Sales Insights
I've been in sales and marketing for 15+ years, and to say that I’ve learned a lot along the way is an understandment. I've experienced firsthand what works and what doesn't, and I've made my fair share of mistakes — who hasn’t?! Through it all I've learned what’s important, some of which may seem obvious… but sometimes the obvious still needs to be said. So, let’s get after it:
Relationships
Sales is all about relationships. You need to build relationships with your customers, your colleagues, and even your competitors. Strong relationships will stand the test of time and at the risk of sounding too Machiavellian, you never know how a relationship or connection may benefit you down the road.
Listening
The best salespeople are great listeners. They take the time to understand their customers' needs and wants, then adjust their message, product, or offering accordingly. When you truly listen to your customers, you build trust and rapport, which allows you to serve your customers in the way they want to be served.
Persistace & Consistency
The importance of being persistent cannot be overstated. Sales, and building a business, isn’t easy. There will be times when you’ll feel rejected and discouraged. Be persistent, keep showing up, and keep taking the next right step. The expression “consistency is key” exists for a reason, right?! Success takes time, but every drop in the bucket eventually fillls the bucket.
Evolution
The value of learning and adapting is sometimes hard to see in the short term, but it pays off in the long term. The sales landscape is constantly changing. It’s hard, but learning and adopting new trends and technologies, or at least taking the time to understand them, is key to growth. Keep in mind, you don’t need to change without reason, but being open to change will bring opportunities that you wouldn’t normally see. You can take what works for you and leave what doesn’t!
TL;DR
Take the time to build relationships, they’re the foundation of your business.
The more you listen, the better you can serve your customers.
Be persistent and consistent. Keep showing up for your customers and in time, they’ll show up for you.
Stay open to change, so you can evolve your strategy as needed and build meaningful growth.
I hope this blog post is encouraging to anyone who’s building a business or a sales career. If you have any questions, click the Contact Us link at the top of the page and send me a message. I'd also love to hear from other sales professionals. What have you found is key in building your business?
