Raintoday's Sales Tips & Techniques Podcast

Traditionally sales professionals participate in the sales process from start to finish. Some companies, however, have found a different structure works better. Following a model, in which sales professionals specialize in certain aspects of the sales process, they have increased sales closes by 300%. SalesLoft's Sean Kester explains.

Things have become more competitive for sales professionals. More people are vying for sales positions. Plus, selling itself has become more challenging with competing companies targeting the same customers. The best way to become indispensable in either situation is to be recognized as an expert in your field, says Dorie Clark, author of Stand Out.

Each person on a sales team is different. Depending on a person's role and outputs, he has different skills requirements and training needs. That means companies need a training program that addresses each person's unique qualities. A model that has proved successful is a sales university. With it, companies can create a curriculum that addresses core sales skills, as well as skills required for each sales role, says RAIN Group President Mike Schultz.

When it comes to generating referrals, you need a system. It doesn't have to be rigid system, but it must be a process that allows you to influence the referrals you receive. Using Vickie K. Sullivan's three-step system, you can guide your referral sources and ensure you received qualified leads.

Lean Thinking, long used to improve manufacturing and production processes, has found a use in sales. By implementing Lean Selling strategies, companies have been able to reduce sales waste, increase sales closures, and shorten sales cycle times, says Robert Pryor, author of Lean Selling.

LinkedIn is the most powerful social media tool for sales professionals. Most decision makers are members, and you have ungated access to them. The key is to be proactive in your use of it, says Melonie Dodaro, author of The LinkedIn Code. You can't simply create a profile, collect connections, and wait for buyers to come to you.

Sales organizations usually sell to the user-buyer, where all of the talk is about features and benefits. Sellers feel comfortable doing that. But when they only do that, they miss the other type of buyer within the company—the C-suite. To ensure your chances of winning the sale, you need both sides on board, which means you need two value propositions, says Skip Miller, author of Selling Above and Below the Line.

Technology has created a new type of gatekeeper—noise. The constant sales emails, social media requests, and text messages generate so much noise that decision makers often delete or ignore them. Because of that, salespeople need a multi-pronged approach to get appointments with decision makers.

Sales has always been thought of as more of an art than science. That is changing as more data about sales teams is available. Rather than simply trying something and hoping it works, teams can apply data and metrics and predict success.

You have a great product, but these days that isn't enough to keep customers returning. Customers want to be a part of something bigger. They want to connect with a company's story—their message—and they want to be a part of a community, says Noah Fleming, author of Evergreen. To achieve that, companies must have three qualities: character, community, and content.

The "key of all keys" when maximizing sales with existing accounts is expanding the value you offer. It goes further than your value positioning statement, however. Listen as John Doerr explains the other things high-performing firms do to expand the value they offer and grow business with accounts.

When it comes to identifying sales leaders, executives need to look beyond a person's ability to sell. Do they inspire people? Can they establish a clear vision? Can they get priorities of focus driven through an organization and cascaded to the front lines? Specifically, strong sales leaders have five qualities, says Scott Edinger, co-author of The Hidden Leader.

People have long held negative perceptions of sales, making the idea of loving a salesperson laughable. The truth is many customers do love people who sell to them—if those people have certain qualities. Listen as Jack Vincent, author of A Sale Is a Love Affair, explains what it takes to win a customer's love.

Whether you are a salesperson trying to get an executive to buy your product or you are a sales manager trying to approval for a new procedure, the important thing is to understand the executive's perspective. When you know what they want out of meetings, you will lead memorable meetings that prompt them to take action in your favor rather.

In a world where buyers often think competing products are virtually the same, the salesperson is the differentiating factor. It isn't enough for a salesperson to simply explain the features of what he's selling, he must provide value. Listen as Scott Edinger explains how top salespeople provide value and how companies can support them by having a sales-oriented culture.

As firms work to generate new leads, close more business, and charge fees they deserve, one thing can make all of those easier to accomplish: a Visible Expert. Listen as Lee Frederiksen explains the benefits of having Visible Experts on staff and how to develop your own expert.

Most people start their sales presentations by thanking their audience for the time and talking about themselves. If that's your approach, stop. If you want to capture their attention, start by saying something nice about the audience—something they are proud about as a business.

Selling isn't easy, but it is simple. It calls for following these three steps—making every touch count, being absolutely responsive, and clarifying your offer. Those actions are at the very heart of selling, says Andy Paul, author of Amp Up Your Sales. Master those, and the rest will come easily.

Companies have access to an incredible amount of customer and prospect data. With proper tools and analysis they can uncover buyer trends that can help generate high-quality leads and convert more leads into customers, says Russell Glass, co-author of The Big Data-Driven Business.

For many businesses, the danger is that customers make buying decisions based solely on price and they end up in commodity hell. To prevent that from happening, you need to create products that are experiential and cause people to have an emotional reaction to them. You need the secret sauce: empathy, says Jon Kolko, author of Well Designed.