Let’s be honest with ourselves: how often do you actually ask for the sale, the referral, or the next step in the business process? The unfortunate reality is that too many business owners and entrepreneurs simply sit back and hope that customers will magically appear at their doorstep.
Spoiler alert: they won’t.
Business growth requires proactivity, and a key component of that is asking for what you want.
If you’re serious about growing your business and achieving your goals, you have to be willing to ask for it.
Why We Hesitate
There are several common reasons why people hesitate to ask for the business:
🚫 Fear of rejection: This is a natural human emotion, but it can hold you back from achieving your goals.
🚫 Not wanting to sound pushy: No one wants to come across as aggressive or desperate, but there’s a way to ask for the business without being pushy.
🚫 Assuming people will just know what we want: People are busy and often preoccupied with their own lives. If you don’t explicitly ask for what you want, they might not even realize that you’re open for business.
Remember that people are often caught up in their own day-to-day lives and concerns. If you don’t express your needs and desires clearly, they might not even realize that you’re open to new opportunities or that you have something valuable to offer them.
How to Get Comfortable Asking
Asking for the business doesn’t have to be awkward or uncomfortable. Here are a few tips to help you get comfortable asking:
🔹 Ask Early & Naturally: Don’t wait until the last minute to ask for the business. Instead, incorporate it naturally into the conversation early on. For example, you could say something like, “Hey, do you know anyone who is that one person you know that might be interested in this product/service?”
🔹 Use Social Proof: People are more likely to say yes if they know that others have already done so. You could say something like, “A lot of people in your position have seen great results with this product/service. Would you like to try it?”
🔹 Make It About Them: Frame your request in a way that focuses on the benefits to the other person. Instead of taking something from them, you’re offering them a solution to their problem or a way to improve their life.
🔹 Practice and Prepare: The more you practice asking, the more comfortable you’ll become. Prepare your talking points in advance and rehearse them until they feel natural. Role play is an important tool for sales success!
🔹 Be Confident and Enthusiastic: Your belief in your product or service will shine through and make others more receptive to your request.
🔹 Build Relationships: People are more likely to do business with those they know and trust. Invest time in building relationships with potential clients and customers.
🔹 Offer Value: Before asking for anything, make sure you’re offering something of value to the other person.
A Simple Challenge
To get started, try this simple challenge: This week, make a conscious effort to ask for one referral, one upsell, and one follow-up sale. See what happens. The worst-case scenario is that someone says no, and that’s okay. The best-case scenario is that you grow your business and achieve your goals.
Remember: If you don’t ask, the answer is already no. By taking the initiative and asking for what you want, you open the door to new possibilities and opportunities.
Ready to take your business to the next level?
SAOR Consultancy can help you develop and implement a proactive sales strategy that will help you ask for the business with confidence and ease. Our team of experienced professionals will work with you to identify your target audience, develop your value proposition, and create a customized sales process that is tailored to your specific needs.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you grow your business.