Building a strong sales team is a key success factor. It doesn’t matter how good of a product or service you offer if you don’t have a good sales team. Sales teams can take on many different looks. They can be small or extensive. They can be general or specialized. The team’s makeup really depends on what you need them to do and how they fit within your organizational structure. Even the roles within a sales team can vary based on how you want the team to function.

If you are planning to build a sales team, here are the key roles you need to include:

HIRE BETTER TODAY

1. Sales Manager

The sales manager oversees your team. They are responsible for helping to drive sales, setting sales goals and forecasting, offering support to reps, providing training on the sales process and assisting in closing deals when necessary. They also play an important role in hiring and training other team members. The sales manager is commonly the first hire. They will have a personality that is reflective of the company culture and team you want to create.

2. Sales Account Executives (SAE)

Account executives play an essential role in managing your current customer accounts. They are often the first point of contact to assist customers with a variety of needs. Their main function is to ensure customers are satisfied. They need strong problem-solving abilities, excellent communication skills, and have the ability to connect with clients in person, online, at conventions, and in all other situations.

3. Sales Representatives (SR)

Sales representatives, also referred to as sales development reps (SDR), are typically responsible for identifying and qualifying leads to add to the sales funnel. This role researches and connects with prospects to find creative ways to uncover new business opportunities.

4. Customer Service Representatives (CSR)

This role requires someone to respond to incoming calls, emails, and requests from customers. CSRs will answer questions, resolve complaints, schedule appointments, assist with order processing, and offer sales support.

These are considered to be the core roles to create a sales team. Start here and build out your team based on your business requirements.

Get More Insights About How to Build and Manage a Sales Team

How to Inspire When Your Sales Team Has the Quota Blues

5 Ways to Determine If It’s Time to Let a Salesperson Go

How to Motivate Your Sales Team to Survive a Tough Market

How Do I Hire Salespeople for a Startup? 5 Considerations When Building Your Sales Team