If you were to analyze a typical salesperson’s day, what would you see? Most likely, you’d find them filling out paperwork repeatedly, making conference calls, meeting at specific times (in inconvenient locations), providing customer support for current clients, creating a list of prospects to call, and, let’s not forget, making sales.
Sure, there’s value in some of these activities, but as a salesperson, are you really spending your time in the best ways possible? What if you could get some of the wasted time back?
Too often, large chunks of the day are consumed with low-value tasks. The biggest obstacle to recovering this time is reversing the old habits to form new ones. These 3 routines can make you more effective in less time.
1. Eliminate Social Media Notifications.
Time Saved: 1+ hours
Turn off social media notifications on your computer and mobile device during the workday. What do those notifications do? They suck you into a world of unproductiveness. Every time that chime sounds, your attention breaks and your current task derails. Make your job easier and stay logged out during work hours.
2. Digitize Sales Info.
Time Saved: 1+ hours
Imagine a world without paperwork. It almost sounds too good one true, but an app like CallProof makes it possible. Just use your phone to capture data and record it without filling out paperwork or sales reports.
Other traditionally hard-copy processes have been simplified as well. Proposal software options ease the burden of submitting proposals. Online document signature services eliminate the need to fax documents back and forth.
The time saved with electronic documentation and automatic data input is well worth the time you invest to learn the new programs.
3. Prospect Based on Location.
Time Saved: 1+ hours
Think of all the time you spend in the car getting from one appointment to the next. Why not book your appointments based on location rather than spreading your meetings across town?
Be very intentional with the meetings you set. Then, after each meeting, use CallProof to identify nearby prospects and clients. Taking the opportunity to stop by while you’re already close builds your rapport with the client and saves you time in the long run.
For the Sales Managers
If you’re in charge, you can make a few additional decisions that benefit everyone. Scrap the end of the day meeting to save outside salespeople the drive back to the office. Also, do whatever you can to keep your hunters in the field and delegate their customer service issues to someone else.
Finally, give salespeople a list of prospects rather than having them create their own. Data is too cheap to not acquire it for them. Your sales team will thank you… as will your sales numbers.
We all want more time, not so we can add more to our plates, but so we can do a better job with the work we already have. What will you do with your extra hour?
