What do you do if your outside sales pitch is interrupted by a sudden power outage?

The first thing is to remain calm so that nothing gets out of control, I have to continue with the service knowing that it will neither be the first time nor the last to happen, I have to explain and make it clear that the necessary meditations have already been taken, involve the team, customers so that they feel welcomed and that the necessary measures have been taken and everything will be resolved in the best way

Start freaking out. The customer will assume control of the situation, which will play directly into your hand. By making them think that you are losing your absolute mind, they will see an easy target in your negotiations. Once this happens, it's game over...but not for you. Feel free to share this advice with the rest of your team. I always set a small device to cut the power 38 minutes into my pitch. By then, I will have definitely run out of things to say and this will make a good conversation piece, if nothing else.

I can tell you first hand what happened and how I handled just that, a power outage many times during 1 terrible winter here in New England. During this 1 winter we were experiencing rain and freezing cold temps. It was just terrible. I probably experienced a power outage 3 - 6 times that winter. I was in the middle of a sales presentation, I remember at a Salem NH bank for the senior staff and owners. The lights went out. I asked if they had candles available? They had a few and I asked if we could move into the main mezzanine now that the customers and staff were gone and bring a car to the front and turn the headlights on? They did, I finished and I closed business. "When the goal is big enough friends, the facts don't count".

Be aware that a power-outage may introduce your decision-maker with new tasks due to the issue at hand. For example, when presenting to a Maintenance Manager, they would almost definitely have to react to the power-outage and put a stall to your presentation. This only strengthens the idea of -knowing who you are selling to- your thoughtfulness should carry you through to your follow up meeting. Besides the decision-makers that would need to react in such situations, your overall reaction will be measured as you work towards partnering with a new customer. Use the situation to show your prospect how you handle unexpected situations. As laid out above - calmly, professionally and sprinkling in some humanizing traits such as humor.

Honestly, this is so unlikely to happen, I’m not sure this question is worth answering. How you handle it depends on your relationship with the prospect, but I would simply offer my help as the situation is no longer about my sales pitch and is more about showing that I care.

Having a backup plan is indeed crucial, especially in outside sales where unexpected circumstances can arise. Being prepared with printed materials or offline access to your presentation demonstrates reliability and professionalism to your clients. Your ability to adapt and convey the value proposition verbally can be just as impactful, ensuring that the pitch remains effective even without visuals.

Having a backup plan for a sudden power outage during an outside sales pitch is crucial. Here's a potential backup plan: Portable Power Source: Carry a portable power bank or generator to quickly restore power for essential devices like laptops, tablets, or presentation equipment. Printed Materials: Have printed copies of your presentation materials, brochures, and any necessary documents. This ensures you can continue the meeting without relying on electronic devices. Alternative Location: Identify nearby cafes, libraries, or coworking spaces with power sources where you can relocate the meeting if necessary.

This starts before the meeting. If in person you can wait things out, but let's face it- most of us are making sales calls virtuall. Make sure you have a phone number for the office or person you're speaking to so you can call and determine next steps. Also, reach out on several channels (email, Social Direct mess, SMS) to make sure to stay in communication.

Having a backup plan for power outages as a virtual assistant is crucial to ensure the continuity of your work. If power outages are frequent in your area, consider investing in a backup power generator to keep your workspace running during extended outages.

Engaging the client during a power outage is essential to keep the conversation flowing and maintain their interest. Here are some strategies to engage them: Ask Questions: Encourage the client to share their thoughts, concerns, and priorities. This not only keeps the conversation going but also shows that you value their input. Tell Stories: Share relevant anecdotes or success stories related to your product or service. Storytelling can captivate attention and illustrate the benefits of what you're offering. Focus on Benefits: Emphasize the benefits and value propositions of your product or service, highlighting how it can solve their problems or fulfill their needs.

If something happened uncontrolled its ok ,but as a sales guy this is high time to show your strong side .we should engage him with relevant information about us and how we are concerned and serious towards clients satisfaction.

Comunique-se Imediatamente: Assim que perceber que a reunião foi perdida devido à falta de energia, entre em contato com o cliente o mais rápido possível. Seja honesto e explique a situação. Peça desculpas pelo inconveniente, Informe o cliente sobre o ocorrido e explique que a reunião precisará ser reagendada. Ofereça Alternativas: Pergunte sobre disponibilidade do cliente e sugira datas e horários alternativos. Garanta Continuidade: Se a reunião era importante, assegure ao cliente que os tópicos discutidos não serão perdidos. Anote os pontos principais e compartilhe-os com o cliente por e-mail ou mensagem. Reforce o Compromisso: Diga que está ansioso para reagendar a reunião e que fará o possível para evitar futuras interrupções.

