Close More Sales with These Discovery Questions for Sales

Most sales executives claim that 90–95 percent of the transaction is dependent on a strong discovery call. You might be wondering right now, what are discovery questions for sales and why it plays an important role in the sales process?

A competent salesperson is aware that the right inquiries can ascertain product fit, discover genuine motivations, find roadblocks before they prevent the offer, and even raise awareness of a certain need.

The sales business cycle should be built upon the discovery process. The most crucial thing you can do as a sales representative is conduct a successful discovery call at the beginning of the buyer’s journey. Before a customer can recognize the potential value of your product or service, they need to feel as though you are aware of their problems.

For conducting effective discovery calls, having a template or structure is helpful. In this article, we will explore the process of discovery calls along with the discovery questions for sales in order to determine whether your prospect is a suitable fit. Let’s dive right in!

WHAT IS A DISCOVERY CALL?

You explore the potential customer with a series of questions during a discovery call to learn about their needs, issues, and objectives in relation to your product. The sales qualifying process starts with this phase.

Standardized questions enable the sales representative to regularly communicate in a way that helps enhance the conversion of leads into customers. Discovery questions for sales enable sales reps to build pace in the sales process.

The most crucial stage of the sales process is the discovery call. It establishes the tone for the whole interaction, both before and after the sale. That’s why it is important to familiarize yourself with the best discovery questions for sales. 

BENEFITS OF DISCOVERY CALL: WHY ASK DISCOVERY QUESTIONS FOR SALES?

Finding out if you and your potential client are a suitable fit is one of the primary goals of discovery call.  An interview is conducted in order to better comprehend the problems, objectives, and preferences of your buyers.

It controls the flow of your deal and how the rest of the sales process plays out. If you execute it properly and ask the relevant sales discovery questions, you’ll establish an authoritative rapport with your client. And if you handle it poorly, you’ll surely be rejected by your buyer.

If you want to know why discovery calls are essential in the sales process, continue reading as we will discuss some of the benefits of discovery call and why asking the best discovery questions for sales is crucial in closing deals. 

SHOWCASE YOUR COMMITMENT TO THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT

Clients will be convinced that you have a good grasp of their concerns and that you will conduct a thorough analysis to evaluate whether or not you can help them if you execute the conversation correctly. 

With this, you’ll be able to convince them that your interests go beyond merely obtaining their money and include their success. 

ESTIMATE YOUR ODDS OF TURNING THOSE CUSTOMERS TO LEADS

During the discovery call, you will have the chance to assess your client and learn about their business challenges, their ability to promote your goods and services, their authority within the company, and their initial thoughts about choosing yours over a rival’s. 

BANT enables businesses to efficiently qualify leads, freeing up more time for sales to qualified prospects. Because BANT helps sales representatives in qualifying leads during discovery calls, it is a crucial step in the sales process.

Source: Magellan Solutions

YOUR BRAND WILL BE CLEARER TO POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS

Clients will have a better understanding of your business after the discovery call. During the call, they might have queries about your offerings, which provides you the chance to pique their curiosity. 

For the discovery call to be successful, it is essential to have a strong understanding of the product.

EFFECTIVE DISCOVERY QUESTIONS FOR SALES

Source: Magellan Solutions

Keep your prospect’s talk-to-listen ratio at a healthy level. It won’t miraculously help you close transactions if you talk for 46 percent of a sales call. Give the consumer 54 percent of the conversation time. Stay below 65 percent because that is the point where you start to lose prospects.

The best inquiries will result from listening carefully and posing appropriate queries that highlight opportunities relevant to that client. However, the following sales discovery questions will be a massive help in achieving your goal of developing fit and value.

QUESTIONS THAT STAGE

Here, you may verify your research and find out more about the client’s situation. This provides you with the correct perspective you need in order to proceed.

#1) Tell me about your company.

They get the opportunity to introduce themselves in this way. Make sure you were able to research beforehand about their business. Start by presenting what you already know, then pose questions so they can elaborate on your description of their company.

#2) What is your position? What do you typically do?

You can start learning more about the employee in a more relaxed, thoughtful manner. There is no need to get technical, and the good thing is that they will be eager to share.

#3) What are your core KPIs?

The pressure starts to build up at this point. This will reveal that information if they didn’t mention it when you asked them the prior question. You may then calculate how much your product will improve that metric.

QUESTIONS THAT QUALIFY

Once you know more about your client, figure out their goals and problems.

#4) What are your goals?

Ask them about their objectives for the upcoming month, quarter, and year. 

