But, after a while, things slow down and you hit a wall. You find yourself chasing after prospects and wondering why it is taking so long to convert prospects into clients.

You’re stumped!

You start exploring different techniques and try to find a solution. But, no matter what you try, the results are the same and the sales cycle is a much longer process than what you would like.

So where do you turn when you are stuck in sales quicksand and can’t get your prospects to move forward?

Here’s How You Can Shorten The Sales Cycle and Win More Clients, Increase Sales and Profits with 2 Simple Strategies:

1. Determine, Uncover & Clarify Challenges
If a prospect is not clear about their challenges and the impact of these challenges, this will greatly slow down the entire sales cycle. This is because the client does not yet believe their challenge is significant enough to take action, and guess what, because of this, they won’t take action! It is a waste of time for you to give information before understanding their needs, goals, challenges and problems. You are presenting a “solution” to someone who doesn’t believe they have a “problem.”

So, what do you do about this? Ask a lot of questions! Ask open ended questions. Get curious and don’t assume you understand their problem or challenge no matter how long you have been in the industry. Dig in and really find out what is going on, and ask follow up questions that focus in on the greater impact of their challenges. Uncover the impact of the current challenges on both the organization and the individuals or groups you are selling to. Your questions will help them understand and verbalize that they have a challenge or problem. Now you have the information you need to explain how you can help solve their challenge.

If you find yourself talking more than 20% of the time during your sales meetings with prospects, stop yourself, and ask a question!

2. Always Set A Clear Next Step
Have you ever heard this before? “Thanks for your time today, your product looks great and we will get back to you soon.” Yet, you never hear back, and end up having to chase, follow up, and make multiple calls, send multiple emails to no avail. That is not fun for you, nor is it fun for the prospective client.

How do you solve this?

Well, if you are a great salesperson or great sales minded business owner, you don’t need to chase. You don’t need to pressure. You don’t need to persuade. Really. You need to set up a clear next step, and if your prospect is not ready to take the next step, they will tell you, and you will determine if they are a serious prospect or not, on the spot.

Remember, give your prospects an option to say, “No.” When you do this, all the pressure is taken off of you, and more importantly off of your prospect. That way, they do not feel like they are being “sold,” nor do they feel any pressure from you. Many of the sales coaching programs and sales coaches still are teaching the same old techniques developed decades ago that involve pressure and persuading. You do not need to do that anymore and it does not work.

Simply set up the next step at the end of your meetings. The next step could be a follow-up face to face meeting or a scheduled phone call for example. However, make sure the next step is moving the sales cycle forward and has a scheduled date, time, and location.

Map out your sales cycle and know what steps need to take place. Here is an example of a 5 step sales cycle: 1. Initial appointment, qualification, discovery, 2. Agreement to conduct an in-depth analysis, 3. Demonstration of service or product, 4. Contract review meeting, 5. Signed agreement.

At the end of each meeting, you should be setting up the next meeting and next actions. Explain the next steps you both will need to take to start working together. Map it out for them and provide them with a simple document that explains the next steps with clear time lines. Ask them to commit to the next steps along the way. Guess what happens if you do this effectively? You don’t need to “close” or persuade, the sale will be made, faster, naturally, and more effectively.

I truly enjoy the art of sales and sharing sales tips to sales professionals, sales leaders, sales experts, and entrepreneurs just like you. I am lucky to be able to live and breath my sales approaches everyday for my own business, as well as witnessing my clients putting these techniques into action and reaping the rewards!

These 2 steps will help you shorten your sales cycle and experience dramatically improved sales results. Don’t wait to make these changes, take action now, and make a commitment to yourself.

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Working as a direct sales consultant, direct sales rep, or whatever else direct sales companies call their salespeople, is not for everyone. Direct sales does take commitment, dedication, and time. Then why would someone want to take a position in direct sales? What is the direct sales opportunity?

The opportunity that direct sales position brings to the table is the flexibility of time, schedules, income, and management. As a direct sales consultant, you have the flexibility to set your own hours, work on your own schedule, and not have an official boss to answer to. On the other hand, this flexibility can be what hurts your success as a direct sales representative. If you have a hard time with commitment, working when someone isn’t watching you, or just motivation in general, then this flexibility could be detrimental to your direct sales career.

In order to have success in direct sales, and create a business that provides you with a full time income and beyond, you must have some drive and motivation that will keep you working even when you don’t have anyone to answer to. Actually, you do have someone to answer to: yourself. If you can stay on track, and work when needed and be an outgoing and personable direct sales rep, you will have success in direct sales.

Let’s look at the benefits of flexibility when it comes to direct sales. You set your own schedule and hours. If you need time for an appointment, a day off for a short vacation, time to yourself… you can take this time and not have to request it off or schedule it around what your boss will allow. Also, if you want to work more hours and make more income each month, you can do this as well. With direct sales, you will make more money with the more work you put in. At a normal 9 to 5 job, you are going to make the same amount of money each month if you work hard or work just enough. With direct sales, your income will increase if your commitment and dedication increase.

Another benefit of direct sales is that you can do it part time and still make a decent amount of extra money each month. You can work a few hours each week with your direct sales business and receive a decent commission check each month as well as free products, depending on your direct sales company’s compensation plan. You can work your direct sales for a few hours each week and build enough business and income to allow yourself the option of deciding to quit your regular job and move into a full time business that gives you the greatest flexibility.

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