Asking Strangers For Money Hazel Butters

In this episode, Hazel shares the importance of mapping out your sales process – whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, a startup, or a larger corporation – you can’t lead your prospects through your sales process if you aren’t crystal clear on what the ‘happy path’ is, plan supporting resources, or ensure that your prospects are going through the shortest, smoothest buying process possible.

It can feel tricky to manage your time when you’re an entrepreneur – there’s so much to do; how on earth are you meant to find time for prospecting and sales conversations? In this episode, Hazel talks about rocks, pebbles, and sand and how to stop looking at your email, scrolling social media and to take control of your schedule, focus, and sales time.

An episode on the need to FOCUS on sales – and by that I mean a focus on a number of things that impact your sales. Focus on your goal and vision – the why behind your business. Focus on your sales numbers. Focus on sales-generating activities (yes stop spending hours changing colors on an image or scrolling on social media). Focus on your ideal clients. Focus on a specific product, service or expertise that solves a big problem or harnesses a big opportunity. Focus on what you say. And focus on having fun in your sales process.

As an entrepreneur - or anyone working in sales - it's important to own your expertise and authority and to lead your prospects through your sales process. In this episode, Hazel explains how to remember how unique you are, position yourself, explain what you do (not just what you are), and start connecting with prospects

In this episode, Hazel discusses the part of conversations that isn't what you say but HOW you say it. She covers pitch, tone, and volume and the impact of how you speak in influencing and engaging with prospects and customers. How you speak influences how the prospect perceives the conversation, how open they are to speaking with you, and the outcome. Your voice is the most powerful tool in sales conversations, so listen to this and start thinking about HOW you are saying things.

In this episode, Hazel shares how to handle 'pushbacks' - when you are speaking to an early-stage prospect such as a cold lead or a new prospect, and they say: "We already have someone who does that," or "Just send me an email" or "I'm too busy to talk." Because anyone prospecting will encounter many pushbacks, it's essential to be deliberate and confident in listening and responding.