In the past, when I have asked salespeople how I can help them with prospecting (whom they are looking to meet), they have often begun, "anyone who…? Anyone? It has confused me. I don't know who "anyone" is.
Every salesperson recognizes his or her ideal client. You know who yours is. Don't you love when you get to work with your ideal clients? They value what you offer, communicate well, are forward thinking and reasonable, have a good sense of humor and allow you the time, money and resources to make any project successful. If you're hoping to make your life easier and increase your bottom line, your task is to clone your ideal clients.
When you work with your ideal client, your sales time line collapses, productivity soars, revenue expands and these clients refer you to other ideal clients.
Find your ideal client. The best way to locate your ideal client is to ask your current clients to refer you to their peers. The second best way is to ask your network to refer you. In either case, however, you must be specific. The more specifically you describe your ideal client, the easier it is for your referral source (current client or network contact) to identify the perfect referral for you.
Be specific. Being specific is counterintuitive. Many of my clients believe the wider they cast their net, the more clients they will reel in. The exact opposite is true. Think of yourself as a sketch artist: the more color, lines and detail you present, the easier it becomes for others to envision, recognize and identify your ideal client and refer them to you.
