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You just gotta ask, part 1

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One of the easiest and fastest ways to grow your business is revealed in this ancient proverb: “Ask and you shall receive.” You’ve probably heard this phrase countless times, but how many times have you put it into practice? When was the last time you asked for a written endorsement from a client or colleague, feedback from your customers or the opportunity to renegotiate a deal?

The simple act of asking is critical to success, yet many people don’t do it. Here are three strategies for asking for what you want:

1.    Ask for information. You can never have too much information. In fact, the higher up the ladder you go, the more stuff you need to know. For example, to win new clients, you first need to understand their challenges, what they want to accomplish and how they plan to do it. Only then can you demonstrate the advantages of your unique product or service. Ask questions starting with words such as “who,” “why,” “what,” “where,” “when” and “how” to obtain the information you need. Only when you truly understand and appreciate a prospect’s needs can you formulate a solution.

2.    Ask for business. It’s shocking, but true: More than 60 percent of the time, salespeople don’t ask for an order after giving a complete presentation about the benefits of their product or service. If you fall into this trap, beware. It’s a habit that could put you out of business quickly. Always ask a closing question to secure your prospect’s business. Don’t waffle or talk around it—or worse, wait for your prospect to ask you. There are numerous ways to ask if your prospects are interested. Find the phrasing that feels most comfortable to you.

3.    Ask for written endorsements. It can be difficult to ask for endorsements if you don’t like tooting your own horn, but well-written, results-oriented testimonials from highly respected people are very compelling. They solidify the quality of your product or service and establish you as a person of integrity, who is trustworthy and gets the job done on time. The best time to ask for an endorsement is right after you have provided excellent service, gone the extra mile and made your client really happy. Simply ask if he’d be willing to give you a testimonial about the value of your product or service.

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Jack Canfield, America’s #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you’re ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com.


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