For any organization, sales are the engine that propels the company forward.
Whatever upper management says, sales will always be their “favorite child.” After all, the department is responsible for bringing in the customers — and the money.
Being the favorite child, however, does not guarantee that everything will go smoothly. Meeting aggressive quotas month after month can be a never-ending source of stress. Furthermore, it is a high-focus department, which means that the higher-ups are watching and expect consistent results.
So, what does it take to be a top sales performer?
To get the job done, you need to know the right sales tips and tricks. We’ll walk you through 5 different sales techniques and strategies for beginners covering everything from prospecting to following up and leveraging the right technology to get the job done as efficiently as possible.
Let’s start with the fundamentals. Here are five sales tips for beginners that will help you sell successfully.
1. Know Everything There Is to Know About Your Product
It’s critical that you understand not only how your product works, but also the specific features that will help your customers solve any problems they may have. After all, you’re the product’s spokesperson; if you don’t use it, why should anyone else?
Examine all of the available product demo videos and support documents. Try to understand the purpose of each feature and the specific problem it is intended to solve.
Some basic questions to which you must provide excellent answers to your customers are as follows:
- I’m having a problem. Is there a feature in your product that will assist you in resolving this issue?
- What technology would I need to use to gain access to those features?
- To what extent can your product be customized?
- Will I be given any kind of assistance or sales training?
- How much will this set me back?
Customers aren’t usually interested in the more technical aspects of your product. They want to know how the product will make their lives easier right away. A thorough understanding of the product does more than just make you a more confident advocate for what you’re selling. It also allows you to quickly and thoroughly map your product to your customer’s needs, allowing you to get to the root of your customer’s pain points.
2. Recognize the Prospect’s Pain Points
Your prospects are only concerned with one thing: resolving any problems they may be having. Going on and on about the majesty of your product will only get you so far. How does your product directly benefit your prospect?
During each interaction with a prospect, ask probing questions to identify their major pain points, such as:
- Could you please assist me in better understanding your business process?
- What are your daily objectives? Long-term objectives?
- What are your main concerns and roadblocks?
- What are your hopes for the solution?
- Do you have any financial constraints?
- How much better would things be for you if you solved a specific problem? In what way?
It is critical that you actively listen to the prospect’s responses. Too often, salespeople are so focused on pushing and selling that they forget that the best salespeople sometimes listen more than they speak. This way, you can learn a lot about not only your prospect but also about your own product and how to sell it more effectively.
Provide a solution that addresses the buyer’s pain points. Sales pitches work best when you demonstrate to prospects that you understand their problems and that your product can solve them.
3. Get to Know Your Customer Ahead of Time
Your prospects want answers, and they expect you to provide them.
One of the best sales tips is to prepare for all meetings ahead of time with all of the information you may need to give your prospects in order to convert them into customers. This includes learning as much as possible about them and their situation. “Show them you know them,” as the saying goes.
Being well-prepared for a meeting not only demonstrates your competency and knowledge but also demonstrates that you care enough to be present and confident in all customer interactions.
Sure, there will be times when you simply have to show up, or when a prospect calls you out of the blue. In these cases, it’s critical to have quick access to any information your average customer might require, as well as the ability to discuss it in depth.
Make sure you understand the following:
- What is the call’s purpose for you?
- What information do I need to obtain during the call?
- What are the advantages of my product? Weaknesses?
- On your prospect’s end, who is the decision-maker?
- If you’ve met before, where did you leave things last time?
A surprising number of sales reps fail to research their prospects or prepare for calls, which undermines their efforts and leaves a negative impression on the prospect. Pre-call preparation allows you to gather the information you need to add value to the conversation.
Developing this sales habit will instill trust in your prospects — as well as confidence in your own sales abilities.
4. Consistently Follow Up
If there is one thing that all sales professionals agree on, it is the importance of the follow-up stage.
It doesn’t matter if you have the best product on the market or if your meetings go perfectly — if you don’t follow up with the prospect, the opportunity for a sale can slip right through your fingers. In fact, at least five follow-ups are required for 80 percent of sales.
Follow-up emails are an excellent way to stay in touch with customers after your initial interaction. It demonstrates that you care enough about their experience to check-in but allows the conversation to take place at the customer’s leisure.
Follow-up emails can be classified in several ways. Some excellent follow-up emails that professionals always send:
- Interested in connecting — Cold sales call follow-up
- It was a pleasure speaking with you earlier today… — Writing to follow up on our last conversation right after a meeting… — Following Steps
- Is it better for me to stay or go? — Email severance
- Don’t be discouraged by a low open rate for your emails or a lack of response from prospects. Be persistent in improving the quality of your emails and leads.
5. View Rejection as a Learning Experience
There’s no easy way to say this when giving sales advice, so let’s just get it out of the way: Sales and rejection are inextricably linked.
Rejection is never easy, especially when you’re just starting out in sales. Competitors will occasionally swoop in and fly away with your lead. Some people don’t need your product or aren’t in a position to spend the money right now.
It’s critical that you understand that none of this is about you.
There could be hundreds of reasons why a customer isn’t interested in what you’re selling, but the majority of them have nothing to do with you.
That is why it is critical to control the controllable, viewing each rejection as an opportunity to improve your sales game and adapt to your customers’ needs and concerns.
Rejection exposes flaws in your sales strategy. The good news is… You can turn your pitch’s weaknesses into strengths with the right changes.
Each rejection contributes to the thickening of your skin and the strengthening of your resolve, both of which will help you become a top salesperson.
Don’t let rejection defeat you; instead, view it as an opportunity for growth.