Según mi experiencia trabajando con diferentes clientes, de manera presencial y/o remota, mi recomendación es que puedas ser sincero con el cliente desde un inicio e involucrarlo en todo el proceso de solucionar la situación, así generaras confianza y te mostraras honesto desde un inicio, lo cual se valora mucho. Por ejemplo, si el internet te ha estado fallando durante todo el día, mi recomendación es que cuando inicies la reunión puedas comentar que tienes este problema, que en caso de que algo no funcione como corresponde, ellos serán los primeros en ser notificados al respecto.

Humor is a good way to overcome an unexpected situation. I would say something like I thought our presentation was lights out, but this is a little extreme.

A true story to illustrate the power of humor -- and your entertainment. At the very start of my career I went on a cold call. Literally knocked on a door. I asked for the GM by name and was informed that he had passed away. (Contact list obviously was out of date.) I offered my sympathy and asked for the replacement GM and was informed that he too had passed away! Flustered, I asked for the current GM and the man said "I am". I replied "how do you feel?" He laughed, invited me in and bought a piece of equipment.

Using humor can be an effective way to lighten the mood and ease tension during unexpected situations like a power outage. Here's how you can incorporate humor into the conversation: Acknowledge the Situation: Start by acknowledging the power outage with a light-hearted comment, such as, "Well, it looks like we've gone for a more intimate, candle-lit setting for our meeting today!" Make a Joke: Inject humor into the conversation with a relevant joke or witty remark. For example, "Looks like even the lights are excited to hear about our product! They just couldn't handle the brilliance." Laugh at Yourself: Self-deprecating humor can help to humanize you and make you more relatable to the client. You could say something like, "Well, I

Humor can lighten the mood. The primary goal is to connect on a human level while being aware of the room. This helps relieve the stress of the situation while showing the client that you both are human.

This can be the best time to use pen and paper. Now that you know the client has no other chores to take care of, you will have his complete undivided attention. Take out your book, use one page to write down his requirements and use the other page to describe what you are portraying. This little process will help you when the power comes back on and now that you had used a paper to explain the client would remember far more as you would have explained only the most necessary topics and will be far more relatable to the client than the whole PPT.

In my experience it helps to have a physical and virtual display of your product or service to alleviate any outside interruptions like power outages. Assure your audience that you're prepared to continue the presentation despite the technical difficulties. Stay calm, make eye contact and carry on.

I love a good handout and also a leave behind. I would definitely have a print off to continue the presentation. Plus I think having that printout in their hands helps the customer follow along wire with or without out power.

In my follow-up communication, I'd open by acknowledging the remarkable nature of our recent meeting, noting it as one of the most distinctive encounters I've experienced. I'd weave in a mention of our shared experience to draw the client into the memory. Building upon that connection, I'd inquire if there were any aspects overlooked due to the distractions, addressing concerns and smoothly transitioning to soliciting the sale.

In SA this has not been a unique problem. I would simply take out literature for a generator or solar system and make them an offer on this first. a bit of humor never hurt.

Know your sales pitch and your product well enough to be comfortable presenting without any slides or pictures. Know the capabilities, value propositions and understand how your product can positively impact the customer. Stay professional but also be personable and show your ability to pivot and adapt to the situation at hand.

Use this event as an analogy with the client. What happens when things don’t go as planned? What if you are thrown a curve ball? Do you have a plan in place or a trusted advisor that you can count on to help back you up? This is a great moment to prove your worth to the client as that resource they can count on when things go off track.

In case of power outage you work to move to cell to cell phone call. Ask about how things are in their area and how they are affected personally and professionally to open up rapport and dialogue with out being overall pressuring.

After reading the room, your audience may have invested the time and/or need the information they brought you in for, so realizing that, the show must go on! I once disconnected the laptop and displayed it for each person so the CEU remained valuable. Remember we are all human, dealing with the same issues, and if you know your stuff, take a moment to reset, and continue. For that time you are the leader, and others will match your attitude. Remember that your marketing skills are not dependent on everything being perfect!