Why Everyone Should Learn Basic Selling Skills

Written by Emily Gagnon

An artist and entrepreneur with a passion for people. Emily loves her family, Taylor Swift, and all things that make life better. She is the Marketing Coordinator at The Selling Factory.

What comes to mind when you think about the top skills you need for your career? There is one skill that might surprise you: basic selling skills. Over 13 million people are working in sales and sales-related occupations in the US, but whether you want to enter this profession or not, basic selling skills are essential for your career prospects. 

What comes to your mind when you think about sales? For some people, selling skills brings to mind negative experiences, such as experiencing pressure or manipulation. But actually, selling is about being able to communicate effectively, which is something you need no matter what business you work in.

Whether you have begun your career or are looking at student jobs, this post is for you. Read on to learn the benefits of gaining basic sales skills. 

Learn How To Negotiate

The ability to negotiate will help you in your career and your everyday life. At some point in your life experience, you will have to come to an agreement through discussion, which can be challenging at times.

From negotiating your salary and reaching deals with clients to looking after children or being with a partner, negotiating is critical for effective communication. 

Directing a conversation, changing your selling trajectory, and tailoring your communication to customer needs will bring you success with negotiating. Basic selling skills help you learn how to do this.

Develop Resilience and Persistence 

From a young age, being told no and rejected can feel difficult to manage, especially if you are not equipped with the skills to navigate through it. Basic selling skills can develop your resilience levels, so you learn how to communicate instead of running away from resistance.

After all, 60% of customers say no four times before they say yes. Basic selling skills help you work with no instead of against it; recognizing rejections is common and normal.

Dealing with rejection can lead to more success in your career and general life experience. You will know how to maintain a positive attitude and perspective, even when things do not go to plan. 

With resilience also comes more persistence. You learn how to persist in the face of challenges and improve your problem-solving skills. 

Become Self-disciplined

Sales jobs often involve having to put the effort in to see results, which is invaluable no matter what profession or life path you choose. Even for college students, it can be tempting to coast through at times. However, basic selling skills are a reminder that putting in the work brings results.

You can use basic selling skills to improve your self-discipline in all areas of life, from your career to other habits you want to form. This motivation can help you pursue the career of your dreams and adapt to challenges instead of being defeated by them. 

Gain Confidence and Presenting Skills

An essential part of selling skills involves believing in what you are selling and being able to communicate to customers that you are trustworthy. Basic selling skills can give you the foundations to build your confidence. You will be practicing talking to new people and learning how to sell any product with ease.

Confidence can help in all areas of your life, such as in presentations and communicating honestly. This can help accelerate your career, academic, and personal life. You will feel more able to pursue what lights you up and believe you can achieve your dreams.

Improve Your Listening Skills

Studies have found that most people do not optimize their listening skills. For example, a study found that two months after a talk, people only remembered 25% of what was said. Listening is a skill that can change your personal and business life when used efficiently.

Most people can relate to spending their time thinking about what they will say next instead of putting their complete focus on the individual speaking. Or college students may relate to the difficulty of actively listening throughout lectures. However, it is a skill you can improve with basic selling skills.

You will not get far in sales if you do not listen to the customer. You won’t be able to relate to their difficulties and find solutions for them. Instead, you will come across in a negative light and lose the sale.

Be a Better Communicator

With improved listening skills also comes better communication skills overall. Basic selling skills help you become precise and effective with how you communicate. Communication skills are essential in all areas of life, especially when it comes to teamwork and customer service.

Learn To Sell in Any Job

It can be surprising how many jobs require a level of selling, even if they are not direct sales jobs. These include real estate agents, travel agents, and food service workers.

Other jobs include being a teacher and having to persuade students why they should complete their homework! And home contractors encourage clients to commit to using their services for a dream home. You will also benefit from learning how to manage performance reviews and create strategies at college or the business where you work.

There is no limit to what jobs involve selling, but what is certain is that basic selling skills will help you navigate through even the most challenging sales. 

Become More Employable

Basic selling skills make you more employable. You can demonstrate you have taken the initiative by developing these skills to advance. You will learn how to be accountable, liaise efficiently with businesses, and be able to show high-performance results before you even enter the job market. 

Master Basic Selling Skills 

Basic selling skills can help you stand out in the job market and navigate through challenges in life. So, where can you begin honing your sales skills?

The Selling Factory offers internships for college students to learn the art of selling, which is one of the best student jobs out there! Learn from the best and get real-life experience with businesses that need your support. We offer outsourced sales teams comprised of these students for businesses. 

Do you have any questions about our internships or services? Contact us today to learn more. 

