Overcoming Objections

24 replies
When you drive traffic onto your sales site, there's always going to be resistance to buy - no matter how targeted your clicks are; no matter how desperate your prospects are for a solution.

That's just reality.

The question is:

How are you going to respond to your prospect's objections?

When you acknowledge some of the crucial objections your audience has to buying your product or service, you're earning authority and credibility.

Because you're showing your prospects that you know how they feel.

You're connecting on a deeper level and building a relationship with them.

That's why it's absolutely key to know what objections your prospects have.

Addressing them immediately "softens" their resistance and makes them pay better attention to your offer...

...making it more likely that they'll take action.

Your job is to figure out how to turn a negative into a positive.

You've got to transform the misconceptions your prospects have about your offer and show them what they feared or judge is actually a major benefit.

So here's a little exercise I do when I put myself in my prospect's shoes:

Write down the biggest objections you'd have to buying your own product or service.

Then...

Write down all of the ways these objections can be communicated as benefits.

For instance...

If you're in health and you just started marketing your new supplement, you might want to overcome all of the hype your competition uses to sell their products.

Articulate how your supplement achieves what others don't... specifically WHY.

This will give you the chance to educate, demonstrate authority and make your supplement more than just another commodity. You'll be able to position it as something that's truly one-of-a-kind.

What are your objection-shattering-techniques?

Mark
#objections #overcoming
  • Profile picture of the author datingworld
    Your job is to figure out how to turn a negative into a positive.
    Very interesting points you have raised.... Turning negative into positive is a technique and those who knows it, survive for long.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    If you work on building a relationship with your customers, you can overcome their objections prior to ever having them come up when you send them an offer.

    Some objections are going to be shared by many people, others are going to be unique and personal to the individual.

    If you are able to get them to share these in your communications prior to making an offer, you won't lose them when you ask them to hit the "buy now" button.

    The best way to discover objections is simply to ask. Of course, there is an art to getting folks to "open up" with their concerns but that's exactly why you want to begin this customer relationship prior to trying to sell them.

    The best to all,

    Steve
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    Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
    SteveBrowneDirect

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    • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
      Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

      The best way to discover objections is simply to ask. Of course, there is an art to getting folks to "open up" with their concerns but that's exactly why you want to begin this customer relationship prior to trying to sell them.
      A friend of mine told me a story about sending a survey out to his company's list for feedback.

      They compiled a ton of useful information about their common objections - amongst other cool stuff.

      You're right.

      Just ask.

      Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author isadoregregory
    Great ideas, really. I would like to add as well that the best thing to do to still get a chance to win a customer who might not be decided on purchasing yet is to have a mailing list. your website should have an optin form where they can sign in to your list. If they are interested but not sure whether they are buying or not, then your future sequence messages on your autoresponders might possibly get them to buy.

    No optin form means losing those customers forever. Sometimes, they just really need more information or they just need to be repeatedly told and reminded of the benefits of purchasing your product. You will eventually train them to buy from you.
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  • Profile picture of the author isadoregregory
    Great ideas, really. I would like to add as well that the best thing to do to still get a chance to win a customer who might not be decided on purchasing yet is to have a mailing list. your website should have an optin form where they can sign in to your list. If they are interested but not sure whether they are buying or not, then your future sequence messages on your autoresponders might possibly get them to buy.

    No optin form means losing those customers forever. Sometimes, they just really need more information or they just need to be repeatedly told and reminded of the benefits of purchasing your product. You will eventually train them to buy from you.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Mark,

      I also like the use of FAQs under certain conditions. They tend to "de-fuse" objections. They don't always stop all objections, especially in very technical niches or where there is a complicated system or product. But FAQs can be a way of anticipating objections and answering them before they are brought up.

      Great thread,

      Steve
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      Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
      SteveBrowneDirect

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      • Profile picture of the author Lance K
        I heard about this book...

        The Secret of Selling ~ Anything

        while reading one of Gary Bencivenga's Marketing Bullets. You can buy it in ebook form from the link above for less than $10. I agree with Gary...it's a gem.

        Here's a link to the bullet where Gary talks about the book. When you're done reading that one, go order the book. Then go back to Gary's site and read the rest of his Marketing Bullets.

