The other day someone on TikTok asked if I had any tips or suggestions for someone new to their sales position and I realized there was way too much info to get into for a quick video.
So here I am, writing a blog post about it instead. Now, before you start on some bullshit, I hear you … “Shaque’l, I don’t want to go into sales! It’s so scary!”
But girl, don’t click that exit button just yet. Let me cook.
Because I say all the time that you gotta stay ready so you ain’t gotta get ready, right? If you’re ready to make more than $8 an hour or you want to move immediately from one career to another then a sales role might be a good fit for you.
Why? Two things:
They’re ALWAYS hiring (because hello, capitalism … how else are these companies gonna make all their monies?)
There’s the potential to make a goddamn stupid amount of money, especially at companies where there’s uncapped commission.
Don’t get me wrong, shit can be challenging af but sales can also be exciting and really lucrative. Like, pay off all your student loans, put your bills on autopay, never worry about your card declining ever again lucrative.
So here are some tips and suggestions to help you navigate a sales role or transition successfully … while keeping a healthy work-life balance (because I know firsthand how hard that shit can get).
Understand The Damn Product/Service
You’re not gonna get good at telling people they need something if you don’t know what that something is. You have to know your shit inside out. Be the best person on the whole sales floor when it comes to the ways this product or service can save your potential client money, time, and/or energy. Yes, people want to understand benefits and features, but they also want to know how the shit you have on offer is going to solve xyz problem that they’re having.
Not only does knowing your product inside and out boost your confidence (because nothing gets embarrassing faster than being asked about something and not having the slightest clue about how to respond) but it also increases your credibility as a sales rep with your customer. And guess what? Idk if anyone has ever told you this but people are more likely to buy things from people they trust 😉
Hone Those Communication Skills
If you’re an introvert and you love to talk, sales is for you. But guess what? Even if you’re introverted af (like our marketing manager Amanda who was the top sales agent on her team at her last job) sales could still be a really good fit for you.
Because sales is all about communication. And the most effective communicator is more likely to win, every single time. Now, that doesn’t mean that you should steamroll people. After all, good communicators listen just as much as they speak.
In fact, learning to ask clients open-ended questions (meaning questions that can’t easily be answered with a “yes” or “no”) is a must. Especially because listening to them when they share details about their needs and/or the issues they’re trying to solve, makes it so much easier to frame your product in a way that highlights how you/your company/your product can solve their issue and take some of the burden off their shoulders.
In the same vein, you’ll also need to learn how to respond to rejection gracefully. Don’t be pushy and refuse to take no for an answer. People telling you no is inevitable. If you want to address one or two concerns that they bring up with a rebuttal that’s fine, in fact it’s encouraged, so make sure you have ways to communicate and address concerns ready before you need them. But a hard no is a no. Don’t take that shit personally. Stay resilient, keep a positive outlook, and know that every no you get brings you one step closer to your next yes.
Stop Asking Strangers for Shit and Build Relationships Instead
I’ve talked about this a lot, especially when it comes to sliding into people’s DMs and asking them for free labor. Don’t do this. It’s cringe af. You gotta focus on building genuine relationships with your clients instead of just hyper-focusing on making a damn sale. People will buy from someone they trust, and someone they feel connected to, every single time. You know who they’re unlikely to buy from? Some rando demanding that they spend their money in a certain way.
Set Some Badass Goals & Stay Organized
If you know you need to hit a certain number of sales before the end of the month to hit commission, that seems like a good place to start. Then do a breakdown and see how many conversions you need to hit per day to make that goal a reality. Keep a little sale tracker of some kind to help keep you motivated. It’s easy to forget how many sales you’ve made when you’re putting up hella numbers after all 😂
Staying organized by using a calendar or making notes about every potential client you talk to will make those long sales cycles a little less tedious and monotonous. It also makes forming connections with clients easier. For example, if someone tells you all about their kid/pet/favorite houseplant during your convo, go ahead and make a quick note about the info! If you have to do a follow-up call with them in a few weeks you can ask about it! Not only does this show you were actively listening (and people love that shit) but it also shows that you care.
And it doesn’t have to be super complicated. Just have some sort of system to make it easy to find info when you need it and make call-backs when you promised you would, especially if someone seemed like they were close to buying or on the fence about their purchase. Chances are, your company will have something to help keep track of leads, appointments, and follow-ups. Use it!
Manage Your Time Wisely and Maintain Work-Life BOUNDARIES:
It's easy for sales roles to consume your life if you're not careful. So you gotta set firm boundaries between your work and personal time. Don’t be that person busting out 60+ hour workweeks and working on your days off trying to hit commission. You can do this in a few ways:
Make sure to let all your clients know the days you’re off so that they don’t come in when you’re out and give you hard earned sale to Chad from the other team. If you gotta put that shit in your voicemail then do it.
Partner with someone you can trust at work to take your sales on days that you’re out. Reciprocity is key. Not everyone you work with is gonna be a shady used car salesman of a person. And if you scratch their back and handle their sales for them when they’re out too? They’ll love you forever.
Manage the time you do have in the office wisely! Don’t get distracted by inter-office politics, drama, or water-cooler talk. This is a big part of sales that nobody talks about. The more people you speak to on a daily basis, the more likely you are to put up the numbers you’re looking to hit so spend your time chasing down leads, not convos with your coworkers.
If you’re doing all of the above consistently then it’ll make it a lot easier to prioritize activities outside of work that bring you joy when you’re not on the clock. And if you lose a sale or two on a day that you’re out, you won’t need to worry too much about it. If you’re ‘bout your bidness then you should have a fat ass pipeline to fall back on anyway!
Let’s Wrap This Shit Up
Honestly, sales tends to be male dominated and, as a whole, could benefit from the addition of more women in the field. I promise you can thrive in your new sales role and make money you would never even think to dream of if you’re willing to give it a shot. Remember, success in sales ain’t just about making the sale, it’s also about building lasting relationships with the people you meet along the way … and most of us do that on a daily basis without even thinking twice about it.
So stop doubting yourself and go make this schmoney. We can’t let the boys have all the fun 😉
And, as always, if you need help with any job transition, not just one into sales, hit us up! We've got more tips, tricks, and expertise where all of this came from!
Have you ever thought about taking a sales role? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments!
And if you're currently in sales, drop some gems below to help out all the new and future sales girlies! We're in this together, sis!
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