Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

 

Sales Training from the Ghostbusters


Picture this scene from the 1984 smash comedy movie from Columbia Pictures, Ghostbusters: Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray, aka? the Ghostbusters, are involved in a heated meeting with the Mayor and the Head of the local environmental agency. The city is in shambles because a legion of evil spirits has invaded and is currently wreaking havoc and chaos throughout the land. The perplexed Mayor feels that these Ghostbusters may be his only chance at saving the city, although he is not altogether convinced. Conversely, the Agency Head wants these Ghostbusters arrested and jailed for fraud.

Bill Murray's character then presents the best sales presentation and close that has ever been written into a movie script! He proceeds to outline what has occurred in the city thus far and paints a vivid picture of what is yet to come, which happens to be far more horrible that anything that has happened thus far. The Agency Head then presents his argument, one that unfortunately does not provide a solution to their immediate problem, demanding that the Ghostbusters be arrested and thrown in jail. The Mayor, aware that his very soul and Mayoral term may be at stake, is faced with making a decision that will impact the current dismal situation. As both sides present their cases, he pensively thinks and studies the demanding, expressive faces of those in his chamber. What is he to do?

It is at this point that Murray's character delivers the most incredible closing statement, one that should be a pivotal component in the curriculum at every sales training facility and secondary school. He states, "Mr. Mayor, if you retain our services and permit us to do our job, you will personally be responsible for saving the lives of millions of registered voters!" Of course, the Mayor chooses the Ghostbusters, orders the Agency Head removed from his office, and proceeds to set the tone for the remainder of the movie.

Murray and Aykroyd's presentation and close incorporate so many classic techniques that often escape salespeople while presenting to their qualified prospects. I say qualified prospects because they were already in front of the decision maker, stating their case. They were not wasting their time presenting their solutions to the wrong person, incapable of making the decision that they were looking for. How many times do we make stellar presentations and wonder why the order has not arrived yet? Making an outstanding presentation of the features, advantages and benefits to the actual decision maker, then asking for a buying decision is paramount to a successful sale. This is why there are salespeople.

Their competitor, the Agency Head, was also in front of the decision maker, but he failed to keep in mind what was important to the Mayor. He was presenting what was important to him at the time. Does that sound familiar? How often are salespeople guilty of removing their focus from the buyer and his needs, only to focus on "what's in this sale for me?" Zig Ziglar states it so eloquently when he says "You can get anything in life that you want, if you'll help enough other people get what they want."

The Ghostbusters kept their focus. They knew that the Mayor needed help. They had a solid, in-depth understanding of the problems facing him. They were aware of the political fallout and ramifications of the situation and the danger that was facing the city. They had their facts and they had a solution. Do we as salespeople always gather our facts, our knowledge about the company we are calling on, their markets, their competition and the problems they are currently facing?

The Ghostbusters were also well aware of their competition. In fact, the Mayor had called them all into his office simultaneously so that he could hear their presentations and come to a decision. We may infrequently find ourselves in a similar, uncomfortable situation, but do you actually know who all of your major competitors are? Are you mindful of their strengths and weaknesses? Can you present your case, focusing upon your abilities to adequately meet the needs of your customer without bashing the competition? You need to know your competitors.

The Ghostbusters actually closed. How many salespeople will make a magnificent presentation only to leave without asking for the order? Murray asked for the order and he utilized the key, all-important, personalized benefit to close. He knew what the Mayor actually wanted and offered it to him. The final close we utilize after our great presentation must present a win-win proposition for everyone involved. If done properly, your buyer cannot say no. He will be convinced, beyond any doubt, that your solution has more value than the price you are asking, and it will more than meet his needs. The sale is made!

Remember the outstanding Ghostbusters presentation and closing technique when you are planning your next call. Execute your plan and win the sale. Remember, your role as a professional salesperson is to provide enough value to offset the price that your product sells for and then to ask for the order. The customer will soon forget the price that he paid for your product or service, but he will long remember how well it meets his needs and solves his problems. He will remember you as well. Be a Ghostbuster, or sell like one anyway!

Daniel Sitter is the author of the breakthrough e-book Learning For Profit, the revolutionary "how-to" book providing simple, step-by-step instructions to teach people exactly how to learn new skills faster than ever before. It is what the author calls a "skinny book", a new generation of e-book designed for busy people. Containing no "filler or fluff", it gets right to the point with no wasted time. It can be read easily and quickly on a computer, a PDA or printed for later reference. Visit http://www.learningforprofit.com/ or contact the author directly. This e-book is currently available from c|net's download.com, the authors' web site and a variety of online book merchants. Mr. Sitter is a contributing writer for several online and traditional publications.


