The world of sales might be easy to break into, but it certainly is not easy to conquer. To be an effective sales rep, there are certain traits and qualities that set you apart from the rest of humanity.
Sales representatives are some of the most persuasive people in the world, but persuasion isn’t the only necessary trait for a successful salesperson. Here are the top 5 skills that all of the top sales representatives have mastered.
Active Listening
Talking is not usually a problem for most sales reps; in fact it often seems like they love hearing the sound of their own voice, and getting them to shut up is the real challenge. But the best sales reps also need to have proper listening skills. You shouldn’t feel like your car salesman is talking your ear off, he or she should also allow you to get some words in.
When a sales rep actually listens to you, you can be sure that you’ll be getting the right product for you. He won’t just be trying to upsell you for the sake of making money. Instead he’ll actually try to sell you a product that you’ll find useful and one that meets the requirements that you’ve specified based on what he has heard.
Rapport Building
An average salesman might act like your best friend right from the get go. The best ones, however, will actually try and establish a relationship with you first in order to build rapport. No matter how busy the salesperson is he will spend time getting to know you and understanding your wants and needs.
Product Knowledge
How could a salesperson ever be qualified if he doesn’t even have a full understanding of the product? You’d be surprised; there are a lot of sales reps out there who lack the proper knowledge in what they’re selling. The best ones can not only answer the toughest sales interview questions with ease, but they can tell you the specifics of the product they’re trying to sell.
Knowledge of Buyer-Seller Agreement
According to a BizFluent.com, these are the basics of a buyer-seller agreement:
“A buyer and seller agreement is a document that two parties agree to before engaging in a transaction…major sales, such as those involving real estate, live animals and automobiles, place buyers and sellers at risk. Buyer and seller agreements ensure that everyone involved agrees to the same terms and understands the details of the transaction.”
Every top salesperson has complete knowledge of how a buyer-seller agreement works and has thorough knowledge of their company’s specific agreement terms.
Closing Techniques
It is one thing to start off on the right note with a potential buyer but it is a whole new entity to actually close the deal. A lot of prospects seem extremely interested until it is time to sign some papers. This is when a potential buyer is most expected to drop out from finalizing the sale. A quality sales rep uses certain techniques that increase the likelihood of closing the deal.