Sales are everywhere – either you're selling something, or you're hearing someone else’s pitch. If you’re in sales, or are about to be, here are four helpful tips for fine-tuning the art of selling.

1. Think ‘Helping’ Rather than ‘Selling’
At its core, selling is (or should be) about helping. It’s important not to underestimate the ability to clarify what you’re actually offering. Learning to ask the right questions and having a human conversation with would-be customers is just as important. Learn more about what your customer’s needs are, and then show them how what you’re offering can meet those needs.

2. Understand Your Customer
No matter what you’re selling, the most important trait of successful salesmanship is understanding the needs of your customer. Figure out who your target customer is first, and analyze their needs and desires to prepare your pitch. At times, this may mean researching an individual client—for instance, if you are making a major sales pitch to a known figure within a specific company. Either way, knowledge is sales.

3. Learn to Sell Yourself
It’s important to keep in mind that before a would-be customer is going to consider buying a product or service, they need to like you, the salesperson, just as much as they like what you’re selling. So when making a sales pitch, take a little time to engage with your customer and let them get to know you; tell a quick story, draw a laugh, and let yourself be human. Human engages human, after all.

4. Time is Money, So Respect It
Most brands see anywhere from seven to 10 points of contact before a potential buyer makes a purchase. Customers give you their time just as much as they give you their money, if not more. In order to create positive touch points, respecting your prospective customers’ time is integral. Technological advances have helped create new approaches that better value peoples’ time than the door-to-door sales of yore. Remember, the Internet has closed the information gap, so it’s best not to overwhelm buyers with options. Instead, emphasize the experiences they will gain by buying your product or service and integrating it into their lives.

Bottom line; If you don’t believe your own pitch, no one else will either.  To be a successful seller, get in touch with your own needs and desires, and move outward from there by asking yourself the right question; what can this do for me?

A YES Business Coach can help you practice your sales pitch. Visit yesmontreal.ca to find out how to schedule your FREE consultation.