Closing The Sale

Developing the Next Generation of Rainmakers Closing the Sale / Client Meetings I have been conducting a workshop for lawyers I coach titled: “Beyond Selling.” I actually recorded the workshop and may make a DVD of it, if enough lawyers are interested. If you are interested in watching and listening to it, contact Joyce at jflo@cordellparvin.com. I call the program “Beyond Selling” because selling legal services is different than selling other products or even other professional services. Also, selling legal services in 2008 is different than it was 25 or 30 years ago when you just did good work, you got a Martindale AV rating, you were visible in your community and you waited for the phone to ring. In those days you could also get by on who you knew as well as what you knew. In this time who you know is less important than who knows you. Matt is a real estate associate I am coaching in Dallas. He is a marketing machine, in part because he was a salesman before he went to law school. He also really appreciates how selling legal services differs. At my request, he drafted a short “how to” article on what to do at a client meeting/lunch to close a sale. I will briefly touch on his ideas here. If you would like a copy of his entire article, contact Joyce. Matt begins with just one suggestion: “Ask questions of your prospects. There is no greater sound to any person than the sound of their own voice.” Additionally, too many lawyers want to tell or sell, when they meet with prospective clients. Clients instead want you to ask them questions about their business and demonstrate to them through your questions that you know something about their field or industry. In Matt’s experience, most of his prospects like some small talk before business, even as small as asking: “Did you get here ok?” Matt suggests that even though this step may sound unimportant or a waste of time, he finds that it is key to establishing that you are not there just to get their business. He told me: “Treating people with this human element sets the right tone that you are more than their lawyer â€" you are a person concerned over their well being and on your way to being their trusted advisor in the future.” Matt refers to his approach with the marketing idea of “peeling back an onion.” We peeled the first layer by talking to them person-to-person, rather than lawyer-to-client. It is now time to peel back the next layer, which is to take an overall, broad interest in their business, again rather than the specific reason for their visit. Matt does this by asking great questions: “Tell me about your development.” “What type of development is this, again?” “Where is it?” “How large is it?” “Are there any other investors?” The questions, even at this broad level, are endless. Matt then listens intently-really listens. I think you can see that Matt really understands how to do “Beyond Selling.” I think you will find the way he approaches prospective client meetings effective for you also. I practiced law for 37 years developing a national construction law practice representing some of the top highway and transportation construction contractors in the US.