Victoria Zamitalo

Campaign Manager

Victoria received a BA in History and Economics from the University of Florida in May 2023. She is a driven sales professional with over 5 years combined experience in customer service, consumer relations and outbound sales, and is deeply passionate about fostering close relationships between consumers and sellers. She aims to train the next generation of sales professionals in not only the tricks of the trade, but also interpersonal skills that make sales the exciting and ever-changing industry that it is.

victoria@thesellingfactory.com

Mia Semel

Campaign Manager

Before graduating with a B.A. in Sustainability Studies, Mia took on multiple roles while interning at The Selling Factory, including sales development, recruiting, and leading campaigns. She is an active listener and effective communicator, specializing in fostering genuine connections and finding common ground among differing perspectives. She aims to find practical, creative solutions regarding sustainable development, biodiversity and the climate crisis.

mia.semel@thesellingfactory.com

Kira Grieve

Senior Campaign Manager

Kira graduated from the University of Florida and received her Master of Science in Entrepreneurship. She is passionate about helping businesses grow and connecting with new people. Some of her hobbies include traveling and hiking. She hopes to visit all of the National Parks one day!

kira@thesellingfactory.com

Jared Glosser

Vice President

After graduating from UF in 2014 with a B.A. in history, Jared started his professional career Fundraising for a non-partisan political lobby in South Florida. In 2016, Jared moved back to Gainesville to work for a non-profit, recruit students for international travel opportunities, and pursue his MBA at UF. Jared has been with The Selling Factory since 2019 focusing on operations, client onboarding, and client success.

jared@thesellingfactory.com

Ian Massenburg

Chief Operating Officer

A graduate of University of Florida (B.A. 2001), Ian Massenburg brings over 18 years of sales executive and sales management experience to The Selling Factory. Before coming on-board, Ian worked alongside Brad at Infinite Energy, and then spent his next 3 years as VP of Partnerships selling SaaS products B2B. Ian brings his vast knowledge and experience to the team and to our partner companies served.

ian@thesellingfactory.com

Damien Paulk

Campaign Manager

Damien is a University of Florida graduate that recently joined the team full time after working as a Sales Development Intern for one year. As a Campaign Manager, Damien looks forward to contributing to the growth and success of The Selling Factory. When Damien is not at work he enjoys exploring Gainesville with his girlfriend and dog or watching the Gators dominate college football.

damien@thesellingfactory.com

Brendan Viehman

Campaign Manager

Brendan graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Project Management. For the past 5 years, he has enjoyed working with blockchain technology and cryptocurrency development. In his free time, he surfs and makes personal finance videos for his YouTube channel.

brendan@thesellingfactory.com

Savannah Howard

Campaign Manager

A graduate from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, Savannah obtained her Bachelor of Science in public relations with a concentration in French. After almost two years as a sales development intern for The Selling Factory, she joined the leadership team in 2021 taking on the role of Campaign Manager. In her free time, Savannah enjoys going to concerts and festivals and cooking for her friends and family.

savannah@thesellingfactory.com

Zack Kampf

Campaign Manager

Zack is a creative technologist with experience in advertising, event planning, and game design. He started as an SDR in 2018 and has been with TSF ever since. Upon graduating UF in 2019 he became a campaign manager and is currently seeking a master's degree from NYU. In his spare time, you can find him at the intersection of Art & Technology!

zack@thesellingfactory.com

Josiah Blakemore

Growth Manager

Josiah has over 10 years of sales experience, worked with Brad and Ian at Infinite Energy, and also spent time selling SaaS as Director of Partnerships at SharpSpring. He’s always been very competitive and has a love for sports and games. He enjoys solving problems and coaching team members to do the same!

josiah@thesellingfactory.com

Sue-Ming Frauenhofer

Marketing Manager

Sue-Ming received both her B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Management from The University of Florida. As a student, she took on multiple roles while interning at The Selling Factory, including sales development, marketing, and recruiting, eventually leading to her current role as Marketing Manager. She enjoys refining her taste in music and visual art, engaging in mindfulness and meditative practices, and frolicking outside with her sidekick pup.

sueming@thesellingfactory.com

Adam Grossman

Chief Development Officer

Adam is an ordained rabbi, who has founded multiple ventures focused on workforce development. Hired as CEO by a failing non-profit, in over 5 years, his ingenuity saved the organization, which led Slingshotfund.org to recognize it as one of North America’s most innovative Jewish non-profits. His expertise to identify, cultivate, and on-board talent ensures our student teams meet our partners’ needs.

adam@thesellingfactory.com

Brad Gamble

Chief Executive Officer

After graduating from UF in 1999 with a B.S.B.A, Brad Gamble has dedicated himself to sales management, branding, coaching, and building companies. He served as the VP of Sales & Marketing for Infinite Energy until 2014, when he founded The Selling Factory. He has dedicated himself to teaching critical skills to tomorrow’s leaders, and helping companies achieve sales success and revenue growth.

brad@thesellingfactory.com