Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Being reliable
• Part 2 of 3: Being assertive
• Part 3 of 3: Staying optimistic
• Tips

Selling is an art. As a good salesperson you are partly assertive and partly passive, and you look for a balance between persuasiveness and charisma. So you are able to even sell ketchup ice creams to a woman with white gloves on King's Day (although we rather recommend something that is more practical). Read on to learn how to appear trustworthy, assertive and remain optimistic about your sales.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Being reliable

1. Put the customer first. You can't sell something to someone if he or she doesn't trust you. To convince someone that he or she needs a product, you have to be able to create a balance between honesty and your drive to sell, as well as being assertive, steadfast and honest. If a customer doesn't trust you, he or she will be less willing to make an informed decision about a purchase.
2. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers. Find out what your customer really wants and why. People buy products as a means to an end. If you understand and master your customers' needs, you will be a good salesperson.
   • Let your customer have the conversation and ask questions to determine his wishes. If a customer says he wants to buy a suit, ask what occasion this is for. Selling a suit to someone attending a funeral is quite different from selling a suit to someone who wants to celebrate a recent promotion.
   • If the customer shows interest in a particular product, ask him what he likes about it. Let your customer choose the product they feel good about, get to know your customer and their taste better and discover the real reason for the purchase.
   EXPERT TIP

   Become an expert in your field. Make sure you know everything about the product you are selling, as well as the products of your competitors. This way you can explain to your customer why the product you recommend is the right choice for him.

   • For example, if you are selling basketball shoes, find out which players are wearing which shoes, which styles are being collected, and which history the shoes have. Also learn all the technical details about sizing, comfort and maintenance of the shoes.
3. Pay attention to aftercare. If you really want to be a good salesperson, take it one step further. Write down the names and contact details of your customers and contact them with a quick phone call or letter after purchase to make sure they are 100% satisfied with their purchase. This way you turn your customers into true fans who will certainly return to you in the future. This is also how you get recommendations from customers and a promotion from your employer.
4. Make sure you look good. There is no particular style to adhere to - a car salesman will likely dress a little differently than a salesman at a guitar store - but you should research how to dress appropriately and accessible. Wash, take care of yourself properly and be kind.

Part 2 of 3: Being assertive

1. Prepare for possible objections. Pay close attention to the reactions of your customers. Facial expressions and body language can tell you a lot about the attitude of your customers. When making a sales pitch about a particular product, remember that you are in the store selling what makes the customer feel good about their purchase. Thinking about what part of the product or price the customer is objecting to will help you respond in a tactful and convincing way.
   • If a customer is not convinced of a particular product, acknowledge it instead of promoting the product even further. You can objectively mention some of the advantages of the product while endorsing the customer's hesitation: "It's more expensive than other shoes, you're right. It takes a lot longer to sew everything by hand, but the shoe is therefore a lot stronger and more durable. "
2. Be logical. If you work on a commission basis, it can of course be tempting to try to sell the customer more expensive and additional products or to interest your customers in the most expensive products. But if you're trying to sell a more expensive and better big-screen plasma television to someone who lives in a dorm in a small room with limited space, your customer is likely to get annoyed by your way of selling. Try to find a balance between your desire to sell a product and the product that is most suitable for your customer.
3. Ask your customer if he wants to buy the product. If the client is having a hard time making a decision, then there is nothing wrong with applying a little pressure. Trust that you have recommended the best product and ask your customer something like, "Would you like me to take this to the checkout for you in advance so that you can take a closer look?"
4. Try to sell more products per customer. After closing a sale, try to sell additional products to increase the total amount of your sales. If you've just sold a printer, list some offers on ink cartridges or packs of printer paper. Give the reason that this will save your customer money and stress: "You will need them in the long run anyway and this way you don't have to worry about them."

Part 3 of 3: Staying optimistic

1. Forget the times when things went wrong. If you've spent a lot of time with a customer who didn't end up buying anything, it can be very frustrating and discouraging. However, learning how to get past bad experiences and how to quickly focus on new opportunities is the best way to become a better salesperson.
   • Try to think of every failed attempt as an exercise. What have you learned from it?
2. Concentrate on your own sales. Some employers try to boost sales by turning it into a competition between the different salespeople and posting sales figures every week or month. While this can be a friendly way to get employees to sell more enthusiastically, it can also be discouraging if you keep comparing yourself to the other salespeople.
   • Celebrate if you do sell a lot of products, but don't make it your goal. Continue to see your work as work. Use your free time with other hobbies so as not to keep thinking about selling products.
3. Stay busy. The more attempts you make to sell something, the easier it will be. It will be easier to get over small failures and setbacks if you keep focusing on improving your skills. Making phone calls or walking around the store will also speed up your day if you spend more time selling products.
4. Don't blame anyone. Whatever happens, try not to blame others. Ultimately, it is the customer's decision whether to buy a product. So don't see it as a mistake on your own if the customer decides not to buy anything. Try to see yourself as an advisor during the sales process. Make suggestions, be as helpful as possible, and look ahead after the customer has left, whether you've sold or not.

Tips

• Remember you are there to serve the customers serve and too help out.
• Always be honest. Customers will be able to tell if you are untrustworthy.
• Listen carefully to everything your customer says and also listen to how he says it. You can use this when you recommend a product as a solution to the customer's problem. You want to promote the solution to the customer in the same way that the customer told you his problem.
• Tailor your sales pitch to the customer. People like different things - a customer won't see the bells and whistles of a product unless they appeal to them.