Nov 3, 2016 10:30:00 PM by: Jill Duran

Dating and SalesHave you ever been stood up before or even worse has anyone gone “ghost” on you? Basically, you’ve been talking, texting, or Facebook messaging, you feel like you’ve hit it off and then nothing. Silence. Gone. Ghost!

Well, what about a prospect call?

It may sound silly, but sales and dating have more in common than you think.

The Stages of a Sales, or Dating, Relationship

You wouldn’t meet someone new in the morning and marry them that evening, would you? No, of course not, that’s because committed relationships grow and develop over timenot overnight!

There are four main stages to any long term sales, or dating, relationship starting with attraction and ending with loyalty and commitment.

Stage #1 Attraction

First, you see or hear something that you find yourself wanting to get to know a little more about.

Stage #2 Interest

Next, you let them know they’ve peaked your fancy and you’d be open to learning a little bit more about them or with sales, their product(s)/ service(s).

Stage #3 Pursuit

During stage three, you are pursuing. In the wild world of dating it can be called “peacocking.” Essentially you’re showing off what you can offer them.

Stage #4 Commitment

Finally, after all that work and relationship build-up, you’re either in a committed relationship with your prospect, or significant other, or, a decision has been made that things just are not going to work out.

5 Back to Basics Tips for Sales & Dating

It all stems from relationship building, be it personal or professional. Being patient and investing into a relationship has a more intrinsic value that reaps more reward. In case you have been out of the dating game for awhile here are some tips and best practices to keep in mind during the sales process when heading down that path towards commitment:

  1. Aggression, or being too pushy will drive them away and show lack of empathy
  2. Mind your manners; it should go without saying, but treat others the way you would want to be treated
  3. Never dive into a sale with a hasty heart without courting them first
  4. Put your best foot forward, and be true to yourselfdon’t pretend to be something you’re not
  5. Take it slow and make it personal

How To Avoid The Dreaded Feeling Of Rejection

It’s simple, having meaningful and relevant conversations with your prospect fosters and propels a trusting and loving relationship between both parties.

“Leads who are nurtured with targeted content produce a 20% increase in sales opportunities”

- HubSpot

How do you have meaningful conversations? Research, ask, listen, and make things personal. By personal we mean tailor your conversation based on their needs. Everyone can tell when you are doing a canned, rehearsed pitch. Tap in to those interpersonal communication skills and show you care. How could anyone reject your true genuine caring self?

Give Your Prospect the Diamond Ring They Deserve!

First comes love, then comes you winning a sale! Once you navigate those tricky stages of dating and you both are ready to commit (not just you wishing they would commit) go for gold. Fortunately, in sales, this marriage ends with money in your pocket, not on someone’s finger.

It doesn’t take much to rush through the sales process and scare away your prospect, much like in dating where the person will flee if you come on too strong. So mind your manners and follow the stages of developing that relationship with your prospect. Trusting the process will surely result in happily ever after!

Need some extra help having the right conversations with your prospect that results in the best relationship and recommendation? Try incorporating HOW TO BUY questions as you discover what solution will be best for them. Download these eight positioning questions that help give you the insight and gain credibility to get you to that commitment quicker!

Download How to Buy Questions to Introduce Technology as a Service

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