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Shane Lynch

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What is the number one thing you should improve in order to become a persuasive sales person?

No matter if you are selling gym memberships, insurance, or an idea, our economy runs on the ability of citizens to sell their products, services and ideas to others. Before people set out on this journey it may be useful to develop some interpersonal skills or communication strategies.

With so many factors playing a role in the sales process, what is the most important? Top 3? Top 10?

Example would include, scripts, materials, belief in system or idea...

Throw out your opinion and help the rest of us sell!

Topics: Tatics business communication ideas marketing public relations sales strategy
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    Walter Radtke

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    Oct 8 2011: Many products are made and distributed simply because they will sell and not because they fulfill an existing need. Ad campaigns create synthetic appetites where none existed before. Products that create appetite have no truth to them.
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    Matias Cortese

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    Oct 7 2011: if advertisement is all about screwing someone, then we must be sex addicts because is working for brand to advertise.
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    Matias Cortese

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    Oct 5 2011: Observation and listening applied to conversation

  • Patrick Halpin

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    Oct 5 2011: drop your soul and you'll be a great salesperson

  • Richard Stadler

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    Oct 4 2011: The late Mary Kay Ash opined: " Pretend that every single person has a sign around his or her neck
    that says, 'Make me feel important.' You will not only succeed in sales, you will succeed in life."
    Darned good advice.
    p.s. Ms.Ash founded Mary Kay Cosmetics...
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    Laurens Rademakers 50+

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    Oct 4 2011: .
    Trying to smile more convincingly.

    Remember the opening scene of Oliver Stone's movie "Nixon", in which the man who tries to teach another man how to become a good salesperson. The scene ends with the man saying: "nothing sells like sincerity", and then adds a really bad, fake smile.
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      Shane Lynch

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      Oct 8 2011: Haha! So true. Love that scene.
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    Rafi Amin 20+

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    Oct 4 2011: .

    Put yourself in place of consumer/customer & think what will encourage you to buy ?

    Show your products features that its competitors does not have.

    Keep patience.
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    Walter Radtke

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    Oct 3 2011: Sell something that has the element of truth to it, be able to detect truth and sell a product for which there is an actual need, i.e., develop an ethical core.
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      Shane Lynch

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      Oct 8 2011: I am just wondering how a product could not be truthful since most products are non-living. Do you mean work for a company which has solid ethical and moral standards? How do you know that a product that has little demand isn't appreciated by a small niche market. In my opinion it is a sales persons job to market and persuade that small group that a certain product can benefit them. Develop mutually beneficial relationships with those groups.
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    Kareem Fahim 10+

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    Oct 3 2011: Self confidence and vast knowledge abut your product!

    You don't have to lie because in modern sales people are almost lie-proof, I'd go plain and simple (of course you must know your market very well to maximize sales )

    good luck
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    Mike Euverman

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    Oct 3 2011: Your ability to make a lie, appear to be the truth.

    In the same way that a waitress is ALWAYS having a "good day" and manages to put on a smile.
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      Gerald O'brian 50+

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      Oct 3 2011: Yeah, it's all about screwing someone.
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        Mike Euverman

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        Oct 3 2011: It's not necessarily about screwing people over. I view it more as, selling an ideal. Where people are happier if they believe that something is perfect for them, as opposed to knowing all of the facts and having a lingering doubt about their choice. If the waiter or waitress appears grumpy, then you question if the chef is grumpy as well. If the chef is grumpy, then are they putting any amount of care into their cooking? The server sells the illusion of a perfectly happy family, by smiling and being polite to everyone. Even when her or she is having the worst day of their lives. The same goes for merchandise. People are happier with an item if they belief that it's a perfect match for them. If the salesmen allows the consumer to make the choice for themselves, then many would end up with the "paradox of choice" syndrome. When that happens, no one wins. The consumer doesn't get the item that they showed up for, and the store doesn't make a sale.

        Lying to people can sound nice when you claim to be doing it for the other persons benefit.
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        Shane Lynch

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        Oct 8 2011: I would like to know how a sales person can "Screw someone over."

        What does that look like? What part of the sales process is so convincing that you would automatically diverge from logical thinking and intuition that someone would allow them selves to be... as you put it... screwed.
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      Scott Armstrong 50+

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      Oct 7 2011: "Advertising is the modern substitute for argument; its function is to make the worse appear the better."
      George Santayana .
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      Shane Lynch

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      Oct 8 2011: I would say that your waitress example doesn't apply to telling lies. I would say the person who is always having a good day may not be but chooses to act that way and say they are as a way of choosing their own attitude. Check out the FISH philosophy.

      It makes their life better. Not necessarily making them better at sales.
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    Debra Smith 200+

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    Oct 3 2011: Really becoming customer-centric is the key for long term success.
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      Shane Lynch

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      Oct 8 2011: Debra I would agree entirely. What do you say is the first thing that would push someone towards being customer-centric? I my self would say that someone would have to develop Empathy.
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        Debra Smith 200+

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        Oct 8 2011: Shane, yes, empathy is key. If you go in trying to make a sale you might get one and you might not. If you go in with the goal of making your customer's life easier and ensuring their success with the help of your own skills coupled with your product you have a great chance of making a relationship and also a stream of revenue. No one likes to be used and sales calls can often be blatant attempts as manipulation and 'closing techniques'. You are bringing an offering to a person with needs and wants and requirements of their own. The wise person in sales clues in to how they can be really useful to their client.
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