A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or
more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two
months apart.
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons
are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have
to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until
the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each
lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such,
we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final
exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work,
including the final exam.
Week One
Wednesday - Lesson 01
This first lesson lays the groundwork for successful sales. We'll review some basic sales terminology and talk about how it relates to your profession. You'll learn about appropriateness and how it can be a powerful tool for your success. This lesson will start the new salesperson off with the right tools to succeed.
Friday - Lesson 02
In this lesson, we'll talk about itineraries, sales call reports, and the customer database. Nothing is more important in sales than tracking your progress, your customers, and your prospects. Preparation and record keeping will keep you one step ahead of the competition. You'll also learn how to schedule follow-up calls to avoid letting potential sales pass you by.
Week Two
Wednesday - Lesson 03
To be successful in sales, you must learn to sell three things: Yourself, your company, and your product. In this lesson, you'll learn the importance of all of these, and you'll learn how to make them work in your favor. And no matter how good you are in sales, you will eventually experience a sales slump. You'll learn the simple steps to work through this slump and come through it in a stronger position.
Friday - Lesson 04
If you can't communicate, you can¹t sell. That's why communication is the focus of this lesson. You will learn how to effectively communicate with your customers and prospects in order to minimize problems and maximize customer loyalty. Just as important is your communication with your own company. Stop problems before they start, and your sales will increase dramatically.
Week Three
Wednesday - Lesson 05
In the first four lessons, we laid out a strong foundation for your sales efforts. In this lesson, you'll learn how to develop your sales presentation. A good sales presentation can mean the difference between making the sale and going home empty-handed. Learn how to guide the prospect to placing the order by using these proven techniques.
Friday - Lesson 06
You'll encounter seven different types of personalities during your sales career, and you'll meet them all in this lesson. Who are they? How can you identify them? How can you relate to them? Most important, how can you sell to them? In this lesson, we'll talk about how to identify which personality type you're dealing with so you can develop a unique selling strategy for each of them.
Week Four
Wednesday - Lesson 07
Knowing how to create an effective presentation, and how to identify the different personality types is essential knowledge. In Lesson 7, you'll learn how to apply the knowledge you gained in the previous two lessons. You'll learn how to modify your presentation to meet the expectations of each of the personality types-a recipe for success!
Friday - Lesson 08
The ultimate goal of the salesperson is to make-or close-the sale. There are six basic types of closes, and in this lesson we'll discuss them all. More importantly, you'll learn how to put each type to use for the greatest effect.
Week Five
Wednesday - Lesson 09
When is an unhappy customer a great sales opportunity? All salespeople will have to deal with customer complaints at one time or another, but few know how turn a complaint into a powerful sales tool. By properly handling these complaints as they arise, you can turn a customer complaint into customer delight.
Friday - Lesson 10
Can you negotiate a contract that pleases your customer and increases your total sales and profit? Of course! In this lesson, you'll learn the techniques of successful negotiation. There really is a win/win solution, and you'll learn how to find it in this lesson.
Week Six
Wednesday - Lesson 11
It may seem that your competitors are always bigger, faster, cheaper, or smarter than you are. But the fact is, they aren't. In Lesson 11, we'll discuss ways you can find out what your competition is up to and how to use this knowledge to your advantage.
Friday - Lesson 12
In our final lesson, we'll delve into some big questions that salespeople must ask themselves. How do you deal with the customer that won't return your calls? How important are ethics in the world of sales? How do you deal with the seemingly constant rejection? We'll ask-and answer-them all in this lesson.