Qualifying leads has become an increasingly complex task as the sales function has evolved in response to the challenges of the digital age. To help sales teams ensure that they’re marketing and selling their products or services to customers who are the best fit for them, such questions have become an important tool in the sales arsenal.
A qualifying question is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a question that’s used to help sales staff identify the wants, needs, and interests of a potential customer and determine whether they’re likely to make a purchase.
The actual queries can take many forms and be used in a variety of ways, but they’re primarily used as discovery questions to gather information about factors such as current challenges, budgets, decision-making, and any history with products or services that relate to yours.
When you ask these questions early in the sales process, your reps can save time by not following leads that don’t match. They can prioritize the leads that will shorten the sales cycles and then personalize their pitches to speak right to their prospects. The more strategically you can qualify leads, the more likely you are to close deals and build long-term customer relationships.
Examples of these questions in a sales context include:
They help sales professionals determine whether a lead is worth pursuing. When you uncover key information like decision-making authority, you can prioritize high-quality prospects and avoid wasting time on those that don't fit well.