2022 is coming to a close. To start off 2023 strong, it’s time to think Q1! 

And like any entrepreneur, you’re probably focused on what you and your team can do better—especially when it comes to sales. 

Understandably, it can be quite daunting following up on a great (or not-so-great) sales year. But with the right strategies in place, nothing is impossible. 

So whether you are looking to reinvigorate sluggish sales or blow last year’s number out of the water, here are three expert-backed tips to make it happen.

Let’s jump right in! 

3 Powerful Tips To Jump-Start Your 2023 Sales

Tip #1: Get your team in tip-top shape 

 Big sales goals call for a top-notch sales team.

Start by taking an objective look at your current roster. List down their strengths and weaknesses. From there, you can determine which ones can take on bigger roles and which ones will need additional training. 

This is also the time to see whether or not you’ll be needing new recruits to fill in certain gaps that are keeping your team going from good to great. 

Bonus tip: It’s much more cost-efficient to invest in existing talents than to keep hiring new ones, so see what you can improve in your current team before expanding. 

Check out Why Sales Network’s Training Lab for online courses and up-skill classes! 

Tip #2: Automate what you can

 To take your sales to the next level, you’d want to focus your team’s time on revenue-generating tasks as much as possible. 

But the reality is, there is also plenty of administrative work that needs to be done to make sure operations are running smoothly. 

What’s the solution? Automation! 

Automation tools can take care of repetitive, time-consuming tasks for your team. Everything from data entry all the way to prospective research can be automated nowadays! 

With these on autopilot, your team can now fully dedicate their time to prospecting, closing deals, and other critical tasks that move you closer to your sales targets. 

Bonus tip: Not all automation tools are made equal. Take some time to research the different types of tools available for the function you need (you can start here). From there, thoroughly assess which ones meet your team’s requirements. 

Tip #3: Invest in a sales mentor

Breakthrough sales are not only achieved through technical skills. 

They also require the right mindset, behavior, and inner work that allows a salesperson to show up as the best that they can be.

However, you can’t learn these from textbooks. These are things that either take 5, 10, or 15 years to develop in your practice. 

To fast-track the process…invest in a sales mentor!

A good sales mentor can help you skip much of the trial-and-error and jump straight to adapting the inner work that actually leads to success. Plus you get tips and tricks of the trade that can skyrocket your sales in no time!

Bonus tip: Not enough resources at the moment? No worries! Why Sales Network’s blog offers an arsenal of insights from industry-leading mentors in the world of sales—and you can access them all for FREE! Bookmark this page for easy access.

Wrapping up

Getting off to a strong start puts you and your sales team in the best position for a lucrative year ahead. So be sure to follow our tips above to secure it!

If you have any questions or comments, we would love to hear from you!  Leave us a comment below or reach out via our contact us page.

If you are one of the top sales agents in your company, then you’re likely about to be offered a sales commission plan—if you haven’t already. According to the Boston Consulting Group, the employees who are happiest and most likely to stay with the company for a long time are those who feel appreciated. And what better way for a company to show appreciation than by offering its top performers a competitive compensation plan?

This offer helps both you and the company. As an employee, you are rewarded for the outstanding performance and effort you put into your role. For the company, it’s a way to motivate and inspire loyalty in a dedicated agent. And when an agent is happy, they continue to deliver quality results.

If you are currently being offered a sales commission plan, congratulations! You are on top of your game! But that doesn’t mean you should accept it right away. Take some time to do research on the different options, compare offers, and choose the one that gives you the most value. You may be tempted by fancy On-Target Earnings (OTE) but hold your horses! Before you say yes to a sales commission plan, here are 6 factors to consider.

1. How and when are you getting paid?

You want to maintain a consistent cash flow. To do that, you need to know how you will get paid, and how often. Different companies may offer different policies. If your payout is set on a quarterly basis with 50% incentive pay, then your cash flow isn’t going to look great. Target at least 30% to 60% incentive pay every month.

2. Ramp policy

Most companies offer a ramp period of 2-3 months where you get paid the incentive pay in full while you train and learn about the business. Find out the percentage of guaranteed incentive pay you’ll get in the first month, second month, and so on.

3. Revenue vs non-revenue goals

Getting incentives based on closing deals tends to be more secure—after all, closing is your main job as a salesperson. Plus, closures usually get higher commission rates than other non-revenue components. If a firm says you will be paid greater than 20% of your incentive through opportunity generation, that’s a potential red flag!

4. Bookings vs invoices

As much as possible, opt for a commission or compensation plan that is based on bookings rather than invoices. In bookings, you get paid for closing the deal, and then you can securely move on to the next one. With invoices, you get paid only after the customer has paid the company.

5. Advanced commissions

Some sales are seasonal. You may close several deals during holidays but very few to none during the other months. In this case, ask your employer if you can take an advance on your commissions during off-season months, which will be later deducted when you earn your commissions.

