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The Upsell

10 min
B1

🎧 Transcript

Joseph: So you want to upsell the client on the premium package. How did you approach it?

Sana: I said "You should upgrade to the premium package. It is better."

Joseph: That is a push, not a sell. "You should" sounds like an order. And "it is better" β€” better how? For who?

Sana: How should I say it?

Joseph: Start with their problem, not your product. "I have noticed your team has been using the basic reporting a lot. Have you ever felt limited by the dashboard?"

Sana: So I ask about their pain first.

Joseph: Exactly. Then connect your solution to their pain: "The premium package includes custom dashboards, which would save your team about 3 hours a week on manual reporting."

Sana: Time saved β€” that is a concrete benefit.

Joseph: Right. Never say "it is better." Say what it does FOR THEM. Time saved, money saved, problems solved. And always frame it as an option, not a push: "It might be worth exploring" not "you should upgrade."

Sana: What if they say no?

Joseph: Accept gracefully. "No problem at all β€” just wanted to make sure you knew it was available. If it ever becomes relevant, let me know." You have planted the seed without damaging the relationship.

Sana: And if they say "let me think about it"?

Joseph: That usually means "maybe." Do not push. Say "Of course β€” I will send you a quick summary so you have the details. No rush." Then follow up once, a week later: "Just checking in on what we discussed. Happy to answer any questions."

Sana: So the whole thing is: find their pain, show how you solve it, and let them decide.

Joseph: That is consultative selling. You are an advisor, not a salesperson. French directness β€” "achetez ceci" β€” does not work in English B2B relationships.

Check your understanding

1. Why is "You should upgrade β€” it is better" a bad upsell?

"You should" sounds like an order. "It is better" is vague. Clients need to hear what it does for THEM specifically β€” time saved, problems solved, money saved.

2. What does "consultative selling" mean?

You are an advisor, not a salesperson. You find their pain first, then show how your solution addresses it. The client decides β€” you do not push.

3. What should you say if the client says "let me think about it"?

"Of course β€” I will send you a summary so you have the details. No rush." Then one follow-up a week later. Do not push β€” let them come to you.

Key phrases

"I have noticed your team has been..." β€” Start with their situation, not your product
"This would save your team about..." β€” Concrete benefit, not "it is better"
"It might be worth exploring..." β€” Option, not a push
"No problem β€” just wanted to make sure you knew it was available" β€” Graceful acceptance of "no"
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