89 Sales Tips That Are Borderline Magic
Want sales tips for optimizing every aspect of the funnel?
We’ve got sales tips. Lots of sales tips.
Here are 89 sales tips, backed by the vets and used by the pros, to become an absolute sales beast and turn more leads into satisfied customers.
To make this resource a more handy reference guide, we’ve decided to organize these sales tips into 14 categories:
- Lead qualification sales tips
- Speed to lead sales tips
- Lead routing sales tips
- Lead handoff sales tips
- Outreach sales tips
- Outreach sales tips
- Email sales tips
- Meetings sales tips
- Product demonstration sales tips
- Etiquette sales tips
- Personalization sales tips
- Post-sale sales tips
- Sales tips for making reps better at their job
- Sales tips FAQs
Sales Tips for the Qualification Phase
Identify Specific Triggers for Lead Qualification
Some examples of triggers can include looking at your pricing page, requesting a demo and filling out a contact form.
Be sure to customize your lead qualification and routing rules in Chili Piper. Works like a charm and guaranteed to convert leads faster.
Segment Leads into MQLs and SQLs
Marketing qualified leads (MQLs) are leads toward the top of the funnel, while sales qualified leads (SQLs) are toward the bottom.
Only Send SQLs to Sales Reps
Sales reps should only receive SQLs because these are ready for sales and more likely to convert.
Nurture MQLs
As for MQLs, they will require more nurturing and should be assigned to your marketing team.
Only Deal with Decision Makers
“In a typical firm with 100 to 500 employees, an average of seven people are involved in most buying decisions.”
Try to get your offer in front of key decision makers. Often, this is as simple as asking your point of contact, “Who is the right person to talk to about ______?”
Use a Quality CRM
“64% of sales professionals now use CRMs, up from just 28% in 2017.”
A quality CRM not only helps collect and store important information, it plays an integral role in qualifying leads.
The industry leading CRM is Salesforce, and it integrates with Chili Piper like a charm.
Speed to Lead Sales Tips
Contact a Lead Within 5 Minutes
5 minutes is known as “the golden window” and is 21x time more effective than calling after 30 minutes.
Be the First Company to Respond
78% of deals go to the first vendor that responds to a lead.
If you contact them within 5 minutes, you’re in a much better position to convert them.
Speed is everything.
Use Scheduling Software
You can use scheduling software like Chili Piper to book an appointment instantly and strike while the iron is hot.
If Five Minutes Isn’t Possible, Contact Leads Within 5 Hours Max
Although not nearly as effective as contacting a lead within 5 minutes, doing so within 5 hours is still 40% more effective than waiting 24 hours.
Lead Routing Sales Tips
Use a Lead Distribution Software to Route Leads to the Most Qualified Reps
With Chili Piper, for example, you can set rules to segment reps into meeting queues.
Or, if you have a potentially game changing lead, you could send them to your top sales rep — whomever has the best chance of landing them fast.
Give Each Rep a Max of 150 Leads Per Month
150 is known as “the magic number” because it means a sales rep has enough time to contact every single lead.
Don’t Send Top Leads to Reps Who Might Be in a Slump
Slumps happen to even the best of sales reps and is something that should be taken into account.
When this happens, give them a chance to get back in the groove before sending them top leads.
And, yes, Chili Piper can handle this for you.
Lead Handoff Sales Tips
Create a Streamlined Handoff Process
Make sure your marketing team provides your sales reps with key information, such as a lead’s company size, CRM, preferred communication channel, and so on.
Add a Note
Including additional notes like what sparked a lead’s initial interest and what target persona they fall under can improve the handoff process even more.
Leverage LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a gold mine for quickly learning about leads, so include a link to their profile.
Check Out Their Company Website
You can also gain a lot of insight by browsing through their company website — something that should help you gain a better understanding of their needs.
Check Out Their Social Media
Scoping their social media can be beneficial as well and provide ideas for what to talk about.
Quickly Assign and Book Meetings
The more fluid the exchange is between marketing and sales, the better your odds are of converting.
Use a tool like Instant Booker from Chili Piper to assign and book meetings with outbound leads.
Remove Bottlenecks
Always be on the lookout for friction in the lead handoff process, and promptly address inefficiencies.
Avoid Finger Pointing
When issues arise, don’t play the blame game.
Instead, work on finding a solution collaboratively.
Outreach Sales Tips
Contact Leads Using Their Preferred Communication Channel
Here’s a breakdown of preferred communication channels, according to research from eMarketer.
