Are you looking for a way to close more valuable deals faster and with greater success? With the help of mutual action plans (MAPs), you form a valuable and long-term partnership instead of a transactional relationship in which both sides are on the same page and can better achieve the expected results.
In this article, you'll learn why Mutual Action Plans are so important in modern sales and how they can help your organization close more deals faster
What is a Mutual Action Plan?
A MAP is an agreement between two parties that specifies how a desired outcome — in this case the conclusion of a deal — is to be achieved.
The aim of a MAP is to ensure that everyone involved in the purchase process knows what needs to be done and by when it has to happen. This helps to create clarity about the decision-making process and keeps everyone involved on the way to the end goal.
The Benefits of Mutual Action Plans (MAPs)
1. Sales as it should be - turn a transactional relationship into a real, lived partnership
The preparation of mutual action plans is an important tool for appearing and being remembered in today's corporate landscape.
The mutual action plan sets the expectations and responsibilities of both sides and promotes communication and accountability. It offers both parties significant advantages, as it allows the responsible service areas to be defined and the agreed goals are used to measure performance. A mutual action plan is designed to be mutually beneficial — as in a true partnership — so that when used correctly, it can significantly increase the chances of a successful outcome.
An example of the use of MAPs in practice: The collaboration between the sales team and a potential customer to develop a sales strategy for a new product. As part of the MAP, both parties set the goals for selling the product and discuss what steps must be taken to achieve these goals. This may include the sales team providing the customer with certain data and information to help them make decisions. These include, for example:
- Demographic data about the customer's target customers, such as age, gender, income, and place of residence
- Market information, such as the size of the market, the competitive situation and the demand for the product
- Financial information, such as the customer's available budget and revenue goals
- Product information, such as the features and benefits of the product and planned pricing
- Feedback from customers, such as their opinions and experiences with the product and the sales process.
These are just a few examples of data and information that can be shared as part of a mutual action plan. The actual type of data and information that is relevant in individual cases depends, of course, on the individual needs and goals of both parties.
2. The journey to implementing the value perspective is clear and easy to recognize
Mutual action plans are essential for any company to get more orders as they provide clarity to customers and make it easier for them to understand the mutual benefits of each transaction. A mutual action plan demonstrates the commitment of both parties to achieve joint success in every transaction.
By setting the direction and clearly formulating expectations, they help everyone involved create a successful partnership that leads to greater efficiency and fewer misunderstandings down the line. They also help buyers understand what they can expect from a store early on. Mutual action plans enable customers to maintain control of the entire process by creating a better understanding of their responsibilities and the deliverables they expect.
A Mutual Action Plan is also an effective sales tool to show your customers right from the start how the intended value perspective can be achieved together. This strengthens trust in the solution and increases the likelihood of a deal.
3. Set yourself apart from other sales teams
Mutual action plans are an effective way for sales teams to increase their chances of closing a deal. A well-designed Mutual Action Plan can also be used to set yourself apart from other teams that can't talk about implementing a project with the same level of confidence.
By taking the time to develop a mutual action plan, you show your customers that they are ready to go above and beyond in providing value-added services while building trust and maintaining open communication. This collaboration ultimately leads to better business relationships, which often lead to more deals.
4. Take back control of your businesses
Many companies are struggling to find new sales opportunities and, despite their best efforts, they feel they are losing control of the businesses. A mutual action plan can significantly increase your company's success rate as it helps you clearly define your clients' needs and then create an action plan to meet those needs.
With mutual action plans, companies are able to regain control of their deals and steer them in the direction that both the customer and the company have agreed upon, making them more likely to be completed on time.
Mutual action plans have helped many companies measure goals, set realistic expectations, delegate tasks, and ultimately make the process of closing deals smoother than ever before.
In summary: What are the benefits of a Mutual Action Plan?
The main advantages of MAPs are summarized again here:
- MAPs eliminate ambiguities and improve communication. This makes it easier for the buyer to understand what steps he needs to take in order to make an informed decision about whether or not to proceed with the purchase.
- A mutual action plan often creates a partnership between two parties that goes beyond the typical transaction relationship. Because by working together on goals and strategies, both parties develop a deeper understanding of each other and can better support each other: Customers can draw on the expertise and experience of the sales team, while sales can benefit from the customer's insights and feedback.
- MAPs help your sales team stand out from other providers. Just implementing and executing mutual action plans shows that you're willing to do more than just provide your customers with valuable information about their purchasing decisions.
- Finally, by using MAPs, you regain control of your businesses, because you can define specific steps that must be taken before a decision is made. This ensures that all important decisions are thoroughly considered and considered.