        Marketing Bullets | Gary's Arsenal

        I'd also opt in to his list while you're there. Gary Bencivenga is one of the absolute best copywriters in the world. Put everything he sends you into a swipe file and study it.
        Signature
        "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
        ~ Zig Ziglar
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        • Profile picture of the author James Fame
          Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

          I heard about this book...

          The Secret of Selling ~ Anything

          while reading one of Gary Bencivenga's Marketing Bullets. You can buy it in ebook form from the link above for less than $10. I agree with Gary...it's a gem.

          Here's a link to the bullet where Gary talks about the book. When you're done reading that one, go order the book. Then go back to Gary's site and read the rest of his Marketing Bullets.

          Marketing Bullets | Gary's Arsenal

          I'd also opt in to his list while you're there. Gary Bencivenga is one of the absolute best copywriters in the world. Put everything he sends you into a swipe file and study it.
          I can vouch for the Harry Browne book. It truly is awesome.

          If I remember, Bencivenga also had his 5 universal objections, and his persuasion equation to solve them...

          1. No time => Very valuable & interesting ad
          2. No interest => Address an urgent problem
          3. No perceived difference => Unique promise
          4. No belief => Non-debatable proof
          5. No decision => Propose a user-friendly proposition (affordability, worries, guarantee, uncertainties)
          James Fame
          Signature

          Fire me a pm if you have a question. I build businesses and provide consulting. I do not do finance/money/internet marketing niches. Fitness, self-improvement and various others are welcome.

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      • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        Mark,

        I also like the use of FAQs under certain conditions. They tend to "de-fuse" objections. They don't always stop all objections, especially in very technical niches or where there is a complicated system or product. But FAQs can be a way of anticipating objections and answering them before they are brought up.

        Great thread,

        Steve
        Absolutely.

        I'm actually working on an FAQ section (at the bottom of a sales letter) for a homeopathic remedy right now.

        Something I've found interesting about addressing objections in an FAQ setting is...

        ...even when you don't address all the objections, just by acknowledging some of the big ones, a lot of the other objections become less of a big deal.

        Good stuff.
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        • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
          Originally Posted by Mark Pescetti View Post

          Absolutely.

          I'm actually working on an FAQ section (at the bottom of a sales letter) for a homeopathic remedy right now.

          Something I've found interesting about addressing objections in an FAQ setting is...

          ...even when you don't address all the objections, just by acknowledging some of the big ones, a lot of the other objections become less of a big deal.

          Good stuff.
          The idea here of confronting the common objection right up front is a great one. Doing this in print or with a live prospect is effective.

          If you find you keep encountering the same objection, bringing it up before your reader/prospect does can be very effective. And you can indeed use the opportunity to differentiate yourself, your product or your service.

          I did a video quite awhile back about this

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          • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
            Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan View Post

            The idea here of confronting the common objection right up front is a great one. Doing this in print or with a live prospect is effective.

            If you find you keep encountering the same objection, bringing it up before your reader/prospect does can be very effective. And you can indeed use the opportunity to differentiate yourself, your product or your service.
            One of the biggest objections that most people deal with, in every marketing space, is price.

            There's so much competition for just about every product or service under the sun. So achieving the ideal that your solution isn't just another commodity is always an objection you should tackle.

            But that's not necessarily something you talk about head on.

            That's more about building the value of what you offer, communicating your benefits better than everyone else and really coming up with a strong hook or story that captures your prospect's on a deep emotional level.

            In fact...

            With a strong hook or story, you can melt away a lot of people's objections right off the bat.

            Again...

            You don't have to be upfront about the resistance points your prospects bring to the table.

            Acknowledging your prospect's objections head on isn't always in your best interest.

            Be creative.

            Focus on a hook that builds your value and removes you from the just another commodity conversation...

            ...then meet the objections you want... how you want.

            Mark
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            • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
              I think of 3 question categories...

              1 "Does he understand my situation?'

              2 "Will it work for me?"

              3 Can I trust you?"

              Actually they are inter-linked.

              1 "Does he understand my situation?'

              Steven Covey in 7 Habits Of Highly Successful People
              had one of the habits, seek to understand.

              Google's success is based on being relevant.

              And if the reader doesn't feel you pass this first test,
              then you are out in the cold.

              "I mean, how can you help me if you don't understand my situation?"
              are valid thoughts any buyer has that involves more than an impulse buy.

              2 "Will it work for me?"

