Like any component of a smart business plan, the sales strategy has to be amenable to diversification. Savvy salespeople can stay ahead of the competition by simply modifying traditional sales techniques, including face-to-face interactions and phone conversations, for popular technology, thereby optimizing efficiency, profitability, and client experience.
The idea of traditional sales refers to the old standbys most sales veterans are familiar with, such as face-to-face meetings, telephone calls, and voicemail messages. The sales process is heavy on communication, persuasion, and negotiation. Designations of traditional or modern generally refer to the modes of communication used to execute sales goals. The principles remain the same, however, which is why translating the traditional sales model to a digital model isn't a huge leap of faith for most businesses.
As you prep techniques for digital implementation, keep in mind that gaining customer trust and loyalty are still your foremost concerns. You need to create a profitable, sustainable relationship with new clients, even with the absence of a charismatic face to greet them. The impersonal nature of faceless online chats may lessen the pressure to know everything right off the bat, but product and service knowledge should always remain a top priority. Offline sales goals shouldn't see a drastic change when going digital, or you run the risk of damaging client expectations and relations with poor care.
Technology makes meeting traditional sales goals easier than ever. In stores, sales management can set up smartphones and tablets that allow floor teams to quickly locate information to answer customer questions. Websites that display a clean, easy-to-navigate layout will lure in online shoppers, who tend to browse products at length before making a purchase, all without your help. With technology you can place greater value on the quick and easy consumer experience, much like Amazon.com, and boost sales numbers. Based on the productivity, input, and output equation outlined in the article "Sales Process: Eliminate Waste to Increase Productivity," sales finalized with the help of modern tech dramatically raises productivity levels and profitability.
Uninformed salespeople and sales management often believe the traditional sales process commences as soon as a customer enters the store. In fact, it begins even sooner from the first moment an individual hears about a business. With modern technology, the avenues for discovery grow exponentially. When a first impression can make or break a sale and social media creates more impressions than you can track, having a firm hold over the technology that influences sales is imperative for a smooth transition to a modern-traditional sales approach.
Technology offers sizable upgrades for the sales department in any business. Traditional sales are almost guaranteed to flourish in the digital age as long you fine-tune your sales techniques for the new audience. Expect sales output, better productivity, and simpler client interactions once you fully integrate tablets, smartphones, and online shopping into your sales process.
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