Added on October 10, 2014
Ray Collis
Cross-selling , Sales Success , Save More , Selling , Spend More , Up-selling
![Want Your Customers To Spend More? Then don’t do this! Want Your Customers To Spend More? Then don’t do this!](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2014%2F10%2Fman_shadows.jpg&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
The actions of two major European retailers demonstrate two alternative strategies for up-selling, or getting customers to spend more.
Added on April 8, 2014
Ray Collis
Buying Team , Dysfunctional Buying Teams , politics , Relationship Selling , Sales Success , Sell Higher & Wider , Selling To Teams
![Selling To Teams: Lessons From Sport Selling To Teams: Lessons From Sport](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2014%2F03%2Fsporting-lessons-for-sellers.png&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
Some organizations don’t do team work very well. That is a problem in the context of collaborative buying decisions, cross functional buying committees and internal approvals procedures. Some organizations are a dream to sell to, while others are a nightmare. The individuals involved may be nice to deal with, organized and professional. However when it comes to […]
Added on December 17, 2013
Ray Collis
Buying Process , Buying Steps , Maverick Buyer , Procurement , Purchase Order , Sales Process , Sales Success
![7 Strategies To Prevent Delays In Getting The Customer’s Purchase Order 7 Strategies To Prevent Delays In Getting The Customer’s Purchase Order](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F12%2Fprocurement-maze1.png&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
Successfully Navigating The Procurement (PO) Maze
Closing the sale and getting the Purchase Order no longer go hand in hand. In many buying organizations a new level of bureaucracy and administration has grown around what was once just an administrative formality. Getting the PO is no longer a straight-forward matter – for the unprepared seller can be a costly maze. […]
Added on August 8, 2013
Ray Collis
Business Case , Buying Decision , Buying Process , Sales Process , Sales Success
![Misreading The Buyer’s Motivation Misreading The Buyer’s Motivation](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F07%2Fmisreading-business-case.png&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
Many sellers underestimate the buying decision. They fail to see that it is underpinned by a more complex business decision. As a result the most powerful sales technique – the business case – is all too often overlooked.
Added on August 8, 2013
Ray Collis
Buyer Psychology , change , Customer Adoption , fear , Fear of Change , Sales Skills , Sales Success
![How Well Are You Selling Change? How Well Are You Selling Change?](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F08%2Fchange1.png&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
Your customer’s fear of change could lengthen the sales cycle and maybe even jeopardize the sale. However, if handled correctly it can be an ally in winning the sale.
Added on July 16, 2013
John O' Gorman
Buying Process , Changes in Buying , Sales Forecasting , Sales Process , Sales Success
![The Perils Of Misreading The Buying Process The Perils Of Misreading The Buying Process](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F07%2Fmisreading-buying-process.png&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
Misreading the buying process is easy for sellers to do, but it can be costly. It happens because of gaps in the seller’s knowledge of the steps, paperwork, review points, information requirements and so on.
Added on July 5, 2013
John O' Gorman
Buying Process , Featured , Independence Day , Sales Process , Sales Success , Sophisticated Buyers
![For Buyers Everyday is Independence Day For Buyers Everyday is Independence Day](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2012%2F07%2FIndependence-Day-For-Buyers.jpg&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
The surprising benefits of losing control to the buyer
Buyers have discovered a new degree of freedom and control and they are guarding it jealously. However, research suggests that sellers may well benefit from thinking they can control the buyer.
Added on July 1, 2013
Ray Collis
bureaucratic buying , Buying Process , Featured , Relationship Selling , Sales Proposal , Sales Success , Solution Selling
![Sellers: Don’t Wimp Out Because Of Their Process! Sellers: Don’t Wimp Out Because Of Their Process!](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F06%2Fwimping-out-on-process.png&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
Don’t get paralyzed by the buyer’s process. Don’t let it stop you selling. Even if your selling is limited to submitting a tender response, with little interaction with the buyer in advance, don’t cast aside the basics of either solution selling or relationship selling.
Added on June 28, 2013
Ray Collis
Buying Process , Competitive Tender , Featured , Needs Analysis , Relationship Selling , Sales Hopscotch , Sales Process , Sales Success , Solution Definition , Solution Selling , Strategic Selling
![Sales Hopscotch: Turning Buying Process To Your Advantage Sales Hopscotch: Turning Buying Process To Your Advantage](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F06%2Fsales-hopscotch.png&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
Buying has become increasing structured and process-driven. The steps in the buyer’s process therefore have a major bearing on the speed and indeed the success of the sale.
But adopting a less rigid view of buying process is important if the salesperson is to do his, or her job well. It requires adopting a non-linear view of the sales process, or what we like to call sales hopscotch.
Added on June 18, 2013
Ray Collis
Buying Process , Dependencies , Executive Sponsor , Featured , Project Behind The Purchase , Sales Success , stakeholders
![Sellers Beware: The Project Behind The Purchase Sellers Beware: The Project Behind The Purchase](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2013%2F06%2FiStock_000000843110Medium.jpg&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
Behind many big purchases is a project. Indeed the purchase itself may be a project, with a set of steps, a project team, project milestones and so on. Adopting the project perspective on the sale is important from the perspective of qualifying and closing the sale.
Added on November 2, 2012
Ray Collis
Lost Deals , Sales Performance , Sales Success , Stalled Deals , Win-Loss Reviews
![Why Win-Loss Reviews Should Be Written Why Win-Loss Reviews Should Be Written](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2012%2F10%2Fdiary-of-a-stalled-deal.png&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
Our deal narratives – the stories we tell ourselves and others about stalled deals – have the power to either limit or boost long term sales success. However new research highlights the importance of writing and then editing the narrative of the lost deal. The Narrative Of The Lost Deal How a seller explains a […]
Added on August 16, 2012
Ray Collis
Sales Performance , Sales Success , Sales Training
![Sales Training Under The Magnifying Glass Sales Training Under The Magnifying Glass](http://buyer.sellerinsights.com/wp-content/themes/patterns/timthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fbuyer.sellerinsights.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F4%2Ffiles%2F2012%2F07%2Fsales-training-goes-off-cou.png&q=90&w=650&h=300&zc=1)
We did an analysis of sales training courses recently. We found that there was little change in over a decade in terms of the topics being addressed. More important still, it appears that sales training has failed to reflect any of the dramatic changes that have taken place in respect of how buyers buy. Indeed, […]