New sales training for your team to refresh skills
With everything everyone has been through, since March 2020, it’s understandable if your sales teams skills aren’t as sharp as they once were. Sales training can help refresh skills, while supporting these new ways of working.
Sales training helps teams a number of ways. According to HubSpot, based on CSO Insights research, highly-rated sales training courses (many of which are being delivered remotely right now), can increase win rates 10%.
Could your sales team benefit from 10% higher win rates?
In a team of 10 where the overall annual target for new business is $1 million, that could equate to an extra $100,000 revenue. If the training costs $10,000, then it’s a worthwhile investment.
When it comes to sales training, there are a lot of options. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry, with some big players and numerous self-employed consultants. Courses and training can cost anything from a few thousand ($2,000+) to a few hundred thousand ($100,000+), depending on the amount of training being delivered, size of your team, and other factors.
Let’s look at how sales managers assess the right training for their team, and some of the options.
How to assess the effectiveness of sales training
- How is it delivered? These days, remote is definitely best. If you aren’t bringing your team into the office, then gathering in one place for a training session may not be the best idea. Only if a suitable space can be used should in-person be the preference; otherwise, aim for online delivery.
- How much time will it take? Training is usually delivered in blocks of time, such as a half-day, full-day, or even over several days. Some training is delivered in a hybrid format, between sessions that last a day, alongside online and module-based training.
- Is it suitable for my team? You need to ensure it’s suitable for the intended audience. Ensure at minimum the training is designed for the type of team you manage (e.g. outbound, inbound, field - even if they’re not “in the field” at the moment, SDRs, etc.)
- Does it address current challenges? Whatever your top three, or even top priority challenge is, ensure the training does aim to tackle the problem.
How much does it cost? Budget is an important factor of course, as is the intended ROI. Make sure it looks like you should get value for money.
Now let’s take a look at some of the options. Of course there are numerous, hundreds of others around, but these are some that have either caught our attention or are well-known for achieving positive results for sales teams.
5 Sales Training Options
#1: Sandler Selling System, Sandler
How it’s delivered: Sander training is usually delivered for clients in one of their 250 worldwide training centers (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia). Although most training should be getting delivered remotely at present.
Timescale: It can be ongoing, which means it will start with an initial training session, and then be delivered according to the service package agreed.
Focus: Improving the sales process.
Audience: B2B sales teams, which means outbound, inbound, and account managers.
Cost: Depends on the client, number of salespeople and service package agreed. Due to the method-based approach, and expectations placed around the Sandler approach, expect to invest a decent amount if you are getting a year-round training package.
Sales training from Sandler is a long-term investment, and re-enforces itself, so that teams feel continual benefit. It can cover everything from building rapport to setting expectations with new clients. Too much sales training, when it’s one-off is forgotten after 90 days, which is why this approach is valued, although with the required investment to match.
#2: Inbound Sales, HubSpot Academy
How it’s delivered: Online
Timescale: Only three hours
Focus: The inbound sales methodology
Audience: Salespeople, sales managers, sales trainers, and inbound marketers
Cost: Free
This is a free online certification from HubSpot, which covers the basics of the inbound approach for sales teams who might be new to this, or need a refresher. It can be equally useful for a marketing team to take this training too.
It promises the following: “This course is for individual sales reps who are looking for actionable tips to use in their next call or meeting. You’ll learn how to identify new prospects, connect with them, explore their needs, and advise them on a path forward.”
#3: Insight Selling, RAIN Group
How it’s delivered: On-site or online
Timescale: Two days
Focus: Insight selling
Audience: B2B sales teams (inbound and outbound)
Cost: Depends on the number of salespeople (custom quote provided for each client)
RAIN Group is one of the premier global sales training providers, with experience in a wide range of industries. Insight Selling is a useful course, promoted as: “Advanced consultative selling to inspire buyers with ideas, differentiate, and win sales.”
It’s a course based on the knowledge, from analysis of 731 purchases, that salespeople who provide clients with new ideas are 3x more likely to close a deal.
#4: Account Based Selling, Sales For Life
How it’s delivered: On-site or online
Timescale: 14 hours (usually over two days)
Focus: Account-based sales
Audience: B2B sales teams (inbound and outbound)
Cost: Depends on the number of salespeople (custom quote provided for each client)
This is part of the courses and training Sales For Life delivers, broken into six modules to help those who deliver account based selling (ABS) sell more effectively.
#5: Accelerate Your Sales, Jill Konrath
How it’s delivered: online or in-person
Timescale: Half or full-day
Focus: Prospecting
Audience: B2B sales teams (inbound and outbound)
Cost: Depends on the number of salespeople (custom quote provided for each client)
Jill is an experienced sales professional who delivers “highly engaging workshops will help you and your sales team fill your pipeline with more high quality prospects who are ready to take action now.”
Sales training can be a powerful advantage to sales teams. Right now, sales teams need the extra boost, some new ideas, and a refresh of core skills to improve their ability to close deals and win new clients.