Pop quiz: What’s the first word that comes to mind when you hear “salesperson”? If you’re like most people, it’s probably not flattering; pushy, deceptive, high-pressure, maybe even self-serving. Unfortunately, that reputation exists for a reason: for years, many salespeople have earned it with aggressive tactics and robotic pitches.
But here’s the truth: the solution is to sell smarter not harder. And it starts with understanding the three types of prospects you’ll meet on every call.
The Radar Problem
Every prospect has a built-in radar to detect one thing: someone trying to sell them something. Once that radar goes off, ping!, walls go up, objections roll in, and trust disappears.
Traditional training often tells you to fight through resistance. But that approach triggers defenses instead of lowering them. The best reps move smarter. They know exactly who they’re talking to and how to adjust.
The Three Types of Prospects
A Prospects (1%)
These are the unicorns. The people who already want what you’re selling. They’ve done their research, they’re ready to buy, and you’re mostly there to confirm their decision.
Your move: Keep it simple. Don’t oversell. Reassure, confirm fit, and close the loop. Overcomplicate it, and you risk turning a sure thing into a second-guess.
F Prospects (10–20%)
The “F” stands for Friction, Failure, or your favorite four-letter word. These are the skeptics who never wanted the call in the first place. They’ll challenge you, interrupt you, and resist every step of the way. Even if you manage to close them, they’re the ones who churn fast, leave bad reviews, and drain your team’s morale.
Your move: Disengage quickly. Trying to win them over is a waste of energy and emotion. Your time is better spent elsewhere.
B Prospects (60–70%)
Here’s your sweet spot. B Prospects are open-minded but cautious. They’ll listen, they’ll question, and they’ll test your credibility. They’re not sold yet but they could be.
Your move: This is where skill shines. Anticipate their objections before they’re raised. Address their concerns naturally within your pitch. Ask great questions, show you understand their world, and position yourself as a trusted advisor not a pushy rep.
Handled correctly, B Prospects become loyal customers. Handled poorly, they slide straight into F territory.
Every Call Is an Audition
Every conversation is an audition for one role: trusted expert advisor. Your prospect is the casting director.
They can’t see you, so they build their impression entirely from how you sound; your tone, pace, confidence, and energy. Get your tonality wrong, and even a perfect script falls flat. Get it right, and they’ll lean in, listen, and trust you.
Your voice communicates:
Credibility
Confidence
Authenticity
That’s what earns attention and ultimately, business.
The Mental Edge
When you understand prospect types, everything changes. You stop taking rejection personally and start treating it as data.
F Prospect? Move on, and fast.
B Prospect? Engage with skill and earn the win.
A Prospect? Don’t overthink it. Just take the order.
This clarity helps you stay focused, energized, and consistent. You’re not failing. You’re filtering.
Putting It into Practice
To master this mindset, remember:
Anticipate before you aggravate. Weave common objections into your pitch before they’re raised.
Be consultative, not combative. Ask questions, offer insight, and focus on fit.
Know when to walk away. F Prospects aren’t your audience, protect your time and your confidence.
When you sell this way, everything changes. You stop forcing sales and start creating conversations built on trust. Objections shrink, deals close faster, and selling becomes simpler and more human.
Next week: We’ll break down the call structure that consistently closes deals in just two calls and why it outperforms every other approach we’ve tested across hundreds of companies.
In case you haven’t seen it: Butch Hodson and AJ Mahar, authors of Sales Lab Scripting, are hosting a live virtual event on November 6th—Building the Right Sales Script. It’s a great chance to learn directly from the people who literally wrote the book. REGISTER HERE.
Sellfire is the complete solution for high-velocity sales. We unlock consistently great revenue performance for companies of all sizes — from founder-led startups to scaled sales organizations.
Learn more at sellfire.com.