One of the fundamental requisites of any profession is having the right tools for the job. The right tools make professionals more effective, and create better outcomes for the customer. Sales tools are no different. To maximize productivity and customer satisfaction, salespeople need the right sales tools. Over the past decades, the number of sales tools available has exploded. And yet, a large number of salespeople still aren’t using these tools. For a variety of reasons, some salespeople have chosen not to adopt these sales tools. Hopefully, by looking at these tools and their benefits, you’ll be encouraged to start using them sooner rather than later.

Customer Relationship Management

CRM software creates a one-stop repository of all your customer information. Everything from basic contact data to personal preferences can be stored in an easy to use interface. With CRM, everyone in your organization interacts with customers using the same pool of data. This creates greater consistency for the customer, and ensures that your sales and service people aren’t missing important details or duplicating efforts.

Marketing Automation

Keeping in touch with clients can be a time consuming and labor intensive process. With dozens, or even hundreds, of clients, it’s simply not feasible to maintain personal contact. However, you still want them to be thinking about you, and to have information that can help them make a purchasing decision. Marketing Automation software makes it easy to keep clients in the loop, without a huge sacrifice of time on your part. Current MA software has a ton of customization options, allowing you to tailor communications to different target markets and buyer personas.

Alerts

This one is slightly different from other sales tools, since it isn’t directly involved in the marketing or sales processes. Alerts work on the idea that a more informed salesperson is a more effective salesperson. Search engines allow you to set up alerts that will provide you with news and articles related to your interests. Using these alerts, you can keep up with the latest trends concerning the products and services you sell. By staying ahead of emerging trends, you can address changing customer interests as they develop.

Social Media

One of the most powerful sales tools, social media also happens to be one of the few sales tools that is completely free. When used correctly, social media allows you to monitor brand mentions, interact with clients and prospects, and generate interest in products, services, or events. While many salespeople do use some form of social media, they don’t use it in a consistently productive manner. It’s worth learning the best practices for social media channels, to make sure you’re getting the most out of these free sales tools.

Self Presentation

The internet age has created a wealth of sales tools that can be used to get yourself and your products in front of the world. Sites like Slideshare allow you to upload useful information that can attract prospects and customers. YouTube is a popular site for creating videos that demonstrate products and services. Unlike manuals or pictures, these sites can actually allow potential buyers to see your products and services in action. Used correctly, sites like these can create a huge following, and attract a lot of attention.

Tools of the Trade

Having the right tools is an important step for increasing conversions and improving customer experiences. The sales tools featured here are readily available, and the best salespeople are already using them.