gallantwarrior
Gold Member
If you are looking into one-on-one sales, explore neuro-linguistic programming. There's a book "Frogs into Princes".I think I would probably be better off starting off working directly for an employer and that way, I can start making some connections. That sounds like a good plan to me. Anyone who has any sales experience, I would welcome your advice on the best ways to get started in this career.
Well, since you asked.
The first thing to do is find something you love and you'll never work a day in your life. If you don't like sales, or people, or what you are selling, you won't do well.
You have to first sell yourself. The customer has to like you. ( generally speaking )
Understand the best communication skill is, listening.
Looking professional, depending upon the kind of business, is important, too. It tells the customer, you have put some thought into yourself, for your job and they like that. It impresses them.
There are two areas in which outstanding salespeople make it to the top of their jobs.
One, is a natural ability to interact with a customer. Good, open body language and showing interest in them because you truly are. If you are dealing with women as well as men, and you are attractive, this attribute will help you overcome that fact, to a woman, if she considers attractive women as threats as so many do. You need to address most of your attention and remarks to her and not the object of her affection.
Two, is to have a strategy in selling. This comes with experience and I have it honed.
Some salespersons have both, one and two, and we rarely fail to make the sale.
All the best, ChrisL.
Great advice, but I was more wondering about technique. I know it's important to be able to read people, not necessarily to "like" them. I've worked with people before when I worked at the front desk of an office and got along fine, so that's not really my problem. My problem is how to make connections.
Also, what strategies did you use and what products did you sell? I'm very interested in strategies that other salespeople use to get a good customer base going. Like I talked about earlier, I could telemarket . . . I'm not crazy about that. What would you suggest?