Sales training courses can be a game-changer for sales professionals. Whether you are new to the industry or a seasoned vet, taking sales training courses can help you improve performance, gain new insights, develop your skills and even help you advance your career. 

In my work as a sales recruiter, I always strongly advocate for candidates who invest in themselves. There’s always something new on the horizon in sales – new tech, strategies, approaches and best practices. 

If you are considering investing in a sales training program, we have you covered. First, I’ll briefly outline why sales training courses are great. Then I’ll list some of the best courses to consider. 

What are the benefits of taking a sales training course?

Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Enhanced Sales Performance: By learning new techniques and strategies, sales reps can improve their closing rates and overall performance. Effective training can shorten the sales cycle by equipping you with tools to identify and qualify leads more efficiently. Sales professionals will be better positioned to consistently exceed sales targets.
2. Skill Development: Learning various sales methodologies (e.g., consultative selling, and solution selling) provides a versatile approach to different customer types. Programs can also help with communication and negotiation skills. Training can enhance verbal and nonverbal communication abilities. Mastering negotiation tactics can help secure better deals and build stronger customer relationships.
3. Career Advancement: Demonstrated sales expertise can open doors to leadership roles or specialized sales positions. Certifications from reputable training programs can enhance professional credibility.
4. Personal and professional growth: Sales training often involves developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Mastering new skills can boost self-assurance and overcome sales anxiety. Effective sales professionals are efficient with their time. Training can help optimize sales processes.

A list of the best sales training courses

If you did a quick Google search you’ll find there are a lot of sales courses online. Some are great, others are not. So, it can be challenging and time-consuming to narrow down a list of courses to consider. Fortunately, I’ve done it for you.

The best sales training courses for you will depend on your experience level, budget, and preferred learning style. Here are some options to consider:

HubSpot Academy

HubSpot Academy offers a variety of free sales training courses, including “Sales Essentials” and “Inbound Sales.” They also offer dozens of other certifications and training courses to help sales professionals with all aspects of sales. These courses are a great introduction to the fundamentals of sales and the inbound sales methodology.

Salesforce 

Salesforce is one of the most widely used sales CRM tools on the market today. If you work in sales there is a very good chance you’ve worked with it. Salesforce offers a comprehensive certification program that covers the entire sales process, from lead generation to closing the deal.

Trailhead is the Salesforce learning platform. It provides a series of free learning paths that can help you develop in-demand sales skills. You also have the option to enroll in the Trailhead Academy and learn directly from Salesforce 

Dale Carnegie Sales Training

Dale Carnegie is a well-known provider of sales training courses that focus on building relationships and developing communication skills.

“How to Win Friends and Influence People”, is one of the best-selling self-help books of all time. This book, along with his other writings and lectures, focused on developing practical skills in communication, leadership, and interpersonal relationships. 

Sales professionals can take a variety of sales training courses on the Dale Carnegie website. Some of the live online courses include:

• How to Cold Call and Build New Customers
• Cross and Up Selling
•  Compelling Sales Presentations
• Sales Essentials
• Sales Effectiveness

Grant Cardone Sales Training 

Grant Cardone is one of the most well-known sales experts in the industry. Grant offers a number of sales training courses that touch on all aspects of sales, including:

• Sales Fundamentals
• Mastering Cold Calling
• Secrets to Closing the Sale
• Advanced Closing & Negotiation strategies
• Understanding Buyer Psychology
• And many more 

Brian Tracy Sales Training

Brian Tracy is a renowned motivational speaker, self-development author, and business consultant. He’s widely recognized for his expertise in sales, leadership, and personal development.

Known for his practical and actionable advice, Tracy has authored numerous bestselling books, including “Eat That Frog!” and “No Excuses!”. He’s also the founder of Brian Tracy International, a company providing training and development programs for individuals and organizations. Some of the training programs he offers include:

• High Performance Selling
• 21st Century Sales Training
• Sale Success Made Simple
• The Psychology of Selling

Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA)

CPSA offers a variety of sales training courses and designations that can help you advance your sales career. CPSA offers designations for every step of your sales career, including:

• Certified Sales Associates (CSA) 
• Certified Sales Professionals (CSP)
• Certified Sales Leaders (CSL)

CPSA also offers a series of live sales training and on-demand online training programs covering all aspects of sales. 

Coursera

Coursera is a digital learning platform. It offers a combination of over 1,200 sales courses, certificates, specializations, and degrees. They even offer several sales courses from universities like Yale and Michigan. There is something for every sales professional. 

What should I consider when choosing a sales training course?

Not sure what sales course to choose? I get it, there are lots of great options and you want to invest in a program that will help you improve. Here are some things to consider when comparing sales program options:

• Consider your specific needs and goals – what skills gaps exist? What knowledge would be most beneficial for you right now?
• Look for courses that are taught by experienced sales professionals
• Read reviews of courses before you enroll
• Consider taking a combination of online and in-person courses
• How much time do you have to commit to a course?

A final word on taking sales training courses

There is always something new for you to learn. Getting access to sales training programs has never been easier. Enroll today to improve your skills, gain more knowledge, and close more deals.

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