5 Necessary Skills of the Most Successful Salespeople

Turning a prospect into a loyal customer starts with the sales experience. It’s the salespeople who set the tone, and to make that first impression count, they must learn to work efficiently and communicate effectively. Successful salespeople know they have to hone specific skills to deliver a fan-worthy experience; here are five of the most important, and how you can get better at them to sell successfully, too:
1. Prioritizatio

All salespeople are busy. So why do some seem stressed and disorganized while others manage to stay cool through anything? Because the latter group has learned to prioritize. Prioritization allows salespeople to separate what’s actually important from the tasks that would merely be nice to tackle.
2. Negotiation

Whether selling enterprise software or used cars, salespeople need to know how to negotiate. Although successful negotiation requires you to understand the other party’s needs, negotiation training group SAB Negotiation Group also uses personality profiles to understand the individual.
3. Responsiveness

Entire companies rise and fall on the basis of their customer experience. Salespeople must be responsive not just in terms of time, but emotionally as well. Factors like response speed, flexibility in communication channels, empathy and positivity make prospects want to work with the salesperson and, by extension, the company they represent.

Be there when their prospect is ready to take the next step. Communication platform Ping Pilot suggests conversational content: Embed links in materials that enable prospects to get on the phone, shoot an email or request a meeting when they’re ready. Replace gates to on-site content with click-to-chat buttons. Keep sales and customer service lines separate so prospects don’t have to request a transfer, sit on hold and re-explain themselves in order to buy.
4. Writing

Salespeople don’t need to be the next J.K. Rowling, but they do need to come across as competent and warm in their written communications. Prospects won’t trust someone who can’t string a sentence together to understand stakeholder needs. Even email typos can create a perception of carelessness.

Unlike some of the skills on this list, writing skills are largely built through solo practice. Read regularly, and model the conversational-yet-professional style of authors you admire. Focus on creating emotional connection without using superlatives, which can make sales pitches seem pushy or overblown.
5. Non-Verbal Communication

Body language is a big part of the message conveyed during a sales conversation. How a salesperson holds herself can communicate anxiety and confusion, or it can show confidence and ease. Even from across a room, prospects pick up on these cues.

Learn to control the signals they send. Hub spot suggests tweaks that can give you an air of authority and confidence: Open your chest and stand up straight. Walk while you talk. Keep a smile on your face, even when things get tense. Vary your gestures, but keep them small.

Super fans don’t just waltz into sales pipelines. They’re cultivated, starting with the first interaction with your company. Master these skills to give prospects a great experience, and they’ll reflect it right back as loyal customers.

SOURCE:success.com