The Secret Language of Influence

Book excerpt: A few simple words--the right words--can transform an awkward sales call into a comfortable conversation and a resistant prospect into a happy customer, which is why author Dan Seidman teaches readers to think of influence as something occurring at a level just below the buyer's awareness. Spanning the use of storytelling, humor, emotion-evoking language, and questions that advance the sale, in his entertaining and practical book he demonstrates the power of words to break down resistance and incline buyers toward purchase. The Secret Language of Influence does this by explaining not only how to identify the right words--and which to avoid--but how to use strategic key words and phrases with different potential buyers. You'll learn the best ways to approach buyers who are: motivated by benefits vs. problems (i.e., wanting to hear about the money they'll save rather than the pain they'll avoid); proactive vs. reactive; big picture vs. detail oriented; systems thinkers vs. creative minds; and those who are influenced by external feedback (testimonials, evidence) vs. internal factors (feelings, personal experiences, beliefs). Today's buyer is savvy and all too familiar with traditional selling techniques. But great selling is invisible. By identifying different ways buyers are motivated, salespeople can quickly customize their conversations and lead prospects to a yes.