Membership Overview
Learn what being a member does for you
The Seller Styles
NASP Programs
Catalog
See a summary of all our programs and certifications
Online Certifications
Certified Professional Sales Person(CPSP®)
Develop your potential as a certified sales professional
Certified Professional Sales Leader(CPSL®)
Grow your impact as a certified sales leader
Certified Master Sales Professional (CMSP®)
Join the elite group of sales professionals and leaders
Certified Master Sales Trainer (CMST®)
Online Programs
Advanced Sales Influence (ASI)
Take your influence and leadership to the next level.
Certified Professional Sales Associate (CPSA®)
Learn foundational sales behaviors, strategies, and skills
Power of Contact Marketing
Learn from marketing expert and author Stu Heinecke
ProSeries Programs
Join the top 1% of sales professionals in the world.
Next Level Virtual Coaching
Sales Mastery
Join our ongoing dynamic virtual coaching community
Career Center
Explore job postings from some of the best companies in the country looking for sales professionals
Training Resources
Daily Dose of Influence!
Enjoy our video series of influence tips and strategies
Leads To Growth
Dig into our podcast featuring industry leaders and experts
Coaches Corner
Learn from our high-level sales coaching video series
Women of Sales & Influence – Facebook Live Series
Be inspired by our Facebook Live series spotlighting top women influencers
Women of Sales & Influence – Video Blog
Enjoy valuable, high-level sales strategies to empower your sales goals
Sales Resources
The Growth Quotient
You’ve heard about IQ, but what is your GQ?
Our Commitment to You
We are here to help your approach to sales, how you interact with others, and how you perform and execute
Articles
NASP Sales Blog
Learn from our member-submitted articles for sales professionals
About Our CEO
Standards of Conduct
Testimonials
Common Questions and Answers
Contact
by Alen Mayer
All too often, sales managers and salespeople pass off hype as enthusiasm, whether consciously or not. Visit any car dealership and just stand still to get a taste of this practice. Hype appeals to the imagination, both on the part of the salesperson and customer.
The problem with hype and imagination during the sales of product is that both always exceed whatever features/benefits said product might convey in reality. Nine times out of ten, this is a recipe for an unhappy customer.
In sales, walking the fine line between enthusiasm and factual details is challenging but not impossible. The key to speaking frankly about the benefits of any product is product knowledge. Knowing your product will prepare you to match products appropriately to a customer’s needs and anticipate any questions they may have.
Selling to introverts is often easiest when focus is placed upon facts, not superfluous characteristics. Probing with simple open-ended questions is a proven tactic that allows both parties to determine the rightness of this or that product. It also breaks the ice and allows for a conversation between minds to take place, something that puts both customers and introverted salespeople at ease.
A great way to avoid hype is to know and remember each product’s pros and cons. Because there is no product without a few shortcomings, awareness of these and ways to overcome them is important to keeping one’s sales pitch strong and realistic. Mentioning a product’s cons may not even be necessary, but knowing they exist and having a truthful answer ready when such questions about cons arise keeps the sales conversation grounded and not pie-in-the-sky.
Because introverts are generally more self reflective and observant of customers’ body language, imagining how it feels to have a salesperson over-hype a product to you can help keep you from doing the same. Selling to introverts is often a question of conducting a slightly lower key exchange, so shying away from hype is frequently a given of this personality type.
In a real circumstance, when customers ask frank questions, answer them honestly. Supply the facts about features. Mention awards and citations products have won, providing they have been granted by recognized authorities in a certain industry. With deep knowledge about product, hype is easy to avoid during sales.
Quiet confidence on the part of salespeople goes over just as well as, if not better than, loud talk and bragging.
About the author