Anyone have any good tips on how to be a good salesperson when you're trying to make a sale?

Most sales people try too hard to get a sale. Like the previous answer listed, lying is one of the many ways sales people try to get a sale. I would advise you to know your product well and not force the sale too much. If you hound someone for a sale, you will more likely push them away and they will take their buisness elsewhere.Good Luck.

do more listening than talking. when you ask questions make sure they are open ended questions not yes/no questions.

Dont only approach people who are well dressed, remember even the riches people like to slip into something confortable once in a while. talk to them as if you were the one who invented the product. have them try the product for they'll be more convinced they'll like it.

Sell the benefits! Don't be a features seller. People don't care so much WHAT it does but HOW that feature is going to benefit them. eg An egg timer Feature: Handy alarm Benefit 1: Do other things while egg is boiling like put make up on, get dressed giving you more time for you. Benefit 2: It will help your happiness level. No hard or runny eggs, make them just the way you like them giving you a great start to the day. Benefit 3: Alarm can be set individually so that different members of the family can have their eggs the way they like them avoiding dis-harmony in the house. CLOSE, CLOSE, CLOSE! Can't emphasise closing enough. Most salespeople don't close because they haven't earned the right to. Ask lots of questions. Get to know the customer and their needs, match the product to the needs and sell the benefits! There are many types of closes.. 'trial close', 'important benefits close' 'if I could..' close. If you're not sure if they are ready to buy, you can try the trial close. "We take cash or credit card, which do you prefer?" They will tell you soon enough if they are ready to buy and if there are objections for you to overcome. Re-emphasising benefits to close puts a positive spin on the sale. "That automatic timer and alarm you said would save you so much time and stress.. did you want to take two in case you are away on business?" Try the 'if I could' method if the customer has specifically asked for a particular color or size or anything really.. "If I could get you that egg timer in pink to match you decor.. would you be prepared to take that today?" Rapport is key! You are a salesperson, nothing to be ashamed of. The BEST salespeople are one's that understand the importance of customer service. Not being pushy, not being rude, but being patient and understanding. Re-cap. Repport, Needs based questions, features matching, benefits selling, closure.. success! Good luck!

Don't be gushy and false. It sticks out like a sore thumb and makes people wary. Ask if you can help in any way and answer questions with truth and confidence relating to your own (true) experience if possible. and .... read your customer ... you should get some idea of how to speak with them.

I actually was looking up this topic yesterday. A good resource would be http://www.entrepreneur.com they have some great articles, tips and resources there. Heres one article that might help: http://www.entrepreneur.com/sales/closingthesale/article76416.html I am pasting the article content for convenience: Learn how to ask the right questions that will help you complete each sale like a star. By Tom Hopkins March 07, 2005 URL: http://www.entrepreneur.com/sales/closingthesale/article76416.html Typically, when I talk with my students on a one-to-one basis, they ask me a lot of questions about how to close sales. That's to be expected because it's the positive end result all salespeople seek in any contact with potential clients. In most situations where sales aren't closed, it's usually because the salesperson didn't ask the right question. In all my training, you'll hear it repeated over and over that every answer you need to get in order to meet someone, qualify them as to their needs, get permission to give a presentation or close a sale will come to you if you only ask the right questions. Sometimes, it's not just the question that matters, but how it's presented. You may have to set the stage or tell a story leading up to the question that helps the client rationalize the buying decision. No matter how good your lead in or story is, however, you won't get the sale if you don't ask for it. Let me give you a few closes that have proven successful for my students the world over. Don't be concerned if they seem a bit wordy--you're painting pictures and involving the emotions of your potential clients. Say the words with warmth and sincerity, and they'll work for you. When your clients hesitate because they aren't sure it's the right decision, try what we call "The Best Things in Life Close." This is a great close to use with a personal sale, especially when you're trying to sell something to a husband and wife. Compare the decision they're considering right now to other decisions they've made and have been happy with. It's especially helpful when they've admitted they want the product but are just struggling with saying yes. It goes like this: "Isn't it true, John and Mary, that the only time you've ever really benefited from anything in your life has been when you said yes instead of no? You said yes to your marriage. . ." [And this next part's optional: ". . .and I can see how happy you are." But don't add this phrase unless you've seen signs that they truly are a happy couple!] "You said yes to your job, your home, your car--all the things I'm sure you truly enjoy. "You see, when you say yes to me, it's not really me you are saying yes to but all the benefits this product offers... [and then list a few of the benefits they were most excited about.] Those are the things you really want for your family, aren't they?" With these words, you're helping them focus on the benefits they want from the product rather than their hesitation to make the investment to own it. The little agreements you ask for during the close get the "yes" momentum started. If they do truly believe your product is good for them, these words will help them get over their hesitation to give you the final yes and close the sale. Another situation might be during a business sale where the decision-maker uses "the budget" as a reason not to go ahead. This purchase might not have been in their plans, so the money isn't in the budget. If you truly believe your product would provide excellent benefits to their company, your goal in this situation is to get them to admit and agree to that point. Ask this: "John, if the money for this investment was in your budget, would you proceed?" If he says yes, agree with him by saying "That's wonderful, John. I'm glad you see the benefits our XYZ product can bring to your business." At this point, you can either move on to a discussion of their return on investment or try these words: "I can understand your concern with your budget, John. That's why I contacted you in the first place. I'm fully aware of the fact that every well-managed business controls the flow of its money with a carefully planned budget. The budget is a necessary tool for every company to give direction to its goals. However, the tool itself doesn't dictate how the company is run, does it? "It must be flexible to allow the company to manage crises or take advantage of unplanned opportunities. As the controller of that budget, you retain for yourself the right to flex it in the best interest of the company's financial present and competitive future, don't you? "What we've been examining here today is a system which will allow your company an immediate and continuing competitive edge. Tell me, under these conditions, will your budget flex or will it dictate your actions?" Hopefully, you see the difference between just asking for the sale and helping people make decisions that are good for them. That's the difference between an average salesperson and a great one!

First you have to believe in the product(s) you're selling. Next you have to believe that this person will really benefit from it in some way. Then you should ask yourself if this person can really afford to purchase this product & what I mean by this is - if you're selling a luxury product worth $1000 and yet you see 3 kids that need clothes & shoes more than they need this luxury item - you need to make up your own mind whether you truly wish to push your product(s) & can you live w/that. THAT's what makes a good salesperson. After you've made the sale, you should follow up with showing him the other products associated with it. (Don't sell nails w/o suggesting a new hammer or nail bag). Follow through. Once you get familiar with your products & have more dealings with the public it will get easier. Good Luck! :)

i dont know if this helps but i dont like being pressured to buy something. i like them to listen to what i need then show me that, not what will make them the biggest commission. i like to hear the pros and cons of something not just the pros.

You can sell anything that you believe in and can sell things you dont believe in. Simply think positive in your head and make the potential customer think that he NEEDS what you are selling to his business or family a huge favor. Make him believe in the product or service, and make sure if they have questions you have the answers. I have been in sales for 8 years, and if I can do it anyone can.