Hope For Gain: The Savvy Entrepreneur Series

If you're seeking to improve success with any sales endeavor, you need to embrace the two biggest motivators: FEAR of LOSS and HOPE for GAIN.

I've already explored FEAR of LOSS earlier (click here to read).

In this article, I'll discuss HOPE for GAIN.

Think about the last thing you bought to improve your life or business. Was there not some aspect of why you bought that item related to increasing your ability to do something, enjoy life more, or experience something new?

If we buy a new car, we almost always seek more air bags, cup holders, gadgets (like my sunroof in my Tundra), sliding windows, more horsepower, better gas mileage, more storage space, SOMETHING MORE. These are all examples of HOPE FOR GAIN.

When I sell my service to companies helping them gain organic search position with their websites, yes, I do use FEAR of LOSS (by asking "How do you feel seeing your competitors with these phrases and you're not there?") but moreover I use HOPE for GAIN by promising to put their landing page in Google's Top 10 results for the phrase they seek. It's a challenge no single company has mastered, but I can realistically say that I'll capture Top 10 over 50% of the time with my methods. And, that leads to more traffic. More traffic leads to more people who click "BUY NOW" on the web page, right? Beyond that, converting more of those leads is also a HOPE for GAIN, too.

When I sold computer service and support, I would use HOPE for GAIN by promising their computers would stay up longer, that we'd respond faster, and that it would cost less money. Those are all examples of hope for gain. I would suggest that by using my competitor, they would increase exposure to slow response time, which is using FEAR of LOSS. See how those two motivators, when used together, become highly powerful?

The majority of Americans vacation, on average, 12 days a year. Yep, that's right, less than 3% of the majority of American lives are spent on vacation. Sad, isn't it? (Notice the use of LOSS there)... well, I'd use that statistic as a motivator when I sold vacations, and indicated that by COMMITTING to a PLAN there was implicit HOPE FOR GAIN of more dreams, going more places, spending time with those they love most, exploring the world, and seeing nice places by buying a vacation program. Those benefits all indicated HOPE FOR GAIN. The benefits extended to other aspects of living: people who vacation more are more productive at work (GAIN), more healthy (GAIN), and live longer (GAIN). See how it works?

How to use HOPE FOR GAIN:

First, make a list describing what are you selling. How do people benefit from buying what you sell?

Next, make a second list extending how they benefit even in other related areas by benefiting from what you sell them. This is the extended list.

Last, put these together in an order of priority that addresses your prospects biggest need first, second biggest need second, and third biggest need third. Keep in mind that smaller prospects have different needs than larger organizations. Selling a company a fleet of cars is definitely a different GAIN pitch than selling a single car to a young woman still in college. And, selling that single woman in college a car will use a different "GAIN" pitch than selling a luxury automobile to a wealthy entrepreneur.

Clearly, a person will buy a Toyota Corolla for different reasons than they will buy the Tesla Roadster. One is economical and simply wheels to get you there while the other is about speed, prestige, and flash. Both people GAIN. They just gain in different ways. So, make sure you utilize the differences in gain to your advantage and then target those benefits to the buyer most likely to buy for those reasons.

Best of success to you in improving your sales using HOPE for GAIN.

Read FEAR of LOSS here.

How have you used FEAR of LOSS and HOPE for GAIN to improve your selling? Weigh in below.
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Fear of Loss - Innovations In Business Show

"Fear of Loss: The Savvy Entrepreneur, Part IV" on ARRiiVE: Innovations In Business Show

When: October 22, 2008 at 2:00 PM PST / 5:00 PM EST
Topic: "Fear of Loss: One of the Two Most Important Sales Motivators"

Host: Scott Andrews, CEO of ARRiiVE Business Solutions

Call In: Call in at (724)444-7444 and enter 37798 # 1 # Text chat online: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/37798 to text questions or listen online.

Listen to the show live here now:


Details:
Visit http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/37798 To hear Scott Andrews, CEO of ARRiiVE Business solutions, discuss ways to use "fear of loss" increase your sales and grow more business today at 2PM PST / 5PM EST.

Some of the top companies in business use fear to sell their products. Why? Because people buy when they are afraid of losing something. The Insurance industry is known for using fear. Automobile tire companies, computer companies, and more. How can you use fear of loss as a motivator for your product or service? Dian in to learn ways you can dramatically improve your sales results, starting right now!

Don't miss this fun and educational call with Scott.

Scott Andrews' BIO:

Scott Andrews is a business professional with over twenty years' experience in executive management and sales positions with IBM/Lexmark, EMC², Instantis, DecisionOne, BusinessLand, JWP, Data General, Instantis, Sunterra, Wyndham, and ARRiiVE Business Solutions. Through developing a "summit club" and "million dollar achiever" record of success throughout his career, Scott built a series of programs which empower people to grow their success. Scott is currently focused on helping organizations through marketing strategy, sales training, and business leadership coaching. Through AspireNow.com, Scott's articles help people in over 100 countries. He also has appeared on numerous radio programs, including KEST 1450 AM SF, CA Seeing Beyond Personal Growth Talk Radio, and is host of the ARRiiVE: Innovations In Business internet talk radio show.

Scott's programs include "Concepts of Selling" "Cold To Gold" and "The Keys To Discovering Your Purpose" and many of the articles Scott writes are posted to http://www.arriive.blogspot.com or http://www.aspirenow.blogspot.com. To book Scott to speak on your show or at your event, contact (805) 459-6939.

It's simple and easy to join - call (724) 444 -7444 enter 37798#1# to dial in or visit http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/37798 OR http://www.ARRiiVE.com (see radio show link) to visit online and/or text chat questions to Scott.