Traditional sales methods are still considered the most effective, a survey has revealed.
The sales industry has been revolutionised in recent years by business potential in the digital market. Social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook are increasingly being used for viral marketing and business generation.
It may come as a shock therefore, that a survey conducted by Aaron Wallis, a sales recruitment agency has revealed that sales professionals almost unanimously favour conventional methods of selling. When asked to rate in order of one to five which methods of sales were the most effective, 94% of sales professionals placed non-digital methods the highest, at number one.
Of the 644 respondents only 3% would consider social networking the most effective form of selling. A further 3% favour online meetings/webinars and teleconferences.
By contrast, an overwhelming 82% still believe that that the best way to make a sale is through a face to face meeting. This research may raise questions in the sales industry about whether the internet is as integral to the modern sales industry as many would have us believe.
Rob Scott, the Managing Director of Aaron Wallis has done considerable research into the use of online methods of business generation.
He said: “The Internet is without a doubt one of the most powerful tools available to any sales professional for research and managing contacts. However, the adage ‘people buy from people’ still remains. With the advent of Twitter, Facebook and the like for business development, we are on the cusp of change in the way that we develop business but this survey confirms that face-to-face selling is still the most powerful method”.
Exhibitions, Telesales Networking Events, and Marketing campaigns all received a higher proportion of respondents who rated them above social networking as a method of business development.
The number of sales professionals who consider exhibitions as the most effective form of selling has in fact risen since a similar survey was conducted in 2007. Surprisingly, exhibitions have replaced telesales as the second most effective method of business development.
Rob Scott – Aaron Wallis Sales Recruitment
[simplyjobs site_url=”https://www.simplysalesjobs.co.uk/” placement=”post” site_name=”Simply Sales Jobs” username=”SEO_TEAM” password=”fmgseo” feed_identifier=”blog_ssj_all” ][/simplyjobs]
A key skill that will contribute to your success – Self Talk
Often self-talk happens without you even realising it and can be a subtle running commentary going on in the background of your mind. But what you say in your mind can determine a lot of how you feel about who you are, as a sales person or as a sales manager
Do hobbies help or hinder a sales CV?
Opinions are divided on whether there is any purpose to the ‘interests’ section of a CV. The traditional view is that your hobbies and pastimes show something of you as a person and demonstrate how rounded you are which could help in your sales job application.
I’ve tailored my CV but still can’t get a sales job interview
We all know how important it is for job applicants to tailor their CV or online application to the specific sales job, rather than send generic details about themselves. But increasingly – as more and more people apply for each advertised vacancy – those who apply for sales jobs they are fully qualified for, are finding that even this isn’t working in their favour.