Telephone tops the list — in 2015. Today, email and other channels have taken the fore.
The key is to just ask your leads — hey, how do you want to communicate — and meet them on their preferred turf.
Identify a Lead’s Pain Points Before Contacting Them
Use the information gathered through lead forms and website browsing behavior to figure out which issues a lead is facing.
Use a Basic Sales Script
Conversion rates can double by using the right script.
But Don’t Sound Robotic
Leads want to speak with a real person, so it’s okay to go off script at times to address their unique needs.
Call from a Local Number
The chances of a lead answering a call increases by 300% when they recognize the area code.
Ask Plenty of Questions, But Don’t Interrogate
I find that it’s best to create a list of key questions and draw from that.
However, you want to keep the discussion conversational and not make a lead feel like they’re being interrogated.
The sweet spot is between 11 and 14 questions.
Ask Open Ended Questions
It’s important to get a lead to go beyond a “yes” or “no” response, as this sets the stage for deeper conversations.
Identify Common Objections
Leads will inevitably have objections, which can include:
- Having too small of a budget
- Needing to talk it over with other team members
- Having had a negative experience with similar products in the past
Be Prepared to Address Common Objections
Have your sales reps prepared and equipped with a standby response to overcome objections.
Handle Complaints Head On
Let a lead know what you’ll do to fix the situation and make it right.
Know What Primary Competitors are Offering
This will help you fine-tune your UVP and improve your offerings.
Know How to Get Past Low Cost Competitors
One of the biggest challenges is competing with low cost rivals.
Therefore, you should have a clearly defined UVP that showcases why your product is the better choice.
Use Pauses Throughout the Conversation
This gives a lead time to digest information so they don’t become overwhelmed.
Let a Lead Know What’s In It for Them
At the end of the day, the focus of the conversation should be on how the product will make their life easier.
Show Leads How Your Product Can Help Them Succeed
Genuinely caring about their success creates a positive experience for 45% of leads.
Provide a Range of Options
If possible, give a lead multiple options that extend beyond your initial offer.
This creates a positive experience for 49% of leads.
But Don’t Overwhelm Leads
That said, you should keep your offerings simple, and don’t throw too much at them at once.
Avoid Using Deal Breaking Words
Research has found that certain sales words reduce the odds of closing a deal.
Some of the worst ones are:
- Show you how
- We provide
- Contract
Use Collaborative Words
Saying “we” rather than “I” increases the sales closure rate by 35%.
Be Prepared to Discuss Pricing on the First Call
Nearly 60% of leads want to talk about pricing during the first call.
Make Trust Building a Top Priority
99% of sales professionals believe that trust is integral for winning new business, and 40% say it’s essential for closing a deal.
So this should always be in the back of a rep’s mind when interacting with leads.
Let Your Passion Show
Leads tend to be much more receptive to sales reps who have genuine passion.
Learn Something Personal About Each Lead
This allows reps to know about a lead on a deeper level, and the information can be used during future interactions.
Create a Sense of Urgency
At the end of the conversation, let a lead know why it’s important to take action right away.
Let a Lead Know Which Steps to Take Afterward
Be clear about what they need to do next to prevent confusion.
Send a Follow-Up Email After Outreach
This helps recap the points a sales rep makes and can build stronger rapport.
This brings me to my next series of sales tips.
Email Sales Tips
Send Emails on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
These are the best times to send emails based on data across multiple studies.
Send Emails Around 10am
Those same studies concluded that 10am was the optimal time to send emails.
Create a Winning Subject Line
Here are some examples of good and bad subject lines.
Use Between 75 and 100 Words
Research has found these emails receive a 51% response rate.
Write at a Third Grade Reading Level
These emails get a 53% response rate, as compared to only 39% for a college reading level.
Avoid Using All Caps
These emails are 30% less likely to get a response.
Ask Questions in Emails
Those with questions receive a 50% higher response rate than those without.
Personalize Your Emails
The click-through rate increases by 14%.
This video from Really Good Emails explains the fundamentals of email personalization.
Use Between 6 – 10 Words in the Subject Line
Emails with this length have the highest open rate of 21%.
Use Emojis in the Subject Line on Occasion
These emails have a 56% higher open rate than those without.
Meetings Sales Tips
Give Leads Flexibility When Scheduling a Meeting
For instance, with Chili Piper, leads can select from multiple days and times to best fit their schedule.
Automatically Schedule Meetings in a Rep’s Calendar
Chili Piper does this as well using the Concierge feature.
