Introverts who sell can make the BEST salespeople because we have a few characteristics that naturally help us. But often we don’t think about how our attitude about selling might hold us back from being our natural self.
Consider these ideas to enjoy your role in sales and bring out the best in you:
It is not uncommon for people to have an extremely negative connotation for what a “salesman” or “selling” is all about. The stereotypical mental images range from that of a pushy used car salesman to the age-old snake oil salesman, or the slick talker who could sell an Eskimo ice cubes.
Income- and revenue- generating activities are what allow companies to hire and pay employees for the value they produce on the job. Selling is essentially the same, an exchange of value, with one party looking for a solution to a problem and the other party simply receiving fair compensation for the solution being provided.
Focus on Helping People Solve Problems
The best way to enjoy selling is to not think of it as pushing people to buy something they do not need. While some salesmen may be proud of the fact they are so good at what they do they could :sell an Eskimo ice cubes,” you only want to have that reputation if the proverbial Eskimo really does need ice cubes. The best pairing is when a solution provider and a solution seeker are a true match for each other. Both are then happy to engage in the mutually beneficial transaction.
Care about Your Customer
As important as it is to make that first sale, even more important is to have that customer come back for more. Then, ideally, the ultimate success would be converting your repeat customer into a lifetime customer. A happy customer that trusts you is more likely to buy from you repeatedly. Then that consumer may even buy higher-priced products from you in the future, and ultimately recommend you to others. The only way to establish this kind of ongoing mutually beneficial partnership is to know and care about your customer. The more you understand what they need and want, the more likely you are to offer, and even create, solutions for them.
Believe in What You Are Selling
The best way to be proud of the solutions you are offering potential customers is to truly believe in the product or service you are offering. Would you use it yourself? Be sure you try it and use it so you know what the customer is experiencing. Would you recommend it to family or friends that you like? If not, then why are you selling it?
Change Your Mindset
In a recent blog post by Barry LaBov, the title of his post speaks for itself: “Sell: Four Letter Word?” Even an experienced sales staff can carry an unnecessarily negative mental image of what selling is about. If you truly believe in what you are doing you and the solutions you are offering, it should not be hard to take on the identity of a solutions provider rather than simply a salesman. You are in control of how you see yourself and how you go about doing the work you do.
About the author: Helen Hoefele is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites. Follow her at: @For_You_To_Know
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Coming from the Sales & Marketing arena makes this post greatly resonate with me. All of what you say is true. Especially having a belief in what you sell. Without that, you come off sounding disingenuous and that is a killer for any potential sale. 🙂
When you’re selling it’s a two-way interaction. If what you’re selling has value then think of it as providing a service or product the other person wants or needs. Too often, we think of selling as pushing a product at an unwilling target.
Great advice for all human beings, extovert as well as introvert. Like Jeannette says it’s a two way interaction. Presumably you are selling something of value to the other person. Then you are not pushing a product.
Glad everyone can relate to this post.:) Believing in what you do makes all the difference for me, too. It really is much easier to feel confident naturally than to have to force it or fake it.
Belief in your product or service, your company and yourself will make ALL the positive difference in the caring and genuineness. Thanks Susan.
And the two way interaction from the sellers perspective is going to best serve the sales process with a focus on the customer! Thanks Jeannette.
If you end up pushing Catarina, you won’t be able to help the customer because they can FEEL that negative approach. Thanks Catarina.
I am not a sales person. However, if the product you are selling is good, it will sell itself. Like a good book. 🙂
Geek Girl you ARE a sales person. Consider this: you have a blog, right? You want more people to read your quotes and find your app reviews and more, right? You are selling – ideas. Welcome to the world of selling ideas, products, services; all the same basic tenets.