Imperatives of a sales job

The person who is in sales or wants to join the sales line must have two qualities. First, building a good relationship with the customers and second, developing a network.

There is a huge competition in the market and almost all the companies produce quality products. In such situation, it is important to build a strong bond with the customers, so that whenever a customer decides to buy a particular product he/she must call you without a second thought.

Don't forget that your loyal customer is your promoter also. A loyal customer can refer you to another potential customer. Networking, another important aspect of the sales job, is a necessary skill for creating new customers and developing a strong referral pipeline.

However, networking is not an immediate process. Occasionally, it can take many years to develop a network but sometimes, it can be built positively within a few days. Networking is also an approach used to build strong relationships. It is all about sharing values between people. Try to develop a long-term network, where there is a scope for you to help other and to seek help; that is how networking works. Carefully, go through the given power networking tips to develop powerful networks-

• Network with confidence

Both networking and relationships are interrelated. Before developing a network, commence building relationships with people- friends, fellow colleagues, and family. It will offer you a chance to make relationships. While you commence networking to sell your product, be as you are and try to know as many people as possible. 

Remember that you may get the chance in future to sell your product to the person with whom you are networking, thus develop the network with confidence. You will realize that there are several people who are ready to help you whenever you seek their help and there are people around you who want to see you succeed.

• Create a database for your networking list

Make a list of all the known customers whom you can include in your network. Don't ignore anybody thinking that it will never buy your product. You never know it may refer you to someone else who can be your customer.

To remember the details of all of your customers create a database. Include the following fields in your database- Name, Relationship Status, E-Mail, Contact No., Date of Contact, Follow-up Date.

• How to communicate with the members in your network

There is a proper way to communicate with your clients. When meeting your client for the first time you must deliver your brand message, be specific while doing so. 

Optimizing the opportunity to expand your network always ask for the names of other people whom you can contact. It is great if he/she gives you the reference of even a single person as it may be proved as a prospective customer.

If you are meeting anyone who was referred to you by someone else then always mention the name of the person who gave you the reference as part of your introduction, no matter if you are communicating personally or via e-mail.

If you are communicating with your client over e-mail, it is best to highlight your products in bullet form. There should be separate bullets for each characteristic of the product. It enables the person to whom you are sending the mail to know your product very easily. In most cases, the recipient of your mail forwards it to someone else.

• Online social networking

Social networking sites are a more powerful tool to increase your sales. When you are endorsing your brand in social networking sites, remember that a people increasingly search social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace to know about the brand.