Top Ten Tips for Effective Sales
by Adrian Miller
We’re all crossing our fingers these days and hoping for a better economic
environment. It’s been more than a little scary for many of us. However, even
during these tough times, effective salespeople are acquiring new customers and
making sales. How? Here are the top ten tips for effective sales that will bring
you success regardless of the state of the economy.
1. Know Your Product or Service
It seems straightforward, doesn’t it? Well, it is, but unfortunately, there are
far too many salespeople who, for one reason or another, have been trying to
sell without having a good grasp of what they’re selling. These individuals can
have a certain degree of success in a good economy, but they’re the first to
fail when the going gets tough. You need to know what you’re selling from top to
bottom. You should have every feature and benefit on the tip of your tongue. If
you don’t, you need to make this your top priority.
2. Know Your Target Market
Knowing who to sell your product or service to is just as important as knowing
what you’re selling. You need to pinpoint who it is that buys what you’re
selling and target them specifically. This is especially true during an economic
slowdown when you might not have as much to spend on advertising and
prospecting.
3. Know Your Competition and Your Competitive Advantage
Your competition is always there, but they’re bound to be more ruthless when
there are fewer customers. Start by listing your obvious competitors and then
dig a little deeper to discover any others who might be sneaking under your
radar. Then, figure out what makes your business different from theirs, and how
you can stand apart. Evaluate obvious advantages like cost, features, quality,
or distribution, and don’t underestimate other advantages such as location,
reputation, or social responsibility.
4. Be a “Proactive” Business Developer
Now is not the time to be waiting for your phone to ring. Make your own
opportunities by networking, advertising, making calls, and pounding the
pavement. The more you reach out, the more you’ll get in return.
5. Mine the Gold in Your Existing Client Database
Don’t underestimate the value of your existing clients. When business is slow,
use the opportunity to call your “regulars” to inform them of new offerings,
specials, and volume discounts. You’ll probably be surprised just how much
business you’ve been leaving on the table by not contacting them sooner!
6. Don’t Leave Business on the Table- Cross-sell Your Products and
Services
This goes hand-in-hand with the previous tip. Always offer your clients other
products or services related to whatever they’re buying. As long as what you’re
offering is relevant, they’ll appreciate your suggestions, and they might take
you up on what you’re offering, as well.
7. Track Progress and Results
Without tracking your sales processes and results, you will never know what
works and what doesn’t. There are plenty of easy-to-use customer relationship
management (CRM) software programs that can help you monitor your sales efforts
from start to finish. Trust me. They’re well worth the investment.
8. Learn From Your Mistakes
Have you had difficulties with a certain market segment? Or, have you been
burned by one particular customer repeatedly? Well, there’s much to learn from
these situations. Don’t keep hammering away at someone who isn’t buying from
you. Learn from these mistakes, and move on – quickly.
9. Be Persistent
The old adage, “sales is a numbers game” is true, especially when business is
slow. Persistency is one of those traits that is common among all successful
salespeople. A “don’t give up” mentality is truly one of the most valuable
attributes that you can have.
10. Enjoy the Process
Let’s face it. Not everyone is cut out to be a salesperson. Selling should be
fun. You should enjoy the challenge and feel the thrill each time you acquire a
new customer. If you feel this way about sales, be grateful. There are many
others who dread their jobs and would prefer to be doing something else. So,
show your enthusiasm, enjoy the process of selling, and succeed.
Adrian Miller is President and Founder of
Adrian Miller Sales Training, a sales consultancy and training company that she
launched in 1989, and is the author of "The Blatant Truth: 50 Ways to Sales
Success". Adrian can be reached at 516-767-9288 or
amiller@adrianmiller.com. Her
website,
www.adrianmiller.com, includes podcasts and other informative information to
help your sales soar! |
