Hiring a good salesperson can be expensive. And they don’t grow on trees either — at least not the good salespeople. Most of my friends complain that when they hire a new company, the salesperson makes a huge impression on them, and then the workers let them down consistantly. Having a good salesperson alone doesn’t make your company successful. In the long run, it is the quality of your work and communication that will grow your business. But, a good salesperson can give you that turbo-boost that you desperately need.
When people build an expensive house in America, they make sure that the value of the house is proportional to the value of the land. I forget how many percent the land is supposed to be of the overall cost — maybe it was 60%. If you hire a million dollar salesman and have workers who you pay pennies, you will gain great clients and lose them faster than you can say — aloo-gobhi-paratha. On the other hand, if you have great workers and a lousy salesman, you will RETAIN your clients very well, and your company will grow by REFERRALS in the long run. So, pay your sales force proportionately to what you pay your workers. Sales people generally get paid more than workers, but keep it proportionately more (whatever that means to you).
If you can’t afford a full time super salesperson, then perhaps you can get a freelancer, or part time person. What arrangement you make is not even that important. The main thing is that you train someone who will hopefully stick with your company for a long time and get you lots of clients. And you will reward them with great commissions, compliments, and a few samosas as well. If I were the salesperson, you can skip the compliments and go straight for the samosas!
Most companies have nobody good answering their phones if they answer at all. It is important not to have to wait for a salesperson. If I am calling 20 companies, I want a salesperson NOW. Generally, with 20 calls, I can reach 3 salespeople, and get a few return calls. They always return calls when I am too busy to talk. If you want to attract business, be FREE when I am available to talk, so I can call you and get you! Since people are so busy, it makes sense to hire extra people and train them to do sales. You need a crackerjack answering your phone if you want sales.
I have someone really smart answering my phones, and she just broke a sales record of all time. She gets better over the years (9 years so far) and this September beat all other Septembers in a decade. Sales have always been spectacular with her, but now they are in a new level altogether. Does my experience sound like your company’s experience? No? Then, hire a good salesperson today!
You might also like:
Would you pay extra to have a better employee?
http://bpo.123outsource.net/2013/10/17/would-you-pay-extra-to-have-a-better-employee/
Motivating workers with competition
http://bpo.123outsource.net/2013/08/14/motivating-workers-with-competition/