Solutions + Stories = Great Sales Pitch

That solution coupled with a story is one of the only ways for a prospect to get a true feel for what they’re buying.

Think of it this way. Say you go into a jewelry store to buy diamond earrings. You describe the earrings you want while the jeweler listens carefully. He then says, “I think we have just what you want!” He disappears into the back of the store, only to return with one of those boxes that are just large enough for earrings.

He says, “I’ve got your earrings in here.” Of course, you want to see them. But imagine what would happen if he said, “I’ll only show them to you if you buy them from me.” You would be incredulous.

Yet that happens in presentations every day. Business people deliver presentations without presenting solutions or telling success stories. In a sense, they’re expecting people to make big decisions on solutions for their business without any sense of what the solution is or whether the team can execute. In a sense, those businesses are expecting their buyer to plunk down money for unseen diamonds.

But if you describe a proposed solution coupled with a story about how the same solution has worked elsewhere, you are helping the prospect see what they’re buying. You want the prospect to say, “Oh, so that’s how you plan to reduce my accounting costs. That’s how you did it with a company just like mine!” In a sense, the plan, packaged with a story, is your way of showing the diamond earrings in the box.

Joey Asher is President of SpeechWorks [www.speechworks.net], a selling and communication skills coaching company in Atlanta. He has worked with hundreds of lawyers and with dozens of firms helping them grow their business and connect with clients. He is the author of “Selling and Communication Skills for Lawyers“, “Even A Geek Can Speak” and “How To Win a Pitch” He can be reached at 404-266-0888 or [email protected].