An inbound sales rep for a digital phone company receives a call from a prospect. She’s satisfied with her current provider and nervous about switching. What should the rep do first?
- Ask her what she likes about her current provider and if there’s anything she would change
- Offer to compare her current bill to an estimated bill for his company’s service to show potential savings
- Direct her to their website with client testimonials about his company’s service
- Reassure her that his company’s service is superior, and she’ll be much happier after switching
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is 1. Ask her what she likes about her current provider and if there’s anything she would change.
Explanation:
In sales, particularly inbound sales, it is essential to establish rapport with the prospect, understand their needs, and align your offering with those needs. When a prospect expresses satisfaction with their current provider and hesitance about switching, the sales representative must first listen and ask questions to understand the prospect’s preferences and concerns.
Here’s why option 1 is the best approach:
- Building rapport: Asking about the prospect’s satisfaction with their current provider helps to establish trust. It shows that the rep is not just trying to sell but is genuinely interested in the prospect’s needs and wants. This makes the conversation feel more like a consultation than a hard sell.
- Identifying pain points: By asking what the prospect likes about their current service and if there’s anything they would change, the rep can identify potential pain points or dissatisfaction that may not be obvious at first. For example, the customer might mention that the service is expensive, has poor customer support, or lacks certain features—areas where the new provider might offer a better solution.
- Personalizing the conversation: Once the rep understands the prospect’s specific needs or challenges, they can tailor their pitch to show how their service addresses those exact concerns, rather than offering generic benefits that may not resonate with the prospect.
Why the other options are less effective:
- Option 2: While showing potential savings may be appealing, it comes too early in the conversation without fully understanding the prospect’s needs. Pushing for a comparison without listening first might feel too aggressive and may not address the customer’s specific concerns.
- Option 3: Directing the prospect to a website may not be the best first step. A website is a passive method of communication, and the rep needs to have an engaging conversation to understand what the prospect values.
- Option 4: Reassuring the prospect without first understanding her concerns could come off as dismissive of her hesitations. It’s crucial to understand her current situation and reservations before providing reassurances about switching.
By following option 1, the rep can open the door to a more meaningful conversation and help guide the prospect through the decision-making process with confidence.