Image CreditWhatever line of business you are in, if you can’t make sales, you won’t last for long. But what makes a great salesperson, and can you learn to emulate their traits? Let’s take a look at some of the skills and personality you will need to bring sales to your business.
Empathetic
There is a traditional view of salespeople as being pushy, aggressive, and overbearing. And while many people in sales have these traits, that does not make them great at what they do. In fact, one of the traits of truly successful salespeople is a polar opposite to all those things: empathy. Understanding your customer’s needs, fears and interests get results. It helps you position your products in a way that means something to them. And, people respond far more positively when they see you have their best interests at heart.
Studious
Excellent salespeople understand who they are talking to – but not by pure instinct. They study their prospects long and hard and know what to expect before they even make their approach. They learn about shopper insight, demographics, market trends, and competitive analysis. They know where every product they sell sits in the wider market. And, they understand the psychology of buying, including which buttons they should press to get the deal over the line.
Resilient
As a salesperson, you get used to hearing the word ‘no.’ But after a while, it just becomes another in a long line of obstacles that are in the way of making a sale. You can’t afford to let this simple word affect you if you want to make more sales for your business. Just learn when to move on, and when to use a negative response to propel you into doing better next time.
Great with people
You don’t have to be an extrovert to be a great salesperson – although it can help. In fact, the extrovert mindset can often work against you. It’s possible that you can do far too much talking, and fail to listen to what the customer is truly saying. You do need to be exceptional in one-to-one situations, however. You should be friendly, chatty, and be able to turn the conversation to any subject going. Most of all, though, you need to exude warmth, so that people feel comfortable in your presence.
Confident
Finally, you have to be confident if you are going to improve your sales technique. If you have little belief in your product, for example, how are you going to persuade others of its usefulness? If you can tell your prospect, with clarity, how much you are sure a product will benefit their life, you will start making a lot more sales. Don’t mistake confidence for cockiness, however. Consumers can see spot arrogance a mile away, and will find it off-putting and overbearing. It’s the trust in the product that is key to your success – not yourself.
We hope you manage to use some of these ideas to boost sales for your business. If you have any more to add, feel free to leave them in the comments section below!
