The Economy and You

The economy is in a slump and so are your sales. Of course, the best sales jobs are the ones that pay a salary as well as commission. Some companies will pay based on performance also. But with the economy the way it is now, some companies have changed to “commission” only basis. This can be difficult because you can spend hours with prospective customers and not close the sale and come away with nothing. When you’re not making sales, it’s easiest to blame the economy and not yourself. What can you do about it? Believe it or not, having the right attitude can have a lot to do with improving your sales.

Controlling your attitude about the economy is the first step. Yes, gas prices are outrageous, job growth is at a standstill, the stock market is uneasy and people have less money to spend. What you have to realize is to not let the situation of the economy control your job situation. The economy will recover, it always does. You need to develop stronger telephone and face to face selling skills in dealing with prospective customers. With the gas prices being high, be more selective of which prospects you choose to pursue. Never think that all people let the economy rule them.

Believe in yourself and your abilities. Before going into your sales situation, picture the sale as already having been made. Your presentation is merely tying up the loose ends. The more confident you are, the better at your sales presentations you’ll be. Know your product and all the ways it can benefit your prospective customer. Think of any possible questions your customer could ask and have the answer ready for them. By having the attitude that your product is the best there is and believing it can go along way. You can’t control the economy but you can turn your sales presentation around so it always works in your favor.

What type of customers are you looking for? If your answer is “everyone”, that’s the wrong attitude. You should be looking for customers who can afford your product and benefit from it. It’s a waste of your time to pursue potential customers who can’t afford or use the product you’re selling. Would you sell a swimming pool to someone who already has one? No, but you could sell them the chemicals to treat the pool. Know your potential customers needs and wants and what you can do for them Convince them you’re the only one that can. If your customer is convinced they need your product, regardless of the economy, he’ll buy it. If you’re a good enough sales person, you can sell your product in any economy.

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.