Spend More of Your Time Selling

Making a living can be tough but that doesn't mean you have to struggle. We've compiled this list of tips and best practices to help you get ahead in the world of sales. This is your guide to getting things done, meeting quotas, and meeting your goals. It's an introduction on how to sell more so that you can spend more time working and less time worrying about how much money you're bringing in.

No one would deny that sales is a hard job. It requires being persistent, having a thick skin, and the ability to analyse situations to identify the best way of approaching them. Yet there are also a lot of people who would love to make it their career but have never been able to break through that barrier and make it in the industry. Selling is tough because it's tedious and you've got to be able to work at it constantly. The key component in this problem is how you approach selling—how you sell more. Here are some tips on how to sell more so that you can spend more time working and less time worrying about how much money you're bringing in.

1.  You Got To Zap It!

In a world where people spend an alarming amount of time on their smart phones, it would seem like a solution for those looking to sell more would be to 'zap' it. Despite the fact that you're the one who has to take out your phone, turn off your email alerts, and constantly check that app 'to do' list, this is still the best method for allowing you to sell more. Why? Because what an average person does—zaps—is exactly what you should be doing as well. When someone asks you how much they can earn on average each week, go ahead and tell them: "I make $100 every time I get 20 sales. That's $2,000 per week, which is great." Or, "I get two units a day just based on the way I approach sales." 

This method does have some drawbacks—what's to stop you from 'zapping' it? Taking out your phone will only apply to people who ask you questions. You'll never be able to zap yourself into selling more or being more successful with the goal of spending less time selling. You'll still have to sell in order to eat so stop zapping it and start zapping others instead!

2.  Enlist A Team

You can't do it alone. No matter how you look at it there are some aspects of your job that you'll have to delegate if you want any kind of success in sales. That doesn't mean that they'll have to do the job for you—just work with them in a way that makes things easier so that you can spend more time selling and less time doing other things.

3.  Be A Buzzkill

You're going to run into people who just aren't interested. They're not interested when you walk up to them, they're not interested when you call, and—oh yeah—they're also not interested when you tell them about your amazing new product or service. If you can't get someone on the phone or interested in a price then your only option is to move on. Four out of five people will tell you no but those other 20% are what give you the ability to sell more.

4.  Use Your Time Wisely

The clock is ticking and it's time to take a break from selling, which is bad news because it's also time to start when you have a lot of work to do. Take your breaks when there are less people around—that way you'll be able to sell more and spend less time working.

5.  Be A Good Listener

Obviously there are going to be points when you have to sell more and that's going to require you to listen. The problem with listening is that it requires you to use a different part of your brain—the one that can focus on two things at once. It's the same reason why musicians have trouble focusing on conversation while they're playing music.

6.  Make Yourself Available

Even if you've got a meeting, you're still available during the day if it's a sales type meeting. If someone wants to talk prices then why not turn it into a sale? Or if someone wants an in-depth look at your product then show them how much money they can make by using it properly.

7.  Take The Initiative

If you want to make an extra sale then you're going to have to take the initiative. You'll have to be the one to call, ask for a meeting, or do anything that will lead up to someone buying your product or service. The worst thing that can happen is for you to fail without trying—so go ahead and try!

8.  Read Up On A Product

There's no need to study from textbooks and get a Masters in Economics if you're planning on selling product, but there are still things that could help you out with your job. Be sure to review your product when you're getting set up with a new client, and try to order the same type of product as them so that you can be inspired by what they're doing.

9.  Handle It With Ease

When it comes to selling, there is one golden rule: handle it with ease. You don't want to seem overly anxious or too over-the-top when talking to someone who's thinking about buying your stuff—that way they'll think you're confident and possibly more trustworthy. Be sure to take them seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously.

10.  Don't Be Afraid To Recruit More Salespeople

You're going to have to recruit salespeople at some point so that you can expand your business and sell more product or service. You may not be able to find the best salespeople on your own—you may need to enlist the help of others and that's all part of the process. A little bit of effort goes a long way with a lot of these tips!

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Conclusion

If you're new to selling then these tips are definitely going to be helpful. You're going to have to sell more and you're probably not going to love it, but the amount of time you'll spend selling will also decrease. What's the difference? Time. You'll be able to spend more time working and less time worrying about how much money you're bringing in, which is a win-win in my opinion.