dealing with numbers. For
others, it’s putting their thoughts in writing. For me, it’s
selling.
However, just because you have a weakness in a particular area
doesn’t mean that weakness can’t be overcome and it doesn’t mean that you
shouldn’t be a freelancer.
As someone whose natural tendency is to be a
bit shy, selling can make me a bit anxious. However, I’ve learned to (mostly)
overcome my shy tendencies by following the principles below. It may be that
they can help you as well.
Here are some tips to follow when talking with
prospective clients:
Avoid being unnecessarily apologetic. Many of us
who are naturally shy tend to be too apologetic. Yet, unless you’ve actually
done something where an apology is warranted, there’s really no need to be
apologetic. If this is your tendency, try to watch for it and eliminate it from
your speech patterns.
Do prepare for sales calls. Natural sales people
may be able to sell without much preparation, but if you’re shy you’ll need to
make sure that you’re well prepared for each and every sales call. I usually
keep some detailed notes beside me while I talk on the phone so that I can
glance at them if I get tongue-tied during a call.
Be prompt when you
reply to prospects. Promptness counts for a lot. When you reply promptly to a
prospect, it usually comes across as being enthusiastic. This doesn’t mean you
have to accept rush work. A reply could be to simply let them know that you’ll
set up a time to get with them as soon as you become available.
Let them
do most of the talking. It will take a lot of the pressure off you and besides,
being a good listener is more important in sales than being a good talker. Just
make sure that you pay attention to what they are saying and take careful notes.
If necessary, repeat a point that you don’t understand back to them.
Be
yourself. Whatever you do, don’t try to project an image that doesn’t fit you.
Instead, talk to the prospect as naturally as possible. I know that sometimes
shy people try to emulate someone else who they believe to be more successful,
but usually this strategy just comes off as being contrived and fake. Don’t do
it!
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You may be afraid that asking
questions will make you seem less knowledgeable. Actually, the opposite is true.
Asking appropriate questions when you need to shows that you are concerned with
the project and with getting it right. And who doesn’t want a detail-oriented
conscientious freelancer working on their project?
Smile while you are
talking. This is a great trick that I read from a blog post somewhere. Having a
smile on your face can help get rid of any anxious tones that you may
unconsciously be using. Smiling also helps you sound more relaxed and pleasant
to the prospect on the other end of the phone line.
Avoid negative
self-talk. Before the sales call begins, avoid thinking about the worst things
that might happen during the call. Likewise, when the sales call is over, avoid
beating yourself up over what you think went wrong with the call. Chances are
your clients didn’t even notice your perceived shortcomings.
