Is Your Business Asking All The Wrong Questions?
Thursday, March 6th, 2014
Many entrepreneurs start a business because they have an overwhelming passion around a certain interest. They want to help people accomplish a stated goal. A problem develops in growing their business because they continually ask the wrong question:
“I wonder if my exciting idea can help other people?”
This question is entrepreneur-centric and does not revolve around what the customer wants. Just because a person is passionate about an idea and its solution does not mean that people will pay for it.
This is the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when they try to convert a hobby to a business. They have a dream that they want to earn a living doing what they love. This is a result of a misinterpretation about the feel-good directive that an entrepreneur needs to be passionate about their work.
While this is true, a better view is that an entrepreneur needs to be passionate about what the customer wants them to do. Therefore, the better question to ask is:
“I wonder if the customer has the money to solve a pain which I am excited about?”
This question focuses on what the customer wants, not what the entrepreneur needs. The customer cares only about solving their problem, not the passion of the entrepreneur. The answer to this question is the core of what any business needs to focus on. Customers always buy painkillers before they buy vitamins.
Other Wrong Questions to Ask:
Would This Product Help Your Company?
Again, most prospects will say yes as not to confront or embarrass anyone. Unfortunately, this may not reflect the action they would truly take.
Instead ask: What would it be worth to your company if I could fill this need (resolve this pain)?
With this question, the entrepreneur establishes what the customer wants and the monetary value of solving their need.
Are You Interested in Buying the Product?
Most prospects will simply say yes because they want to be agreeable and not seem negative. What prospects say and what they do are two different things.
Instead ask: Where can I send your order?
This is an assumptive close and pushes the action to now. It will also immediately raise any hidden objections.
When Should I Contact You Again?
Most prospects will give a date in the future and then never respond again.
Instead ask: Should I contact you in the future? If so, what will be different then as opposed to now?
This gives the prospect an ability to say no, so time is not wasted in the future. This also self qualifies them for another call and gives insight into what is holding their purchase back now.
What questions are you asking? And are you really listening to the answers?
Courtesy: Small Biz Trends