              She thinks she's a bit of a dummy on such things, has had bad experiences
              in the past and just doesn't want to look bad because of her own weaknesses.

              3 Can I trust you?"

              "Well I can't trust you to meet my needs if you can't assure me
              of the first 2 questions I need answered."

              Then there is the trust in how you treat people.
              What is your reputation in this area?

              Those 3 are the biggies.

              Get them covered and the so called objectives melt
              like snow in a Texas summer.

              Best,
              Ewen
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        • Profile picture of the author Lance K
          In the book I referenced, one of the things the author (Harry Browne) says regarding questions/objections is to resist the urge to answer quickly and seemingly dismiss the objection even if there is a very simple answer.

          He explains how to use his listen-agree-suggest method instead. Basically listen to their entire concern, agree that it is valid, and make a suggestion on how your offer could improve his position. Just another great chapter in a great book.
          Signature
          "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
          ~ Zig Ziglar
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  • Profile picture of the author TeamBringIt
    Marketing/Copywriting is all about understanding how people feel, what are their likes/dislikes..etc Being , educated on our market and knowing our customer's deepest pains/objections are a must. You must know 100% who, your target audience is. Then once you know that, you know what their issues could be and you make a promise/solution In your squeeze pages/sales letters... that fill that void they are experiencing....
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  • Before you get into any objections about the product you've got to handle the initial one.

    Wasting peoples time.

    So, you say on your email or landing page...

    I know you're busy, and I promise not to waste your time, I really do have something that will be of great use to you...



    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author CopyHat
      Originally Posted by Steve The Copywriter View Post

      Before you get into any objections about the product you've got to handle the initial one.

      Wasting peoples time.

      So, you say on your email or landing page...

      I know you're busy, and I promise not to waste your time, I really do have something that will be of great use to you...



      Steve
      Is this the case in many other niches outside IM or fitness?
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    • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
      Originally Posted by Steve The Copywriter View Post

      Before you get into any objections about the product you've got to handle the initial one.

      Wasting peoples time.

      So, you say on your email or landing page...

      I know you're busy, and I promise not to waste your time, I really do have something that will be of great use to you...



      Steve
      I've used the, "I'm not gonna waste a second of your time" thing quite a few times.

      And I hate myself for it.

      Aren't we wasting a second of their time by saying it?

      Hmmm....

      Mark
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      • Originally Posted by Mark Pescetti View Post

        I've used the, "I'm not gonna waste a second of your time" thing quite a few times.

        And I hate myself for it.

        Aren't we wasting a second of their time by saying it?

        Hmmm....

        Mark

        Yes you are.

        But it's always good to start any "pitch" with a touch of empathy for your prospect.


        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author CopyHat
    I would "thank" this post but I cannot find the button.
    This is spot on advice.
    Copywriting is a very creative process that allows you to delve into your own imagination and essentially roleplay as another person... your customer.
    great post.
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  • The best way to overcome objections in my opinion is making the sales process as strong as possible,

    Constantly building value, and pace throughout the letter and eliminating the decision to buy.

    When the hook is right for the market, you have bulit a strong sales argument and you have shown them the pain of goin another way,

    the sales just happens.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
      Originally Posted by Quality Copywriter View Post

      The best way to overcome objections in my opinion is making the sales process as strong as possible,

      Constantly building value, and pace throughout the letter and eliminating the decision to buy.

      When the hook is right for the market, you have bulit a strong sales argument and you have shown them the pain of goin another way,

      the sales just happens.
      Building value is always the way to go - no matter what.

      But if meeting objections can help you build value, you'd be insane to omit such a powerful technique from your copy.

      Your job as a copywriter is to melt away any resistance to purchase (and even make people feel like an idiot for entertaining the idea of walking away from your offer.)

      And if you can successfully turn a perceived negative into a reason to buy, exploit the hell out of it.

      Mark
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      • Profile picture of the author mrdomains
        Objections? Simply accept it, twist and turn until you have control and chuck it right back at 'em!

        The trick is to grind the offending objection on a bed of lemon seeds, mint and cinnamon so as to envelop your design with exotic scents and mask the true power of the method! Don't forget to breathe.

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        Free action plan : Think less. Do more.

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  • Profile picture of the author CopyMonster
    Objections huh?
    Not sure I buy that. I'll have to think about it.
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    Scary good...
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