#5) When must these objectives be met?

Ask when your prospect must accomplish their goals.

#6) What issues are you aiming to address?

Learn more about their company’s difficulties on a more general level. Allow them to discuss any issues they may be having.

#7) Do you have any concerns in any area of the business or your goods and services? 

Make the prospect reflect more carefully about their difficulties.

#8) What’s the root cause of the stated problem?

Help them pinpoint the root cause of their issue by reframing problems and solutions.

#9) Why is it important now?

Ask how critical this issue is for your client.

#10) Why wasn’t it discussed and resolved earlier?

Ask what obstacles they may be going through right now that restrict them in solving it.

#11) What do you consider a feasible solution for this and why?

Explore how the customer plans to solve the issue even without your solution.

#12) What would your desired outcome look like?

You’ll know if their ideas are realistic and feasible. Can they accomplish it with the support of your product? Without passing judgment, pay attention to what they’re saying while keeping an eye out for signs that you can truly be of assistance.

#13) Do you have a strategy in place to deal with this issue if you didn’t choose a product?

Here, you’ll find out how soon they need the solution that the product offers. They are definitely a good candidate if they say they don’t have a plan or can’t think of any other way to solve the problem.

QUESTIONS THAT DISQUALIFY

Identify the prospect’s qualifications by asking questions. As much as you can, learn about the decision-making process, including the budget and scheduling.

#14) What are the main obstacles preventing you from putting your plan into action?

Even if you know some of the challenges the prospect will encounter, it’s still crucial to ask this question so you can receive a direct response from them.

#15) What is the projected timeframe for implementation?

This can help you determine whether the implementation timeframe for your product and the timeline for your prospect are compatible. If not, they are not a suitable fit.

#16) What is the estimated cost of dealing with this issue?

Is the capital available to fund a new project or product? Budget discussions are always a good concept when it comes to sales.

#17) Who would finance this project?

Find out where the money will come from but be careful with this question as it can sound uncomfortable on the client’s part.

QUESTIONS THAT DETERMINE THE NEXT STEP

Finally, ask questions that advance the prospect in the process and suggest a course of action. 

#18) Aside from you, who else will be selecting a vendor?

Ask this important question and find out if your prospect is a decision-maker, an influencer, or a gatekeeper.

#19) Do you have a written set of requirements for selecting a vendor? 

Ask this if you work with enterprise organizations. Attempt to gain access to their criterias.

#20) Have you previously bought something similar?

Ask your customer what they’ve tried before. Be ready to describe your product’s advantages.

#21) Are there other options you consider buying from?

Get to know whether there are other options your client is considering. Then compare your product with them.

#22) What steps must you take to actually buy the product after making your decision?

By this time, your prospect probably has a strong level of trust in you. You can now directly inquire about the purchasing process.

#23) What could be some disruptive events?

Ask this if there are any unforeseen circumstances that could cause the deal to not fall through.

#24) What can I do to ease the process?

Ask them on how they might want to simplify the process.

#25) What improvements to your life will this solution bring?

Help your prospect see how buying your product will improve their working circumstances.

#26) How do you anticipate things will change in a year if you put this solution into practice?

Encourage them once more to consider how having your goods on hand will make things better.

#27) Ask when you can follow up.

Your discovery sales questions worked if you and your client came up with a detailed sales plan. Still unsure after the call? Schedule another meeting.

CONCLUSION

Discovery calls are essential in sales because they increase the possibility that a deal will eventually be closed. At this vital stage, it is crucial to ask the best discovery questions for sales. 

Simply stating that your goods or services will solve the prospects’ concerns is insufficient. You must establish an emotional connection with their deepest struggles.

Every step of your specific selling process is crucial, and a weakness in one will inevitably lower your closing percentage.

Focus the majority of your efforts as a sales representative on developing the discovery sales question of your sales team if you want to enhance the presentation of your services or products, create deeper connections with customers, and close more deals.

MAGELLAN SOLUTIONS HELP BUSINESSES GET ITS DESIRED RESULTS & BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

The ideal moment to add business strategies to your organization and create a difference that will support your achievement of business objectives is right now.

If you are in need of a sales representative or team, Magellan Solutions will help you with your business goals and offer your business ideas and solutions at a substantially lower cost without compromising quality. 

With 18 years of expertise in the field, we take great pride in providing only quality call center services. Aside from that, we are an ISO-certified and HIPAA-compliant outsourcing company. We offer a wide range of top-notch outsourcing business solutions.

Contact us and let us discuss your business needs. 

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