Business
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Are Selling Skills?

Patti Kate
Patti Kate

Selling skills are necessary to achieve success in selling a product or service. These skills often involve marketing and advertising techniques designed to promote products and increase customer sales. Selling skills are also required for maintaining a strong relationship between clients and the sales team, which will ultimately drive sales. Those who develop strong selling skills will generally use customer service techniques to ensure customer loyalty.

The concept behind a successful sales approach is to establish loyal clientele. Loyal customers often refer the product or service to others, helping a business thrive and succeed. Selling tactics may include plans and strategies that help keep customers satisfied. Marketing strategies such as special bonuses and incentives are important to successful selling.

Successful sales people must have integrity. Values are an important part of successful selling. Knowing how to sell with an honest approach can result in higher customer satisfaction.

Successful sales people must have a sense of integrity and excellent communication skills.
Successful sales people must have a sense of integrity and excellent communication skills.

For many people, selling techniques come naturally, but for others, these essential skills must be learned. This can be accomplished through experience, or by participating in selling and management courses and seminars. Training courses and workshops offer selling tips and strategies for developing skills to succeed in retail sales and management.

Good salespeople should listen to a customer's needs.
Good salespeople should listen to a customer's needs.

Knowing how to approach a customer or client is a vital part of possessing strong selling skills. A salesperson has one chance to make a good impression, or he may lose the opportunity to gain a potential customer. Salesmen who possess strong selling skills will be communicative and listen to a customer's needs, while being persuasive enough to convince the customer he needs the service or product.

Telemarketing requires strong phone selling skills and techniques.
Telemarketing requires strong phone selling skills and techniques.

Those who possess selling skills typically succeed in suggestive selling. This approach involves recommending additional services or products to a customer. For example, a sale associate may recommend accessories to go with a large screen television designed for a media room. He will convince the customer why these extras are necessary to complete the customer's home theater.

Telemarketing requires strong phone selling skills and techniques. Selling tips for telephone sales are often explained in telemarketing seminars and training sessions. These skills will typically involve knowing how to address complaints and effectively resolve customer satisfaction issues. Maintaining a professional manner is equally important, and this means speaking in a pleasant tone of voice. A show of self confidence will also help the salesperson drive his point.

Discuss this Article

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Successful sales people must have a sense of integrity and excellent communication skills.
      By: Jake Hellbach
      Successful sales people must have a sense of integrity and excellent communication skills.
    • Good salespeople should listen to a customer's needs.
      By: Amy Dunn
      Good salespeople should listen to a customer's needs.
    • Telemarketing requires strong phone selling skills and techniques.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Telemarketing requires strong phone selling skills and techniques.