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Effective Sales Presentations - Steve Jobs style

By
Real Estate Agent

I was inspired to write this post after viewing the video below.

Steve Jobs is recognized as one of the greatest presenters of our time. A key to his success is the structure of his presentations. I have outlined the structure below. 

Steve JobsStage 1 - Huge (Where we have been):

Here the speaker is seeking to establish credibility. "Last year, using the "low definition video home tour", my team sold over $20M in real estate. That is Huge!"

Stage 2 - Mere Mortals (The "what" - introduction of the solution):

In the Mere Mortals stage the speaker sets the expectations for what they are about to speak about. "I am here to talk about the "virtual high definition video home tour" for the sale of your home! You are probably asking why a Mere Mortal needs a virtual high definition video home tour to sell my home."

Stage 3 - Wouldn't it be great? (The "why" - the promise on how it is going to change your life):

"Well wouldn't it be great if you were able to place a sign in your front yard tomorrow declaring your home for sale tomorrow and be guaranteed that your home would be viewed, virtual and in high definition, by over 100 people during the first weekend without a single non-serious buyer stepping foot into your home?

Stage 4 - Unbelievable! (Demonstrating the "why" in action):

This is the stage were you first demo the product/service and reveal the conceptual ways you could keep the "Wouldn't it be great?" promise. "Up on the screen is a virtual high definition video tour of your home. It has 5 minutes of high definition detail of every room in your home. Notice how you can see the fine detail work in your crown mouldings? Unbelievable!"  

Final Stage - Pretty Cool huh? (How the "what" could be implemented)

Actual examples of how the product/service could be executed. "Just last month I sold three homes to out of state buyers that ratified a Purchase & Sales Agreement before seeing the home in person. Pretty cool huh? 

 

Disclaimer: I really don't know if this is how Steve outlines his speeches, but it is how I am going to in the future.  

Video link was courtesy of Seth Godin's blog and Gil

Cynthia Sloop
Community Association Manager - Indianapolis, IN
Thanks for the breakdown Jonathon.  I am always working to understand how to be more effective in my sales presentations and your example helps explain things.
Feb 07, 2007 11:12 AM
Jon Washburn
Seattle, WA
Cynthia, your welcome.  I am concerned that my post isn't very clear unless you watch the video. 
Feb 07, 2007 11:18 AM
S W
Seattle, WA

Pretty cool! ;)

These words engage the audience to imagine something outside of their preconceived notions. Preconceived notions include skepticism, and skepticism keeps people from considering something openly (as opposed to through a biased lense).

Steve Job's strength comes from delivering on the vision he creates. If an agent creates a vision for a seller/buyer, and then delivers, that agent has earned a lifetime of credibility with those sellers/buyers. However, like Jobs, the content delivered must be truthful and something that you can deliver on!  

Feb 07, 2007 11:51 AM
ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779
REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC
CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

I used to be in the executive search business...computer industry...senior level sales...I've watched Mr. Jobs over the eyars. I have supplied his organization with talent. The talent at the top (Jobs, himself) is what drives the entire production. Jobs' showmanship is unparalleled IMHO...I've seen him perform a number of times, and a number of times he had us all drooling  by the time he got Stage 4.

The thing I connect with here, though, is that THIS is what the Rain Gods are doing...maybe not on a material stage, but in the artistic sense and with technical genius. I sure appreciate that. And I canhardly wait to see what will happen at the next "stage"... ... ...

Feb 07, 2007 10:32 PM