Are you willing to deliberately delay non complex sales to..

[Khalid Adam]

...increase quality leads, conversions & ROI?

So what do i mean by "delay"? I found that most people do not buy on first contact. Let's say for every 1 sale, there is anywhere between 2 - 10+ sales that will occur over the next 3 - 90 days+.

Ok, just modified this post. It's about YOUR business. If you have prospects that take time to buy, maybe asking follow up questions or after multiple contacts,then this post is most likely relevant.

Would you be willing to change your approach so you don't just get the 3% of sales today but also the 7% - 17% of sales that will occur in the near future?

It would require a follow up system that positions you as a welcome guest,not an annoying pest. Don't you hate it when people "follow up" only to "close" the sale?

I asked this question on LinkedIn and i thought i'd ask the FS community to see the varied responses (if any).

Yes - I can wait 60 days
Yes - i can wait 1 week
Yes - I can wait 2 weeks
Yes - I can wait 30 days
No.

Thanks

[King]

I think the background is needed and the question itself is far too truncated....this is why you are not getting responses.

[MatthewKeath]

Originally Posted by Khalid Adam

[B]It would require a follow up system that positions you as a welcome guest,not an annoying pest. Don't you hate it when people "follow up" only to "close the sale

Not really, as long as they are trying to solve a problem I have. I get more annoyed when I am out on some sort of auto responder style follow up against my will.

I recently went to buy some wine online, the ecomerce system was awful, and I abandoned the cart. Next this you know I am getting emails from them trying to 'educate' me about wine. I didn't wanto to be educated, I wanted to buy something. I never gave my permission to have my email used in that way.

For big ticket items, a long lead time from first contact to a sale is a given. Especially when dealing with government like I have been doing a lot hahaha.

I, like King, would like some more info.

[T J Madigan]

Statistically, (according to a study done in the 90's on offline marketing) it takes on average, 7 points of contact before a sale occurs.

A mistake many business owners make is trying to close the sale on the first point of contact. In doing so, many times, when being pushed for the sale a prospect is turned off by what they feel is pushy sales tactics.

Customers need to justify their purchase in their own minds before making a purchase, therefore the best sales occur when the client makes an informed decision and they essentially sell themselves. For most businesses, this very rarely happens on the first point of contact.

Yes - I can wait 60 days

Sometimes just being helpful and answering a prospect's questions will result in a referral even if the original prospect doesn't actually become a customer.

Some business models can allow 30-60 days for follow-up, other business' leads go cold if left for a day or two.

[MatthewKeath]

Originally Posted by T J Madigan

Statistically, (according to a study done in the 90's on offline marketing) it takes on average, 7 points of contact before a sale occurs.

A mistake many business owners make is trying to close the sale on the first point of contact. In doing so, many times, when being pushed for the sale a prospect is turned off by what they feel is pushy sales tactics.

Customers need to justify their purchase in their own minds before making a purchase, therefore the best sales occur when the client makes an informed decision and they essentially sell themselves. For most businesses, this very rarely happens on the first point of contact..

Agreed. Most of my first few contacts are aimed at establishing trust, establishing what the clients needs are, suggestions how I can solve their problems, and answering questions.

That said, I am always ready to push to close the deal, whether it's the first call or the 7.th if i sense the client is ready. This takes time to learn if you don't come from a sales background.

[King]

It depends on what is being bought. Without a point of reference the question is pointless.

If it were "How long till buying a <item> then meaningful responses could be given.

So are we comparing buying wine online or a new car....???

[MatthewKeath]

Originally Posted by King

It depends on what is being bought. Without a point of reference the question is pointless.

If it were "How long till buying a <item> then meaningful responses could be given.

So are we comparing buying wine online or a new car....???

Very true - the wine was an impulse buy.

[King]

and I think the original post is about how long would WE as a business put a sale aside before finalising....but so ambiguous....

[Khalid Adam]

sorry for the ambiguity. i'm referring to moving away from the "always be closing" sales system which might secures sales today but pushes away future sales.

Originally Posted by King

and I think the original post is about how long would WE as a business put a sale aside before finalising....but so ambiguous....

[Indo]

Originally Posted by King

and I think the original post is about how long would WE as a business put a sale aside before finalising....but so ambiguous....

LOL!
I understand where you're coming from King, I read this post before your first reply (about the question being too truncated) and I found the style of question interesting in itself.

@ Khalid Adam - I enjoy reading your replies, it appears to me that you see the world in very clearly defined terms and both your replies and the wording of the question reflect that. A bit of a personality insight, if you will.

*SIGH* off on another tangent....

Back to the question, I agree that surely it depends on the value of the product?
If I had to get 7 points of contact to sell a bottle of wine I'd give up. On the other hand when I buy a house or a car I go back dozens of times to compare and make sure I'm not making a big mistake. The bigger investment a person is making (not only financially, look at how people find a partner) the more time they spend "investigating" it.
What specifically is "non complex", I guess that is the key?