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B2B Selling: Can You Win the Game?

April 21st, 2009 @ 5:30 am

13 Comments

Categories: Cold Calls, Game, Humor, Marketing, Negotiations, Pitches, Planning, Sales Process, Sales Skills, Sales Tips

Tags: Game, Solution, Star Trek, ADMIN, TECHIE TOM, DOLLAR DAN, Sales Strategy, B2B, Roi/Tco, Sales Force Management

Think you’ve got what it takes to sell B2B?  Here’s an simulation game (based on a conversation with sales guru Neil Rackham) to tests your selling savvy.

Scenario: You’ve just been handed the name and phone number of a local company that’s almost identical to one of your firm’s biggest customers.  Time to put your sales skills to work!  Make your move… but watch out!  You could end up scuttling the deal… or get yourself exiled to the marketing group!

What’s your first move?

  • Click here to CALL THE COMPANY. The fastest path to success is to take immediate action!   Call the company, find out who’s the responsible executive, and get that appointment.  Now!
  • Click here to RESEARCH THE COMPANY. You aren’t entirely sure that you know enough about the company to start selling, so it’s time to hit the books and figure out who’s who and what’s what.
  • Click here to VISIT THE COMPANY. Selling is all about relationships, so if you want to make a sale, you’ve got to make yourself known.  So get down there, shake some hands and charm your way into the back office.

This Blog's Best Post: The Ultimate Cold Calling Tool

 
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  •  
    1

    saurabhl

    04/21/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    Wonderful !!!

    Maybe every now and then we need such simulations which reinforce what you been sharing for so long.

    I am pretty impressed and have passed this on to my pre-sales team.


  •  
    2

    venkey30

    04/21/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    Excellent and Gained knowledge.Thank you...

  •  
    3

    davisbr

    04/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    This is pretty good, although I am not sure I agree with the step of calling Technie Tom first.

    I understand that getting Tom on board and giving a warm intro to Betty is good, but I personally prefer to go "top down", i.e. call the person at the top and either engage them at a high level or get them to introduce me to the right person. I find that tends to help avoid the problem later in the sale of people blocking your access to the decision maker as you will already have an open line of communication.

  •  
    4

    Ian P

    04/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    Excellent stuff, but I would definitely have taken time out to date Betty.

  •  
    5

    edds60

    04/22/09 | Report as spam

    AWESOME

    THE MOST FANTASTIC AND SIMPLE WAY TO JOG YOUR B2B SALES SKILLS. LOVING IT

  •  
    6

    midgee

    04/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    Yeh, I would definatly celebrate the close deal and get to know Betty better.

  •  
    7

    Bob Wileman

    04/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    This is the approach I use. Top down is ok if you really have something only the CEO deals with and you'd better be sure otherwise the door will be slammed.
    Having reached Dollar Dan who agrees it's a great idea and would surely produce dividends, The next comment is, "but we haven't got the first dollar to pay for your service." This is where it gets really creative, but the old rule about move on and find someone who has the money is running out of steam. If we can't crack this there is no need for a sales force!

  •  
    8

    Geoffrey James, Sales Machine

    04/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    Re: Going top down. It can be done, but how do you get the introduction? If you're already hanging with CEOs, maybe that's pretty easy. Just ask them at the next $1000 a plate charity event, eh? If not, you may need to chat up Techie Tom. K'plah!

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    9

    jasonwendland

    04/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    great simulation, especially for the semiconductor (and related) industries!

  •  
    10

    Geoffrey James, Sales Machine

    04/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    Jason:
    However, the simulation only valid at 45nm and below... and only using the TSMC fab. happy

  •  
    11

    ndlicht1

    04/22/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    I made it to the sale without a glitch. That sure felt good.

    This is a great sales training and refocusing tool-Thanks.

    Starting with the person who is invested directly in the problem-solution process, The tech, is always correct for me. Its a very clear insight into if, not just how you can solve a problem and get a sale.

    Then, armed with excellent info, you can climb the ladder and get to yes. Top down means starting with the person most removed from the issues and often carefully screening what they directly deal with.

    My opinion of course but seemingly affirmed by my result in the sales game.

  •  
    12

    pammac

    04/24/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    Excellent! Quick and light hearted - yet includes the "sucker" scenarios where we forget the theory and principle and go into sales mode. Very neat!

  •  
    13

    jschnitzler

    08/11/09 | Report as spam

    RE: B2B Selling! Can You Win the GAME?

    Ive been in B2B for a while. I train new people every so often. This is one of the simplest and effective tools out there to show how to offer value through problem solving.... not selling a solution or a strategy.

    thanks!

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