MORE RESOURCES:

Sales - Google News

What Nintendo's 2011 sales mean for Wii U, third parties - Gamasutra


Gamasutra

What Nintendo's 2011 sales mean for Wii U, third parties
Gamasutra
Regrettably, we have no good idea for the scale of retail sales compared to the online distribution. As the Nintendo DS begins its final descent into obsolescence, the company's new handheld – the 3DS – is just getting started. Its top-selling software ...
Report: Xbox 360 Best Selling Console of 2011TechnoBuffalo

all 15 news articles »

Orchids Paper Products Company Reports Record Quarterly Converted Product ... - Sacramento Bee


Orchids Paper Products Company Reports Record Quarterly Converted Product ...
Sacramento Bee
The increase in converted product sales resulted from a 46% increase in converted product tonnage shipped and a 2% decrease in net selling price per ton. The increase in shipments was due to a combination of new product sales which were primarily in ...

and more »

Apotex pays Bristol, Sanofi damages over Plavix - Wall Street Journal


Apotex pays Bristol, Sanofi damages over Plavix
Wall Street Journal
Apotex Corp., Canada's biggest drugmaker, has paid Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Sanofi SA, the two brand-name drugmakers that jointly sell Plavix, $442.2 million in damages ordered over its improper sales of a generic version of Plavix in 2006.

and more »

Beer sales could be boon for Arizona's universities - AZ Central.com


Beer sales could be boon for Arizona's universities
AZ Central.com
Several Arizona representatives have proposed a bill that would open the door to selling beer and wine to the general public at state university sporting events. My gut reaction was "never" as I envisioned stadium students sections turning into a ...

and more »

Fed Sells $6.2 Billion of Bonds From AIG Rescue to Goldman - San Francisco Chronicle


Bloomberg

Fed Sells $6.2 Billion of Bonds From AIG Rescue to Goldman
San Francisco Chronicle
The New York Fed in June ended its earlier plan to sell Maiden Lane II assets through regular auctions, following sales of about $10 billion. The face value of the assets had dwindled to about $21 billion when the auctions were halted.
Goldman in $6.2bn toxic asset dealFinancial Times

all 40 news articles »

iPhone on Sprint: Great for sales, terrible for profits - Christian Science Monitor


Christian Science Monitor

iPhone on Sprint: Great for sales, terrible for profits
Christian Science Monitor
The Apple iPhone was the top-selling smartphone of the last quarter, according to a new report from the International Data Corporation – the king of a smartphone market that has expanded by as much as 55 percent over the past year.
Sprint's iPhone sales can't stem lossesSan Francisco Chronicle
Sprint's First iPhone Sales Add to Wider LossWall Street Journal
You can lose money selling iPhone, just ask SprintBetaNews
Slate Magazine (blog) -Fox News -Seeking Alpha
all 548 news articles »

Wells Fargo's Carroll eyes cross-selling by brokers - Reuters


Wells Fargo's Carroll eyes cross-selling by brokers
Reuters
Wells Fargo is known to carefully track sales of credit cards, insurance and other products to its bank customers. And executives have embraced the idea of cross-selling. The firm does not have any mandatory cross-selling sales goals for its brokers, ...

and more »

Las Vegas Still Selling More Homes in January, Yet Prices Still Declining - World Property Channel


Las Vegas Still Selling More Homes in January, Yet Prices Still Declining
World Property Channel
The local housing market began 2012 in much the same way it ended 2011, local home sales increased compared to the same month last year while prices dipped. "We continue to sell existing homes at a record pace and at bargain prices," said greater Los ...

and more »

Newsstand Report: Sales Down Across the Board, Elle Plumets 18%, and ... - Fashionista


Globe and Mail

Newsstand Report: Sales Down Across the Board, <em>Elle</em> Plumets 18%, and ...
Fashionista
Glamour was at the industry average, selling an average of 469544 copies. Marie Claire wasn't far behind, falling 8.9 percent to 231054 and W's newsstand was down 7.4 percent to 20426. Harper's Bazaar's single-copy sales fell 7.3 percent to 147194.
Canadian magazine sales slip in 2nd half of 2011Globe and Mail
Newsstand magazine sales down 10% in USChina Post

all 106 news articles »

Average Salespeople “Fly By The Seat Of Their Pants” - Utah Pulse


Average Salespeople “Fly By The Seat Of Their Pants”
Utah Pulse
If you feel that selling isn't hard work you probably aren't as successful as you could be. 2. Salespeople don't think through the sale as they should. If you don't know the who, what, where, when, why and how of the sales opportunity, you are missing ...
The Forum Corporation: New Survey Finds That Traditional Relationship Selling ...MarketWatch (press release)

all 5 news articles »

Click here for Best Buy In-Store Pickup

StreetSideAuto.com

Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?

My Life Through The Lens

List4Sale Domain Is For Sale - $10,000 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.List4Sale.biz 2011

home | site map | links

eXTReMe Tracker