Stages of the Sales Pipeline

[DevCEDTeam]

Here is a step-by-step breakdown using the Gilbert learning technique based on the content from the image you uploaded:

Title: Stages of the Sales Pipeline

The sales pipeline is broken down into 5 key stages, each crucial to moving a prospect from initial contact to closing a deal.

Stage 1: Prospecting

•   Purpose: Identify and locate potential new prospects.
•   Key Question: How will you find new prospects?
•   Steps:
•   Use research methods to generate a list of potential leads.
•   Engage with various outreach strategies (cold calling, emails, networking, etc.).

Stage 2: Qualifying

•   Purpose: Determine whether a prospect is worth pursuing.
•   Key Question: How will you qualify those prospects to avoid wasting time on unfit leads?
•   Steps:
•   Identify key metrics or criteria that define a qualified prospect (budget, authority, need, and timeline).
•   Ask the right questions to gauge interest and readiness to buy.

Stage 3: Proposal

•   Purpose: Present an offer once a prospect has been qualified.
•   Key Question: What will your proposal process look like once a lead is qualified?
•   Steps:
•   Prepare a customized proposal that addresses the prospect’s needs.
•   Outline key benefits and solutions in your offer.

Stage 4: Follow Up

•   Purpose: Ensure the prospect remains engaged if they don’t respond immediately.
•   Key Question: If a prospect doesn’t respond, how many times will you follow up and how will you follow up?
•   Steps:
•   Set a consistent follow-up schedule.
•   Use multiple channels (email, phone, social media) to stay top-of-mind.

Stage 5: Closing

•   Purpose: Secure the deal and turn the prospect into a customer.
•   Key Question: How will you close the deal?
•   Steps:
•   Present the final offer and address any last-minute concerns.
•   Ask for the commitment and ensure smooth onboarding post-purchase.

This step-by-step process illustrates how to move prospects through a well-defined sales pipeline using clear milestones.