“Time Kills All Deals” – What It Means in Business and Sales

Updated: December 1, 2021

If you're a business owner, you've probably heard this phrase. It's a powerful warning to never let a deal linger too long or else, it'll die. Here, are some ways to use the knowledge of this phrase to your advantage and increase your revenue.


What does “time kills all deals” mean?

The phrase "time kills all deals" has a few different meanings. First, a person may be referring to the passage of time or "time flies." They may be saying that as time passes, it becomes easier to forget about a deal or to not be as interested in it anymore. Second, a person may be saying that as time passes, it becomes more difficult to close a deal.


As a business owner, you want to make sure you take advantage of every opportunity. That's why you should always close deals quickly. If you let them linger, you'll lose potential business and revenue.


With every passing minute, you are killing the deal. Make sure to respond to all buyer's questions the same business day they are received.


For example, if you're selling your product and someone tries to negotiate the price down, you should be willing to give in and lower your price. Once the negotiation is over, don't hesitate to close the deal. However, if you wait too long, they may lose interest and you will miss out on the sale.


Keep this in mind for every business decision and look for opportunities that will help you close deals quicker than ever before.


How to use this phrase for your business

Whether you're a salesperson or a business owner, it's imperative to be decisive. If you have a customer, it's important to close the deal as soon as possible.


In some cases, this will mean negotiating on some points. But if you let too much time pass, the customer will lose interest and you'll lose the deal.


To use this phrase for your business, think about deadlines and time limits. For example, if you're selling a product that comes with a warranty, it's important to know when that warranty expires and that the customer will be responsible for the cost post-warranty.


Another point is to set deadlines for customer service. When someone has an issue with their product, you don't want them to wait too long before hearing back from you or they'll lose interest and go elsewhere.

Use the phrase "time kills all deals" to remind yourself of the importance of being decisive and timely with your customers.


Closing a deal quickly

In business, the old adage "time kills all deals" is a warning that you should never let a deal languish for too long or else it'll die. In other words, there's a time limit on every sale, and after it passes, the customer will likely lose interest and find another vendor.


In sales, this phrase is often used to tell a salesperson to get the deal done quickly before a customer loses interest.


Read more: the 7 best AI email tools for salespeople


But what if you're not a salesperson? You could still use this phrase to your advantage.


For example, if you're negotiating the price of a product with a customer, you could remind them that time is running out to buy the product before production ends. It's a way to put pressure on the customer and urge them to make a decision before it's too late.


You can also say "time is running out" when trying to close a sale. That way, they'll know that if they don't buy now, there's an expiration date and it will be too late. You can also use this in your marketing: How much time do you have left to take advantage of our offer?


How to use this phrase for sales

This phrase is often used in the business world to describe how a deal can be killed by allowing it to linger.


For example, if two people are negotiating over a price on a product, and the negotiation goes on for too long, one of them may get bored and just walk away.



In the same way, if you're trying to sell a product, and the negotiation goes on way too long, then you might lose your sale. So it's important that you don't let too much time pass before you make a decision. You may lose your customer or lead to someone else.


If you're in sales, then the faster you close your deal, the better. Keep in mind that if you're negotiating with someone who's hard to please, then you need to be careful not to let too much time pass before you make a decision.


There are plenty of examples of how time can kill a deal in business - make sure your deals don't die!


Conclusion

The phrase “Time Kills All Deals” is a powerful warning to never let a deal linger too long or else, it'll die. Here, are some ways to use the knowledge of this phrase to your advantage and increase your revenue.


1. Be the first one to contact the client: It's true that time is a critical factor in business and sales. If you're serious about closing a deal, you have to be the first one to contact your client, or else, they might be taken by another business.

2. Don't wait more than 24 hours: If you wait more than 24 hours without talking to a client, the deal will be dead before it even started. You can't wait more than a day or two before contacting a potential customer because they’ve already begun looking at other options.

3. Close the deal as soon as possible: The longer you wait before closing a deal, the lower the chance of success becomes. It's been proven that the more time that passes before a sale is completed, the less likely it is that that sale will be completed.

4. Close the deal as quickly as possible: The faster you close a deal, the more likely it is that the customer will stay happy and excited.

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