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The Brain Audit

by BNI New Zealand

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Why Do Customers Change Their Minds?
You’ve seen it happen before. You speak to a customer. You send them information. You make the best presentation ever. And they happily shake your hand and then there’s complete silence. They don’t write back. You can’t seem to get them on the phone. Even your emails go unanswered.

Most of the time this scenario unfolds because you’ve not given the customer complete information.

So what is complete information?

Complete information is when you ‘take all the bags’ off the customer’s conveyor belt. Well at least that’s the description given by Sean D’Souza in his newly released book called ‘The Brain Audit.’ The Brain Audit talks about how there are seven clear questions that the customer has in their brain. These questions need to be answered, or they postpone taking a decision. It’s not that the customers don’t want to buy your product. Instead it’s more like an airport scenario, where if even one bag (out of seven) is missing, then the customer doesn’t leave the airport.
In sales and marketing that analogy of ‘not leaving the airport’ translates into a customer not buying your product or service.

And these questions are tackled in very interesting detail in The Brain Audit, which is now exclusively available in New Zealand (yes, the rest of the world can wait). You can have a look and judge for yourself at www.sevenredbags.com

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83 comments

Bernie Kane 30 September 2009 - 11:03 am

Great blog, Graham.

I have assumed in the past that when prospects have not used by insurance broking services they have used another broker. There have been occasions when I have found that they have just “not got around to it” but still require the service. It will be good to find out how to ensure they take action at the initial contact.

Miles Ashworth 30 September 2009 - 11:03 am

I have the previous edition of the Brain Audit – and I want the latest version! I woudl recommend this even though I have not seen it.

Craig Jones 30 September 2009 - 11:38 am

Have not read the book but as a new BNI member I am always looking for new ways to improve myself, my sales and my business!!!! would love to get my hands on a copy.

Derek Howard 30 September 2009 - 11:51 am

Yes, sounds very interesting and are senarios I can relate to. Always open to suggestions on what the best way to address them and turn prospect sales into actual results.

Adrienne Goldsmith 30 September 2009 - 11:56 am

seems similar to the lines of the UK writer Malcolm Solomon – the truth about what customers really want but nice to see a Kiwi writer putting it into Kiwi speak 🙂

Bryce Thomson 30 September 2009 - 11:56 am

The bag analogy is great. Look forward to reading it.

Nelson Dsouza 30 September 2009 - 12:00 pm

This is the book of the present to gain on good networking skills

Maree Pauling 30 September 2009 - 12:12 pm

Loved Sean’s free podcasts especially the ‘Tuna Sandwich’ concept, looking forward to reading this book.

Mark French 30 September 2009 - 12:38 pm

We’ve been a subscriber of Sean’s ‘Psychotactics’ newsletter for the past 3 years. Awesome inspiring articles, highly recommended.
Really love a copy of his book ‘Brain Audit’

Sean D'Souza 30 September 2009 - 1:01 pm

Thanks for all these comments. I had no idea that there were so many of you reading my blog and website. 🙂

And yes, it was a rather quick five minutes on TV this morning. I guess all the TVs were on because of the Tsunami. Ironically that’s the first chapter in the Brain Audit. It’s how to get the customer’s attention. And it was indeed ironical that there was Tsunami warning, because if you read the first chapter, that’s exactly what you find. (The free chapter is available on the site at http://www.sevenredbags.com).

If you have any questions about getting attention, and keeping attention, be sure to post them here and I’ll answer them.

Sean D'Souza 30 September 2009 - 1:34 pm

For those of you who missed the Breakfast Interview with Wendy, here’s a link:

http://tvnz.co.nz/breakfast-news/breakfast-wednesday-september-30-3039923/video?vid=3041266

Andrea Little 30 September 2009 - 1:47 pm

Good concept – looking forward to finding out about the “baggage”.

Wayne Vercoe 30 September 2009 - 2:29 pm

The Brain Audit sounds like a book well worth reading and well worth winning.

Dan Roberts 30 September 2009 - 2:54 pm

Sounds like a really interesting read – well done Sean.

raewyn ng 30 September 2009 - 3:21 pm

sound pefect for someone who is nervous about selling and depends on it! (pick me, pick me…)

Davina Perry 30 September 2009 - 4:13 pm

Sounds like vital information that everyone in business should know! Can’t wait to get Ken’s handout’s tomorrow morning! Go BNI Allstars!

Evolve Marketing 30 September 2009 - 4:16 pm

Sean is one of internet marketing’s good guys. Rock solid info that is well thought out and very useful. I know exactly who I will give this to if I’m lucky enough to win it.

Helen Marriott 30 September 2009 - 4:39 pm

Sounds a great book – it would be great to know why we don’t get the customers that we think we should and then what to do about it.

john collett 30 September 2009 - 5:15 pm

A great read for us – furniture retail – also be interesting to see how many are motivated by the ‘offer’ to read a motivational book!

john cook 30 September 2009 - 6:10 pm

yes leading with the problem like avoiding dog poo is a very good analogy

Jay Ganda 30 September 2009 - 8:29 pm

Sounds wonderful. I love these kinds of books! Sounds like just the think for me

Tony 30 September 2009 - 8:56 pm

Yes this occurs all the time, we only get the info they fell like telling us, its always the loaded question” tell me what else should I know”. There is little or no exploratory consultation or time to research by most sales people, they want to sell you on the day on the spot. Post sales follow up is almost non existent in 99% of our purchases.

Sean D'Souza 1 October 2009 - 5:58 am

John said:A great read for us – furniture retail – also be interesting to see how many are motivated by the ‘offer’ to read a motivational book!

It’s not a motivational book. It’s a hands-on book. You get a complete understanding of the concept, and then how to implement the concept. This is not about motivation. It’s about understanding how customers think and why they do what they do. And then how to present your information in a manner that’s appealing to the customer.

Just thought I’d clarify that. 🙂

Marion Jackson 1 October 2009 - 11:19 am

I like the ‘bags analogy!

Andrew Allan 1 October 2009 - 3:26 pm

Always useful to know more information about the marketing and conversion process – I look forward to having a read.

Graham Greenhorn 1 October 2009 - 5:56 pm

The blog is interesting and good sales pitch because now I want to find out what the seven bags are; and many of the comments strongly reinforce this.

Philip Walsh 1 October 2009 - 6:05 pm

This sounds like a must read . Getting a customer to make a buying decsion especially from a prospected call is very difficult. This book could be the key to that problem.

Sheils 2 October 2009 - 9:31 am

Looking forward to seeing what’s in the bags.

Keith McDonald 2 October 2009 - 10:55 am

any thing to help with marketing will be a useful read

Andrea Hickmott 4 October 2009 - 10:18 pm

This sounds interesting. We are never too old to learn new tricks. Bring it on!! I say

Alana Nathan 5 October 2009 - 10:56 am

Graham Southwell suggested I have a look at the site and information about the book. I am in sales and its a challenging market so I am sure this book will help.

Allan Clark 6 October 2009 - 9:34 am

Sounds worthwhile reading to get inside the customers head…………would like the book for my library.

Ulrike Uslar 8 October 2009 - 6:21 pm

In my business it’s trust, readiness for facing perceived unpleasantnesses and value for money (who wants to pay good money only to relive unwanted feelings?) . Am curious whether that’s in one of the bags!

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