Sales Strategies - Forget Features, Communicate Benefits

We've already learned that people don't buy whatproduct or service will make their life better or easier.
your product does - they buy what your product doesRemember, motivators for people who shop on-line
for them. The bottom line is selling is simple; people buyare people who want to save money or make money.
what they want and always have, always will. You areSo make sure your website will tell your potential
just there to help them see what it is they want. Theclients how you will help them do both these things.
key for sales professionals is to quickly tell our potentialHere are four simple steps to translate what your
clients why they should want what we have to offer.product features (what it does) into what are its
In other words... benefits!benefits (what your product does for the customer).
You will first need to understand the difference1. List the key features of the product - the things that
between a benefit and a feature, which is prettymake it worth having. Describe what each one does,
simple. A feature is what your product does, such ashow it works.
self-cleaning ovens clean themselves, or some heavy2. Describe how it gives your customer an advantage,
equipment comes with safety features that are veryand write it down next to the features.
attractive to most consumers. A benefit is what the3. Think through how that advantage makes or saves
product does for you, such as save you money andthe customer time or money. Be able to state every
time in cleaning supplies and time wasted in the kitchenfeature in terms of money. Write it down next to the
as in the example of the self-cleaning oven.advantage.
Let's take a look at how to communicate to your4. Write out a benefits statement for each feature.
prospective clients about the benefits they will receiveMemorize your list and write it down and carry it with
if they choose your product or services. Remember ityou for quick reference.
is vital you remember that the purchasing decision isYou have now created a feature, benefits and
based on an emotional need then supported by logic.advantage list and by committing these to memory,
Let's say we have a website and for us to sell well,and using them often, you will now be speaking the
we must communicate quickly to our prospectiveprospective client's language. The language of saving
clients the reasons they should purchase from us.money, or making money and that is a sound they
These reasons are the benefits our customers willlove to hear.
receive by owning our product or services."Motivate them, train them, care about them, and make
While most salespeople can quickly tell a prospectivewinners out of them... they'll treat the customers right.
client what their product or service *does* we oftenAnd if customers are treated right, they 'll come back."
forget to take the extra step and tell them how our-- J. Marriott Jr.