[PipeGen Live] Bad Messaging: The unsexy reason why outbound doesn't work for you
Sep 10, 2024
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Jason, a dynamic speaker and expert in outbound sales messaging, dives into why poor messaging is the silent killer of outbound effectiveness. He emphasizes the need for a customer-centric approach that shifts focus from products to the priorities of buyers. Jason shares hands-on strategies to tailor messaging for specific personas and enhance engagement through effective strategies like utilizing customer insights and diverse outreach channels. Restructuring messaging for competitive advantage is also highlighted, providing actionable wisdom for sales leaders.
Successful cold calls require a balanced conversation where representatives speak for 55% of the time, emphasizing meaningful dialogue that addresses prospects' needs.
Effective outbound messaging must shift from jargon-heavy descriptions to clearly articulating how solutions resolve specific customer challenges, enhancing engagement.
Building trust with prospects relies on demonstrating genuine understanding and providing relevant insights, facilitating a connection that encourages open dialogue.
Deep dives
Understanding Talk Time in Cold Calls
In successful cold calls, representatives typically speak for 55% of the time, contradicting common beliefs that they should listen more. Many assume that prospects should dominate the conversation, but research shows that balanced talk time is crucial. The effectiveness of a call is not determined solely by who talks more but by the content of the discussion. Establishing a meaningful dialogue focused on the prospect's needs significantly impacts the success rates of cold outreach.
The Importance of Messaging
Effective messaging is a critical factor in the success of outbound sales but is often overlooked. Many sales organizations use jargon-heavy value propositions that focus on what their product does rather than addressing the specific problems prospects face. This approach leads to messages that blend into a sea of sameness, failing to capture the prospect's attention. Crafting messaging that conveys a clear understanding of the prospect’s challenges and priorities can significantly improve engagement and response rates.
Shifting from Product Voice to Customer Voice
Sales conversations often pivot around what products do rather than the problems they solve for customers. Switching from a product-focused narrative to one that emphasizes customer experiences and their specific issues can drive more meaningful conversations. For example, rather than stating features, sales reps should share how their solution has helped similar clients overcome particular challenges. This customer-centric approach fosters engagement and encourages prospects to share their own experiences, making discussions more interactive.
Messages Must Address Customer Priorities
To resonate with prospects, messaging should accurately reflect their current priorities and challenges. By constructing a messaging matrix that identifies these aspects, sales teams can create tailored outreach that addresses the most pressing concerns of their target audience. For instance, articulating how a solution aligns with the prospect's goals can streamline the decision-making process. This strategic focus not only improves the customer's understanding of the product's value but also enhances trust and connection.
Building Towards Less Skepticism
Reducing skepticism during sales outreach involves demonstrating a genuine understanding of the prospect’s world. Most prospects start from a point of distrust unless the seller quickly builds credibility by showcasing relevant insights. Engaging prospects with targeted, problem-oriented discussions can help bridge this gap and foster a more trusting relationship. This trust is necessary for converting conversations into successful sales, as it forces reps to proactively address objections and deliver value early in discussions.
This episode is the audio from our recent webinar on messaging. Jason shares why poor messaging is likely why outbound isn’t working for you and how to build messaging that resonates with executives so you can land meetings from your cold emails & cold calls.