Countering Objections - Know Why People Say No

Not every objection can be overcome, but they can all be countered, so you should always have a rebuttal in store. If you don't have years of experience, or a trainer to guide you, you can find yourself blindsided by the most obvious objections and hesitations.

There are three basic reasons for most objections:

Lack of trust or rapport.

Have you ever decided against a sale because you didn't like the person selling to you? Most people have experienced this at least once. Those of us in sales need to know how to avoid this issue altogether:

• Don't try too hard. You're not a comedian. The occasional joke is fine, but nothing rubs people wrong more than repeated, failed attempts at humor.

• Don't talk so much. Get people talking about themselves, show interest, and ask questions; the more interest you show in them, the warmer they'll feel towards you.

Lack of immediate need.

If your prospect doesn't understand why they need you, and why they need you now, then they probably won't buy, no matter how much they like you. Retrace your steps, and make sure they agree with each point of your pitch. "Would you agree you need…" is a fantastic way to delve deeper into their objections.

Lack of money.

If this is the real reason, there's little you can do. The good news, however, is that it's usually not the real reason! It's simply the easiest one to throw out when the customer doesn't want to say, "I don't know you well enough yet."

Learn how to find the real objection. Ask additional questions, and don't be embarrassed to say, "I sense you're a little hesitant. Can I ask why?" Maybe they're worried about sounding dumb if they ask an obvious question; maybe they had a different picture in their mind. Whatever the case may be, find out if it's a giant objection, or a minor obstacle, and go after it accordingly.

By practicing how to handle objections, you'll exude confidence, which in turn brings trust.