Personal selling is dealing with potential customers face to face and trying to convince them to make a purchase. Salespeople often become successful entrepreneurs because they learn to listen to what the customer needs and wants on a daily and personal basis.
Some great American entrepreneurs like Billy Durant, who started out in sales include:
- Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s, was selling milkshake machines when he was inspired to turn the McDonald brothers’ hamburger restaurant into a national operation.
- Aristotle Onassis was a wholesale tobacco salesman before becoming a multimillionaire in the shipping business.
- King C. Gillette was a traveling salesman when he invented the safety razor.
- W. Clement Stone started out selling newspapers at the age of six before going on to build a great fortune in the insurance industry.
- Mary Kay Ash was in direct sales for 25 years before she cofounded Mary Kay Cosmetics with her son.
Selling Is a Great Source of Market Research
If a customer is dissatisfied, it is often the salesperson who hears the complaint. In that sense, selling is a constant source of valuable market research. Depending on the business you start, you will probably not be able to hire a sales staff immediately. You will be the sales staff.
Even if you have never sold anything in your life, you can make yourself into a fantastic salesperson. In fact, you have already had a lot of practice selling without realizing it. Everyone has tried on occasion to persuade (“sell”) others to agree to something or to act a certain way. Being face to face with customers and trying to sell your product may make you uncomfortable, but think of rejections as learning experiences.
Personal selling will give you opportunities for ongoing market analysis. You will learn to look forward to sales encounters throughout your entrepreneurial career.
The Essence of Selling Is Teaching
The creative art of selling is teaching the customer how the features of your product or service are benefits. Inexperienced salespeople make a common mistake: They think telling the customer about the features of a product will sell it. But remember, a customer who buys a drill does not need a drill; the customer needs to make a hole.
The essence of selling is teaching how and why the outstanding features of your product or service will benefit your customers. William “Billy” Durant succeeded early in his career by showing that a new type of spring (feature) made riding in his buggy carts more comfortable (benefit). The London School of Business and Finance is the one-stop solution to learn more about various selling skills for successful business.
Tim Scott
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