Over the years I’ve made purchases from both men and women.

But, I must admit, female sellers have impressed me more often with their sales skills than men.

I admire the professionalism of professional women.  And as a result, I find myself buying more when the seller is a woman.

In my opinion, women have established themselves as leaders, effective marketers, worthy competitors and teachers to the rest of us who derive our livelihood from agricultural sales.

If the males of the sales kingdom want to continue to grow in their trade, they need to take on more of the traits of women sellers.

Here are a few things that, in my opinion, put women at the top of their game as sales reps.

1. Women sales reps spend more time studying their art than their male counterparts.

In the agricultural industry, women reps must be better prepared because customers are not accustomed to buying from women.

Prospects tend to question the seller’s knowledge and ability more when a female rep calls.

Women reps know this and are prepared for it.  Female sellers know they must appear smarter, better organized and more knowledgeable than their male counterparts if they are going to succeed, whether their prospect is male or female.

2. Women are better at developing relationships that get and keep customers.

Women sellers know that the best way to attract new customers and to keep current ones is by getting to know them on a personal level.

They demonstrate a sincere interest in prospects and they respond to that kind of attention.

In addition, women hate failed relationships because they are viewed as an assault on both their self-esteem and their sales success.  Female sellers will do everything they can to keep current customers happy and that means keeping relationships intact.

3.  Women are better communicators.

They make sure everyone knows what they need to know when they need to know it.

Female reps understand that poor communication between the customer and the company is the number one reason why customers stop buying.  And because of their strong belief in communication, female sellers go the extra mile to make sure customers are informed of any change in the status of their purchase.

They make sure customers receive all of the news, good or bad, to prevent any misunderstandings and, more importantly, any surprises.

4. Women sellers set more realistic sales goals than men.

They make more accurate sales projections because they don’t let egos, team competition or a what-the-boss-wants-to-hear-attitude influence their projections.

Women sellers take goal setting very seriously and follow their goals daily as a guideline for growth.

5. Women dress better than men.

They know that a good first impression is essential, so they take more pride in their appearance.

Unlike some sales reps who consciously dress like their customers to make prospects feel less intimidated, women sellers are more likely to dress up for customers.  They know it is important to impress the people they are calling on and they know that dressing up shows respect for their job, their company and for the prospect.

In addition, their chances of getting a sales are better because they look successful.

I admire the professionalism of professional women because they have what it takes to succeed in today’s marketplace.

The quality of the sales representative is the only real measure customers have when deciding whether or not to make a purchase.

Sellers need to remember that their competition is not another company or it’s products, but other sales people selling against them in the territory.

Therefore, if I get to choose my selling foe, don’t let it be some weak-kneed guy who has little product knowledge, poor communication skills, overstates his goals, can’t build relationships and who dresses like his customers.

Instead, let me compete against an intelligent, well-dressed goal setter who knows the importance of building relationships and how to solve problems before they occur.

It is only by competing against that level of sales excellence that I can better myself and become more successful.

I believe that women most often represent that level of professionalism in sales and I would love to have as many of them on my sales team as possible.

But, if instead, a woman sales representative of that caliber is my competition in the territory, then I guess I don’t mind getting my butt kicked by a girl.

Happy Selling,

Rod

P.S.  Are you a woman in Ag and want to learn how to take full advantage of all the skills you already have?  Register for Blueprint LIVE today!  Click here to learn more.