Guide | Sales Stage 2: Discovery Template

What is a Stage 2. Discovery Opportunity?

This is now 'Sales Qualified Pipeline' where the AE is doing deep discovery with the Champion. You should have a clear BANT at this stage of the process. Make sure that the buyer believes we are a strong fit for their needs and will work to find the funds for a project in which we will be considered.

👤 BUYER IS DOING: In-depth discussions with potential solutions

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Exit Criteria:

Customize the below template for your organization and surface this coaching directly where your reps are prospecting to drive pipeline with Spekit.

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Seller Activities:

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Discovery Questions | Persona Based

Priorities/Opportunities/Technology

What's top of mind for you or what priority do you have that made you interested in learning more?
What are some of your systems and process priorities over the next 6 months?
Are your reps pretty happy with the state of the technology at their disposal?
Would you say most are utilizing it to its full potential?
What are the biggest frustrations that you hear from the revenue org today?

Efficiency/Productivity

If your CEO came to you and asked you for the three most important things you think you need to get right as a revenue team in order to go hit your big targets this year - what would those be?
Where do you see the biggest potential efficiencies to bring to the way your sales team runs today? Where are the areas of friction?
Where do you feel like the most time is wasted in the revenue org?

Data/Reporting

Is your team responsible for reporting on sales performance and looking for trends around where the team needs to focus or hire etc.?
How confident are you today on a scale of 1-10 on your data and action on data/ability to accurately forecast your business?
What are the metrics that you're the most focused on?
Does that data live in Salesforce? How accurate would you say it is?

Onboarding

Do you feel like your best reps are set up for success today? Like if you were to hire the top rep from us hypothetically, are you pretty confident she could easily get up to speed and exceed her quotas at X too?
If your CEO asked you to decrease ramp-up time by 20% over the next 6 months and that was your one and only focus, what would you focus on in terms of efficiencies?
What is the current state of sales enablement and onboarding at X?
As the team continues to grow, how are you thinking about scaling out systems training and support?

Change Management

Does your team at X have a repeatable way of rolling out system changes or new tools?
What does that process look like today?
Would you say reps are pretty happy with how changes are rolled out at X?
Do they resist change at all?
Why do you think that is?
What would providing them with a more agile way of consuming those changes on their own terms, when they need to learn them, what would that do to their overall sentiment towards process and technology?

Stakeholders

So who specifically do you report to? Do you think they'd be interested in a potentially straightforward solution to solving for X, Y, and Z?
Are their priorities the same as yours? Are there any other priorities on their plate that we should be involved in?
Who else on your team is super concerned about your sales team's performance? Should we involve them?
We've seen that sales managers or leaders are always interested in seeing solutions, especially ones that are pretty simple to picture a rep using, during the evaluation period vs after it's already purchased :) Should we invite them?

Objection Handling | Top Objections

Handling objections effectively is critical. When prospects raise objections, it's an opportunity for us to address concerns, build trust, and demonstrate the value of our product. Here are some common objections we face in sales and examples of how to handle them:

Objection 1: “Your product is too Expensive.”

Example Response: "I understand that price is an important consideration. Let me explain the value you'll receive with our product. Our solution can significantly increase your team's productivity, saving you time and resources in the long run. Additionally, our customer support team is available 24/7 to ensure you get the most out of the product. Many of our clients have experienced a positive ROI within just a few months of using our solution."

Objection 2: “We’re already using a Competitor’s Product.”

Example Response: "It's great to hear that you're already leveraging a solution in this area. I'd love to learn more about your experience with it and understand what features have been most beneficial for your team. Our product offers some unique functionalities that have helped other companies overcome challenges similar to the ones you're facing. I believe a quick comparison will reveal how we can provide additional value and potentially complement your existing setup."

Objection 3: “I’m not sure if we need this right now.”

Example Response: "I completely understand that making a decision like this requires careful consideration. Let me share some insights from other clients in your industry who initially had the same hesitation but later found our product to be transformative for their business. Implementing our solution sooner rather than later can lead to significant advantages, including increased efficiency, cost savings, and improved customer satisfaction."

Objection 4: “I need to discuss this with my Team/Boss.”

Example Response:"Of course, involving your team or boss in the decision-making process is essential. To facilitate this discussion, I can provide you with additional materials, such as case studies and ROI analysis, that will help showcase the benefits of our product. If there's any specific information or data your team requires, please let me know, and I'll be happy to provide it to support your evaluation."

Objection 5: “I’ve had a bad experience with similar products in the past.”

Example Response: "I'm sorry to hear about your previous experience. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional service and support to our clients. Our team has taken your feedback into account, and we've made improvements to address the issues you've mentioned. We also offer a risk-free trial period so that you can experience our product firsthand before making a commitment. Our goal is to ensure that your experience with us is nothing short of outstanding."

Objection 6: “We’re not ready to make a Decision right now.”

‍Example Response: "That's completely fine; I don't want to rush you into a decision. Let's stay in touch, and I'll be here to answer any questions or provide additional information whenever you're ready. In the meantime, I can send you some resources and materials that may be helpful for your evaluation. Just let me know the best way to reach out to you and when you'd like to reconnect.

