Sales Phrases to Avoid for Better Results

Nobody tells you this about enterprise sales The biggest deals are lost in the first 5 minutes. Not because of your pitch. Not because of your price. Not because of your product. But because of the language you use. Here's what I discovered after analyzing 1000+ sales calls: The higher the deal value, the simpler the language needed to win. Example: $5K deal (Lost) Rep: "Our value proposition addresses critical pain points in your tech stack integration, offering seamless scalability..." $50K deal (Won) Rep: "We help companies stop losing customers due to slow website loading times." See the difference? I tested this with a struggling SaaS team: Before: Complex sales language - 22% close rate - 108-day sales cycle - $127K average deal After: Plain English only - 41% close rate - 71-day sales cycle - $198K average deal Simple change. Massive impact. The truth is, every exec can smell rehearsed "sales talk" from miles away. Want to close bigger deals? Drop these phrases: - "Value proposition" → Say how you help - "Pain points" → Say what problems you solve - "ROI analysis" → Say how much money they'll make - "Scalable solution" → Say how you grow with them - "Best-in-class" → Say why you're better Top performers don't sound like salespeople. They sound like trusted advisors who happen to sell. Start talking like a human. Watch your deals grow. What's the worst sales jargon you've heard lately? P.S. If you need help with your sales, send me a message Let's talk about finding your breakthrough strategy

Listen up. I've coached thousands of sales calls across Fortune 500 companies, and I'm telling you right now most reps are sabotaging their deals without even realizing it. When I was a rookie rep back in 2007, I nearly got fired because I didn't understand how language patterns impact sales psychology. Now after helping teams double their sales results in 90 days, I can spot these conversion killers from a mile away. You're probably crushing your win rate with these seemingly innocent phrases.  Here are 6 phrases that are absolutely DESTROYING your deals (and what to say instead): 1) "Sorry to bother you..." Look, when you start with an apology, you're basically telling the prospect "I'm not worth your time." You're six feet under before the conversation even starts. Top 1% performers NEVER apologize for delivering value. They command attention through absolute certainty. ✅ POWER MOVE: "Hey Alice, Marcus here from Venli. I'm reaching out because we helped Company X increase their pipeline by 37% last quarter, and I noticed your team might be facing similar challenges..." 2) "Just following up..." This lazy, low effort phrase screams "I have nothing valuable to add but I still want your money." It's the ultimate momentum killer. Elite reps are wildly precise with their words and always reference specific commitments made in previous conversations. ✅ POWER MOVE: "Alice, you mentioned you were going to discuss our proposal with Charles during your leadership meeting yesterday. I'm curious … what feedback did you receive that we should address?" 3) "I know you're really busy..." The moment these words leave your mouth, you've positioned yourself as less important. Game over. You're back in the hole. Remember: YOUR time is equally valuable. The top performers I've coached all communicate high status through subtle positioning. ✅ POWER MOVE: "I was just wrapping up a strategy session with Lisa, the CEO over at Company X, and wanted to quickly connect about next steps before my afternoon gets packed..." 4) "What are the next steps?" This shows you've done a poor job managing the process. You're basically admitting you don't have a system, a playbook or any real methodology. The sales machines I build GIVE direction, they don't ask for it. They own the process completely. ✅ POWER MOVE: "Based on what we've discussed, here's what typically happens next: First, we'll schedule a technical review with your team for next Tuesday. Then, we'll deliver a customized implementation plan by Friday. How does that sound?" 5) "To be honest..." Wait. Wait. Wait. So everything else you've said up until now was dishonest!? This undermines credibility faster than anything. When I turn around failing sales teams, eliminating this phrase is always one of the first habits we break. ✅ POWER MOVE: "That's an excellent question, Alice. Here's exactly how our solution addresses that challenge..."

After 15+ years in sales, here’s a what I’ve learned. The words you choose are as important as the product you sell. Here are 7 phrases I hear too often, and why they quietly kill trust: ❌ “I’m just checking in” → Translation: “I don’t have a real reason to reach out.” Always give value when you show up. ❌ “To be honest with you” → Does that mean you weren’t honest before? Precision in language = precision in trust. ❌ “I can send you a proposal” → You’re handing over control. Instead: “Let’s walk through a proposal together to see if it fits.” ❌ “I haven’t heard back from you” → That’s your problem, not theirs. Instead: “I know timing is key. Is [X outcome] still a priority for this quarter?” ❌ “Trust me” → The fastest way to break trust is to ask for it. Earn it with proof, not promises. ❌ “I think” → If you’re uncertain, why should they be certain? Replace with “Here’s what we know from experience.” ❌ “Obviously” → Nothing is obvious to your customer. Clarity > assumption. 🔑 The fix: Your words should do 3 things in every sales conversation: Build confidence. Remove friction. Anchor value. If your language doesn’t do these 3, you’re accidentally selling yourself short. You don’t need to master a hundred sales tricks. All you need is to upgrade your words.

