Is your sales team underperforming? As sales recruiters, we know sales teams underperform from time to time. You can’t have a record month every month. There will also be times when your sales team struggles more than it should. In most cases, it comes down to a number of simple reasons for the lack of production:
If you put off prospecting long enough, you will run out of good leads. You can’t make a sale if you don’t have a prospective customer. This is why it’s so important for reps and sales teams to invest time into prospecting.
Failure to have a strong process in place to qualify leads can also impact sales. Poorly qualified leads can result in sales reps spending too much time on prospects who actually aren’t interested in making a purchase.
It’s rare to close a prospect on the first call. Most reps don’t close a customer until they’ve had multiple interactions. While prospecting new clients is important, you also need to spend time following up with your warm leads. Too many sales reps disengage too early in the sales process. Stick with it, and you will see your sales numbers improve.
You can’t treat all leads the same. Too many sales reps focus too much on features and benefits and not enough on helping a prospect solve an issue they are currently experiencing. Address pain points and position your products and services as the solution. Work with them. Don’t try to force a solution on them.
Motivated sales reps meet their quota. If sales managers cannot effectively motivate their team, expect sales numbers to drop. The difficulty is understanding what motivates each rep individually. Every sales rep is motivated in a different way. For some, it’s compensation; for others, it’s opportunities to expand their skills.
While technology has certainly helped improve sales efficiency, some reps are hampered with all the new tools they have. If a rep lacks technology skills, it can have a big impact on their ability to interact with customers. Not understanding how to use sales tools can hurt a rep’s numbers.
Check out these blog posts to learn more effective ways to help your sales team perform optimally:
Sales Talent Is Overrated! 5 Ways Sales People Can Practice Selling
4 Interesting Training Techniques Every Sales Manager Should Know
5 Effective Selling Techniques, and Why They Work
SalesForce Search is a sales recruiting company which specializes in the recruitment and placement of sales professionals. We recruit salespeople in every sector of the economy including, software, manufacturing, financial services and medical devices. Find the right salesperson for your organization, start your search here.
Rhys is a tenacious, top performing Senior Sales Recruiter with 15+ years of focused experience in the Digital Media, Mobile, Software, Technology and B2B verticals. He has a successful track record of headhunting top performing sales candidates for some of the most exciting brands in North America. He is a Certified Recruitment Specialist (CRS) and has expert experience in prospecting new business, client retention/renewals and managing top performing sales and recruitment teams. Rhys enjoys spending quality time with his wife, son, and daughters, BBQing on a hot summer day and tropical vacations.