6. Sales cycle

Your sales cycle can vary depending on what you will be selling. Some cycles are less than 3-6 months while others can be as high as a year. Clarify this with the HR team so you know what to expect at the onset.

Conclusion

There you have it—the 6 things that you should take into consideration before accepting a sales commission plan! A good plan is a great way to keep your cash flow steady, instead of waiting for a big payday every quarter.

Make sure your expertise and dedication get the comp plan they deserve. Take your time to compare the offers, dig deeper into all the details, and never hesitate to ask for clarifications. We hope this helped!

We all have different reasons for pursuing careers in sales, but we can’t deny that most people are in it for financial security! Sales can be a highly profitable venture if you play your cards right and pour your heart into your work. But money shouldn’t be the only thing compelling you to set foot in this highly competitive industry.

There are many unique advantages and benefits you can get from being a salesperson. So with that being said, today we’re here to give you nine reasons why you should consider becoming a professional salesperson. Ready to find out what they are?

Reason #1: You’ll Learn Valuable Career Skills

Perfecting your craft as a professional salesperson will no doubt expand your arsenal of skills and techniques. If you decide to switch careers, you’ll find that many of the things that you learned in sales will help you greatly, regardless of what field you want to try out next!

Because of the nature of sales, most salespeople will excel in these skills…

• • Interpersonal communication
  • Persuasion
  • Problem-solving
  • Versatility
  • Creativity

…and many more!

If you want to challenge yourself and come out a well-rounded individual, becoming a professional salesperson can help you achieve that goal!

Reason #2: You’ll Build Valuable Connections

As a professional salesperson, you’ll undoubtedly have to deal with various individuals and groups of people. Many of them may not stick around in the long term, but if you make a lasting impression, they could still remember you and seek you out down the road—or even recommend you to their colleagues.

And if you have a hand in important projects or deals, those may just open opportunities for you in the future! You never know how the people you meet could push you to greater heights, whether in your career or just as a person.

Reason #3: It’s a Highly Accessible Profession

This may come as a surprise to some, but becoming a salesperson is actually a lot easier than it seems.

Why? Because most sales positions usually don’t require specialized training, or even a college degree! While there are certifications and courses you can take online that will help boost your credibility, they aren’t a hard requirement. 

You can start your career as early as today! All it takes to succeed as a professional salesperson is having a genuine passion for sales, the right mindset, and a solid work ethic.

Reason #4: You’ll Travel A Lot

Want to see the world and explore all of its hidden gems? Become a professional salesperson! No, seriously. To explore new markets, network with potential clients and partners, and maintain relationships with other businesses, you will often have to meet them where they are.

It isn’t a vacation—but if you love sales, it might as well be!

Reason #5: You’ll Face Challenge After Challenge

Are you someone who thrives under pressure? If that’s the case, then you’ll love being a professional salesperson.

Thriving and excelling in sales isn’t easy. You will always be pushed out of your comfort zone, and have to face different kinds of people and challenges that will test your skills and wit. But overcoming all these challenges comes with a unique sense of satisfaction at the end of the day.

Plus, a lot of sales departments give hefty bonuses to high performers!

Reason #6: You’ll Learn to Handle Rejection Better

You will not close every deal and sell to every customer you meet. That’s perfectly fine—rejection is a normal part of the sales process. But you’ll be able to handle it better each time, not to mention that each rejection teaches you valuable lessons about listening to your customers and finding out the true reason behind the “no.”

In the initial stages of your sales career, it may be difficult and there may be some hard feelings. But after a while, you’ll find that you can deal with it and bounce back with a positive attitude and an even better work ethic!

Reason #7: You’ll Have a Clearly Defined Career Path

When you pursue a career in sales, you can be sure you’ll never feel lost. The path ahead can be flexible, but it is clear.

From the minute you set foot into sales, you can begin to work your way up the ranks as you aim for a management position. Or, you can make a lateral shift into business development once you’ve gained enough experience. And as we mentioned previously, the skills you learn in sales can help you in most any other career you choose!

Reason #8: You’ll Help Other People

A truly great salesperson is passionate about helping people. After all, sales isn’t about making the sale itself, but showing your customer the value they can get from your offering. And from pitching to implementation, you’ll be right there to help them make the most out of their purchase.

Think of it like this; every time you convince someone to buy from you, you’re actually helping them by providing them with an effective solution to their problems—all while earning a nice payday for yourself. It all works out!

Reason #9: Sales Can Be a High Paying Profession

Sales is a pretty stable profession. After all, it’s the lifeblood of any company’s revenue-generating efforts. But top performers are very desirable to other companies—which means they often get enticing benefits and other bonuses. While it depends on how hard you work to get results, make no mistake—there is a tremendous upside here.

