In an ideal world, every sales call would be a winning sales call. Unfortunately, this is not the world we live in; however, with the following tips you can increase your number of sales wins without having to drastically change your approach. The key differences between a successful seller and a mediocre one are nuanced in nature. It comes down to who is more prepared, who has gone out of their way to get to know the client, and who is able to sell simply through rhythm of conversation rather than an overly rehearsed and stiff pitch. We've broken down our recommended winning sales approach into four categories (we've even created an infographic you can use as a handy reference). Read through and see if you can incorporate the following strategy into your next sales call!

What is the difference between a sales demonstration and sales presentation? The distinction between the two comes down to timing and intention. A sales demonstration is typically what happens early in your sales process and is meant to show your prospects and customers how to apply your product, service, or solution. It's the cumulative result of research, process, and most importantly, an effective needs assessment. A sales presentation is typically what happens toward the end of your sales process. It is meant to highlight and prove the value of your solution as well as tell a compelling story and align your message with the needs of your audience while also providing a strong call-to-action that appeals to the emotions and desires of your audience. Knowing the difference between the two will help you enhance your sales approach and allow you to apply the proper strategy to each opportunity and sales situation. Let's look at demonstrating and presenting from 4 different perspectives:

How do you make a compelling argument for why someone should buy your product or service? Selling would be easier if you could simply state the details of your business solution to an eager listener on the other end of the line who would immediately understand the value of it. But, we’re not selling to robots, we’re selling to people, and people love a good story. Plus, research shows that in complex sales, people rely on intuition to make buying decisions. This means that while people may not realize it, they are often influenced by their instincts over logical reasoning. A “vivid customer story” can activate the parts of the brain that process the senses, which can help decision makers understand, in a holistic sense, the value of your service. When you understand the structure of a story and use the digital tools that are available today, you can turn your pitch into a compelling narrative that will elicit both an intellectual and an emotional response from your listener. So, what makes a good story? And how can you use storytelling to propel your sales efforts?

LinkedIn has firmly established itself as THE go-to social networking site for professionals of all ages and industries. It's clearly a great resource, but sellers are only scratching the surface when it comes to utilizing LinkedIn's full potential. Using LinkedIn to your advantage as a seller involves more than simply connecting with colleagues, acquaintances, and potential prospects. It’s more intricate than just shooting out messages in the same way you’d use email. It's about cultivating a carefully curated digital presence to further your expertise and your company's mission. B2B social selling is the art of leveraging personal and professional branding to surround yourself with a network of the kind of people and businesses you want to work with. How should you be using LinkedIn as a selling resource? We've identified 5 simple steps to streamline your B2B social selling presence on LinkedIn so you can more efficiently prospect and start turning your friends and followers into lifelong customers. Think of it as cracking the code for an elevated (and more popular) LinkedIn presence.

Last time, we talked about going off script during a sales call. Today, let's take that idea one step further. If you want to stray from your typical sales script but also remain focused and on track, then you've got to stay cool, calm, and collected. Easier said than done? You bet. In a perfect world, you would schedule a 90-minute massage to relax before a tough sales call. But that's not realistic for most people, so what can you do instead? Whether you’re someone who is generally confident and welcomes a challenge, or if you're someone who tends to get nervous and shy away from any type of confrontation, we've rounded up three techniques for clearing your head and thinking quickly on your feet, so you can be ready to handle any sales situation thrown your way.

Did you know that around 92% of all customer interactions take place over the phone? This means being able to communicate effectively over the phone is a skill worth perfecting. You need to be able to seamlessly handle objections, address concerns, and answer questions. Whether you're in a sales or customer success role, there are four things to consider when speaking with prospects and customers over the phone: Slow Motion Agree Know Can I Ask?