Humour sells and it sells you - Paul Johnstone

 A funny thing happened to me on ............

Humour can help you get the sales presentation in the first place. It will also help you stay upbeat in the face of rejection, overcome inevitable problems that arise during a presentation, break down sales resistance, and create loyal customers who will buy again.

Here is a story of a friend of mine and how humour helped him.

One of the ways professional speakers get business is never to do free demonstrations for potential buyers. Alan, my colleague was presenting for an advertising company in London. After the presentation, a lady came approached Allan and invited him to call her. She then went on to tell Alan his information would be perfect for the employees at her government department. 

So Alan called three times that week and did not get a return call. Called three times the next week and did not get a return call. And on to the third week, no return calls.   Finally, Alan decided to sent her a humorous fax.

Guess What?  She called back within the hour.  And as a result Alan got a large contract for a years work  When asked why she replied to he fax, her reply, She said my fax really made her laugh in the midst of all the pressure she was under and that's why she called.

You might be wondering how Alan could call someone 12 times in a month and not be considered a pest. In the first place, she specifically invited him to call. That means she's  going to be call the rest of her life until she tells me to stop.

In the second place, Alan knew she was a fun person because he saw her enjoying the presentation where they first met.

So use humour words and phrase like I know you've got a six-foot stack of paperwork on your desk or I'll bet people are pitching tents in the line outside your office door.

Basically use humour as an aid to your selling, try different things.  You could sing on a prospect's voicemail, send funny post cards, E-mail, sent memorable mailers, a packet of grass seed to help them grow their business, doughnuts for their much needed coffee break, chewing gum in fact anything that will make you stand out. 

Use humorous notes. And they are more likely to remember you when they want something you do.   An interesting fun reminder will help you get the call when they have a need.  The othere point about humour is think how you feel when someone hase shared a joke with you or made you smile?  It's good for business.

Paul Johnstone is a Speaker, Trainer and Paradigm Shaker. Founder of The Paradigm Shakers and a Subject Matter Expert.

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P.S I always appreciate feed back and comments and new followers!

©Paul Johnstone