Social selling has impacted the market ever since we started trading products. A gentleman in 1600s Italy could visit a family member, adore their new statue, and ask where they got it. Market analysis indicates that consumers influenced by social media are four times more likely to spend more on purchases. That’s over standard advertising. With the market shifting, it’s essential that your company has a strong handle on the social market and how to use it to your advantage.

Sales psychology is in a constant battle to keep up with customer needs and habits. Over the past 10 years, sales trends have seen a growing increase in customers who are well-researched and don’t want to be coddled. Instead, customers are arriving in sales situations with a wide variety of product options and too much data. It’s overwhelming.

Understanding the key differences between sales and marketing allows you to streamline business operations and ensure clear communication across the board. Below, we’ll answer all your questions about sales and marketing. And we’ll reveal exactly how you can align your sales and marketing teams to boost efficiency and profit.

Companies of all sizes want to increase revenue. But at one point or another, all revenue growth is hindered by time. Even if sales reps sold a product every second for 24 hours a day, that productivity would hit a limit. You then have two choices: hire a larger sales team, or enter a channel sales partnership. Most companies choose the second option to save time, cut costs, and expand their market.

If you’ve heard the term “unique selling proposition” or “unique selling point” thrown around lately but aren’t quite sure what it means, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll provide a clear unique selling proposition definition and answer some of the most common questions people have about USPs. We’ll also show you 10 unique selling proposition examples to jumpstart the tricky process of crafting the perfect one to increase sales.

Sales technology has come a long way from the Rolodex and the post-it note. Sales teams can now connect with leads and clients in more ways than ever before, from emails to phone calls to video conferences. All that constant communication is made possible in part by Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology. Sales reps use CRM systems to capture every interaction, keep contact info up to date, and manage accounts of all sizes. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

In 2020, the ecommerce sector saw explosive growth, expanding by more than 32 percent—double the average growth rate of the preceding decade. Kept at home by the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers took to their mobile phones and laptops to order everything from sourdough starter to barbecue pits, and the ecommerce sector finally had the right market conditions for hockey stick growth. Supply has also surged to meet demand, meaning brands face more competition than ever.

Messaging has surged in popularity and become a go-to channel for many consumers since the COVID-19 pandemic. It looks like the trend is here to stay—74 percent of customers who messaged with companies in 2020 plan to continue doing so. Research also shows that 76 percent of consumers like to buy products using chat or messaging, and 72 percent are more likely to make a purchase online if they can ask questions in real-time. Google’s Business Messages enables buyers to do both.

During the company’s all-hands meeting, you find out a sales manager role has opened up. As a seasoned sales rep, you naturally get excited—until you realize that you don’t know how to transition from a sales agent to a sales manager. You begin to wonder, Do I have what it takes? If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. Ask any sales manager, and they’ll tell you the journey to leading a sales team isn’t easy.

It’s hard to find a brand with a more loyal following of diehard supporters than Apple. According to a 2021 SellCell survey, brand loyalty for Apple customers is at “an all-time high of nearly 92 percent.” That’s up from (an already high) 90.5 percent in 2019. Those Apple users already likely spend much of their time in Apple’s Messages app—making it the perfect place for companies to reach customers and provide support.