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Learn how to adapt your sales approach by understanding social styles to effectively cater to customers' needs and preferences. This insightful guide covers buyer psychology and practical selling strategies to enhance customer satisfaction and boost sales performance. Explore situational needs, buyer categories, and the buying decision process to excel in sales.
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Understanding Buyers Starts with understanding yourself,…..and being confident in what you are selling. Knowledge Bases (from Chapter 2): • Industry • Company • Product • Price and Promotion • Service • Market/Customer • Competitor • Technology
Adaptive Selling • Adaptive selling (Chapter 1) entails: • Gathering information about each customer • Observing customers’ reactions during the sales call • Being able to make rapid adjustments during the sales process/call/presentation • Tailoring the sales presentation to each customer’s social style
Assertiveness Competitive Rapid movers Quick decision makers Initiative takers Time sensitive Responsiveness Friendly Talkative Approachable Less time sensitive Slower decision makers More sensitive to others’ feelings Understanding Social Styles
Understanding Social Styles • Understand and know yourself and your prospect’s dominant personality type.
Low • Analytical • “What I need are practical suggestions” • Industrious • Persistent • Serious • Vigilant • Orderly • Driver • “Show me bottom line results” • Determined • Demanding • Thorough • Decisive • Efficient RESPONSIVENESS • Amiable • “Show concern for me and my problems” • Supportive • Respectful • Willing • Dependable • Personable • Expressive • “I like competent, imaginative salespeople” • Personable • Stimulating • Enthusiastic • Dramatic • Inspiring High ASSERTIVENESS Low High Social Styles Matrix
Selling From TheCustomer’s Perspective • Three conditions constitute a quality buying experience: • Customers believe that salespeople’s assessments of their needs and expectations are good (from quality communication) • Customers experience fulfillment of these needs on a long-term basis due to the salesperson and the sales support team • When customer needs change suddenly, salespeople respond by making every effort to meet new needs
Selling to Prospects’Needs and Wants – a starting point • The goal is to reach a common understanding between buyer and seller • This can only happen through the process of disclosure – the giving and taking of information • Do we share any background experiences? • Are our language skills, attitudes, and beliefs similar or dissimilar? • What assumptions have we made about each other based on stereotypes?
Uncovering Needs and Wants • Salespeople must: • Determine what will motivate the prospect to act (not necessarily a purchase) • Understand the goal orientation of the prospect • Assess and adapt to the style of the prospect
Situational Needs Types of Buyer Needs I need a copier now because I have a major project I need to complete. I need a copier that sorts and staples. I need a state-of-the-art copier so I will be recognized as of the technology-savvy people in this company. I need an extended warranty with a copier. I need comprehensive training on how to use a copier. Functional Needs Social Needs Psychological Needs Knowledge Needs
Functional Attributes Psychological Attributes Complex Mix of Business Buyer Needs 37% Level of Influence On Buyers’ Satisfaction “Must-Haves” Buyers’ Level of Satisfaction 63% Level of Influence On Buyers’ Satisfaction “Delighters”
Consumer Markets People (Personal Use) Manufacturers Business Markets Institutions/Governments Wholesalers, Retailers Non-Profit Organizations Categories of Buyers
Distinguishing Characteristics of Business Markets • Concentrated Demand • Derived Demand • Higher Levels of Demand Fluctuation • Acceleration Principle • Purchasing Professionals • Multiple Buying Influences – Buying teams/centers • Close Buyer-Seller Relationships –Ethical Dilemma, page 81
Buying Decision Process Recognition ofthe Need Search and Qualificationof Potential Sources Selection of anOrder Routine Determination of Desired Characteristics Acquisition & Analysisof Proposals Performance Feedback and Evaluation Description ofDesired Characteristics Evaluation of ProposalsSelection of Suppliers
Low Medium High Minimal Moderate Maximum Newness of Problem or Need Minimal Limited Extensive Information Requirements None Limited Extensive Information Search Very Small Moderate Large Consideration of New Alternatives Low Moderate High Multiple Buying Influence Financial Risks Characteristics of theThree Types of Buying Decisions Straight Rebuy Modified Rebuy New Task
Buying Center Members • Initiators • Users • Gatekeepers • Influencers • Deciders • Purchasers The roles in the buying center work together to affect the outcome of the purchase decision.
Multi-Attribute Model • A procedure/toolfor evaluatingsuppliers and productsthatincorporatesweightedaveragesacrossdesiredcharacteristicsthat are important in the buyingdecision.
Multi-Attribute Model The base score Assessment of Product/Service or Supplier Performance (P) P x I = Attribute Score The weight • Assessing the Relative Importance of Each Characteristic (I)