Essential Sales Skills Training Program Resources And Secrets To Select A Solutions Provider
All businesses strive for growing revenues and a maximized ROI. A sales skills training program is what you need to hit those targets. But what should it entail to achieve your goals? In this article, you’ll find practical tips about the sales training process. More specifically, essential resources to add to your sales skills training program and tips on finding the most suitable outsourcing partner.
6 Resources To Add To Your Sales Skills Training Program
What are the best resources to incorporate into your training program? When you try to answer this question, you might feel lost in a sea of choices. Even though there isn't a single solution for everyone, there certainly are some options that have undeniable benefits to offer to any business. Here is a list of resources to add to your sales skills training program that will boost its effectiveness and help your employees expand their knowledge and skills.
1. Training Courses
The first—and in many cases the best—solution one would turn to is sales training courses. They come in all shapes and sizes, can accommodate any budget, and are a great resource to work into your sales skills training program. As most courses are online, they are available 24/7 and are easy to fit around a busy schedule. Another benefit is the sense of accomplishment their completion provides. But most importantly, course content usually remains available to the learner forever (or at least for the foreseeable future), allowing them to brush up on their knowledge at any time. It has been shown that when employees can access course content after their initial training, businesses see a considerable increase in their sales.
2. eBooks
eBooks, one of the most versatile eLearning tools, can become a truly valuable part of your training program. Store all of your training material as well as other information that might be important for your business, such as company policies, password safety guidelines, etc. This way, whenever your employees find themselves in a “moment of need,” they will have direct access to any piece of information they might need. Don’t forget to diversify your eBooks with links to videos, audio clips, relevant websites, or social media pages. No one likes a dry eBook filled with nothing but blocks of text.
3. Webinars
Honing your skills whenever a busy workday allows you to and at your own pace is great, but what about some hands-on collaborative learning? Webinars offer a dynamic and interactive environment where everyone can take part in live Q&As with experienced professionals, discuss new ideas and approaches with other participants, as well as test their newly acquired skills. For example, many sales skills training webinars enrich their structure with training exercises and role-playing scenarios that allow learners to turn theory into practice.
4. Videos
When choosing resources for your sales skills training program, you should absolutely consider utilizing video-based training. Videos can cover any part of training, such as product demonstrations, customer interaction, or even workplace safety. It is always easier to learn new things when the verbal aid is accompanied by a visual one. Now, how do you organize these videos so that they are easily accessible? You can either build a password-protected video library in your company’s intranet or in a separate website dedicated to resources. If privacy is not that much of a concern for you, head to YouTube. This way, product presentation videos, for instance, will also be available to your customers for easier comparison.
5. Expert Knowledge
If you’re worried that you can’t cover all bases of your sales skills training program by yourself, experts have your back. There are countless blogs and podcasts available online that are specialized in sales (or any other subject for that matter). Most of the time, they're even free! Getting to read (or hear) personal experiences, advice, and anecdotes by a person who is accomplished in the sales industry adds a reality factor to your staffers’ training. For example, they might recognize similarities between the speaker's story and a branching scenario they have been working on. How can they use this real-life advice to improve their performance and their sales skills in general?
6. Virtual Sales
The pandemic has brought endless changes to most aspects of our lives. If you, like many others, have been forced to make your sales remotely due to the COVID crisis, you might want to consider a virtual sales training course. Take advantage of the available technology and make the best out of this new situation that could well become the new normal. With the right virtual sales course, you can learn how to attract prospects, offer better remote customer service, and deliver engaging and informative virtual demos and presentations using videos and digital tools. This also gives you the opportunity to up your virtual selling game as a whole.
7 Tips To Find The Perfect Outsourcing Partner For Skills Development Training
The right outsourcing partner could take a considerable weight off of your shoulders and allow you to focus on more important things. But for this collaboration to actually be beneficial to your business, you must have a clear set of criteria in mind. Here are some tricks to help you choose the perfect outsourcing partner for your sales skills training program.
1. Use An Online Directory
If spending countless hours on Google trying to find a suitable vendor doesn’t sound like a viable plan, a specialized online directory is the way to go. A directory will save you tons of time because all the basic information is in one location. But make sure you have a clear idea of your needs and objectives before you launch your search. You must also look for a reliable site with objective reviews, as well as experience in your subject matter. Preferably, look for a directory with built-in filters and distinct categorization. This way, finding a partner to outsource your sales skills training program will take no time at all!
2. Read Online Reviews
A reliable online directory is obligated to include user reviews and a comprehensive rating system. Take your time to read through them and see what worked best for other businesses and what didn’t. For example, how was their overall experience? Did the vendor meet deadlines without trouble? How was their customer service? Get an overall feel of the vendor’s efficiency, but also get specific. Search for reviews of clients who operate in the same niche as you and have similar requirements.
3. Ask For Recommendations On Social Media
Social media is a great place to network and share opinions. Ask for recommendations for sales skills training vendors that people have collaborated with in the past. Or, share your top five choices and get their feedback. This way, you will get a clearer idea of who might be the best outsourcing partner for you without risking a blind hire.
4. Explore The Vendor’s Website
This is a step that many might neglect, thinking that a vendor’s website will only highlight their positives. While that is most definitely true, you can still gather a lot of useful information from their landing page. First of all, you're able to explore their portfolio of past projects and see if they fit your objectives. You can also get a feel for their aesthetics by the layout and navigation structure of their website. If they haven’t done a good job for their personal platform, there is little chance they will meet your business's expectations.
5. Determine An Outsourcing Budget
Preferably before you even start looking for an outsourcing partner, you need to figure out what your outsourcing budget will be. This step is crucial for your selection process, as it will help you filter out any option that exceeds your price range. So, before you get into detailed talks with any vendor, make sure you know their rates and, if possible, any hidden costs. This way, you can compare and contrast different candidates and make a financially correct choice for your business.
6. Consider Subject Matter Expertise
It is definitely vital to make sure that your sales skills training outsourcing partner has niche expertise in sales skills development. You need someone with as much experience as possible. However, you might want to consider hiring a vendor who can offer a variety of solutions. This will make your collaboration last longer, as you won’t have to hire different vendors for every new project. Then again, be wary of claims that they can offer every training solution available, as these claims could very well be unfounded.
7. Ensure Data Security
Privacy and data security have become great concerns in our time, especially for businesses. When you outsource a project, you find yourself sharing sensitive company information with your partner. Therefore, it is vital that this information is handled with care and discretion. Consider signing a non-disclosure agreement before starting your collaboration. Also, make sure your outsourcing partner uses specific tools that protect sensitive data and prevent any data leaks.
Conclusion
Outsourcing is an option that many companies forget or choose to ignore. As a result, they struggle to build training programs on their own and end up wasting valuable resources and putting unnecessary pressure on their employees. If you're looking for a great place to start your vendor search, peruse our online directory. It features the leading outsourcing companies for sales skills training, complete with ratings and reviews.
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