How to Persuade: The Art of Getting What You Want

Whether or not you're into sales, you are persuading everyday. From asking your son to clean his room to selling yourself in a job interview, almost everything is about "sales" and persuasion.

"How can you sell ice to an Eskimo?" We all heard this before. Yet, it's always a challenge to actually do the selling and persuasion. This article will cover some tips that will help you ease the process by going over some elements that will help you persuade better.

These tips were taken off the book Persuasion: The Art of Getting What You Want, by Dave Lakhani, who owns a consulting firm helping top companies improve their sales and skyrocket their revenues. You can check out the book by clicking here.

Whether you like it or not, people judge you by what you wear.

We are constantly told not to judge a book by it's cover, a movie by it's title, a song by it's name, and a person by their appearance. However, this is untrue. According to a study published in the American Psychological Association's Psychological Bulletin, called "What is beautiful is good, but...: A meta-analytic review of research on the physical attractiveness stereotype", appearance matters A LOT.

Another important aspect of dressing "persuasively" is the way it makes you feel. We all been there and felt like Batman with certain clothes on.

Facts tell, Stories sell

We grow up from childhood while learning to listen to and enjoy stories. Facts inform. Stories engage emotions. A good story is simple and is composed of who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Become an Expert

Persuasion becomes like a walk in the park once you are seen as an expert and a credible person. How to become an authority figure?

1. Start writing articles and sharing them.
2. Start reading books
3. Begin offering teaching and speaking in public
4. Give talks at trade organizations or meetups.
5. Get testimonials from those you helped.
6. WRITE A BOOK (P.S. the best). Self-explanatory.

Fellow Feeling

Building rapport will directly contribute to more likability. Below are few elements to build rapport on:

1. Having similar career experiences
2. Being from the same regional area
3. Sharing similar hobbies
4. Knowing similar friends
5. Supporting similar ideas and thoughts
6. Being knowledgeable and willing to exchange ideas

Client's Perspective

Your prospect sees thing's differently. First they want to be aware that they have a challenge or a need. Second, they would like to know if you have a solution. Third, they would like to have their concerns answered. Forth, detailed information about the solution. Fifth, to be reassured they are making the right decision. Finally, being given permission to decide by their own-selves on making the final say.

Story Question

"Sales is not about selling anymore, but about building trust and educating" - Siva Devaki

Most qualifying questions seem like an interrogation instead of questions that should be based on building rapport. 

Here are few questions to make your clients open up to you and feel hundred percent themselves: 

1. How did you get started in this business and why this business?
2. What problems are you helping your clients solve?
3. How did you come up with those solutions?
4. How did you become an expert in this?
5. What are some challenges that you face?
6. What drives you to continue plunging through your adversaries?

Conclusion

Sales have transformed over the years. It's important to continuously be reading, improving, and updating your skills through books, courses, seminars, mentoring etc.

This article was based off of the book, Persuasion: The Art of Getting What You Want by Dave Lakhani. All the above tips were taken from the book. All credits go to Dave.

Whether or not you're into sales, I highly suggest you read the book Persuasion: The Art of Getting What You Want. Sales is happening everyday. Improving your persuasion skills can go a long way. You can grab the book off Amazon by clicking here.

I hope these tips were of value. If so, let me know what you think. If you have any other tips for being more persuasive comment them down below and let's exchange ideas and better ourselves together.

About me

Hi, my name is Mohamad Dahduli. I reside in France where I study International Business. I'm interested in Guerrilla Marketing techniques, Growth Hacking, and Copywriting. My business motto is, "Don't go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." I'm motivated by finding little-to-unprecedented strategies for instant growth online. I also have a strong passion towards self-development, reading a book a week. I love meeting new people and exchanging ideas. I enjoy photography and creating YouTube content. And yes, I'm a twitter addict.

Feel free to get in touch with me through the links below.

LinkedIn - Mohamad Dahduli

Instagram - @mohamaddahduli

Twitter - @mohamaddahduli

YouTube - Mohamad Dahduli

References

Lakhani, D. (2015). [online] Amazon.fr. Available at: https://amzn.to/2UFpfcc [Accessed 19 Mar. 2019].