- Sales goals.
- Staffing requirements.
- Training and management of staff.
- Reporting processes and metrics to measure performance.
- Sales techniques.
- Your target market.
- Your competitive advantage.
- Costs.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Identify your goals
Forecasting sales is more of an educated guess than a mathematical formula. Start by estimating monthly sales for one year and then annual sales for three years. If you've been in business for some time, make projections based on past sales history. If you're a startup, estimate by looking at the sales of other products or companies like yours.I recommend: Discover the ins and outs of sales forecasting with ForecastPro seminars and software.
Consider your sales team
If you have a sales staff, it will play a huge role in your sales success. Hiring the right people is critical. But you must also supply them with the training and sales materials necessary for success and you must provide ongoing management.I recommend: Get tips on hiring the right people from HowStuffWorks.com. Find hiring tools and services from human resource management firm Profiles International. Keep your team on their toes with sales training courses from Dale Carnegie Training.
Develop sales techniques
Decide which techniques and strategies you and your sales team will use to reach your target market, such as telemarketing, email marketing or exhibiting at trade shows.I recommend: Find small business sales techniques at PowerHomeBiz.com.
Create reporting processes and measure success
To keep track of your sales team's efforts, develop a reporting system. Decide how you will measure your sales team's performance and communicate your plan with your salespeople so they know what's expected of them.I recommend: Download reporting templates at MyWorkTools.com. SalesForce and NetSuite are sales force automation solutions that include reporting features so you can track the progress and activities of your team. BusinessObjects Sales Analytics lets you monitor sales metrics.
Set a sales budget
Your sales budget should include costs for sales force training, compensation, entertainment, travel and administration.I recommend: Get tips on developing budgets from Bplans.com.
Put your plan in writing
Detail your sales strategy in a comprehensive sales plan. Similar to a business plan, a sales plan should be your roadmap to help you arrive at your sales goals.I recommend: Plan Write for Sales software leads you through the sales plan process. See a demo about how to make a sales plan presentation using PowerPoint.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Review your sales strategy often and make adjustments as necessary.
- Don't forget to include incentives and performance bonuses in your sales budget.
- Solicit feedback on your sales strategy from your sales reps. Since they're on the front lines, they may have innovative ideas to increase sales or to streamline the process.
Sales Techniques
SPI has helped the world’s leading companies make the transition from selling products to selling high-value solutions for the past 20 years.
Contact Us | Resources | About Us | Solution Selling
spisales.com
SPI has helped the world’s leading companies make the transition from selling products to selling high-value solutions for the past 20 years.
Contact Us | Resources | About Us | Solution Selling
spisales.com
Sales Techniques Training
Offers DVD, digitally delivered, CD-ROM & VHS resources for Sales Techniques Training. Many free previews available.
About Us | Best Sellers | Pricing Specials | Request Info.
www.rctm.com
Offers DVD, digitally delivered, CD-ROM & VHS resources for Sales Techniques Training. Many free previews available.
About Us | Best Sellers | Pricing Specials | Request Info.
www.rctm.com
Sales Techniques: Dun & Bradstreet®
Get Unlimited Access to D&B's Business Database of Sales Leads. View Company Information, Build Lists & More. Free 7-Day Trial.
Free Trial | Learn More | Company Profile
www.selectory.com
Get Unlimited Access to D&B's Business Database of Sales Leads. View Company Information, Build Lists & More. Free 7-Day Trial.
Free Trial | Learn More | Company Profile
www.selectory.com
B2B Email Sales Leads: D&B ® Professional Contacts
Get Email Addresses of Your Prospects & Customers - Only from D&B. Build Targeted Email Lists and Deploy Unlimited Marketing Campaigns!
Email Lists | Learn More | Free Quote
www.dnbsolutions.com/pro-contacts
Get Email Addresses of Your Prospects & Customers - Only from D&B. Build Targeted Email Lists and Deploy Unlimited Marketing Campaigns!
Email Lists | Learn More | Free Quote
www.dnbsolutions.com/pro-contacts
Free B2B search marketing whitepaper, B2B Search Marketing Strategy Guide: Advice From the Pros.
