Digital Tools for Successful Salespeople

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I was recently speaking to a client about an upcoming presentation I am scheduled to do for his company. He’s a successful salesman and was recently promoted to chairman at a large company. We were talking about what is essential for successful salespeople today.

My client expressed frustration that some of his more seasoned salespeople don’t embrace technology as a sales tool, relying exclusively on their social skills to connect with customers. He wants a sales force with both tech savvy and a knack for conversation.

I agree! In my experience, salespeople who leverage technology succeed more.

To help you in your sales, here are seven tools that successful salespeople use today to get ahead.

Smartphone

Everybody and their 12-year-old daughter has one, but are you using yours to the fullest? Prepare for anything by loading it with great apps like Evernote, Camera+ (better pictures), your mobile banking app of choice, super-calculator Digits and more. Remember that your Smartphone camera is no longer just for taking family pictures. It’s a critical business tool that can capture billboards, store displays, and other sightings that can benefit your customers. Let your Smartphone become more of a money-maker for you.

Tablet

For many, tablets are replacing laptops. Get one with a good keyboard that helps you type e-mail, letters, memos and more. An app like AudioNote helps you take notes while it records the audio in a meeting. This is great to use with clients (when permissible) to capture important conversations.

Scanner

Use a scanner to capture important receipts, notes, articles and more for your records. I use a Fujitsu ScanSnap regularly to capture my pen-and-paper notes. I then send those scans to Evernote for safekeeping. This creates a vault of important notes from the past that I can access quickly.

External Drive

I just picked up a two-terabyte external hard drive the other day and love it! It’s very small — around a half-inch thick — and holds a backup of my essential tools. With this much storage in such a small frame, you can use a lightweight laptop and still access important files you might need on the go. Plus, it will set you back only about $120.

YouTube Capture Tool

I use Airy for Mac (there are other tools available for Windows) to capture educational videos from YouTube. There is an abundance of learning available on YouTube today, and I like to capture videos with Airy for easier viewing later.

VLC Media Player

I watch videos and listen to audio using VLC because it allows me to watch and listen faster. Think of it as speed-reading for video and audio. Instead of the base speed, you can adjust playback to 50 percent or 100 percent faster than the original audio. My morning learning time has been enhanced by rapid video watching, increasing the time and ability I have to make sales.

Personal Hotspot

Tired of not getting access to the Internet when in a meeting? Take Wi-Fi with you wherever you go using a hotspot that taps into your cellular service. Fast Internet access is a competitive advantage in today’s business world — the faster, the better!

My client is right. Tools like these, coupled with the ability to connect with people, give you an unfair advantage in today’s competitive landscape. With the right mindset and tools, you can pull ahead of the pack.