Woo The Buyer's Limbic Mind or Waste Your Sales Efforts...

By Lori Richardson Apr 10, 2004, 2:08:33 PM

wow, what a title. I found Dr. Lynella Grant's website, Giant Potatoes (When You're Tired Of Being Treated Like Small Potatoes) - first I love the name, and secondly, she makes a great point. People buy EMOTIONALLY... oh sure, we all try to logically rationalize our decisions, but they are made through emotion. Dr. Grant goes on to say:

If you've driven yourself crazy trying to figure out why so many
customers get away, relax. You can't figure it out, because…
It's not logical. The impulse that makes people buy from one
business instead of another is no more logical than the baying
of an elk's mating call. In fact, it works exactly the same way,
through the limbic system.

The limbic system is instinctive—older than language, faster
than thinking. It controls trust. It controls attention and desire.
And logic must stand aside until the limbic part of the brain says
decides something is trustworthy. In primitive times it was
constantly alert for danger. Detecting threats spelled the
difference between life and death. That function is still important
today (although the kinds of risks are very different).

Check out the rest of the article here, and post your thoughts - I would have to say that I DO court the limbic system, although I've never thought of if quite that way.

Lori Richardson
Written by

Lori Richardson

Lori Richardson is Founder & CEO of Score More Sales, a top B2B sales strategy firm helping mid-sized companies grow revenues by solving key sales issues - like recruiting, retention, building an inclusive sales team, process, pipeline, and leadership. Lori is also the President of Women Sales Pros - a community created to increase the number of women in sales, as well as in AI-powered and sales leadership roles. She speaks to CEOs on topics such as sales growth, the power of mindset, and the importance and value of a strong sales culture. Clients include companies in the technology, telecom, manufacturing, distribution, and professional services industries. Salesforce named Lori a Top Sales Influencer in 2021 - 2025.  Lori has been named a top sales influencer over the years by LinkedIn, as well as many other companies and organizations. Her book, She Sells, is on hiring more women for B2B sales roles. Subscribe to the award-winning blog, follow her on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.

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