Sales skills are among the most fundamental skills you need to learn even if you are not a salesperson. This is because you will eventually sell something at some point in your career, whether you like it or not.
However, most people think that selling is one of the worst jobs that you may have. Moreover, most students would say that they are not going to school only to end up working as a salesperson.
What most people don’t know is that selling moves somebody to action. You might not notice it, but selling is a part of your professional life. Corporate meetings, client calls, and almost every interaction have some form of selling. So, how do you up your sales skills?
Contemplate
For you to become comfortable with sales, you need to understand the meaning of selling. Remember that it is not about putting excessive pressure on and talking nonstop. Selling is leading, inspiring, and persuading. It would help if you worked in collaboration with a colleague, client, or customer to drive change.
You need to contemplate your positive experiences as a customer to help you get into the right mindset. Thinking about the best sales interaction you’ve ever had, you would notice that the salesperson talking to you is like a person who wants to help you solve your problem.
Put yourself in your customer’s position
There are two reasons why people buy. It could be for their personal need, or they need a solution to their business problem. It would help if you found out what motivates your customer.
In the corporate world, you need to find out what would make your boss sign off on a project or how are you going to make your clients excited about your offer. Talk to the parties you are trying to win over or talk to others in the know to help your proposal get approved. You need to know the critical information that needs to be uncovered.
You need to be empathetic. You have to focus on understanding your customer’s needs to help you make a good recommendation.
Create a good sales pitch
Creating a good sales pitch involves another party. You should do it with someone you trust, either a friend or your manager. Do some role-playing to see what would work and what would not. You need to understand how your sales pitch sounds and feels.
Moreover, you can try talking to someone who is not an expert in selling. These people’s questions draw up the problem. Typically, your first attempt will not make it. This is because most people spend most of their time thinking about their idea. However, they fail to build a connection with how their product will improve their customer’s life.
Keep calm
No matter how amazing your sales pitch is, there’s still a chance that it will not work for some prospects. Being in this situation can make you feel nervous, making it hard for you to deliver your sales pitch accurately. If this happens, keep calm, try to relax, and don’t let the customer feel that you are nervous.
Close the sale
It is rare for a customer to immediately buy what you are offering once they heard your pitch. They still need to see if your product or service can help them. No matter what happens next, always ask if you can move forward by saying phrases like, “Is there anything I can do to help you decide?” “Are you ready to move forward?” If they say no, then it is your opportunity probe by asking, “Is it too expensive, difficult, or the idea is too threatening?”
These are just some of the ways to help you level up your sales skills. Whether you are a salesperson or not, this skill is essential to learn, and you can use it in so many ways.
Don’t forget to contemplate, think, and feel like your customer, prepare a good sales pitch, keep calm, and close the sale.