If sales is a part of your job, 2020 likely looked very different than years that came before it. Suddenly, you were adjusting to sales presentations over Zoom, no more drop-in sales calls with loyal customers, and while sales may have completely dried up overnight for some of you, sales boomed for others.

A refrain I heard over and over again as 2020 came to a close was, “We are just muddling through until 2021,” with hopes that business would get back to normal in the new year.

While that hope is understandable, the reality is that sales will still look and feel different now that the new year is upon us. And while we might have gone easy on ourselves in a difficult and unprecedented year, it is essential that we get our heads back in the game early in 2021.

In fact, if you have measurable sales goals (as I strongly recommend you do) you may have been given a pass on reaching them, either by yourself or your supervisor, in 2020. But your feet will be held to the fire in 2021, I can assure you.

That’s why it’s essential that you optimize your sales skills, even while operating remotely, and today, we’re going to talk about 4 strategies to thrive in sales, even when you’re working from home.

1. Remain Visible.

Even if you can’t drop by a customer’s office or take a client out to lunch, it’s important that you stay visible. That might mean calling to check in a little more frequently than usual. It could mean sending a few small gifts throughout the year to show appreciation, rather than one at the end of the year. You could let clients know that you’re available for a video call anytime during business hours, or you could hold “office hours” when they can reach you via Skype or Zoom.

It’s more important than ever to utilize technology to remain visible to clients and potential clients.

2. Put Systems in Place.

Fortune 500 companies have sophisticated customer relationship management systems and software to ensure no valued customer falls through the cracks. You may not have a sales team of hundreds, but you too can put systems in place to keep your customers feeling valued and cared for.

By now, you should have created goals for 2021 (although it’s not too late if you haven’t yet). Set specific daily, weekly, and monthly action steps to achieve those goals, and designate time on your schedule to accomplish steps like daily sales calls. Make sure they are realistic so you are setting yourself up for success.

3. The Whole Is Greater Than the Sum.

When you’re working in the office, it’s easy to swing by the team that handles customer service and see how things are going, or check in with the marketing department and keep up to date on strategy. But when everyone is working remotely, it’s all too easy to let these relationships slip and forget how important they are to sales success.

Remember, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, so make sure everyone on your team is a part of the sales force.

4. Be Flexible.

If there’s one thing to learn from the past year, it’s that success will come to those who remain flexible amid changing circumstances. The “new normal” isn’t set in stone. It’s ever-changing, and changes will continue in 2021. Think nimbly about your approaches to changes as they come down the pike, and you’ll be rewarded for doing so.

As a Master Sales and Business Strategist, speaker, and consultant, I know how challenging it can be to put a plan in action and actually execute it. This is an area of business that many find difficult.

If you need a steady hand to help with taking action, setting effective benchmarks, maintaining the right mindset, and learning the sales strategies that will catapult your business this year, contact me to find out how we can create a plan that will allow you to build your legacy business and make 2021 the year when you finally Double Plus your income.

Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus^TM” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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At Celeste Giordano Coaching, I work with each client to implement the strategies they’ve been missing that will enable them to break through barriers preventing them from the success they know they are capable of. Contact me today to find your future clients who just don’t know what they’re missing.