What Makes a Great Sales Person?

All businesses have an aspect of Salesmanship in them,some to a greater extent than others. If you want to be a great Entrepreneur you will need to incorporate these features into your sales strategy:

1) BE PERSISTENT- Every Sales Person must be prepared to be rejected, ignored or even mocked! Sales is essentially a numbers game. The more prospects you contact,the more deals you will make.

2) QUALIFY LEADS-You want to work smart,not hard. Sales professionals say that 80% of your deals will come from 20% of your client base, so narrow down your prospects, eliminating time-wasters and those people that do not constitute your target demographic. Ask questions that assess the clients urgency or need to purchase what your selling.

3) BE LIKEABLE-People buy from people. Build a rapport with a potential client before you start giving them the 'hard sell'. Make sure that you are polite, respectful and professional during all interactions with customers.

4) ASK FOR THE BUSINESS-You can inform a client of the merits of your product or service all day long but if you fail to initiate the transaction you are doing yourself a disservice.

5) ALWAYS BE CLOSING-Remember why you are talking to a prospect. You are not just pitching them because you like interacting with people, you are doing it because you need to put bread on the table! Be nice, be agreeable, but remain focused,all interactions should be leading to a successful close.

6) DRESS LIKE A PROFESSIONAL- Formal dress only. When you are selling a product or service you must inspire confidence in your prospects. Be clean, tidy and smelling fantastic. Little things such as appearance can make the difference between convincing a client or turning them towards another competitor.

7) DON'T COMPETE ON PRICE- If you are discounting your fees,you lack belief in your product. Of course negotiation within reason is to be expected but taking off more than 10% shows that you are desperate. If you do not believe in your product, you shouldn't be selling it!

8) AIM TO BE THE BEST-If you're not top of the Sales board you should ask yourself why? You should look to 'ring the bell' and 'grab the chalk' several times a day. The enjoyment of Sales is experienced at the point of Sale. What better way to end a pitch than with a handshake and the closure of a deal to the satisfaction of both parties?