Benefits

Continuing a series from Jim Meisenheimer:

Start Selling More Newsletter Issue 421
Selling Benefits The last time I wrote about the Ultimate Sales Tip. In that article, I mentioned I found some inspiration from a copywriting course I was re-reading. I'm guessing most entrepreneurs and professional salespeople have little or no interest in improving their copywriting skills. And that's too bad because copywriting is merely salesmanship in print. A lot of what you see in print can be used when you're selling face-to-face. Trust me on this one because I do it all the time and so can you if you're receptive to the idea. As I plow through this workbook they have a chapter on selling benefits. Everybody and his brother realizes that people buy benefits not features. Every entrepreneur or a professional sales person knows this - however most of you only talk about features. There are reasons why you do this. The features are the basic facts about your products and services. Of course what's the first thing you learn about a new product - yup, the basic facts. Features are all plain Jane facts. Things like size, dimensions, color, horsepower, lumens, mpg, cast iron, 16 oz. etc. Benefits are an acquired taste. They require imagination. They demand some thinking time. Benefits have to be crafted carefully so they link emotionally to specific features. The copywriting course offers several examples of straightforward features and statements that sizzle with benefits. Selling benefits isn't easy and doesn't come naturally to most salespeople. Try this on for size and see how well you do. Here are four features of a #2 pencil. 1. The pencil has one end capped With a rubber eraser. 2. The eraser is attached with a metal band. 3. The pencil is 7 1/2 inches long. 4. The pencils are sold by the dozen. There you have it - four factual statements about a #2 pencil. So take a minute and write a benefit that sizzles for each of these features. Not easy huh! Next time I'll give you examples of well-written benefit statements for these features. Please don't underestimate the relative importance of selling benefits. It's the hooks and loops of professional selling. It's like Velcro - it's made to stick. The feature is always about the product, whereas the benefit is always about how the customer gains from using your product. In my book, 47 Ways To Sell Smarter, I have a chapter devoted to this subject, titled "Two Words That Make Your Benefits Sizzle." eBook version or paperback Chances are if you're not using these words you're probably not selling benefits. You're leaving a lot of money on the table. You'll start selling more as soon as you start offering more benefits. Favorite Quote That which costs little is less valued. Cervantes Now You Can Over Achieve Your Sales Quota eBook or CD - "Screw The Recession: 17 Ways To Get Sales Up, When The Economy Is Down." These street smart ideas are tested and proven to work for you which means more sales and less resistance: Order right now Visit My New Blog Sales Tips Plus - almost daily insights into selling. Twittering Yet? See Jim's Twitters, rants and raves plus a whole lot more . . . http://twitter.com/jimmeisenheimer
Start selling more today and everyday . . . Jim Meisenheimer 21 years . . . 522 customers . . . 72.7% repeat business . . . P.S. - Order the book that includes the chapter titled, "Two Words That Make Your Benefits Sizzle." eBook version - http://tinyurl.com/47-sell-smarter paperback - http://tinyurl.com/sellsmarter P.P.S. - "Don't sell - SOLVE" using my 12 best questions to ask customers. Available in print and eBook versions. or you can cut and paste this into your browser: http://meisenheimer.com/products/salesquestions.htm

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