Sales Pitch audiobook cover - How to Craft a Story to Stand Out and Win

Sales Pitch

How to Craft a Story to Stand Out and Win

April Dunford

3.9 / 5(46 ratings)

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Key Takeaways from Sales Pitch

Learning Tools

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Mind Map

Sales Pitch
Customer Psychology & Seller Role+
First Sales Call Strategy+
Sales Pitch Narratives+
Strategic Positioning+
The 8-Step Pitch Storyboard+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to the text, why do a staggering 40 to 60 percent of purchase processes end without a decision?
  • A. Buyers are overwhelmed by aggressive sales tactics and abandon the process.
  • B. Buyers experience inertia and a reluctance to embrace change, sticking to the familiar.
  • C. Buyers typically lack the necessary budget for high-stakes considered purchases.
  • D. Buyers prefer to wait for newer product features to be released before committing.
Question 2 of 7
How should a salesperson ideally position themselves when helping a buyer make a high-stakes 'considered purchase'?
  • A. As a persistent closer who pushes past the buyer's natural resistance.
  • B. As a feature expert who exhaustively lists every technical capability of the product.
  • C. As a trusted guide and teacher who helps the buyer navigate complex options.
  • D. As a visionary who strictly focuses on the long-term future of the industry.
Question 3 of 7
What is identified as a major drawback of using the 'vision narrative' structure in a sales pitch?
  • A. It focuses too narrowly on technical product features rather than business value.
  • B. It tends to overlook the presence of competitors, which can inadvertently delay decision-making.
  • C. It only works effectively if the customer has no existing solution in place.
  • D. It relies too heavily on entertaining the customer rather than addressing their actual problems.
Question 4 of 7
When identifying the target audience for your initial sales pitch, who is the most crucial stakeholder to focus on?
  • A. The economic buyer with final budgetary authority.
  • B. The legal and compliance departments.
  • C. The end-users who will interact with the product daily.
  • D. The 'champion' who narrows down options and secures internal buy-in.
Question 5 of 7
To ensure that your product's features truly translate into differentiated value, the text suggests challenging each feature with which question?
  • A. "How much does it cost?"
  • B. "What is the status quo?"
  • C. "So what?"
  • D. "Who is the champion?"
Question 6 of 7
What is the first step in the eight-step sales pitch storyboard process?
  • A. Envisioning the perfect world for the customer.
  • B. Introducing your company's product range.
  • C. Highlighting the pros and cons of competitive alternatives.
  • D. Sharing a market insight to establish credibility.
Question 7 of 7
How does the text recommend handling competitors during a sales pitch?
  • A. Avoid mentioning competitors entirely so the buyer doesn't get distracted.
  • B. Embrace transparency and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions.
  • C. Only discuss competitors if the buyer explicitly brings them up first.
  • D. Focus on dismissing unknown competitors to make your product look superior.

Sales Pitch — Full Chapter Overview

Sales Pitch Summary & Overview

Sales Pitch (2024) emphasizes the importance of distinctive marketing in a competitive marketplace. It offers guidance for entrepreneurs, salespeople, and business leaders on crafting compelling sales narratives – and provides a step-by-step method to help build a sales pitch structure that supports confident customer decisions and solid market positioning. 

Who Should Listen to Sales Pitch?

  • Entrepreneurs and salespeople who want to identify and understand their target audience
  • Marketers and business leaders looking to create compelling sales pitches through storytelling 
  • Anyone seeking to overcome objections and close deals

About the Author: April Dunford

April Dunford has helped numerous technology companies enhance their growth by developing clear and persuasive positioning strategies. With experience spanning over two decades, she’s held VP of Marketing roles at various high-growth startups, successfully launching 16 products. Besides her role as an executive consultant and speaker, Dunford is also the author of the best-selling book Obviously Awesome.

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