People have been trying to sell everything from food to services and jewelry for a millennia, but most salespeople fail. Part of the problem is a reliance on unwise sales techniques or an absence of sales training altogether.

Arguably, the biggest issue is poor listening abilities and the belief that your sales pitch will close the deal. This is true even though the best sales coaches have recommended reflective listening skills as the best way to make sales for years. The truth is that almost everyone wants to talk about themselves, including salespeople. The best advice we give at sales closing techniques salt lake city is to simply close your mouth and listen to your prospects' feelings and motivators.

We put together a few tips on basic sales training that you can implement in your own strategy and that you can share with your team to make your whole company better.

The best idea, though, is to know your sales targets. Do they know they need your solution or product or are they having a problem that's urgent? What other solutions are available and are they good? Have these questions figured out before you make any calls.

Next, you need to start listening. Think about this:

• Learn what your prospects want. If they are pleased with their fixes to the problem you are hoping to solve, learn more. If they aren't, find out what else they need. If they want parts of your products, understand that as well. In reality, making any sale is a one-on-one transaction. Anyone who doesn't feel understood, will probably not continue a business relationship with you.
• Repeat or rephrase what the customer is saying. Known as reflective listening, this skill lets the customer know you're hearing them, that you care about it and are thinking about it, and that you are clear on the facts. Furthermore, this method clarifies their expectations.
• Emotions close deals.Facts and figures have their purpose, but selling is ultimately about whether your customer likes you and has trust in you. Pay attention to feelings about stress, worry and fatigue, as these are issues you could help solve. It's also smart to listen for pleasant emotions such as happiness, because this can help you understand your prospect's true needs.
• Know their motivations. In addition to hearing what the customer says he or she needs, find out what the true motivations are. Usually, this means saving money but it can also be something like improving efficiency, reducing stress and more.
• Don't tell people what to do. No one likes to be bossed around, but a lot of would-be sellers essentially do this when they repeat and repeat their presentations without listening properly. Rather, discuss the benefits of your product or service and listen while the customer talks, coming to believe that, in the process, your product is the best one. You can guide the conversation along, but don't go further or you could lose it all.
• Just hold your tongue! Most would-be sellers go on and on, not realizing that they have already lost their customer, who is now just trying to be done with them. You can talk about the benefits of your product or service and briefly go over how you can offer solutions to their problems, but only if you know what they expect.
• You and your product are not as great as you probably think, at least not to people who aren't familiar with what you have to offer. Let go of your ego and realize that you can almost never really know how anyone else is feeling and what they want without asking them. Ask clarifying questions often, and don't forget that closing deals isn't about anything more than fostering relationships. If you really want to sell, try getting out of the way more often.

These sales tips might not be intuitive when you start implementing them, but if you try them you will see that they are very effective. Realize that most would-be sellers just rush through with their standard speeches, not considering these aspects. These salespeople are never successful. Join the ranks of success by closing your mouth and showing that you really care.