🚫 𝟭𝟭 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝘂𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 — 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 🎯 Master the art of starting powerful conversations In sales, the first 30 seconds can decide whether your prospect stays engaged… or mentally checks out. Unfortunately, many sales professionals still begin their calls with weak, generic, or buyer-repelling openers. Here are 11 common mistakes — and the high-impact alternatives that instantly build trust, credibility, and direction.👇 ❌ 1. “How are you today?” Sounds scripted and instantly signals “sales call.” ✅ “Thanks for making time. Let’s dive in.” Straightforward, respectful, and professional. ❌ 2. “So… what do you want to know?” Puts responsibility on the buyer and reflects poor preparation. ✅ “Here’s what I had in mind for today. Does that match your priorities?” Shows clarity and leadership. ❌ 3. “I know you’re busy, so…” Highlights stress instead of value. ✅ “We have 30 minutes. Here’s what I want to cover.” Sets structure and confidence. ❌ 4. “Let me tell you about our company…” Buyers don’t care — yet. ✅ “Before I share anything, what made you take this call?” Positions the conversation around their needs. ❌ 5. “Let me show you the platform.” Premature pitching kills discovery. ✅ “Before we look at anything, where are you today with solving X?” Keeps the discussion solution-focused. ❌ 6. “Can you tell me about your company?” Shows lack of research. ✅ “From what I saw, you’re doing X. Is that accurate?” Demonstrates preparation and credibility. ❌ 7. “Let me tell you what we do.” Again — too soon. ✅ “Before we dive in, can I ask what led you to this call?” Invites meaningful context. ❌ 8. “So… where do you want to start?” Feels directionless. ✅ “Here’s the agenda I suggest. Let me know if you want to adjust anything.” Prospects appreciate structure. ❌ 9. “What are you hoping to learn about us?” Misplaces responsibility. ✅ “Based on the context you shared, here are the two areas I think matter most. Agree?” Clarifies expectations and direction. ❌ 10. “Do you have any questions before we start?” Awkward and ineffective. ✅ “Let’s start with [specific topic], questions as we go.” Smooth and natural. ❌ 11. “Walk me through your situation…” Too broad — creates fatigue. ✅ “You mentioned [challenge]. Tell me more.” Clear, focused, and value-driven. 🌟 The Big Lesson Sales is no longer about pitching — it’s about guiding a strategic conversation. These powerful openers help you: ✔ Build instant trust ✔ Show preparation ✔ Take control of the call ✔ Position yourself as a problem-solver Start strong, and the entire conversation shifts in your favor. 💼🔥 🔥 #SalesTips #SalesTraining #LeadGeneration #SalesStrategy #B2BMarketing #BusinessGrowth #ClientSuccess #SalesLeadership #Prospecting #ColdCalling #NHBCConsultants

Most of your prospects don't hate outreach. They just hate 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. That’s the problem. Not your offer. Not your timing. It's 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦. "Buyers don't want to feel 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 — they want to feel 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥." That's the difference between 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘮 and 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. Too many sellers still treat outreach like a numbers game. Spray. Pray. Hope the algorithm, or a desperate target, will play along. You don’t lose buyers because of 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨. You lose them because you made them feel like just another row in your CRM. Don't worry, I've got you covered. Here are 7 things to stop doing — and what to do 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 if you want to sell the way buyers actually buy 👇 ❶ ❌ Instead of: “I help [ICP] achieve [generic benefit]” ✅ Do: “I noticed [specific activity or post] and had a thought that might help.” → Speak to 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦, not who you 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 they are. ❷ ❌ Instead of: Pitching after connection ✅ Do: Start a conversation that 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩 → If your first message sounds like a setup, you’ve already lost trust. ❸ ❌ Instead of: “Saw you’re in [industry] – figured I’d reach out” ✅ Do: Reference their 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮, 𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵, not their job title → Don’t mirror their LinkedIn filters. Mirror their 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴. ❹ ❌ Instead of: Sending 3 follow-ups with “just checking in” ✅ Do: Share something that proves you're following 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, not your own sales cadence → A comment they left. A company announcement. Show your eyes are open. ❺ ❌ Instead of: Using phrases like “circle back,” “value proposition,” or “next steps” ✅ Do: Speak like a human who respects their intelligence → Most sales copy is 𝘈𝘐-𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯-𝘣𝘺-𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘴-𝘧𝘰𝘳-𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘴. Buyers want real talk. ❻ ❌ Instead of: Personalising 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 ✅ Do: Personalise 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 — or don’t reach out at all → A fake-custom message is worse than no message. It insults their time 𝘢𝘯𝘥 your credibility. ❼   ❌ Instead of: Assuming your offer fits their funnel ✅ Do: Assume you 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 know what they need — and ask a smart question first → Lead with curiosity, not certainty. You’re not a solution. You’re a hypothesis. Bottom line: If your outreach makes people feel boxed in, profiled, or processed — you're 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨. You're alienating. Sell to humans. Make them feel 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯, not segmented. Now you: Which of these are you still doing (even if you hate to admit it)? And for the buyers amongst us, what makes you cringe big time?

𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 $𝟯𝗠 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗘. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟱 𝗽𝗵𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 - 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆. I’ve said every one of these. And yep, I watched deals die right after. When I was starting out, I thought “closing hard” was what made you good. But great sales isn’t about pressure. It’s about precision. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟱 𝗽𝗵𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 - 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: 𝟭. “𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹, 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻?” Why it’s bad: Centres your needs - not theirs. Comes off desperate. Say this instead: → “Good luck getting this wrapped up today - look forward to you achieving X” 𝟮. “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽?” Why it’s bad: You sound unsure. Not like a Trusted Advisor. Say this instead: → “What I'd typically do next would be X. Would you recommend anything else in addition?” 𝟯. “𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆?” Why it’s bad: Screams “I didn’t do my homework.” Say this instead: → “I saw you just [hired/launched/expanded], how is this impacting X?” 𝟰. “𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘀.” Why it’s bad: Bashing others makes you look insecure - not credible. Say this instead: → “They’re a good company - here’s 3 reasons why companies choose us instead of them” 𝟱. “𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱.” Why it’s bad: Weak & passive. No clear plan of action for anyone. Say this instead: → “Based off what you've seen today, can you see us solving X?" 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁: • More control over deals • Great sense of integrity in deals • Faster movement through pipeline 𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲: Being intentional with your words is critical Once you're truly customer-centric at your core It will come across in the words you choose 𝗣𝗦. What’s one line you’ve retired that you always used to use?

The words you choose can quietly undermine your credibility. Not because your message is wrong… but because it sounds uncertain. Certain words trigger doubt and make your message feel negotiable. Here are three to watch: • “Try” “We try to listen to our customers…” → “We listen to our customers.” • “Kind of” “We’re kind of interested…” → “We are extremely interested…” • “Hope” “We hope you see the value…” → “We’re confident you’ll see the value.” These may seem like small shifts, but they have a significant impact. Because communication is not just about what you say. It’s about the level of conviction behind it. When your language is clear and direct, it signals confidence, alignment, and certainty. And that’s what people respond to. In leadership, sales, and communication, clarity builds trust. Confidence reinforces it.

It takes 7 seconds to lose a client's trust. (Sometimes with words that seemed perfectly reasonable.) I've watched smart professionals lose deals they deserved to win. Strong relationships. Perfect fit solutions. Gone in seconds. Because here's what nobody tells you about client conversations: Your words can either open doors or close them. After training 50,000+ client-facing professionals… I've heard every phrase that makes clients pull back. The pushy questions. The tone-deaf assumptions. The pressure that breaks trust instantly. 10 phrases that push clients away: ❌ "Do you have a price range in mind?" ❌ "When can we close this deal?" ❌ "Let me tell you why we're the best." ❌ "Are you ready to buy today?" ❌ "Who else are you talking to?" ❌ "I just wanted to check in.” ❌ "You really need what we offer." ❌ "Let me know if you have any questions." ❌ "This is a limited-time offer." ❌ "Can you introduce me to your boss?" Each one risks sounding like: "I care more about my quota than your success." Now 10 that build partnerships instead: ✅ "What outcomes are most important to you?" ✅ "What would success look like for you?" ✅ "Would it help if I shared how we've helped others?" ✅ "What's your timeline for making progress?" ✅ "What's most important when choosing a partner?" ✅ "I had an idea about your goals. Want to hear it?" ✅ "What challenges are you facing that we might help with?" ✅ "Would it help if we scheduled time to dive deeper?" ✅ "What priorities are driving your timeline?" ✅ "Who else should be part of this conversation?" Notice the pattern? Every better phrase puts the client's agenda first. Not yours. Because when you stop selling and start solving, everything shifts. Clients lean in instead of pulling back. Conversations flow instead of stalling. Trust builds instead of breaking. You don't need a personality transplant. You don't need to become "salesy." You just need to change your questions. Because the truth is: Your next client conversation is either strengthening a partnership or weakening one. Your words decide which. ♻️ Valuable? Repost to help someone in your network. 📌 Follow Mo Bunnell for client-growth strategies that don’t feel like selling. Want the full cheat sheet? Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e3qRVJRf

