Are You Unknowingly Turning Off Clientele? Find out which tactics will backfire and what to do instead.

By Elinor Stutz

This story originally appeared on Personal Branding Blog

Shutterstock

Most everyone in business desires more clients. Corporate salespeople not only wish to keep their job but also strive toward earning the bonuses at the end of the year. BIZ Experiencess diligently work to establish a strong presence and a desire for their services in the marketplace.

With these goals in mind, many salespeople and BIZ Experiencess are mistakenly turning off their intended clientele. The fix is largely dependent upon attitude and communication style.

A positive mindset with desire to serve clientele well, speaks to hearts and minds

Recent Examples

BIZ Experiencess

The latest style of email blast states something similar to , "Hey – this is the best thing you've ever seen to build business!"

How is it possible for anything to be "the best" for everyone in receipt of the email?

Have you ever created a product or service of which you are proud, only to be told it isn't good enough? This is usually followed up with the remark, "But if
you use my service, I'll help you to create an improved version".

This approach only serves to produce a lot of anger and bad word of mouth.

Sales Professionals

Those who lack the know-how of building sound relationships will substitute with talking. The client can't wait for that person to leave. And the salesperson becomes frustrated when no interest is seen after spending much time. Making the situation even worse, the salesperson announces, in an irritated voice, "Your business won't survive without this."

This behavior will only serve to place a black mark against your personal brand.

Salespeople and BIZ Experiences -- #1 Error!

The number one error of those in business is to allow referrals and leads to grow cold. Timely response is crucial. Otherwise, a lack of caring is seen in the eyes of those needing help. Instead, the prospect will find the help needed elsewhere.

The better approach

The best approach is to research the person's online presence and company website. And then research top players in the industry. Give thought to how your acquaintance and those you read about may differ in focus and style.

Create a list of questions to ask of your prospective client that will move the conversation in the right direction. Leading with questions, and learning of goals for the company, will always work best. The tie-breaker is to do the same on a personal note.

Ask:

  • You must be so busy, why did you agree to take the time to meet with me?
  • What are your personal as well as business goals?
  • What experiences led you to your career?
  • How do you believe I might be able to help?

The above questions are more personal and allow for a more honest and direct dialogue. Asking is to be done with an inquisitive yet friendly tone so that your prospective client recognizes you are truly trying to help. Toward the end of the initial conversation, you will have an improved idea of how you may help provide the solution sought. Compare thought, ideas and possible solutions. Have your client prioritize what matters most for them. Last of all, ask when they would like to get started.

Following these guidelines will lead you to the Smooth Sale!

Elinor Stutz

CEO of Smooth Sale, Author & Inspirational Speaker

ELINOR STUTZ, CEO of Smooth Sale, delivers inspirational keynotes at conferences. She authored three books: the international bestseller Nice Girls DO Get the Sale: Relationship Building That Gets Results, HIRED! and The Wish: A 360 Business Development Process to Fuel Sales.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

Business News

'We Don't Negotiate': Why Anthropic CEO Is Refusing to Match Meta's Massive 9-Figure Pay Offers

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei laid out his rationale on a recent podcast for why he will not play the competing offer game despite Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's attempts to poach AI talent.

Science & Technology

AI Isn't Plug-and-Play — You Need a Strategy. Here's Your Guide to Building One.

Don't just "add AI" — build a strategy. This guide helps founders avoid common pitfalls and create a step-by-step roadmap to harness real value from AI.

Business News

Apple Smashes Expectations With $94 Billion Quarter. Here's How the iPhone Maker Did It.

Apple just reported a significant revenue beat for its latest quarter, exceeding analyst expectations.

Business News

Here's How Much Palantir Pays Its Top Tech Talent, From Software Engineers to AI Researchers

With stock up nearly 500% in a year, Palantir is booming. Here's how that translates into pay for its employees.