Characteristics of a successful promoter or sales rep
From the title of this article, we bet you already have an idea of the conversation we are about to have. And yes, you might be sitting there reading this thinking; ‘Aarrgg, another one of these, this is obvious stuff and we’ve heard it all before’ and you would think that. However, we have come to learn…from experience, that it is not. Here are a few keys to succeed in this industry as advised by our recruitment team.
Research
There is nothing more disheartening than someone showing up for an interview and they don’t even know what the company is about. If you get invited for an interview, believe us when we tell you, it is not just so we can look into each other’s eyes and whisper sweet nothings to another et cetera, et cetera. Make it easy for us to make you part of our team because we want you in it.
In-depth Knowledge
When you get handed a product brief, make sure you take notes and go over everything thoroughly. It is important to know the product’s features, advantages and disadvantages that it has over competitor brands.
Be Reliable
Stick to your word. This is not just about you as the promoter or sales representative and how you present yourself to the organisation you are working for. It is also about presenting the organisation as professional to customers. Show up where you are expected to show up as agreed and DO NOT cancel last minute. No one will want to work with you, if you cancel last minute. No one.
Listen
We are not going to lie to you. Yes, to make it in this industry as a promoter or sales agent you need to be a talker; a talker with a wealth of relevant knowledge which allows you to know what to say and when to say it. Just as important is knowing when to listen simply because it allows you gain valuable insights into your current environment and everyone in it.
Be Patient
We find that most promoters we get try to get everything done in a short space of time. In sales it is normal to move quickly however when interacting with prospects it is important to practice a bit of patience. Energy is contagious. It is easy to tell when someone is impatient and rushing things and that can be a turn-of for most people. They (as in the genius people of the world) were not lying when they said; “Patience is a virtue”.
Initiate
Whilst there is a criterion that needs to be followed, individuals who initiate go far. There is no such thing as a dumb question there is only dumb answers. So, reach out and ask questions and unapologetically so. This will help you to not only do the job at hand but to do it well and with full-on confidence, because you know you know your stuff.
Smile
Customers remember and prefer to purchase from a friendly and honest sales rep over an uninterested one.
Part of the team
When you apply to work with us or any organisation for that matter, you are applying to be a part of the team. A team working together towards achieving individual and collective goals. If you know, you couldn’t care less about the impact your presence has and you are just in it for the money, then maybe you would be better off somewhere else. We mean that in the nicest way possible.
Customers can tell when you are genuine about what you are promoting and /or selling. You can have as much knowledge and patience in the world and so forth, but it essentially will fall short if you do not believe in the product you are selling/promoting. As we said before, energy is contagious, so pass those positive vibes around.