How to be successful in sales

There is no carbon blue print for a successful sales person and it’s not always about having the ‘gift of the gab’. Sometimes, it’s about ensuring you believe in yourself and most importantly, what you are selling.

Great salespeople tend to make it look easy, but exceptional performance usually indicates a salesperson has taken the time to sharpen their skills and are continually working to better improve themselves.

Whether you’re a first-time rep, working in internal sales or simply looking to get ‘back to basics’, we have put together 5 of the most crucial factors to help you become a top sales professional.

Presentation

First impressions really do matter, so make sure you dress professionally, especially when visiting customers both new or existing. But it’s not always about your personal appearance, it’s also important to show you are truly passionate about the company and the products. Have confidence and self-belief in what you are doing.

Planning

It’s important to prepare for the following week, so make sure you pick a day each week and stick to it! Grab yourself a planner while you’re at it. This will help you maximise your time and effectiveness in front of your new or existing customers.

Communication

To be successful in sales, there are 3 important points to remember; Listen – you do not require an agenda for this, it’s not always about your needs. Ethics – you can’t always talk someone into something, sometimes you just need to sit back and listen to what they want. Ask – ask open ended questions, that will assist in the customer hopefully making a wise decision.

Knowledge

Learn your company’s product! If you do not understand what you are trying to sell, how can you sell it? Identify the company’s top products and learn the benefit. Lastly, understand your industry and your competitors.

Be Yourself

Sales is still very much a people business and ‘people buy from people’. But what is one key differential that you have as a salesperson? The YOU Factor! To be successful in the selling game, people must first buy you first.