Friday, September 26, 2008

What Employees Are Needing In Sales Training

By Hugh Roberts


Sales development is the act of educating a agent in the act of sales. Sales, which can be done individually or as part of a team, is where a person sells a merchandise or service to a customer. It is often thought that selling is the same as marketing but there is a distinct difference - marketing exists to promote a item by making it attractive to a prospective customer and, through this, may by default generate a sale. On the other hand, a sales agent actively communicates with a prospective customer, showing specifically how their goods or service can assist the customer by providing them tailored data. The best sales agent is someone who works in conjunction with their customer and works to answer the customer's needs and goals with the merchandise or service to be sold.

Sales is an integral part of contemporary work models. Not only does the sales agent sell a corporate product or service, they also work to produce new corporate opportunities and generate buyers for their business, thereby sustaining and growing their company's client base and reputation. Sales is often the community face of a corporation so it necessary that correct sales development is given to the sales agent so that they can excel in their selling role but also know how to be the best promoter possible for the goods and the corporation.

There is a range of approaches a corporation can use to connect with their customer. Direct sales - where the company interacts directly with their customer - is probably the most recognized. The most recognized direct selling approaches are door-to-door selling and telemarketing; in both cases the corporation directly connects with the customer at home or at their place of business to tell them about the goods. Another way of direct selling is 'consultative selling' whereby the company interacts directly with the buyer but initially starts by collaborating with the customer about what goods or services they need and developing answers in consultation with the customer. Companies also often sell goods through retailers - so called 'middle men' - and through mail order, while the rise of the net has given companies a new field in which to connect with potential buyers. As can be seen, there is a large variety in the way companies contact, connect and potentially sell to a client, which has increased the significance of new business development.

Sales development concentrates on the variety of methods a sales agent can use when directly talking with the client, so integral in these days of direct selling. Although there are a variety of particular methodologies tailored for different varieties of selling, the main thought behind excellent sales practice is five-fold: analyze a customer's needs, offer solutions to the customer, discuss the virtues of the item, overcome any questions the client may have and close the sale. This philosophy can sometimes be condensed to a three-part methodology: find the customer, present to the customer and close the sale.

Sales development classes are widely available with many training academies and specialist companies offering classes that you can take in person or via correspondence or the internet. Many large businesses have also developed their own in-house new business development programs. There are also a plethora of books available on the subject.

Competent sales development will always highlight the need to ask clients questions in order to better offer them solutions, will always highlight the importance of knowing your goods and will include motivational material, as selling is a high-pressure career that not only requires a lot of self-motivation but also deals with a lot of rejection as well.

Incentive programs, what they're for and how to use them are also included in a lot of new business development. These 'sales incentive programs' or SIP's, are a tool used to focus a sales agent and lists specific goals for attainment, which aims to focus selling activity.

Sales development will show you self-motivation, direction and exceptional interaction abilities and, as such, would stand any person in good stead for any leading role outside of sales, as well as within.

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