Ten Types of People Who Can Help You Sell

How would you like to have expert assistants helping make sales every day of the week?

Who are they and where can you find them? To show you just how well you know them all, I list them here. They’re all friends of yours, people you see every week, people you feel comfortable with, people you like and who like you.

1. The completely satisfied customer. There isn’t a more valuable recommendation for what you sell. Once you have established a satisfied account, ask for leads to add another.

2. The personal friend. Building this relationship is worth the extra effort that it takes. You can do it without going to great extremes. All it takes is a plan and follow-through.

3. The active participant. This person does things in groups, clubs, and elsewhere. He or she is constantly making contacts. By building goodwill with him, the new contacts he is constantly making can provide you with a regular source of new prospects and customers.

4. The natural leaders. The qualities of leadership they possess make their recommendations have special value to others. Building attachments among these individuals is a worthwhile step for any salesperson. Be sure to go after the small group leaders as well as the big ones. They will be of greater value than the latter since they are more reachable and in greater numbers.

5. Associates in group activities. Use only available time for active participation in groups, but use it well. Only be a joiner when it fits with your overall goals.

6. Neighbors and friends. Never discount the capability of each such person to discover and develop potential customers. Cultivating friendly relationships has many other benefits, but don’t neglect the opportunity for contacts.

7. Ambitious people. When you spot such an individual, contact is definitely worthwhile. Her ambitions may lead to activity that will develop a worthwhile customer in the future.

8. People with similar interests. These preferences naturally build a bond of friendship wherever they exist. Enjoying one’s interests alone fails to use to advantage the help these people can provide.

9. Your suppliers. They have a special personal interest in helping you find new customers as long as doing so does not conflict with their own efforts. Use it to advantage. Ask them for leads to sales or for ideas.

10. Happy, helpful people. They possess a built-in desire to enjoy life. Wanting to help others is part of that. Once again, all it takes is a request. Sometimes it pays to be explicit about just how they can help you make sales. Carefully cultivate the active friendship of every happy and helpful individual you know.

Each of the 10 types of people on this list should be a part of every salesperson’s corps of assistants. Letting them know how much you need this assistance is the first step. By showing appreciation for help each time they give it, you assure more help in future.