In the ever-evolving world of sales and marketing, the question often arises: Will the internet render the traditional salesperson obsolete? While the answer remains uncertain, one thing is clear - the internet and automation can serve as powerful tools for the modern salesperson. Those who embrace these technologies will find themselves becoming increasingly valuable to their customers and their companies. Rather than fearing the unknown, it is wise for sales professionals to proactively leverage these tools to their advantage.
The rapid advancement of online technology may render some aspects of this article obsolete by the time it is published. However, here are some ways that a tech-savvy salesperson can utilize the internet to excel in their role:
Just because you have a list of potential clients doesn't mean they're all worth your time. The internet can be used to qualify these prospects before you invest time in reaching out to them. For example, if you have a list of 25 potential clients, you can use search engines to research each one. You may find a wealth of information about the company, such as key personnel, product lines, mission statements, and more. This information can help you decide whether to pursue them and how to approach them.
Email is one of the greatest advantages of the internet. It can dramatically reduce the time spent on phone calls and eliminate the frustration of voicemail. You can use email to communicate with your support team, manager, and customers, transforming hours of tedious tasks into productive sales time. You can also use mass email as a sales tool, sending information about new products to all your customers at once.
Contact management software is a must for any modern salesperson. It allows you to collect and record information about customers, schedule appointments, create to-do lists, and more. If you're not using a laptop with a contact management program, you're falling behind. There are several internet-based programs available that allow you to use contact management software on a monthly rental basis.
A tech-savvy salesperson can use a laptop with presentation software to showcase new products or services to customers. This allows you to prepare a high-quality presentation in a stress-free environment and present it in a professional manner. You can also store supplemental literature on your computer and print sell sheets as needed.
The amount of information available on the web is growing exponentially. It takes time to sift through it all to find answers to your questions and those of your customers. By becoming a trusted source of information for your customers, you can save them time and increase your value to them.
There are countless ways to use technology to become a more effective salesperson. If you have a unique technique, consider sharing it with others. For example, you can visit Kahles Korner, a bulletin board for salespeople, and submit your idea.
In the 21st century, it's no longer an option to be ignorant of the internet and automation if you want to succeed in sales. The time to become tech-savvy is now.