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The key to handling objections is to listen actively, empathize with the prospect's concerns, and provide relevant information to address those concerns.

Remember, objections are an opportunity to further engage the prospect and demonstrate the value of your product or service.

By handling objections effectively, you can build trust and increase the likelihood of closing the deal.

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What is multithreading?

Multithreading is a sales strategy where multiple team members from the same organization engage with different stakeholders or decision-makers within a prospective client's company simultaneously. The primary objective is to increase the effectiveness and success rate of the sales process by building relationships with various key individuals involved in the buying decision.

Why? The Benefits of Multithreading include:

Improved Understanding of Customer Needs: Engaging with multiple stakeholders allows the sales team to gain a comprehensive understanding of the client's requirements, challenges, and expectations. Each stakeholder may provide unique insights that contribute to a more tailored sales approach.
Faster Sales Cycle: By simultaneously interacting with different decision-makers, the sales process can progress more rapidly. Instead of waiting for responses from a single point of contact, various aspects of the sales cycle can be addressed concurrently.
Increased Trust and Credibility: Building relationships with multiple stakeholders can enhance the organization's credibility and trustworthiness. When different individuals within the client's company have positive interactions with representatives from your organization, it can strengthen the overall perception of your brand.
Risk Mitigation: Relying on a single point of contact can be risky, as changes in personnel or shifting priorities within the client's company may impact the deal. Multithreading reduces the dependency on any single individual and spreads the risk across multiple stakeholders.
Broader Influence: Each stakeholder may have their sphere of influence within the organization. Positive engagement with multiple stakeholders can increase your influence and persuasive power, potentially tipping the decision in your favor.

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How can I multithread?

Identify where you are single-threaded in 📊THIS REPORT
Map out which personas you are missing to help drive the deal
Use LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and ZoomInfo to pull in missing personas [Persona boolean search here]
Personalize email [templates here]

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Multithreading Best Practices

In the context of the Discovery Stage, multithreading refers to the practice of handling multiple sales opportunities or prospects simultaneously. The goal is to efficiently manage the sales process and increase productivity by exploring multiple leads in parallel.

Below are some steps and tips for using multithreading in the Discovery Stage:

Yellow Lights

Yellow lights are warning signs or cautionary signals that indicate potential challenges or hesitations from the prospect. These signals suggest that the prospect may not be fully convinced or ready to move forward with the purchase. Recognizing yellow lights is crucial for salespeople because it allows them to address concerns, clarify misunderstandings, and tailor their approach to increase the likelihood of closing the deal successfully.

Some common yellow lights you may run into:

🟡 Lack of Engagement 🟡

If the prospect is disengaged during the sales conversation, not asking questions, or showing minimal interest, it may indicate a lack of enthusiasm for the product or service.

🟡 Unresolved Concerns 🟡

When the prospect raises objections or asks specific questions about potential issues or risks associated with the purchase, it signals that they have reservations that need to be addressed.

🟡 Indecisiveness 🟡

If the prospect appears indecisive or hesitant about committing to a decision, it suggests they are still weighing their options or have internal deliberations to conduct.

🟡 Delaying Actions 🟡

If the prospect consistently postpones follow-up meetings, demonstrations, or signing the contract without valid reasons, it may indicate hesitancy or a lack of commitment.

🟡 Comparison with Competitors 🟡

When the prospect continuously compares your product or service to competitors, it suggests they are exploring other options and may be open to switching vendors.

🟡 Limited Budget or Resources 🟡

If the prospect indicates that they have budget constraints or limited resources to invest in your solution, it could impact their ability to make a purchasing decision.

🟡 Involved Decision-Making Process 🟡

A lengthy and complex decision-making process involving multiple stakeholders can introduce uncertainty and delays in the sales cycle.

🟡 Unclear Decision Criteria 🟡

If the prospect is vague about their decision criteria or how they will evaluate different options, it may indicate a lack of clarity on their end.

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Addressing yellow lights directly and transparently can help build trust and credibility with the prospect and increase the likelihood of successfully navigating the sales process. Additionally, staying responsive, providing additional information when needed, and maintaining regular follow-up can help keep the sales process moving forward, even in the presence of yellow lights.

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Hidden Objections

Hidden objections are concerns, hesitations, or reasons for resistance that a prospect may have but does not openly express during the sales conversation. These objections are not immediately apparent and require the salesperson to probe deeper and read between the lines to uncover them. Hidden objections can be significant barriers to closing a deal because they remain unaddressed, potentially leading to lost opportunities.

Identifying and addressing hidden objections is crucial for successful sales.

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Here are some common examples of hidden objections and strategies to handle them:

Spekit Scuffles: Objection Handling Secrets

Creating urgency

Creating urgency during the sales discovery stage is crucial to motivate prospects to take action and move forward in the buying process. Urgency helps prevent prospects from delaying decisions indefinitely and encourages them to prioritize your solution.

Here are some strategies to create urgency during the sales discovery stage:

Remember to create genuine urgency and avoid using pressure tactics that could backfire. Be transparent and honest about the time-sensitive aspects of your offering, and tailor your approach to each prospect's unique needs and circumstances.

Additional Resources:

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