5 Useful Sales Techniques

There are basic sales techniques that work with about any type of sales. Here are a few that you may find helpful.

1. Know what your prospective client’s business is about: Find out as much information as you can about your client before your appointment. When talking with them it will show that you have done your homework and learned what their business is about. This will enable you to have the opportunity to see how your product can fit their needs. They want to find out if your product can be helpful to them and your job is to see that they are convinced that it would be.

2. Explain the benefits of your product: You are selling how your product will make their life easier. Explain to them how your product will make production less costly. How it will save on overtime costs. How it will save on shipping. Sell the benefits of the product, how it will help them and not the product itself. If you can save them time, you can save them money and that is the bottom line. It can get you a loyal customer who will keep coming back and that’s exactly what you want.

3. Take your time: Don’t be rushed. Let the customer make the decision without feeling as if you have one foot out the door and a phone to your ear. You are there to make a sale and have them buy your product. You can’t be pushy or sell them something that they’ll regret purchasing. Let them think that they are your number one priority, and if you want their business, they are!

4. Know what you’re selling: Your prospective client has to have faith that you know what you’re talking about. Know your product inside and out and upside down. Know how it will help them in their business. If you can’t answer their questions competently, then they won’t have the faith that you can assist them with their problems and decisions. If you can assist them in making good business decisions regarding your product then they will trust your opinion and will buy from you more often.

5. Don’t promise what you can’t deliver: Always follow through with what you say. The sure way to lose a customer is to promise something and then not deliver it. If something comes up where you can’t do what you said, then get in touch with your customer immediately. Don’t let them hanging questioning you and your product. Explain why there is a problem and what you’re going to do to fix it. Keep them updated on what is going on. Whatever you do, don’t leave them in the dark. They’ll find another supplier who’s product may be a little inferior but will give them better service. Understanding the problem of the delay may help with the frustration of why the product isn’t there.

Hopefully these tips gave you some food for thought and will be useful in your next sales call.

By Linda Lee Ruzicka

Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 8 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She also does freelances work for Beyond and for Salesheads. More of her blogs can be found at Salesheads blog.