Guide to refining your sales management process

The sales process is vital for the success of every business. For starters, it directly affects your conversion rate, sales rates, profit, and ultimately business growth. Additionally, you want your customers to be happy with the transaction. Not only will it ensure that they praise and promote your business but they will also be enthusiastic about interacting with your brand in the future. Therefore, having an effective and streamlined sales management process has a positive impact on all aspects of your business. Of course, it’s a delicate task that will require some time and effort on your part. It will also depend on your long-term and short-term goals, too. For example, your approach will differ depending on whether your goal is to boost website sales or to improve your sales team’s productivity. In this article, we explore how refining your sales management process can lead to the success of your business!

What is a sales management process?

Managing the sales process is a set of actions and strategies that you use to make this process as efficient and effective as possible. However, it consists of several different aspects. Here are the most important components of the management process in sales:

• your sales team;
• the sales strategies you implement;
• data and analysis of the sales process.

All these parts are equally relevant and have a significant impact on each other. For example, you can implement innovative prospecting & sales strategies. But, without a qualified sales rep, they’ll be only partially effective. Without the right data, you’ll be wasting your resources on poor leads and won’t close as many deals. So, it’s important to make all these parts work seamlessly together.

Detailed analysis is the first step to refining your sales management process

The best place to start is by analyzing your sales process. Focus equally on your strengths and your weak spots by asking yourself important questions about every step of the sales process. The metrics you need to pay attention to include:

• Lead Volume;
• Upsell Opportunities;
• Conversion Rate (think both about phone sales and how you convert visitors to leads on your website);
• Sales Velocity and Growth;
• Customer Churn;
• Customer Retention Rates;
• etc.

No matter how good any or all of these metrics are, there is always room for improvement. It is through seeking that improvement that you can ensure better results for your business.

Assess your resources

Your sales team counts as one of your primary resources, and thus requires regular evaluation. Of course, you need to have qualified and experienced sales reps on your side but that is not enough. As a leader of your team, you need to provide motivation and support.

So, think about what they need and want. Is it more training or attending sales conferences? Do they need incentives and bonuses when they close a big deal? Also, consider tools that will boost their productivity – for example, an online callback service or quality CRM software.

Set the goals

Now, you know what your situation is and what resources you have at your disposal. It’s time to set the objectives. Consider all the areas of your sales process your want to improve and set the goals for you and your team. Also, decide on the timeframe – goals you can track weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly. However, stay realistic and open-minded – some goals and strategies will require adjusting and improving.

Efficient prospecting is the key to refining your sales management process

The customer is at the heart of every business. Without happy, returning customers, your business can’t flourish. On the other hand, with more customers, your business will grow and thrive. So, when determining your goals and strategies, always keep your leads and customers in mind.

Know your audience

First, you must know your target audience. Who is your product for? What are their pain points? How can your product help them? What is your ideal customer like? Do your research and answer these questions. Learn as much as possible about your audience. Consider their needs, age, gender, preferences, and all other relevant factors. Also, look at your data from the past – who were your biggest customers, which products were the most desirable, etc.

Generate more leads

Once you know your customers, it’s time to generate more leads. Even with the best product, if people don’t know about your brand, they won’t purchase. There are many ways to do this from using an online callback service to cold calling to streamlined marketing campaigns. However, keep in mind that engagement is the key. Find online communities where your target audience is active and engage with them. Social media is a powerful tool in today’s competitive market.

Qualify your leads

Now if you try to focus on all the leads, your business will suffer. It may sound counterintuitive, but it’s true. Many leads will go nowhere, and you’ll waste your precious resources chasing them. Instead, it’s better to qualify your leads by asking the relevant questions. Identify the ones that are most likely to make the purchase (consider the purchase size, too) and prioritize them. Qualifying your leads in this way will ensure you take the right steps when refining your sales management process.

Choose the right strategies for closing the deal

With the right lead in mind, it’s time to develop the right sales strategy for them. And that means taking the three crucial steps: preparation, approach, and presentation. Preparation involves learning as much as you can about the potential customer and collecting all the relevant data about the market and your products. Then, choose the right sales strategy – the approach will depend on the client. Lastly, decide how to best present the product – think about their pain points and anticipate their questions and concerns. If you prepare well and everything goes right, you’ll close the deal in no time!

The follow-up – turn your customers into your brand ambassadors

After closing the deal, many businesses think their job is done. On the contrary, there is a lot more you can do. Closing the deal is a great opportunity in many ways. A personal “Thank You” email or a free gift will significantly increase customer satisfaction. Additionally, this is an ideal time for asking for referrals and creating a bond between you and your audience. Engaging customers and using personalized follow-ups will encourage them to promote your brand and become your brand ambassadors.

Final thoughts

There are many steps to take before the sale is made. You need to ensure all the different parts work well together and complement each other. This guide to refining your sales management process will help you do exactly that and help your business grow. For other useful sales and conversion tips, make sure to read our blog, or simply reach out to ConvertMore and test out our callback widget!