DATING AND SALES: A PERFECT ANALOGY
Ever thought about how similar dating and sales are? The process of building relationships, understanding needs, and creating lasting connections in both realms can teach us a lot about successful sales strategies.
Let's dive into this fun analogy and see how we can apply the principles of dating to our sales approach.
Dating and sales are one in the same.
You need to connect before proposing a first date.
In dating, you don’t ask someone to be in a relationship immediately; you first build a connection.
In sales, you find a mutually beneficial reason to connect before pitching your product or service.
Maybe the first date is a coffee, not committing to a long time slot and keeps it casual.
In dating, a coffee date is low commitment, allowing you to gauge interest and compatibility.
In sales, commit to a virtual meeting or coffee locally to get to know each other and see if there’s potential for a business relationship.
The next date is longer, an opportunity to learn more about them, their needs, wants, and desires plus discuss both of your non-negotiables.
In dating, the second date is more in-depth, where you learn about their preferences, deal-breakers, and past experiences.
In sales, schedule a second meeting for further scope or a demonstration, diving into details about their specific problem, what they need solved, and their desired outcomes. Understand their past experiences, current state, and future goals to align your solutions.
You then ask to go steady.
In dating, you propose a committed relationship after understanding each other’s needs and establishing compatibility.
In sales, share a proposal of how you can assist them based on the insights gathered.
Introduce them to your friends so they get to see another side of you.
In dating, introducing them to friends helps them see different facets of your personality and gain trust.
In sales, provide referrals and testimonials so they can capture insights from other clients and see the broader impact of your solutions.
Confirm they’re not seeing other people.
In dating, ensure exclusivity to deepen the commitment.
In sales, get approval on the proposal to confirm they are committed to working with you.
Commit to moving in together.
In dating, moving in together is a step toward deeper commitment and shared future.
In sales, commit to an agreement and ongoing support, possibly introducing an account management step to ensure continuous engagement and satisfaction.
Get married.
In dating, marriage signifies a long-term commitment.
In sales, solve more problems and build relationships with key stakeholders, aiming to become a trusted partner.
Have babies.
In dating, having babies signifies building a family and a future together.
In sales, move to a preferred or only supplier status, if applicable, and seek referrals to grow your network and business further.
By viewing the sales process through the lens of dating, we can better understand the importance of building trust, maintaining clear communication, and committing to long-term relationships.
So next time you're rushing the process, slow it down, remember: it's not just about closing the deal, but about nurturing the relationship every step of the way.
Now, go out there and start building those lasting connections!
