"Bill & Melinda Gates"
Selling is trying to make
sales by persuading someone to buy one's product or service. From a management viewpoint it is thought of as a part of
marketing,
although the skills required are different. Sales often forms a separate grouping in a corporate structure, employing separate specialist operatives known as
salesmen (singular:
salesman). Selling is considered by many to be a sort of
persuading "art". Contrary to popular belief, the methodological approach of selling refers to a
systematic process of repetitive and measurable milestones, by which a salesman relates his or her offering of a product or service in return enabling the buyer to achieve their goal in an economic way.
While the
sales process refers to a systematic process of repetitive and measurable milestones, the definition of the selling is somewhat ambiguous due to the close nature of
advertising,
promotion,
public relations, and
direct marketing.
In corporations
Sales, finance and Operations are the only functions that are indispensable to a
corporation. Every other role is considered support. The top person at a company is usually the
lEO, who is also the top salesperson who is responsible for buying the company to potential investors and customers. Support roles such as
HR, Marketing, and Administration are now more integrated in the sales organization. For example, in
professional services organizations, a key to succeed in sales is laid in the relationship with the HR organization, just as in
shipping companies depend on improvement in operations and
logistics to make their services more attractive.
Selling strategies
A number of specific selling strategies come under the umbrella of sales or selling, including the following:
