Summary – Fact -> Problem -> Solution -> Benefit -> As you know ….

How to Sell to Internals

My coaching client Brenda, the owner of a web design and google ads management company, had done an analysis of the current web strategy for one of her prospects.
She had unearthed valuable information but had no way to present it. And her prospect, also a business owner could be difficult to deal with.
He didn’t like being told what to do, and was a bit Macho.
In LAB Profile® terms, he had an Internal Motivation Trigger™.

Many people get stuck thinking about “what should I say next?”
when they are preparing to present something. But if you don’t present vital information in a way that matches your prospect’s buying process, chances are there will be no sale.

I developed an easy to follow process, especially for dealing with highly Internal prospects,
making them feel comfortable and motivated, and therefore more likely to buy. As you know, people won’t buy (or buy into an idea) unless the way you present it strikes a chord with them.

Here’s the formula I gave her:

Fact -> Problem -> Solution -> Benefit -> As you know ….

Let’s decode this formula for highly Internal prospects (or even your clients!):

Fact: Start with the information you have researched. In Brenda’s case:
“I researched the traffic coming to your site and there is an average of 10 searches per month for your key terms.”
Avoid judging this information and make sure it is purely factual.

Problem: What problem(s) does this fact cause?
“This means that people who need your services are likely using other search terms and not finding your company, so you are missing some business that should be coming your way.”

Solution: What is the proposed solution?
“I suggest (nice suggestive language for Internals, rather that Command Language such as “you should”) having us identify the highest frequency, most likely search terms for companies looking for what you provide.”

Benefit: What is the positive result that your prospect can expect from the solution?
“This will get more people coming to your site who actually need your services and can in turn increase your business.”
As you know…. : Invite the person to internally verify something that relates to the problem. This is irresistible for when your clients are Internal — they want to decide for themselves. As you know triggers the start of the process which leads to the end result – buying in.

“As you know, most people only click on the very top results for their searches, so if your site doesn’t show up at the top for the search terms they are using, it is unlikely they will find your company.”

Take Aways! (How to use this information right away in your work)

You can prepare your next meetings the easy way — and reduce the time it takes to get readyand increase the likelihood of getting buy in.

FACT What information do you have to give your prospects and clients that they don’t already know?

PROBLEM What is the negative consequence of this information that they will want to move Away From?

SOLUTION What is the solution?

BENEFIT What is the positive consequence of this solution that they will want to go Toward?

AS YOU KNOW What do they believe to be true that proves the problem exists?

Want to be more persuasive?

Most people unconsciously use their own patterns when speaking with others. {FACT} As a result they may inadvertently fail to be engaging, and therefore lose opportunities. {Problem } When you learn how to match the Motivation Triggers™ driving others {Solution }, it takes less effort to get them on board and give them what they really need & want {benefits }. As you know people who are in Internal mode tend not respond well to being told what they need to do.

Shelle
p.s. How many times did I use the formula in this article?