How to Stand Out in B2B Sales, Throwback with Anthony Iannarino, Ep #406
Oct 26, 2023
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Sales expert Anthony Iannarino shares tips on standing out in B2B sales by understanding the counterparty and gathering information. They discuss creating alignment with procurement professionals and navigating sales and procurement dynamics. The chapter also highlights previous books and the unique setup of the Outbound conference due to the pandemic.
Sales is not just about getting the sale, but about serving the customer and helping them make informed decisions, which requires intellectual humility from both the salesperson and the customer.
Salespeople should approach each interaction with a willingness to educate themselves while also imparting their wisdom and expertise, asking questions that challenge customers' assumptions and providing valuable insights to help customers make better decisions.
Deep dives
The concept of one-upping your customers in sales
In this throwback episode, the guest, Anthony Anne-Arino, discusses the concept of one-upping customers in sales. He emphasizes that sales is not just about getting the sale, but about serving the customer and helping them make informed decisions. By being knowledgeable and guiding customers through the sales process, salespeople can establish themselves as the one-up position, providing valuable insights and teaching customers about their own needs and solutions. This approach requires intellectual humility from both the salesperson and the customer, where the salesperson recognizes their own limitations and the customer acknowledges their lack of knowledge in certain areas. By asking powerful questions and creating alignment with the customer's goals, salespeople can effectively educate their customers and build trust.
The importance of intellectual humility in the sales process
The podcast highlights the significance of intellectual humility in the sales process. Both salespeople and customers must recognize that they don't know everything and that there is always room to learn and improve. Salespeople should approach each interaction with a willingness to educate themselves while also imparting their wisdom and expertise. By asking questions that challenge customers' assumptions and providing valuable insights, salespeople can help customers become more informed and make better decisions. Intellectual humility allows for a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship between the salesperson and the customer, fostering trust and facilitating the sales process.
Teaching customers how to buy the right solution
The podcast delves into the idea of teaching customers how to buy the right solution for their needs. It highlights the resistance that may arise from customers who believe they already know how to buy for the problem they are trying to solve. However, salespeople should approach this challenge by asking questions that the customers can't answer, making them recognize their own knowledge gaps. By demonstrating expertise and providing valuable insights, salespeople can guide customers towards the best solution, even if it means challenging their initial beliefs. This process requires a balance of confidence and humility, always with the intention of helping the customer make the right decision.
Outbound conference and the power of practical sales insights
The podcast introduces the Outbound conference, an event focused on providing practical and actionable sales insights for professionals. The conference promises a dynamic and energetic atmosphere with top-notch speakers sharing valuable information on prospecting, productivity, and pipeline strategies. It differentiates itself from other conferences by prioritizing practicality and forbidding any sales pitches or lead capturing strategies. The podcast guest, Anthony Anne-Arino, discusses the success of the previous year's event and announces the upcoming conference in September. He also mentions the availability of virtual sessions for participants, making the event accessible to a wider audience.
How do you stand out in B2B sales? You stand out by one-upping your customers by learning what you need to know about them. You will always know something that someone else doesn’t. You can take that knowledge and expertise and help your clients transform their businesses. Learn more about the process in this throwback episode of Negotiations Ninja with Anthony Iannarino.
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