A career in sales paired with hard work and passion is the key to success and a $100,000-a-year income.

1.Talk to People.

When you are in sales you need to learn to talk to lots and lots of people. You need to make as many contacts and build relationships with people you meet at work and when you are out in the real world. When the connections and relationships are made you need to know how materialize and then monetize. This is done by listening to what people want and then giving that to them at a value that’s fair to everyone involved.

2. Listen to people.

You cannot close sales and give people what they want, if you do not know what they want. Ask your prospect open-ended closing questions, and use your personality to build a solid relationship in the process. Listen twice as much as you talk and focus on what they are telling you. Start asking questions that lead you to their real wants, and keep building the relationship.

3. Lead them to the right product.

After you have built a rapport, and started a relationship you should have an idea of what they want. Using your talents, figure out what product you have will best suit them. Lead your customer to the product you feel best fits their needs, and judge their reaction. If they like it, start selling, and if they don’t seem interested ask more questions and move along to something that better suits them.

4. Confirm their wants and needs.

Now that you are showing them your product, confirm their wants and needs to verify this is truly what they want. As you are reiterating their wants and needs start showing them value in how the product you are showing them is a good fit, and make sure by their body language they agree. Remember it doesn’t matter what you want them to like it matters what they want.

5. Start selling your product.

Now that you have confirmed that you have found the right product, start selling.  Show them how the features and benefits of your product can accommodate their wants and needs. Show them that your product is going to be a real value for them in every aspect of their life, family, personal, and professionally. People want to feel like they are getting the best product, at the best value, from the best sales professional. So give it to them!

6. Close the sale!

You found the right product for your customer and in your presentation you proved you have the best product at the best price, and you are the best professional they have dealt with. In a forward moving methodical process start tying up the the paper work and specifics necessary to finish things up and close out the sale. Reiterate all the benefits your product offers them, and let them know how much you and your family appreciate their family’s business.

7. Continue the relationship for many years to come.

Now that you have built the relationship, and sold them your product your all done, Right? Wrong, you just got started. Now is where you show them you truly value them and their business, and you want to make sure they are happy with your product and service. Tell them how much you appreciate their business, and how you would like them to pass your name and services to family and friends, as you will give them the same professional service. Now you have a free employee working in your marketing department, giving real world testimonies about you, your product, and your service.

If I make all this sound so systematic and easy, that’s because it is.

Another Sales blog post written by owner, author, lead trainer and motivator Noel Walsh, from the automotive market in Ann Arbor, MI.