Did you know that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment growth for sales positions will be 4.5% between 2020 and 2030?
This will translate to another 59,400 positions over the aforementioned time frame — with a median salary of just over $62,000.
As you mull over career options, are you interested in pursuing a career in sales? Do you want to know the keys to success in this competitive job market?
Keep on reading to learn about the most critical sales essentials that every salesperson needs to know.
Empathy Skills
If you want to become the best salesperson you can be, then it’s important to develop empathy skills.
Only when you can put your feet in the shoes of your customers can you know what they’re looking for in the products and services they need.
Once you understand their pain points and can figure out their motivations, you’ll be able to present a value proposition that facilitates a buying decision.
Listening Skills
Have you ever heard the saying that the reason you have two ears and one mouth is because you should listen twice as much as you talk? Following this rule of thumb will serve you well as a salesperson.
When interacting with customers or potential customers, you’ll want to listen to where they’re coming from and what they want in a product or service.
Pay close attention, answer questions, and let clients know why they should patronize your company.
Communication Skills
To be successful in the sales industry, you need to be an effective communicator. There’s no way around it. You need to know what to say, how to say it, and how to effectively answer questions to be successful in the industry.
Personal and Professional Integrity
It’s important to operate from a place of integrity personally and professionally. Your desire to sell products and services should never supersede your obligation to do right by your customers and potential customers.
So, if you know that a product or service isn’t a great fit for someone you’re talking to, don’t place undue pressure on the person to buy. It’s okay to promote an offering. But it’s not okay to be forceful in your approach.
Whether you work in an office or you freelance as a sales representative for hire, personal and professional integrity matter.
Briefcase Full of Tools
Whatever types of sales jobs you’re interested in pursuing, it makes sense to have certain tools of the trade-in your briefcase or work bag.
Get yourself a mobile printer. It’ll make it easy if you need to print up contracts to seal the deal. If you have to go back to the office, draft contracts, and mail or email them to customers, you’ll be wasting precious time.
If you’ve already got a tablet, great. Pair it with a smartpen that will convert what you write on the screen into text that you can save and refer to as needed. You won’t have to worry about chicken scratch in a notebook.
Remember These Sales Essentials
If you’re making career choices and are leaning towards a career in sales, you’ll benefit from the abovementioned information on sales essentials.
It’s a competitive job market out there for sales professionals. You’ll want to set yourself apart for success as you help both your company and your clients.
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