Defeating the Silent Deal-Killers: How to Address Startup Pre-Objections

Hey Reader,

Your best prospects aren't saying no. They're not saying anything at all. Deals lost in the silence before you even get a chance to pitch. These are pre-objections, invisible deal-killers lurking in your prospect's mind.

The unspoken doubts, bias, assumptions, the "yeah, buts" that you never even get to counter. The solution? Pre-emptive trust building, value screaming, & pain eradicating.

TL;DR You can do all the work, an incredible demo, dazzle with features, but that assumes you can get them to engage. And that's a pretty massive assumption.

95% of your rejections happen in silence. You never even meet these prospects because they've already decided you're not worth their time.

Working with you is a risk. Your prospects know it. You know it. Your job isn't to convince them there's no risk. It's to show them why the risk is worth it, like every other StartUp before you.

The goal isn't to close a deal. It's to start a conversation, to get that first "hello" - the chance to start a relationship.

It's one tiny place, you might have the upper hand.

Acknowledge it: New is good. We'll work harder for you than anyone else. We're purpose-built for today's challenges, not weighed down by legacy systems.

Flip it: Our size means you'll have my cell phone. We'll work harder for you than anyone else.

Mitigate it: Show your SOC2 maturity, offer iron-clad guarantees, easy exit clauses, or risk-sharing models.

Showcase the upside: You're not just getting a product, you're shaping the future of it. Here's our roadmap - let's discuss it together.

This isn't a deep dive into buyer psychology; it's the basics. Your prospects worry that you're new - totally fair. This is about understanding these straightforward, fundamental concerns.

Sometimes your prospect thinks they're protecting you, believing you'll never make it through their procurement or security process.

If you don't get in front of these doubts, you cannot expect them to engage, and they owe you no feedback as to why.

Understanding Pre-Objections: Two Matrices of Concern

Different objections require different responses, so you would be well served to organize your approach:

Nature of the Objection:

Business: Concerns about your company's viability, stability, or reputation.
Commercial: Concerns about pricing, return on investment, or contract terms.
Technical: Concerns about the product's features, functionality, compatibility, or security.

Underlying Motivation:

Trust: A lack of trust in your company, product, or team.
Budget: Concerns about affordability or budget constraints.
Need: A perceived lack of need for your product or a belief that it won't solve their problem.
Urgency: A lack of urgency to make a decision or a belief that the problem isn't pressing.

One more thing...

Pre-objections must be addressed before your prospect considers engaging with you. It's about showing up with a few early wins, a commitment to security and transparency, and a willingness to go the extra mile to prove your value.

Imagine you're the buyer. What would make you trust a new, unproven company? What would make you feel confident enough to take a chance on them?

Whether it's clear pricing, public roadmap, chatbot for instant support, or an outbound email that speaks directly to their pain points, each element is a signal that you just might be a partner invested in their success.

Remember, every "no" you're not hearing is a conversation you're not having.

-- James