And once you’ve figured out the sales process, you can easily build momentum and keep closing more deals. You can earn a lot of money from commissions, on top of your monthly base salary. 

Final Words

Sales is not for everyone. But if you’ve been on the fence about it, consider this your sign to dive in! Sales can be an amazingly fulfilling career.

And if you’re looking for a little guidance to help you get started or to level up your skills as a sales professional, keep an eye out for more blogs from Why Sales Network!

There are more and more girl bosses making remarkable growth in the business industry nowadays. Aside from showing how far we’ve come in women empowerment, successful female entrepreneurs also mean that we now have billions of unique ideas, strategies, and visions for the future. They keep our economy up and going with their expertise and many skill sets.

But with so much potential and so many opportunities at their fingertips, even the most motivated women can get confused about what kind of business to pursue. While it’s true that women can do anything they set their hearts on, one should consider some factors such as budget, interest, and skills to get their perfect career match. After all, a business is a commitment!

In today’s blog, we will make your life a little easier by narrowing down the best businesses for goal-getting, hardworking women like you!

Virtual Assistant

If you are looking for a job where you can remotely provide administrative support to clients, becoming a virtual assistant is a great option for you. Aside from the convenience of earning money in the comforts of your home, being a virtual assistant doesn’t require a lot of hardware to get the job done—just a trusty smartphone and laptop.

Event Planning

Women are known to be good at planning everything from grand vacations to huge family gatherings. We’re thorough, attentive, and meticulous in preparing and finalizing details. If you’re like this too, consider event planning! To begin laying down the groundwork, make contacts with designers, caterers, photographers, and the like to make all your events one-of-a-kind.

Skincare & Beauty

There are hundreds of beauty brands in the market today. However, only a few are owned by female entrepreneurs—despite the fact that the majority of beauty product consumers are women. Your advantage in this niche is that you, as an avid consumer yourself, know what other women are looking for in their beauty products! Try collaborating with an existing makeup or skincare company or even make your own custom products at home.

Online Shop

If flexible hours and low costs are what you’re looking for, building an online shop is perfect for you! With the world—and the market—going digital, more and more consumers opt to shop online. All you need to do is create an account on trusted e-commerce sites like Etsy, Amazon, or eBay! Start off selling products you know are in demand and whose materials you know you can easily access.

Educational Services

Education is a female-dominated industry. So if you have a passion for teaching young minds and sharing your knowledge, why not make a career out of it? You can offer tutoring services for primary or secondary school students, and college students. You could even create online courses for professional development—the possibilities are endless!

Final Words

Sales are the lifeblood of any company, but the fact is that most salespeople aren’t set up for success. They are often under pressure to produce results quickly and efficiently, and not all of them receive sufficient guidance on how to best approach their job. In fact, many of them have never had a formal training session!

In today’s highly competitive market, the importance of a strong sales team cannot be overstated. Companies who want to stay viable and exceed their rivals should incorporate sales training in their growth strategy.

If you’re still on the fence about whether or not sales training is a worthwhile investment, this blog is perfect for you! We will be discussing its benefits and why it should be a key element of your operations. I know you’re curious about how it can help your business thrive, so without further ado, let’s get right to it!

Boosts Your Revenue Potential

This is perhaps the most direct benefit. The more effective your sales force, the higher revenue will be for your company! If everyone is working at peak performance, there’s no limit to the profits you could make.

With training programs constantly improving your team’s skills and keeping them up-to-date on the trends within your field, you have a better shot at securing more deals and making a bigger impact. A study by Accenture found that for every dollar spent on improving employee skillset, companies earn $4.53 back—that’s a 353% ROI!

Sounds good, right?

Improves Understanding of Your Offerings

With good sales training, your team can make your offerings shine, communicate in-depth knowledge to your prospects, and show them how valuable your products truly are.

Increases Motivation

Lack of motivation is one reason why so many salespersons perform poorly. To combat this problem, companies often give their sales reps more incentives. Aside from higher commission rates, they offer non-cash rewards such as travel vouchers, tech gadgets, and sporting event tickets.

But sometimes, that just puts added pressure on them. One thing that is often overlooked as a means to inspire employees to perform well is training. People are not just motivated by material rewards, but also personal development and growth. Investing in their career development is an indirect but powerful way to communicate how valued they are in the organization, and they’ll be more excited to apply what
they’ve learned.

Help You Land Bigger Clients

Sales training is a great way to empower your team members and give them new skills that they can use to take on new challenges. By doing so, you give them the tools and the confidence boost they need to take bigger risks and potentially close bigger deals!

Improves Productivity

Final Words

And there you have it—we have just rounded up five excellent benefits of sales training! I hope this blog post convinced you that it is worth investing in. If you don’t know where to begin, I’d be happy to help you out so you can maximize the full potential of your team. Feel free to reach out to me by clicking here.