Sometimes it’s what you don’t do that counts. Below are a few turn-offs that could cost you a valuable sale:

• Poor grooming.
• Smoking.
• Knocking anyone, especially competitors. To outsiders, it looks like the competitor may be better than you — and your resentment causes you to demean them.
• Bad speech habits that are constantly repeated, such as: "you know," "basically" and "uhhh."
• Making exaggerated claims with no proof.
• Inappropriate remarks or jokes about sex, religion, politics or racial matters.
• Being late/unprepared for appointments.
• Making a sales call "just to introduce yourself." This is an incredible waste of everyone’s time. If you don’t have a strong reason for a sales call, then find a better prospect or learn more about a company so you can make an intelligent — and worthwhile — visit.
• Talking too much. Ask prospects what they need. How can you describe the features that meet their needs unless you ask them first?

Source: Ted Tate, sales trainer