10 top sales slip-ups

Sales psychologist Dr. G. Clotaire Rapaille, whose firm consults for 50 of the top Fortune 100 companies, talks about the biggest mistakes salespeople make.

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Not feeling the customer's pain
Not feeling the customer's pain
Most people in sales get so caught up in their own needs - "I gotta make this sale!" - that they don't listen to the customer's pain. What discomfort is the potential buyer feeling?

During tough economic times, for example, people will buy luxury items like jewelry. Why? To make themselves feel better.

Your product can help alleviate the customer's pain, but only if you can figure out where it hurts.

NEXT: Making money the goal
Last updated September 24 2008: 7:37 AM ET
As told to Paul Keegan



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