C HAPTER 11

2. CHAPTER 11 CONTENTS OF THE SALES TRAINING PROGRAM: SALES KNOWLEDGE AND THE SELLING PROCESS

3. SALES KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT • Company knowledge. • The sales role. • Product knowledge. • Prices. • Advertising and sales promotion. • Channels of distribution. • Customers. • Competition, industry, and economy. • Territorial management skills.

4. SALES SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Involves two key elements: • Persuasive communications. • The selling process.

5. THE SELLING PROCESS Most sales trainers believe logical, sequential steps do exist that, if followed, can greatly improve the chance of making a sale.

6. FIGURE 11.2 THE SALES PROCESS

7. FIGURE 11.4 STEPS IN PLANNING THE SALES CALL

8. Developing a Customer Benefit Plan Step One: Select the features, advantages, and benefits of the product to present. Step Two: Develop the marketing plan. Step Three: Develop a business proposition. Step Four: Develop a suggested purchase order.

9. Feature – a physical characteristic Many salespeople emphasize features Examples: Size Color Price Shape The Product’s Features: So What?

10. Advantage – a performance characteristic The chances of making a sale are increased by describing the product’s advantages How a product can be used How a product will help the buyer Examples: Fastest-selling Stores more information Copies on both sides of the paper The Product’s Advantages: Prove It!

11. Benefit – a result of advantage People are interested in what the product will do for them Benefits can be both practical and psychological Benefits should be specific statements, not generalizations Emphasizing benefits increases sales The Product’s Benefits: What’s in it for Me?

12. The standardized FAB Sequence can be used as follows: The…(feature)…means you…(advantage)…with the real benefit to you being…(benefit)…. Note how a benefit is emphasized Pick a product and insert a FAB of the product into the above sequence Put it in your own words Try it – it works! Use the FAB Sequence

13. “With this ball, you’ll get an extra 10 to 20 yards on your drives () helping to reduce your score () because of its new solid core ().” Example #1 advantage feature benefit

14. “Blade changing is quick () and easy () with this saw because it has a push button blade release ()” Example # 2 advantage benefit feature

15. “The king size () will bring you additional profits () because it is the fastest growing () and a more economical size ()” Example # 3 feature benefit feature advantage

16. “For long wear () and savings on your clothing costs (), you can’t beat these slacks. All the seams are double stitched ()and the material is 100% Dacron ().” Example # 4 advantage benefit feature feature

17. “This equipment is made of stainless steel ( ), which means it won’t rust ( ). The real benefit is that it reduces your replacement costs, thus saving you money ( )! That’s what you’re interested in – right ( )?” Example # 5 feature advantage benefit trial close

18. Which of the following is a feature, advantage, or benefit? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. “Made of pure vinyl” “Gives 20% more miles to the gallon” “New” “Lasts twice as long” “Saves, time, work, and money” Let’s Review FABs F B F A B

19. FIGURE 11.5 THE SALESPERSON’S PRESENTATION MIX IS TYPICALLY DEVELOPED BY SALES MANAGERS AND TRAINERS Persuasive Participation Communication The Sales Presentation Mix Demonstration Salesperson Proof Dramatization Visual Aids

20. THE TRIAL CLOSE The trial close involves checking the prospect’s attitude toward the sales presentation. • Salespeople may at any time use a trial close like one of these: • How does that sound to you? • What color do you prefer? • If you bought this, where would you use it in your business? • Are these features what you are looking for?