You have prepared and delivered your best pitch, but the response was a “no”. What do you do now? If you have never been rejected, there might still be some point where you will have to face this response. What happens when the deal does not close even after you have given your best to it? Will you write off that client forever? The below 5 useful ways to deal with rejected pitch throws some light on how you can handle it positively. In other words, when you push to understand and ask the right questions, you will move from your comfort zone and learn something new and useful.
1. Get Feedback
Do not shy away from asking for feedback. You will learn more from negative feedback. Do not take any rejection personally. More importantly, do not assume the reason for rejection. When you ask for feedback, you must be prepared for any surprise. What you hear might help you improve your approach for the next prospective client. Do not debate with them on it, be patient and try to see their point of view. Respect their feedback and do not forget to thank them for it.
2. Follow up after the first interaction
A tiny percentage of deals close in the first attempt. Most of the times, the reason for rejection could be something that you were not aware of or least anticipated. By following up with the client, you will understand and prepare your pitch from the recipient’s perspective for another time. For instance, some presentations deal with broad ideas while some prefer a more detailed approach. Most importantly, building trust is crucial before you close any deal. Therefore, ensure you follow up after the first interaction with the client to build trust.
3. Connect professionally
There are many social platforms where you can stay connected with your prospective client professionally. For instance, connecting on LinkedIn, requesting permission to add them to your mailing list or even sharing a useful article over email that they might find useful. Learn to connect without pressuring them into buying. Let them engage and learn about how your companies services and products can be useful for them. This will ease them into the decision to purchase.
4. Request for referrals
Be bold and request them for referrals to connect you to someone in the industry who they feel are more likely to purchase from you. Additionally, you can also provide them with incentives for connecting you to another prospective customer. This will make it more attractive and they will remember you better. Ensure, you provide the necessary marketing materials for referrals. Provide your contact information on the material and to the referrals to keep make you easily accessible when needed.
5. Pass the hot potato
Sales is competitive, but when you work with the company’s profitability in mind, your manager is sure to appreciate it. Pass the hot potato lead to another sales colleague, who you feel might be a better personality fit for dealing with the client. In addition it will help you maintain healthy competition between the team, thus ensuring the company’s targets are not compromised.
Dealing with rejection can be hard. But these 5 useful ways to deal with rejected pitch can help keep your spirits high and continue to move ahead. Talk to your mentors or some one who you look up to and ask them how they deal with rejection and yet succeed overall. Sharing insights can show you new and creative ways to approach any challenge.
Source: Entrepreneur
Similar Read: Five important actions for franchise sales leaders
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