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Approaching prospects for a SaaS product. Tips?

by Ric5x20
7 replies
Hey Warriors!

I have just finished designing and developing a SaaS product that can help small to medium retail businesses grow, primarily through increasing customer retention.

The PHP and MySQL web application took about 200+ hours of work. It is currently hosted on my own dedicated servers, ready to be used.

The past couple of days, I have tried walking into quite a few different businesses, but sadly, the approaching anxiety has been a big obstacle, to the point where I have only brought myself to speak with two employees who said their boss was not in. Really, the smallest of things such as a busy line or a grumpy-looking employee instantly gets me to give up and walk out.

Truthfully, the fact that I have never been the most social person my whole life certainly isn't helping here. With all that said, I am trying my absolute best to improve, and to get this product out there as I strongly believe there is a great market for it.

I just figured it would be a great idea to make a post on the forums here hoping to get some helpful feedback from some of you guys who have been down this road before.

At this point, I will be heading out the door early morning tomorrow (around 8:00 AM) to walk into prospects' stores, hoping they will be less busy. I will be sure to keep you guys posted on how things go.

I appreciate your input well in advance.
#approaching #product #prospects #saas #tips
  • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
    The anxiety, is not unusual, so do not feel like this is wrong, at any level people can feel this from time to time.

    Maybe look at your wording? and what you are saying? is this getting you unstuck ? maybe try looking at things from another angle, rather than going in and feeling like your trying to sell or get some one onto your new widget, reverse that thinking to that you are going into just help someone with no expectations of making a sale or trial, just look at how you can show them how this widget could help them, that's it and if they ask to give your product a trial then that's an added bonus (as you get more comfortable with that you can start close down a little more), but this approach should remove all if not most of any anxiety as you have no expectations, from there it is just about refining what you do, there are no wrongs just learning curves.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Is there a reason why sales need to be done face to face?

    What's the pricing? Is it recurring? Can you set up an affiliate program through a site like JVZoo and recruit affiliates who can make the sales?

    Hangout online where you're customers hang out, like relevant FB and LinkedIn groups.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Cartwright
    Overcoming anxiety isn't easy, specifically for those who don't socialize as much as others. Have you tried calling prospects instead or getting in touch with them via social media platforms? Contacting prospects through this non-visual mediums might help you loosen up a bit, and help you land a demo. Once a demo is in place, that's the time you may have to worry about anxiety again.
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  • Profile picture of the author animal44
    You could find a way of dealing with your shyness. I'd suggest Tony Robbin's Personal Power. He teaches you to figure out what's causing the shyness and how to deal with it...

    Otherwise you could partner with a salesy type and let him/her do the selling part.

    Or you could find a copywriter to write you a great sales letter and do it all by mail. And then you have the option of finding a non competing business who sells to the same customers and get them to offer your product to their list with some form of incentive...

    Or write a letter yourself. Don't try to be clever, just say here's what I've got, here's what it'll do for you, here's what you need to do to get it. Offer a great guarantee/free trial or some form of risk reversal that's irresistible....

    Personally, I find dealing face to face easier than on the phone. Much easier to get feedback from body language... And face to face you will learn your prospects language and what issues they're dealing with and, of course, what objections they're coming up with. All useful stuff for a good sales letter...
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  • Profile picture of the author Ron Lafuddy
    Originally Posted by Ric5x20 View Post

    Hey Warriors!

    I have just finished designing and developing a SaaS product that can help small to medium retail businesses grow, primarily through increasing customer retention.

    The PHP and MySQL web application took about 200+ hours of work. It is currently hosted on my own dedicated servers, ready to be used.

    The past couple of days, I have tried walking into quite a few different businesses, but sadly, the approaching anxiety has been a big obstacle, to the point where I have only brought myself to speak with two employees who said their boss was not in. Really, the smallest of things such as a busy line or a grumpy-looking employee instantly gets me to give up and walk out.

    Truthfully, the fact that I have never been the most social person my whole life certainly isn't helping here. With all that said, I am trying my absolute best to improve, and to get this product out there as I strongly believe there is a great market for it.

    I just figured it would be a great idea to make a post on the forums here hoping to get some helpful feedback from some of you guys who have been down this road before.

    At this point, I will be heading out the door early morning tomorrow (around 8:00 AM) to walk into prospects' stores, hoping they will be less busy. I will be sure to keep you guys posted on how things go.

    I appreciate your input well in advance.
    So, you spent 200+ hours designing a product for small businesses without first talking with small business owners to find out IF they might have a need for it?

    Is that right?

    Ron
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  • Profile picture of the author SalesGod
    you should be calling these businesses first to set an appointment. Can you start cold calling??
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  • Profile picture of the author eccj
    Forget trying to sell it yourself. You need to find someone else to sell the thing.

    The product may be useful but you don't seem to know if anyone even wants it.

    The chance that you overcome whatever is ailing you is slim to none.

    What's the product do? Maybe someone here would like to sell or buy it.
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