You have to find your mate. Court them. Eventually propose. Although that may not be what dating is like today. Here are 3 articles explaining how Selling is like Dating.

Business development 101: It’s a lot like dating. “You can stand outside the supermarket, asking every passer-by to kiss you — but it’s hard work and you’re going to get slapped a lot on the way to that first kiss. (Corallary: People would rather go out with someone they know than with a stranger.) …. It’s important to have a lot of contacts (i.e., potential customers) at the top of the funnel because the sales cycle is so variable. The overwhelming majority of customers buying your services do so only when they decide that they have pain you can address — and not before.”

10 Dating Rules That Can Help Your Career: “Desperation is Not Attractive” and “Listen More Than You Talk”

How is Selling Like Dating? “Close on a commitment. In dating, you wouldn’t end a date with “See ya.” In a sales call, to build a long term relationship that leads to closed business, you want to always get a commitment that advances the sale.”

When I am training salespeople, I try to deal with at least a couple of nuggets. One time training means that the people will (maybe) take away one or two nuggets that they will remember. So I try to cover these subjects:

• What is Marketing? Every Touch of the Customer. Everyone is in Sales and Marketing.
• Attitude is Everything. Sales is the transfer of Emotion. Enthusiasm pays off.
• USP. How are YOU Different? If you can’t answer that, pack it in because it’s all about price.
• Perceived Value. See above.
• Profit. You can sell below cost because everyone wants to get paid and get a raise.
• Engage the Prospect in Open Ended Questions so you can find the Pain.
• Sell to Verticals or Sell in Niches. Easier to be an Expert.
• Testimonials. A book or a video. Let others sell for you.

Gitomer says: “It’s not just product knowledge; it’s your insight and understanding of how the customer benefits and wins from it.”