Rianna M. Hill | Rianna@PancakeDigitalSolutions.com
Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation, full of excitement because the person you are talking to is showing real interest in your offer? Perhaps you had been working for weeks to have this conversation, and it is going well! But your enthusiasm comes to a halt when you are met with the phrase “the timing isn’t good for me.” Ouch, that can really sting. Selling online can be extra tricky, but this specific objection isn’t always a rejection.
What Does “The Timing isn’t Right” Mean?
This phrase is often looked at as a polite way of saying no thank you. For personal connection, it is common to save face with the relationship, and by selling online, it probably means you are talking to a nice person who cares about the relationship. That’s the worst-case scenario.
Oftentimes, this phrase means exactly what is being said, for one reason or another, this is not a good time for them to purchase your project or service.
What Not to Do – Poor Responses When Selling Online
It may go without saying, but don’t be pushy, no one likes that. Also, have empathy, don’t be mean. You never know what phone call that person may have received earlier that day, or what situation might be going on that is not relevant to your conversations.
With this in mind, also don’t write them off. The timing may not be right now, but it could be a few months from now. If you assume it is just a no and end the relationship, you may miss out of future connections.
These are even more important when selling online, because your tone may not come across the same in text or over the phone as it could in a conversation. Texts and emails also last, so keep in mind how you want that person to feel about you and your brand when they walk away, and three months or even a year from now.
What You Can Do – Good Responses
Once you have heard this response when selling online that the timing isn’t right, now is your time to listen. Ask questions, see if you can learn more about their story. The goal is to find out the best way you can help them moving forward. This also opens the door to offer different alternatives. Can you offer them something that is better for them right now? There also may be a better time to follow up with them, when the timing is right. This is your opportunity to nurture that relationship for future conversations.
On The Table…
There are many objections and difficult situations that come up when selling online. We have all heard something along the lines of the timing not being right, but this is not as bad a response as it may seem at first. Worst case scenario, the person is politely saying no, likely because they care about the relationship. But sometimes that response means exactly whats is being said, this is not a good time. Showing empathy and building a positive relationship can make a big difference for the future.
Learn more tips and tricks in our online community, Marketing4Makers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/marketing4makers