Useful Phrases Prospecting

1. Starting the Conversation

• "Hi, this is [Your Name] from [Your Company]. I was hoping to speak with you about a potential opportunity to [briefly describe your service/product]."

• "I’m reaching out today because I believe [Your Company] can help you with [specific need or problem]. Could I take a few minutes of your time to discuss how we might work together?"

• "I came across your business and thought there might be a good fit between what we offer and your current needs. Can we set up a time to chat?"

• "Do you have a moment to talk about how [Your Service/Product] could benefit your [business/team]?"

2. Identifying Needs

• "I’d love to understand more about your current challenges in [specific area]. How are you currently handling [problem or need]?"

• "What are some of the goals you’re working towards this quarter, and how are you addressing them?"

• "Could you tell me more about how you’re currently managing [specific task or need]? I’d love to explore if we can make it easier for you."

3. Presenting Your Solution

• "At [Your Company], we specialize in helping businesses like yours [solve a problem or achieve a goal]. I think you’d find our [product/service] particularly useful in [specific area]."

• "Based on what I’ve heard, I believe our [service/product] can help you [specific benefit, e.g., save time, increase revenue]. Here’s how it works..."

• "One of the things our clients appreciate most is how our [product/service] helps them [describe a key benefit], and I think it could be a great fit for your needs as well."

4. Engaging the Prospect

• "Does that sound like something you’d be interested in exploring further?"

• "How does that align with what you’re currently looking for in a [service/product]?"

• "Would you be open to a brief follow-up meeting to dive deeper into how this could work for you?"

5. Overcoming Objections

• "I understand that budget might be a concern. Would it be helpful to discuss how we can tailor this solution to fit your current needs?"

• "If now isn’t the right time, I’d love to follow up in [timeframe] to revisit how we might work together."

• "If you’re concerned about [specific objection], let me share a case study of how we helped another client in a similar situation."

6. Next Steps / Closing the Call

• "I’d love to schedule a time for a more in-depth conversation. What does your schedule look like over the next week?"

• "If you're open to it, I can send over some more information via email. What’s the best address to reach you?"

• "Let’s set up a demo so you can see exactly how our solution works and how it can benefit you."

Scenario 1: Prospecting a New Client (Business or Individual)

1. Starting the Conversation

• "Hi, this is [Your Name] from [Your Company]. How are you today? I wanted to take a moment of your time to discuss how our [product/service] could help you with [specific business need]."

• "I’m reaching out because I believe our [service/product] could be a great fit for your [business/team]. Would you be open to a brief discussion on how we can add value?"

2. Identifying Needs

• "Could you tell me a bit about how you're currently addressing [specific problem or need]? I’d like to understand what solutions you're using and see if we might be able to improve upon that."

• "I noticed that your company is focused on [specific goal, e.g., increasing efficiency or growing sales]. What steps are you currently taking, and where do you see room for improvement?"

3. Presenting Your Solution

• "Our [product/service] is designed to help businesses like yours by [specific benefit, e.g., reducing costs, improving team productivity, increasing revenue]. Based on what I’ve heard, it seems like we could be a good match."

• "We specialize in [specific feature or outcome], and many of our clients have found that it helps them [solve a specific issue]. Here’s how we could help your team achieve similar results."

4. Overcoming Objections

• "I understand that there may be some budget concerns. What if we explored a more tailored approach that fits within your current financial plans?"

• "If now isn’t the best time, would you be open to revisiting this conversation in [specific timeframe]?"

5. Closing the Call

• "I’d love to set up a time to discuss this in more detail. How does [date and time] look on your calendar?"

• "Would it be okay if I sent over some additional information? What’s the best email address to reach you?"

Scenario 2: Negotiating a Pay Raise (for a Job or New Opportunity)

1. Starting the Conversation

• "Hi [Manager’s Name], I wanted to take some time to discuss my role and compensation. Over the past [time period], I’ve taken on additional responsibilities and made significant contributions, and I believe it’s time to review my salary."

• "I’ve really enjoyed working here and contributing to the team’s success. I’d like to schedule a time to discuss my compensation based on my performance and recent accomplishments."

2. Presenting Your Case

• "In the last [time period], I’ve successfully [specific accomplishment], which directly contributed to [specific result, e.g., increased revenue, customer satisfaction]."

• "I’ve done some research, and the current market salary for someone in my role is [salary range]. Given my performance, I believe my compensation should align more closely with these figures."

3. Proposing Your Desired Salary

• "Given my track record, I would like to propose a salary of [specific amount] to better reflect my contributions and responsibilities."

• "Based on my performance and industry standards, I feel that an adjustment to [specific number] would be fair. What are your thoughts on that?"

4. Handling Objections

• "I understand that budgets might be tight at the moment. Could we explore a timeline for revisiting this conversation in [specific timeframe]?"

• "If a salary adjustment isn’t possible right now, would you consider offering other benefits, such as additional paid time off, flexible hours, or professional development opportunities?"

5. Closing the Conversation

• "Thank you for considering my request. I value my role here and look forward to continuing to contribute to the team’s success."

• "I appreciate your time today. I’m excited about the opportunity to continue growing within the company, and I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can move forward."

Combined Practice Script:

This combined script can be useful when you're either negotiating a raise or prospecting a client. It includes the basics of introducing yourself, identifying needs, presenting solutions, handling objections, and closing.

1. Starting the Conversation:

• "Hi [Client/Manager's Name], this is [Your Name] from [Your Company]. How are you today? I’m reaching out because I’d like to discuss how we can work together to [specific benefit, e.g., solve a problem or improve a process]. In addition, I’d like to talk about my role and contributions here and explore how we might adjust my compensation accordingly."

2. Identifying Needs & Presenting Your Case:

• "From what I understand, you’re currently dealing with [problem or need]. I believe that with my experience in [relevant area], we could work together to make improvements."

• "I’ve successfully handled [specific responsibility] in my role, which has contributed to [specific outcome]. Based on this, I believe I’m well-positioned to continue providing even more value."

3. Presenting a Solution or Proposing Salary:

• "I’d like to propose a [new service/product or salary adjustment]. For example, we could implement [solution] to address [problem], and for my role, I feel an adjustment to [specific salary] would fairly reflect my contributions."

4. Overcoming Objections:

• "I understand that timing may not be ideal for a raise or a new service proposal. Can we discuss a plan to revisit this at a later date, perhaps in [timeframe]?"

• "If an immediate adjustment isn’t possible, are there other opportunities, such as additional benefits, we could explore?"

5. Closing the Call:

• "Thank you for taking the time to discuss this. I look forward to continuing our work together and seeing how we can move forward in both areas."

• "I appreciate the opportunity to explore both our partnership and my growth within the company. Let me know how we can schedule a follow-up conversation."