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2 Questions to set you up for sales success

If you ask travel agents about some of the first questions they ask their clients, the usual response is that the consultation begins with some qualifying questions.

If you ask travel agents about some of the first questions they ask their clients, the usual response is that the consultation begins with some qualifying questions.

Besides the must-have questions like when, where, how long, they ask picture creation questions like ‘have you been there before?’ and ‘what type of holiday are you hoping for?’  Whilst these questions have their place and are crucial in conversion, travel agents need to consider two pre questions to set them up for even greater success.

Being a successful consultant in today’s travel market means exceptional service is paramount

Being a successful consultant in today’s travel market means exceptional service is paramount

The first question will help you decide whether or not you will do the quote on the spot or whether you will send them away and give them the price and product details later.  In today’s fast paced world where one can get quotes instantly online, clients are often left wondering why they can’t get the same speed when visiting or calling an agent.

Simply by asking “How much time have you got today?”you begin to build a relationship and get an indication as to their desire to get an on the spot price and product option.  Generally speaking, if the consultant does send the client away without the quote,  they have the intention of investing time and energy into researching the best price and product – sometimes though that is their justification but the reality is that they would simply rather put it off.  If the client truly comes first, then this question helps overcome procrastination, improves the flow of communication and involves the client in the crucial early planning stages.

Simply by asking “How much time have you got today?”you begin to build a relationship

Simply by asking “How much time have you got today?” you begin to build a relationship

The second question helps you to be proactive and will reduce the likelihood of clients referring to products and prices they have seen online or in the press as an afterthought.  The idea is to discover what research they have already done so that you can take it into consideration when doing their initial quote.

Disbelievers may suggest that asking the question “What research have you done?” may encourage shopping around, but the harsh reality is that almost 70% of people are already considering more than one option.  Taking this proactive approach increases the speed in which an enquiry becomes a booking because you are better placed to offer the client exactly what they want and can reduce the time spent going back and forth with adjustments.

karryon_listen_post1Being a successful consultant in today’s travel market means exceptional service is paramount and that you need to be a step ahead of your competition.  Use these two introductory questions to set you up for success before you even start to gather information about their needs and wants.

Essentially, it is about getting on the same page as your client and that may mean you need to shake a few old habits!

What questions do you think are important to secure the sale?

This article was contributed by Rachael Seymour of Cornerstone People Solutions.