Selling skills for new salespeople usually have some differentiators from the sales skills that a more experienced salesperson has due to learning about the sales process and understanding all the steps in the sale alongside product knowledge. Selling today can range from the uncomplicated to the deeply complex. Regardless, selling to mainly well informed modern buyers requires a range of selling skills. The successful salespeople today are agile, competent, and knowledgeable with a deep understanding of their customers’ needs. These salespeople can work quickly to identify and suggest solutions that meets customer’s needs, solutions that sets them apart from the competition. In this article, we’ll explore the key selling skills for new salespeople will need to acquire in order to succeed. 1.Product Experts Salespeople are not commodities, they should be product experts, ambassadors for the companies solutions. Customers (that includes us all) love dealing with an expert, someone who is knowledgeable, can answer our questions and is believable. So, product knowledge is at the core of any successful sales conversation. When it comes to selling skills for new salespeople, they must have a deep understanding of their product’s FAB – features, advantages, and benefits. Plus, any limitations compared to a competitor. They should be able to communicate the value proposition of their product to potential customers in a way that is easy to understand and relatable. In addition, salespeople should be able to demonstrate the product’s functionality and answer most (not all!!) technical questions that potential customers may have. Deeper technical questions is an opportunity for a company to show its depth in resources by bringing other internal people into the sales process. They should also be able to speak to the product’s positioning within the market and how it differs from other alternative solutions. 2. Understanding Customer Challenges Buyers want a personalized buying journey, so salespeople must have a deep understanding of the customer’s needs and pain points. They should be able to identify the specific challenges that potential customers are facing within their market and personalize their conversations to address those challenges. Customers have problems that they need to solve, and it’s up to salespeople to figure out what that problem is and how their product can help them solve it. When we understand the customer’s pain points, we can tailor your pitch to focus on how our product can solve those specific problems. This makes the salespersons pitch more relevant and valuable to the customer, increasing the likelihood that they’ll be interested in the product and ultimately make a purchase. To do this, the salesperson needs to ask the right questions and actively listen to the customer’s responses. They should also be able to speak to the customer’s industry and how their product can help solve common problems in that industry. They must show the customer that they are listening to their concerns, understanding their business goals, and identifying how the product can help them achieve those goals. To do this effectively, salespeople need to have the selling skills and the sales training guide to ask well thought out discovery questions that encourage the customer to talk about their challenges and goals. For example, they might ask: • What challenges are you currently facing in your business or market? • How do you measure the success of your current processes? • What are your top 5 priorities for the next year? Asking these types of questions not only helps understand the customer’s needs but also builds trust and rapport with them. 3. Communication Skills Effective communication is critical in selling skills for new salespeople or indeed any selling motion. Salespeople must be able to explain benefits and outcomes in a way that is easy to understand. They should be able to adapt their communication style to the needs of each individual customer and be comfortable with different communication channels, such as email, phone, and video calls. In addition, new salespeople should be skilled at building relationships with potential customers. They should be personable, likable, and able to establish rapport, credibility, and rapport quickly. 4. Communicate the Value Proposition Every salesperson has to be trained on how to expertly communicate the value proposition not just of the product or service they are selling but also the value proposition of the company itself. This means explaining how the company alongside the product solves the customer’s specific challenges, moves them away from their current position and helps them achieve their goals. To communicate a value proposition effectively, it’s important to focus on the outcomes, results and then the benefits of the product before talking about advantages or features. For example, instead of saying “Our product has a powerful reporting feature,” a salesperson can say “Our product helps to make data-driven decisions by providing real time, powerful insights and reports.” Another effective technique for communicating the value proposition is to use case studies and testimonials from other customers who have achieved success with the product or service. 5. Time Management Selling anything in today’s environment can be a time-consuming process. Selling skills for new salespeople should show them how to prioritize and manage their tasks effectively. They should be able to identify the most promising opportunities and focus their efforts on those. They should segment their time into chunks and assign various tasks within those time slots. In addition, they should be able to use tools like customer relationship management (CRM) software to track their progress and prioritize their tasks. More Selling Skills for New Salespeople 6. Persistence in Effort Selling requires persistence. Salespeople need to stay the course and follow up with potential customers multiple times in order to close a deal. They should get comfortable with being uncomfortable, be able to handle rejection and stay motivated even when faced with a difficult sales cycle. To be successful, they should be persistent but never aggressive. They should be able to understand the customer’s signals and adjust their approach as needed. 7. Sales Teamwork No person is an island. SellingSelling Skills for New Salespeople