Recruiting Independent Sales Reps

Sales Management Forum

 #11
RainMaker

Quote:
Originally Posted by guerino1
As with most technology startups, the CEO is usually out there pounding the pavement, just like all other sales staff. The premise is that until others can come up to speed, no one can really pitch it like the leader can. However, as stated earlier, I have no formal sales experience and will be learning that as I go along. The more I learn, the more I respect sales people for what they do and add to a firm's success.


Frank,
If you go to User CP, you can Edit Signature. You can put your links in your signature and they will be at the bottom on each of your posts.

Your paragraph above is what I was fishing for. You and I are selling apples and oranges, but we share one thing in common: intimate knowledge of our product and the burden to get the ball rolling in terms of revenue generation. When I started I felt I had a pretty good idea of how things would go althougth I had little direct sales experience. Here is what I have learned that I want to share with you, and this is why I asked if you had a sales plan: Understanding your product and its benefits inside and out does not automatically translate into sales.

That is where I was 6 months ago, and I have modified my plan, my methods, and even my product significantly since that time because theory and practice do not always synch up as you might expect. You may not have the same experience I did (hopefully not--I took a pretty big learning curve), but be open to modifications in your vision, and be willing to adapt as you test the waters if you do not have direct experience in the sales and marketing of your product.

If you can adapt, you will succeed. Don't rely on others experience--use it as a guideline. You are their leader. You need to test and prove before others will follow. Those are both the burdens and rewards of the entrepreneurial spirit.

I wish you luck in your venture, and hope you find useful information on this board--I have.

 #12
guerino1

Thanks RainMaker. I appreciate the support. I have a number of avenues that I will be going down. The first is to sell, myself. The second, is to attempt to leverage ISRs. And finally, I will build up a salaried sales staff. The final one will take longer.

The hardest will be learning to sell, myself. I can pitch the vision, get people to understand the cost savings and the benefits, long and short term, but I haven't done it in a situation where I will be required to close a deal. That will be new to me. And exciting, I'm sure.

Have a great weekend.

Regards,

Frank Guerino
Chairman & CEO
TraverseIT, LLC

 #13
RainMaker

Quote:
Originally Posted by guerino1
Thanks RainMaker. I appreciate the support. I have a number of avenues that I will be going down. The first is to sell, myself. The second, is to attempt to leverage ISRs. And finally, I will build up a salaried sales staff. The final one will take longer.

The hardest will be learning to sell, myself. I can pitch the vision, get people to understand the cost savings and the benefits, long and short term, but I haven't done it in a situation where I will be required to close a deal. That will be new to me. And exciting, I'm sure.
Wow. Deja vous (I probably spelled that wrong. I never took French.)

 #14
guerino1

RainMaker,

If I'm correct in my interpretation of one of your responses, I believe you mentioned that you had to go through the same process of learning to sell, yourself. Is this the case and, if so, what were the things things you learned? How did you go about learning them? etc.

Regards,

Frank Guerino
Chairman & CEO
TraverseIT, LLC

 #15
RainMaker

Quote:
Originally Posted by guerino1
RainMaker,
what were the things things you learned? How did you go about learning them?
I'll send you a private message.

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