Trash talk is often used in politics, especially in advertisements. In an effort to defame the opposition and political competitors, candidates tell us why their opponents are bad and even dangerous for our future. Especially when there are only 2 candidates in the fight, they are hoping to persuade or, more accurately, they hope they will scare the undecided off enough to vote for them. They believe that competitive trash talk will not discourage their own supporters. They don’t care that the other candidate supporters will dislike them even more, since they don’t expected their votes anyway.
So it is about instigating fears into minds of undecided voters. It is about showing them often exaggerated threats linked to the competitor. Why is it not a good idea to incorporate trash talk into your marketing strategy? The answer is offered in an article on the business2community.com website.
Trash talk is harmful
In business, speaking negatively of your competitor will not win you any potential customers. When you speak ill about your client's current vendor, your prospect gets defensive, since it was him who decided on the original vendor. Often, in any organization, there are enough people who complain about the present vendor. Don’t be merely another be another negative voice, you will be labeled a complainer or hateful.
Nobody wants to do business with such people. Anyway, you may appear to be just jealous. Furthermore, you want to be hired because you understand their situation and will deliver the best value for them, not only because all your competitors suck.
These 3 powerful questions are better
Ask them what is positives about their current vendor. Next, ask what they would like to change, what could be done differently and better. Listen carefully and ask about details and consequences. Then the third question comes – ask whether they would be able to talk with you about how you can help them. Emphasize how you will solve current problems stemming from the weaknesses of current vendor. Your prospect just relived the annoyance caused by current vendor – and now here you are, a trusted advisor, who clearly sees needs of the customer. Then he is yours.
jk-