Why Salesmen are Vital to the Success of a Company
“Sell me this pen…”
You’ve seen it. When one thinks of sales, they tend to think of someone manipulative and apathetic trying to convince you to buy something that you don’t need. In reality, sales is just as important to the structure of a business as any other role.
What is sales?
Sales is about providing solutions. In the content I’ve consumed this week, my biggest takeaway was that salespeople are there to make prospects aware of a solution; not pushing them to buy it. Whether it is cold calling or emailing a list of potential prospects, a salesman’s job is to
- Make a targeted audience aware of a business’s product or service
- Cultivate a lasting relationship between the business and the client
Good salespeople listen to the customer and make adjustments based on common feedback. Not only does this increase sales, but it builds trust between a client and business.
Why is sales so important?
A company can produce any amount of product with any amount of high-end technologies, but if they are not sold to the consumer the whole investment goes is in vain. Eventually, the company will die off. Once a company starts selling its product, the revenue will come.
How do I become a good salesperson?
We are always selling. Maybe not in a sales role at a company, but everything we do is a sale. The way we dress, our body language, and the way we speak are all ways we sell ourselves to other people. Whenever we make an argument or try to persuade someone, we are selling. Good salespeople have traits such as empathy, a drive to succeed, communication skills, and resilience.
In my interview with Nick Rundlett, I asked about common misconceptions people have about salesmen. He explained that most people think sales is easy, and that you just have to be a smooth talker to get what you want. In reality, sales is a difficult job to have. Not only do salespeople have to learn to deal with rejection and, “how did you get my number?”; they have to listen to their clients and establish a lasting relationship between the customer and the business. They have to think of new ways to approach people and adjust their pitch based on the individual. Sales demands a strong character and confidence that many people struggle to find within themselves.
Even though I have sales experience, this week's content has greatly broadened my perspective. I look forward to mastering the art of selling and providing solutions for others in my future careers.
