Effective negotiation is essential for maintaining predictable revenues, cash flow and earnings. Simple negotiations work when all things are simple, but usually they aren't...especially when it involves complex product/service offerings. Watch this webinar for ideas that can save you valuable time, money and aggravation.
Jim Geisman from Software Pricing Partners will share practical tips on the nuances of complex negotiation from his years of experience working in the software industry - which are applicable to any complex, highly differentiated products.
3. Today’s Presenters
Jay Manson is Vice President of Sales at LeveragePoint.
He joined LeveragePoint in June 2010 and is responsible for
bringing LeveragePoint to market.
He brings over 15 years in business development, sales and sales
management experience, and has spent the past 10 years in the
value-based marketing, pricing and sales industry.
Formerly, Director of Business Development in Monitor’s Strategic
Pricing Group and as Managing Director for Benchmark Partners.
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4. Today’s Presenters
Jim Geisman is President of Software Pricing Partners, Inc
and is a recognized expert in software pricing and negotiating
software transactions. Jim's pricing experience started in 1988.
Jim was a member of the original ARPANET team and was
honored as an Internet Founder by the Massachusetts Software
Council. He is on the Board of Advisors to the Professional Pricing
Society. Jim holds BS and MS EE degrees from Tufts University and
an MBA from Harvard.
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5. Win on Price -- Lose the Deal
• Anyone can negotiate — and everyone does.
• Doing deals too fast means they may be poorly
negotiated deals. Good deals take time and care.
• Carefully negotiated deals stay in place longer and
can be more profitable.
• Companies that negotiate systematically have
predictable revenues, cash flow and earnings.
• The tips in this webinar should help you (and your
colleagues) negotiate systematically.
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8. Negotiating Goes Beyond the Price
• Sales negotiations are often viewed as simply…
– Vendor sells: Product
– Customer buys: Product (after price haggling)
• Few negotiations are that simple because…
– Product/service/company is unique
– Unique offerings means negotiation is unique i.e. not simple
• Unique sales negotiations are more complex as…
– Vendor sells: product, services, delivery, expertise, futures, company reputation
– Customer buys: improved financials, customer acquisition, lower costs,
improved competitive position, etc.
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9. Three Phases of Sales Negotiations
• Negotiate your value
– Be Prepared
– Lay Foundation
• Negotiate the offering
– Before Starting
– In the Thick of It
• Negotiate the deal
– Coming to an Agreement
– As the Dust Settles
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10. Negotiating Tips for Executives
Negotiate Your Value
Be Prepared
• Understand Value of What You Offer
• Be Clear on Why (and What) You Are Negotiating
• Make Negotiation Fit Market Strategy
• Support Negotiation Process
Lay Foundation
• Qualify Interest Level — Which stakeholder has wins the most?
• Don't Start Negotiating Too Early – Does the Customer believe your value?
• Set Limits and Designate Lead Negotiator – Who/what/when/how far?
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11. Negotiating Tips for Executives
Negotiate the Offering
Before Starting
• Have Right Attendees at Meeting
• Stay Focused on What Changes Your Economics
• Maintain Control Over Your Side of the Conversation
• Don't Answer Every Question
In the Thick of It
• Don't Play "What If" Games
• Keep Your Eye on the Actual Amounts Involved in a Deal
• Give Something; Get Something—Value Trade-Offs
• Use Term Sheets Before Contract Details
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12. Negotiating Tips for Executives
Negotiate the Deal
Coming to an Agreement
• Agree on Value of Offering
• Not Every Deal Can Be Done
• Don't Bluff Final Offers.
• Don’t Volunteer to Draft Contract
As the Dust Settles
• Avoid Surprise Demands
• Be Careful With Last Minute Changes
• Don’t Just Accept Late Requests for Concessions
• Follow Through on What You Negotiate – Measure the Value
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13. Tips For Negotiating Prices
• What Does “a Better Price” Mean?
• Learn Why a Competitor Cuts Prices; Ignore
Some Price Cuts
• Keep Price Lists Simple Use Printed Price Lists
• Make Volume Purchase Agreements Work
• Reserve Large Discounts for “Real Big Deals“
• Invest Your Discount Dollars Wisely
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14. Next Steps
• Think in advance about negotiating a deal.
• Train people to negotiate better deals
• Develop customer-specific, quantifiable value propositions
• Build models to assess the financial impact of negotiated items
• Provide coaching assistance during sales negotiations
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15. Thanks for Watching!
jaymanson@comcast.com
Jay Manson
(781) 727 – 5977
www.SoftwarePricing.com
jimg@softwarepricing.com
Jim Geisman
(508) 647 – 0330
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