Personal Selling

Personal selling, the process of person-to-person communication between a salesperson and a prospective customer, is an age-old art. Today it may take place face to face, over the telephone or even through interactive computer links. However, some selling approaches work better than others. In Personal Selling Second Edition, the authors outline the 10 key steps in the selling process that they believe will lead to a successful sale, from prospecting for a sale to the follow-up once the sale has been completed. In addition, the book seeks to explain the role and place of personal selling, the impact it has on the economy, and how it ties in with marketing. The importance of communication in the selling task, as well as different approaches and sales presentation methods, are explained and clarified, and a comprehensive discussion on how sales people should manage themselves and their time is included. Key features include: Text boxes with interesting contextual information; Case studies detailing South African examples of selling; General and self-assessment questions to the reader to assist in learning and understanding; Discussion questions at the end of each chapter to encourage debate around the issues presented; A feature from the Direct Selling Association detailing direct selling and member companies which employ direct selling methods; Tables and diagrams to illustrate concepts clearly. Students of personal selling at undergraduate level, as well as practitioners, will benefit from the practical approach taken in this book.