I STINK @ sales... How can I get better..?? Have had several failed sales attempts in recent memory.. ???

Answer 1

Sales is not a career for everyone. You must be able to accept rejection and move forward to the next customer. You need to study your product base that you are selling and be able to present the benefits to the customer. You need to believe in what you are selling and maybe devise some scripts to practice on before presenting to you customer. You need to think of ways to overcome a customer's rejection. Don't sound like a telemarketer make your sales script natural and use what works for you. The key is to keep trying and be enthusiastic about what you are trying to sell make your presentation like this is the best thing since sliced bread. You want your customer to be just as excited as you are about your product. Good luck.

Answer 2

What kind of sales? And when you say you "stink" is that because you made no sales or just didn't have the ooomph to even make the sales call?

Some people are natural salesman. BUT, it is also a trade that can be learned. It takes more than just reading, though. It takes practice. You have to be involved with a company or individual who is willing to practice with you so that you can become TRAINED.

The best way is for you to observe someone doing a sale, then you try it with someone observing you so they can give you pointers on how to improve.

Confidence is important, but without proper training, you still won't succeed. And, how do you quantify your "failure"? I do know many people say you fail because you quit. The problem can sometimes be if you keep doing the same thing the same way, you will get the same results. So, if you are going to change the course, you MUST change the way you are doing your sales presentation.

I'm in sales and its my job to help others duplicate what I do. If someone fails, the first thing I have to look at is the problem my training or the person's willingness (or lack thereof) to follow instructions?

If you want to be successful in sales, you can be. I wish you well.

Answer 3

It begins with your attitude. Think positive, Be positive. It is easier to be negative and have a negative attitude then it is to be positive. So why go the easier route? Do you really stink, or was it just a bad pitch? Were you able to answer their questions to the fullest extent that you possibly could? Did you really fail, or did you learn something new that you may not want to say next time? Were you motivated? Were you mellow? Did you act like you didn't care?

"Persistance wears down resistance!" Tom (One of my first sales managers) 1999

I wasn't one for the books, or teachers, which is probably why I joined the military. Your story may be the same, who knows. However I love a good movie (and still do). I recommend that you watch the following movies in order. Wall Street, Glen Garry Glen Ross, & finally Boiler Room.

Those helped me out immensly. You want to remember you aren't selling a product or service, you are selling yourself. However you cannot sell a product or service if you don't know what the hell the product or service is about. Think of it like bullets for your gun. Your mouth is the gun and the product or service knowledge you have available are your bullets. When going to battle you can never have enough ammo. So study, study, study, for that equals your money.

"Remember two sales happen on every sales call, or up. You sell them the product or service, or they sell you on why they cannot buy!" - Ben Affleck - Boiler Room (2000)

Those "recent failed attemps" aren't failures they are learning oppourtunities to become more successful. The question is how bad do you want it? Go back in your mind on those not so successful attempts and remember what went well (IE: They smiled when you made a certain comment) and what wasn't so well (IE: they slammed the door in your face). Then you write down what your pros and cons were. This will give you a compass as what to do differently when you are asked those same quesitons again. I could talk for hours on this subject. I learned the hard way (sounds like you are learning the same way) Sink or Swim, and I refused to drown!


"If you choose the Blue Pill then you wake up back in Neverland not remembering this conversation. If you take the Red Pill then I will show you how far the Rabbit hole goes!"

Morpheus - (Laurence Fishburn) The Matrix (1999)

The bottom line is how bad do you want it? You already have an edge over the next person because of your military experience. You are military minded so be tactical in your moves and utilize that training that you had.

"Use the force Luke!" Obi Wan Kenobi -Star Wars (1977)

Answer 4

Pretend you are someone else. It's a role that you were hired for, or you are the president and C.E.O. of the company.Be loud, don't take no for an answer. That way embarrassment wont get in the way, and you are more likely to ask for it even when you would have before quit. And always assume the sell. And, when you're down maybe listen to some Zig Zigler.

Answer 5

try taking a job where you don't neccesarely need to help people decide what they want, such as a clerk in a store, running a register. I had the same problem, and when I moved to a register, and got to talking to people without the pressure of sales I began to open up, and could talk to people much easier about items, and benefits of them, now back in sales, and doing great.

Answer 6

Sales is all about serving the customer. The job of any salesperson is to solve the customer's problem. Therefore, to be successful, you must first identify the customer's problem. Then demonstrate to the customer how your product or service solves that problem. Then, ask for the sale.

It really is that simple. Just three steps.

1) identify the customer's needs and/or problem

2) demonstrate to the customer how your product solves that problem

3) close the sale - ask for the order.

Answer 7

I agree with Josh make sure you know your product. Knowledge is everything, the more you know the more people will respect you and trust you.

Answer 8

Confidence, Confidence, and Confidence is the key to good sells. If you have that (along with product knowledge of course) you have all it takes