Saturday 28 August 2010

Commissioned Sales

If you are interested in working in Sales, one of your best options is working straight-commission. Taking a sales job that pays by commission only is much like starting your own business. You have to find your own customers, sell them on the product or service, and then provide a great deal of customer service after the sale. It sounds like hard work, doesn't it? It can be, but the freedom and the ability to decide how much you are going to earn makes straight-commission sales very attractive.

Most salespeople who look at straight-commission sales think of traditional fields, such as Real Estate and the Insurance business. While these are traditionally fields where hard workers can earn a good part-time or full-time income, they aren't the only fields where you can earn high commissions. There are many other industries filled with companies actively seeking skilled and productive sales representatives. Home improvement companies offer commission work to salespeople who can market remodeling services, water purification/softening equipment, siding, roofing, swimming pool construction, insulation, decorative art, and many other residential products. Toy and gift companies are always looking for quality manufacturer's representatives to offer wholesale products to retail stores, regional chains, organizations seeking promotional products, etc.

No matter what type of sales you would like to do, consider the options. There are basically two types of sales; inside and outside sales. Inside sales is basically a sales job you can work from home or from a central office. You typically make sales calls to potential customers and try to complete a sale over the telephone. Inside sales representatives typically have lists of customers called leads that are more likely to purchase than say a list of names from a telephone directory. However, when leads are unavailable, sales representatives typically call business owners or homeowners at random trying to find interested clients. This is commonly called "cold calling" and can be very difficult, but can also be productive. Straight-commission inside sales is much more profitable for the sales representative because the inside sales company pays little or nothing for leads or office material as opposed to what is paid out for salaries salespeople.

Outside sales relies on some lead generation (phone calls, letters, emails), but mostly consists of meeting face-to-face with customers in an effort to sell goods or services. Typically an appointment is set with an interested party, a brief meeting takes place, and either a sale is made or a follow up appointment is scheduled. Outside salespeople often cover all their own costs so whatever commission structure they agree to is what they are paid. Again, when the company pays less overhead for the sales employee in a straight-commission arrangement, more commission is paid directly to the sales representative.

The best part of working commissioned sales is that you determine how much money you will make by your own efforts. Many people prefer not to work in this way and feel the lack of support and structure takes away from possible sales success. Others enjoy the freedom to work as much as possible and to generate as much income as possible. With straight-commission work, it's all up to you, but the sky is the limit on your earnings!

Michael Taylor is a professional freelance writer with experience in high-tech and the travel industry. See his blog at: http://everythingtheydidnttellyou.blogspot.com/

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What's Wrong With a Straight Commission Sales Job?

Great paying St Louis Sales Jobs are beginning to be very elusive in today's economical environment. In fact, good sales jobs throughout the country are becoming harder and harder to find.

Finding straight commission jobs are in abundance but usually are pie in the sky when it comes to actually making what you may have seen in the classified ad. High income is always touted but usually never obtained. Much of this is because, in order to reach their income goals, one must be a one of a kind salesman. Unfortunately, most sales people are not willing to go to the extreme and work unlimited hours to obtain the high income. Going that extra mile is what an entrepreneur is made of.

There are great straight commission jobs but it is important to evaluate and research the company you are applying to work for. Straight commission St Louis sales jobs are similar to those around other parts to the country; they are plentiful but often not what one was expecting.

If you do look into a straight commission sales job, make sure you interview the person hiring you. Do not assume they are being straight with you on their income projection. These types of jobs have high turnover and it is the nature of the business to make the job seem awesome and easy but in reality if they hire 50 sales people, 2 or 3 might make it.

Usually, these types of St Louis Sales jobs are on the bottom of the totem pole when looking at the overall quality one might be looking for. Some examples of straight commission jobs are vacuum sales, cook book sales, cable TV sales, copy machine sales, home improvement sales, and the list goes on. Much of these can be cold calling and door to door or business to business cold calling.

If you are willing to work hard a straight commission job usually will provide more income that a base pay plus commission job. A base pay job offers a safety net but you are generally giving up potential earnings for that safety net.

There are a variety of straight commission jobs that do have extremely high potential and give you the ability to make what you are worth. Real Estate and Insurance sales are two that offer a high potential of income. Unfortunately, most sales people can't work independently and have a hard time being a tough boss to themselves to get the job done and produce that life long income in these two professions.

One must research thoroughly each of the St Louis sales jobs they are applying for to protect themselves from a major let down. Know what you are looking for and make sure you don't choose a job just because someone promises you a large income. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true... it probably is.

Steve Rohrer has has been in the insurance business training and building teams for more the 13 years. He is the leader in St Louis Sales Jobs and works with a group that has designed the only complete platform in the country for selling Final Expense over the phone. They are looking for Insurance Agents and Non Agents, local to the St Louis Area, to join their team and make $75,000 plus in the insurance business without any leads cost or other expenses. Go to St Louis Sales Jobs to get instant access to all the details.

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