Playbooks / Sales / Freelancers & consultants
Prepare calm answers to the objections you keep hearing
In renewal conversations I hear the same handful of objections, mostly about price and effort. Preparing for them in advance is what stops me answering defensively in the moment.
Steps
- Write down the five objections you hear most, in the words people actually use.
- Paste the first prompt with your list and one line about what you sell.
- Rewrite any answer that does not sound like something you would say.
- Use the practice prompt to rehearse, one objection at a time.
The prompts
Copy it, then replace the [highlighted parts] with your own details.
I sell [WHAT YOU SELL] to [WHO YOU SELL TO]. These are the objections I hear most, in the customer's words: [LIST 3-5 OBJECTIONS] For each one, give me: 1. What the person is probably really worried about, in one line 2. A short, honest answer I can say out loud, under 40 words 3. One question I can ask back to understand the concern better Do not use pushy sales techniques. The goal is to understand the concern, not to win the argument.
Play the role of a busy, slightly sceptical buyer. Raise this objection: "[ONE OBJECTION]". After I answer, respond as the buyer would, then step out of the role and tell me in two lines what worked and what to change.
What a good result looks like
An illustrative example. The company and figures are made up.
Make it better
- Add objections you have lost deals to. Those are the ones worth practising most.
- Ask it which of your answers sounds defensive. It is usually right.
- Keep the sheet next to you on calls. You will not read it, but you will remember it.
Before you paste anything, remove details you would not share outside your company, such as customer names, contract terms or personal information. How to use AI at work safely
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