Samuel Ibok
3 min readJul 17, 2023

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN SELL (3)

Sight Sound and Smell

Dear Salesperson, I would like you to consider the caption as the "3 S" of selling.
These are important as they are tied to our senses -Eyes, ears and nose!
Don’t worry this is not biology class but you can as well call this the biology of selling! Most products designed for humans would typically have a form of visual appeal. Accordingly, you have to be deliberate about the packaging of your products. You don’t need all the money in the world to give your product the ideal look. I believe you can give your product an expensive and appealing look with the resources at your disposal. For example, if you' sell clothes physically, your business environment has to look tidy. This would give clients the idea that you are organized.

Even if you’re selling digital products, it must be appealing. Have you ever wondered why companies have good website/graphic designs and have good interfaces.
You must also realize that you as a Salesperson are a product. Yes, you’re a product! If you are selling to high net worth individuals, you would have to present yourself as someone in their class. Don’t give them a trenches look!

Remember "as you dress so shall you be addressed". In other words, the way you look speaks volumes about you and it would influence your business.

You have to also SMELL nice. If you feel this is unrelated to selling, it is my pleasure to inform you that it is. Imagine if you walked into a room full of people who haven’t showered in weeks. You would obviously feel disgusted. Now, imagine if that same room was a shop with products for sell. I’m sure you wouldn’t make a purchase. I have seen someone who was disqualified from an interview on the basis of smell and I have seen someone who got a job on the spot because he smelled nice! You must however note that this is just one variable and not a guarantee that you would seal that deal. However, it could give you the opportunity to pitch.

As a sales professional, you have to SOUND right. This implies knowing what to say and saying it the right way when pitching to prospects. You must develop your communication skills. Sound is not limited to verbal communication, it is reflected in written communication. What’s your body language like when you’re engaging prospects? Selling is not rocket science. The need to develop your communication skills cannot be overemphasized.

One hack is to rehearse your pitch in front of a mirror. You could also record yourself or learn from online resources. In this age, the average lifespan of ignorance is one minute. If you seek growth, you must consistently pursue self development. Have it in mind that the type of clients you meet would determine the tone of your conversations. However, the element of respect must always be present. Bear in mind that you must be sold on your product to sound right. This means that you must have product knowledge and you must be fully convinced of the value your product provides.

Learn-Unlearn-Relearn