Research and experience show that at least 50% of a sale is dependent upon the buyer’s perception of the salesperson. It may be a good product, but if presented poorly, a buyer will often turn away.
Mr. Shmooze is politically neutral . . . we are just trying to help people sell better. So, keep that in mind as you read the following.
Some of the traits people look for in salespeople are:
- An appealing personality
- Thoughtful
- Helpful
- Empathetic
- Clear and calm communicators, who do not push or oversell their ideas.
And most of all, people like salespeople they feel they can trust because they tell the truth.
All the pollsters and the consultants in the world cannot help the political candidates once they are selling themselves in real time. And, somehow, they still have not figured out that screaming, yelling and histrionics are counterproductive.
And you know, as seasoned salespeople, that prospects can spot a fake a mile away.
The key to selling yourself is to be authentic, to know your product very well and to communicate with calm conviction.
Let’s see if anyone emerges as the voice of reason as opposed to the voice of rage in the coming months. My guess is that person will draw voters like catnip.
