Sales guru Jeffrey Gitomer says: "Ask smart questions and they'll think you're smart. Ask dumb questions and they'll... well... you figure it out."
Dumb questions:
What will it take to get your business?
(If you don't know -- go away.)
Can you tell me a little about your company?
(There's a little something I like to call "research." Look into it. Start with Google.)
What's your budget?
(Jeez. Just point a gun at them and grab their wallet.)
My friend Scott Ginsberg created a great video that shares "44 Killer Questions Your Competitors Aren't Asking" and I've embedded it below. Before you wipe your brow and say "Whew!" these are "starter" questions, meaning that Scott gives you a great beginning to a question -- you're still going to have to put some thought into the subject of the question in order to really drive it home and make it personal to your customer.
Now, THAT'S smart.
