Ever had your heart sink when a prospective client says “I’m interested but…It’s not a good time at the moment call me back in six months time”

Or they say, “I’ll be ready when..”

• I’ve got more qualifications
• I’ve got more experience
• I’ve moved house
• I come back from holiday
• The kids are in school
• Mercury retrograde is over (yes that is a thing)
• I’m in the right frame of mind

The truth is these are all just excuses. If you have heard
these responses or ones like them, chances are your prospective client sees
your services/product as a ‘nice to have’ and not something that is essential,
that they can’t live without. They believe that you are not the person who will
transform their current situation. There is no urgency to buy from you.

You need to change that belief, you need to clearly
demonstrate your value, making sure that they understand your message and you
need to find out WHY they aren’t ready to buy. This involves keeping them
focused on how they will benefit from what you offer. Demonstrate the results
that they will achieve and what this means in terms of their ROI. Value is
subjective and it’s your job to get them to understand the impact you will have
on them achieving their goals, whether it’s from using case-studies or
highlighting your own expertise.

Some of your prospective clients will be information
gatherers. You know the type. The ones that watch 20 or so webinars and don’t
really know who you are because they’ve got you confused with Dave from
Lincoln, who does a very similar thing to you but not quite the same and they
aren’t buying from him either.

Another significant reason is that they lack belief in
themselves and what they are selling. Often when we engage in powerful
conversations with our prospective clients, significant shifts occur in their
beliefs and outlook on what is possible.

This brings up questions for them about:

• How they can achieve their goals
• What will the process be
• What will their significant other say when they tell them what they’ve done?
• What happens if they fail?
• What happens if they follow the process but don’t get any clients?
• What happens if they pay out all this money but get no return?

Ultimately they will be asking themselves if it’s worth the risk of working with you.

So how can you turn things around? By asking powerful questions. Questions will help clarify what their situation is and where they are in the buying cycle. These are some that I use:

• If money and resources weren’t a factor would you sign up with me today?
• What concerns are stopping you from committing to coming on board today?
• Is this fear of the unknown talking?
• Are you committed to making a change and investing in yourself and your future?
• How can I help you get the resources you need to make this happen?
• What is likely to have changed in six months (or however long they have said) time? In my experience nothing will have changed and all that will have happened is that you have wasted six months.
• What do you need from me? (simple but very powerful)

If you believe that that the prospective client is an
information gatherer and is not committed to change and working with you, then
MOVE ON. Don’t chase them, there is no need to spend time and resources on them
because they are unlikely to buy from you so don’t waste your time.

Instead, connect with those clients who want what you are
selling and are committed to making a change. Many of my clients ask me “how
will I know the difference”? I promise you that you will. There will be several
indicators throughout the call/meeting whether they are the right client for
you. If it’s like pulling teeth at the beginning of the relationship then they
are not your ideal client. So find them. Focus on them.

Some will have a valid reason as to why they can’t buy from you. But they will actively come up with a solution with you to make it happen. So when they are qualified and not ready to buy what is the best approach?

• Schedule a call and get it in the diary.
• Nurture them with relevant content. In the interim demonstrate your expertise by sending them relevant content that is helpful and engaging without being intrusive. I don’t mean create specific content for them, instead use blogs or videos that you already have. Draw attention to the topics you discussed during your call or meeting and highlight these.
• Encourage them to respond with any action that they have taken and the results they achieved. The proviso being that if they can get results with your free content, imagine what they can do if they work with you?

I once had a client who came back two years after our
initial conversation to work with me. I left the door open for her, I kept in
contact and we made it happen together. She is now on a six-figure income and
her business has completely transformed.

Sometimes a client will want to work with you but they
simply don’t have the money to do so at that time. Again, you will have a
really powerful connection with these clients and you will instinctively know
whether or not they are serious, or whether they are fobbing you off.

If they don’t have the money to work with you, don’t
encourage them to get into debt or put them under pressure to come on board.
That’s not a good way to start a business relationship. It not good for them or
their families and its unlikely that they will keep up the installment plans or
be able to buy any ancillary products/services connected with the course. They
will end up despondent and in a much worse position than when they started and
you will most likely be the same.

You can ask them how you can help them, but leave it at
that. The value that you present will be more than enough testament for the
results that you can bring them. Help them to find a solution of their own
accord and if they come on board, you know that you are the right fit for each
other.

Demonstrating value is what will bring you clients. Getting
them to their goals and allowing them space to achieve results is what will
turn them into raving fans.

If you find that you are not getting the clients you deserve
or not achieving the sales results you are looking for then drop me a message.