Send a Reminder to Prevent No-Shows
Giving each lead a friendly reminder before the meeting helps refresh their memory and reduces the chance of a no-show.
For example, you can configure Chili Piper to automatically send an email reminder one hour before a demo, which helps keep no-show rates under 2%.
Product Demonstration Sales Tips
Have an Agenda
Know what specific objectives you have with your product demo.
Create a Timeline
Here’s an example:
- Use the first five minutes to make an introduction
- Spend the next five minutes covering product features
- Spend the next fives minutes answering questions
- And so on
Use Videos to Help Leads Connect the Dots
Videos should be a max of two minutes long. But ideally, they’ll be under a minute.
Use a Webcam
“Closed deals involve using webcams 41% more often than lost deals.”
This helps create deeper rapport and make a quicker connection.
Show Key Benefits
Understanding the features is important, but knowing the specific benefits is even more critical.
Highlight Case Studies
One of the best ways to get a lead on board is to show them how your product has worked for other customers.
You can use these case studies from Chili Piper for inspiration.
Use Social Proof
“92% of consumers are more likely to trust non-paid recommendations than any other type of advertising.”
Be an Expert
Any hesitation or uncertainty in a rep’s response decreases their odds of closing.
Therefore, they need to know the product inside and out and how it applies within the context of each individual lead.
Have Reps Continually Learn About Your Product and Industry
Products evolve and industries change, so reps need to stay up-to-date.
Etiquette Sales Tips
Engage in Active Listening
“69% of buyers say salespeople can improve their performance by listening to consumers’ needs.”
Never Disrespect Your Competitors
This can be a huge turnoff for leads and can harm your brand reputation.
Be Transparent
Be straightforward about pricing and contract terms.
Avoid Manipulative Techniques
This is a huge turnoff and will send many leads running.
Have Empathy
Leads want to be heard and understood. So, always have sales reps put themselves in their shoes.
Don’t Be Pushy
According to 61% of buyers, not being pushy is critical to improving the sales experience.
Don’t Overpromise
Promising a lead the world may result in a sale. But it can come back to haunt you later on.
Know When to Stop Talking
Avoid the presentation turning into a one-sided monologue.
Focus on Relationship Building
Making this your overarching goal rather than just going for the immediate sale lays the foundation for trust and long-term success.
Personalization Sales Tips
Use Personalization When Interacting With Leads
Leads are 80% more likely to buy when they receive personalized experiences.
Supply Leads with Personalized Content
“Lack of content relevancy generates 83% lower response rates.”
Do This By Leveraging Prior Insights
For instance, if a lead looked at the Events Manager feature of Chili Piper, we would want to make event meeting automation the crux of the conversation.
Post-Sale Sales Tips
Follow Up After the Sale
Don’t think of the sales process as being over once a customer has made a purchase.
Instead, reach out to see how they’re doing and what you can do to create an even better experience moving forward.
Over Deliver
See how you can go the extra mile to blow a customer’s expectations out of the water.
Look for Referral Opportunities
Satisfied customers are often willing to refer your product to others.
Always be on the lookout for these opportunities.
Sales Tips for Making Reps Better at Their Job
Set Concrete Goals
Be super specific so they’ll be able to objectively analyze their performance.
Go Back and Listen to Your Calls
This is one of the quickest ways to spot a rep’s strengths and weaknesses, which sets the stage for positive change.
Avoid Burnout By Following Ultradian Rhythms
Working for 90 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of rest should help keep reps energized and achieve better focus.
Get at Least 7 Hours of Sleep
This will help reps stay at the top of their game and approach each sales opportunity with maximum energy and zeal.
Keep Emotions in Check
There’s a natural ebb and flow to sales, so it’s important to not get too high or too low.
Sales Tips FAQs
What’s the ideal timeframe to reach out to leads?
5 minutes. This is known as “the golden window.
How can I realistically reach out to leads this quickly?
Use scheduling software like Chili Piper to schedule meetings.
How many leads should each sales rep receive each month?
150 max.
How can you create a better customer experience?
- Truly listen
- Don’t be pushy
- Provide relevant information
- Respond quickly
Turning Your Funnel Into Lean, Mean Conversion Machine
Closing more deals is all about creating a winning formula based on proven data.
The sales tips I’ve outlined here address all the major areas of the sales process, which can help your company make more conversions and build lasting relationships.
Want to learn how to book better meetings and close more deals? Get a Chili Piper demo today.
