You may not realize it, but sales is a fundamental component of marketing. From lead generation to qualification, product demonstration, generating quotes, following up and closing deals, sales requires the ability to change peopleҳ behavior. Change involves risk, because people are creatures of habit. Breaking old habits and working against human nature are all important parts of selling. Here are the seven steps of sales. Hopefully, theyҬl help you get started on your path to sales success. Seven steps in the sales process The seven steps of thesales process include prospecting, preparation, approach, presentation, objection handling, closing, and follow-up. Many salespeople make the mistake of talking too much or babble in order to convince a client to buy. In reality, it is important to be prepared for all aspects of the sale, including handling objections. The seven steps in the sales process help salespeople build rapport with prospects and close deals. The first step of the sales process is to identify the audience. Prospects can be identified through various marketing methods. The goal of the sales rep is to convert leads into qualified leads. Not every prospect will need or want what he or she is selling. Ask questions that help you qualify your leads by revealing their timeline, budget, and needs. When answering objections, make sure you know what theyҲe looking for and what would make them buy. The selling process is a series of repetitive steps designed to create an emotional connection between the seller and buyer. The most efficient selling processes typically have five to seven stages, including prospecting, preparation, approach, presentation, handling objections, closing, and follow-up. B2B salespeople generally follow the same steps as consumer-to-consumer salespeople. When you follow the seven steps of the sales process, you can increase your business profits and foster a relationship with your customers. The sales process also requires documentation. In addition to usingCRM tools to document the steps, salespeople should use various tools to persuade customers. A sales rep needs a clear process in order to be successful. A sales process map is essential for a salesperson, as it helps them measure and analyze their performance. Once the process map is established, sales reps can start developing their own unique sales process. And as you gain experience, you can tweak it based on measurements and improve it based on your own needs and goals. Prospecting There are several ways to go about prospecting for sales. Some salespeople believe that cold calling is an ineffective way to find new customers. Others say that social networking sites are an effective way to find sales leads. Regardless of the method, however, it is important to make sure that you are approaching the right people. Listed below are some tips for prospecting for sales online. Listed below are some of the best online tools for sales prospecting. First of all, research your competition. Sign up for their newsletters and emails and find out how you can best help them. Next, determine what makes your strategy different than theirs. Once you know what makes you different, you can talk to them in their words. Make sure not to use a canned message when making cold calls. Try being more formal and friendly. By putting in the time and effort, you will be able to land a sale. Second, connect with key people in the company. Connecting with key individuals will open up communication with your prospective customers. Then, get to know your prospectҳ needs and goals. You may even end up building a rapport with someone who has a great need for your product or service. Prospects will appreciate this kind of connection. Regardless of your reason for approaching a specific potential customer, make sure that they have a strong desire for what you have to offer. Next, offer to meet in person. Offer to meet without pressure, and the prospect will probably agree to it. They may even ask to meet again in a few months. Make sure you set a specific time to meet with them. Then, follow up with them regularly. If you have followed up with them, they may even ask you to call them back later. But donҴ be afraid to experiment and try something new. In some cases, the risk may pay off! Third, make sure you use multiple sources of information. If you have more information than time, use your own network and use social networks to network with people youҶe connected with. These are two of the most effective ways to prospect for sales. Prospecting can also help you gain new business. So, keep that in mind while youҲe planning your next move. If youҲe looking for a new job, use every resource you have to increase your chances of landing a new position. Negotiation Effective sales negotiation requires calmness, control of emotions, and a focus on the objectives and objections of the buyer. Throughout a sales negotiation, participants learn the various styles of negotiation and how to respond to difficult questions and obstacles. This workshop will help sales representatives develop their own unique style and approach to sales negotiations. Listed below are four key principles for effective sales negotiation: Determine the buyerҳ objectives. Negotiators need to know what the buyer is looking for before beginning negotiations. The buyer may be looking for a radical amendment, or they may be aiming for a massive price reduction. In the latter case, itҳ perfectly acceptable to gracefully bow out and end the negotiations. However, if you know your prospectҳ expectations and the buyerҳ objections beforehand, youҬl be more effective during negotiations. Understand the customerҳ perspective. During the final negotiation phase, the seller could lose the sale, or lose the margin that they won from the initial offer. Even if the seller manages to seal the deal, negotiations often result in changes or budget restrictions. Due to these risks, many sellers approach negotiations with trepidation. Several research studies have shown that nervousness leads to poor performance during negotiations. Negotiation skills are essential to achieving successful sales. Avoid using strong emotions. When emotions are high, they can get in the way of analyzing the problem. Try taking turns in expressing your feelings and demonstrating appreciation to your counterpart during the negotiation process. Highlighting key points can be helpful in building rapport. It also shows that you are listening to the other party and respect their views. Ultimately, this will help you win the sale. So, learn the skills to win at sales negotiation. A great salesperson knows how to make sure everyone has something to gain from the deal. They know how to expand the pie before claiming it all. Then they know how to negotiate to create a win-win deal for both parties. By building trust, salespeople can avoid side-bargaining and can maximize the value they create for the client. They can also use tools to improve their communication and prepare for negotiations. The RAIN Group has conducted extensive research about the advantages of hiring top negotiators. Closing the sale The science and art of closing the sale are both important in todayҳ marketplace. The first step to closing the sale is to read the personality of your customer. For instance, do you think a customer who is dominant is more likely to buy a product you are offering? If you think this is the case, try using an ӡssumptive close.Լ/p> Another key point to a successful closing is the legal close. At this point, all the documents are signed, expenses are apportioned, and the new owner is officially the buyer. This stage often involves lawyers, and both parties meet with an escrow agent or a lawyer to finalize details. In some cases, the lawyer may choose to conduct a closing ceremony. But the use of either process can depend on the culture and customs of the area. One of the most challenging aspects of closing a sale is making the decision to purchase. Most customers wonҴ commit unless theyҲe convinced of the benefits of your product or service. Even if they do, rejection is difficult to overcome. You need to build rapport, be confident, and avoid being pushy. Ideally, youҬl be able to convince the customer to purchase your product or service. However, not all sales people have the skills to effectively close a sale. A good salesperson knows that closing the sale isnҴ the end of the selling process. Itҳ the beginning of a lasting business relationship. In a nutshell, closing the sale is the final step in the sales process. A good salesperson should always remember that the sales process begins with contact with a potential customer and ends with closing the sale. And, while itҳ certainly stressful, the sales closing process is the best time to start a conversation with a potential customer. After closing the sale, the customer should sign the contract. The next step is to prepare the salesperson for the sales objections that will come up. Oftentimes, aprospect will have many objections to the price, features, or anything else. However, closing the sale doesnҴ have to be a big deal. Even if your prospect is hesitant to sign the contract, your salesperson should nudge them to sign it as soon as possible. The postThe Seven Steps of Sales appeared first onSMB Place.