There is a fundamental issue underlying most of the daily challenges faced by medical sales representatives. Here’s the core of it:Medical sales representatives tend to focus on the sale rather than thinking like the doctor, nurse, materials manager, hospital CFO, or any other stakeholder they sell to.For example, imagine approaching a doctor by thinking like […]
A few months ago, I was talking to Denise, a medical sales rep who was asking for some help with a specific sales challenge. I asked her for some specific information to better define the problem. She said, “Wait a second…I have that written down.” She pulled out a large planner, about the size of […]
How frequently should you call on a customer when you sell in healthcare? If you call on someone too often, you might anger them (at least this is what many reps tell themselves). And if you don’t call on them often enough, you’re losing opportunities to make a sale (which is true). I always ask […]
There is a great maxim in sales that says, “Once the sale is made, stop selling.” That’s good advice. At some point, though, you should find out why the customer bought. Medical sales is very competitive. No one likes to lose the sale to another company or rep. In fact, when it happens, it can […]
Medical sales representatives are busy people. As a result, they sometimes take things for granted, which leads them to make assumptions that cause grief and lost business. The most dangerous assumptions are when you assume to understand a customer’s expectations or assume that a customer understands your intentions. In healthcare, unclear communications cost time, money, […]
The beginning of a new year is when many medical sales reps look take a look at their territories. They look for ways to develop new customers and sell more to existing ones. It’s a fresh start, at least from the standpoint of your sales numbers. One thing all rational salespeople realize: If they keep […]
Last week as I began my day in the office preparing for a keynote presentation, the cloudless blue sky beckoned me to take my airplane (Sales Pilot, remember?) for a short ride. I launched on a quick flight to get some breakfast at an airport café about 20 minutes away. Flying conditions were perfect with […]
Medical sales representatives tend to be competitive people who like to produce results. Unfortunately, many don’t consider a win, a win unless they achieve it on their own. This is a mistake, especially since many sales reps have a host of people they can call on for assistance. The sale is becoming more complex with […]
Almost every medical sales rep thinks his or her product is the best thing since sliced bread, i.e., something the customer “must have.” But how do the decision-makers in your accounts consider your product or service? Is it a “must-have” or just a “nice-to-have?” You may have even heard the actual words from your customers. […]
After penning the title for this article, it occurred to me that some medical sales representatives probably have no idea what I’m referring to. You might be thinking that the key to success that spends time in your pocket is: Your car keys: Wrong by a long shot. What you drive has nothing to do […]