8 Phrases That Are Secretly Killing Your Sales (and What to Say Instead) You’re good at what you do. You know your offer delivers. But if your calendar’s filled with “thinking about it” prospects… there’s a reason. It’s not your offer. It’s your language. Because buyers don’t just listen to what you say they feel how you say it. Every “checking in,” “does that make sense?” and “any questions?” chips away at trust you’ve spent weeks building. They sound harmless… polite even. But to your prospect? They sound like: “I’m trying to sell you something” And the second someone feels sold to, the conversation dies. So here’s how to upgrade your sales language: 1️⃣ Keeping Follow-Ups Friendly ❌ “Checking in again” ✅ “How’s everything progressing since we last spoke?” → Feels less needy, more collaborative. 2️⃣ Budget Without Pressure ❌ “What’s your budget?” ✅ “What results would make this a success?” → You shift focus from money to outcomes. 3️⃣ Sharing Wins Tactfully ❌ “We’re the top choice in the market” ✅ “Here’s a recent result, would this help?” → You’re sharing proof, not bragging. 4️⃣ Making Sure You’re on the Same Page ❌ “Does that make sense?” ✅ “How does this fit your current goals?” → Opens up conversation instead of testing comprehension. 5️⃣ Adding Useful Details ❌ “Like I said before…” ✅ “Here’s extra context that might help clarify.” → Removes ego, adds value. 6️⃣ Inviting Questions Naturally ❌ “Any questions?” ✅ “Which part should I explain more clearly?” → Assumes curiosity instead of silence. 7️⃣ Planning the Next Step Clearly ❌ “Let’s set up another call.” ✅ “Shall we schedule a follow-up on Friday?” → You give structure instead of vague effort. 8️⃣ Checking Progress Thoughtfully ❌ “How are things going?” ✅ “How is [goal] moving along this week?” → You sound like a partner, not a pest. Your deal’s dying not from objections But from how you phrase your intentions. Every little phrase you say creates an emotional reaction Audit your words. Because tone sells before logic ever does. Sales isn’t about scripts. It’s about signals. The right ones make people lean in. The wrong ones make them lean out. Start choosing words that open conversations, not close them. 📌 I share bite-sized shifts like this every week to help you write messages that convert without sounding salesy. 🔔 Follow me Cameron Poole ✅ For more communication tweaks that actually drive trust.

I’ve sat on 452 demos this year already. Here are 5 words/phrases that discredit you instantly: 1. “Where are you calling in from?” If you can’t do the simple research of finding the city under my name… how can I trust you’ve researched my company, our current challenges, and goals? 2. “Do you have budget for this?” Nobody is carrying around a line item in their budget for your software. Budget gets created for the right problems. Show me why this matters first in a bullet-proof business case. 3. “We work with companies just like yours.” Generic, vague, and meaningless. Don’t name drop Salesforce, Oracle, or Snowflake when I’m a series A startup with 40 employees. Show me how you’ve helped companies my size with my problems. 4. “We’re a consultative partner, not just a vendor.” Every rep thinks this sounds impressive. Buyers hear it as: “Here comes a sales pitch dressed up as advice.” Show, don’t tell. 5. “This will 10x your ROI.” Nothing screams “unrealistic promise” faster. Even if you did uncover a million-dollar problem, there’s no way you’re solving for all of it. Nobody believes or even expects you will. This is the equivalent of “Too good to be true” in sales form. But if you show me how solving even 200K of it justifies a 20K investment… now you sound credible. ——— The best sellers don’t hide behind phrases. They back up every claim with proof. That’s what builds trust. And that’s exactly what Aligned was built for: -Show your research -Prove the business case -Share customer proof -Walk buyers through the plan -Build trust with transparency Stop pitching. Start proving. Aligned's Digital Sales Rooms make it easy. Join 35,000 sellers who already use it HERE https://lnkd.in/gV5n73rv