The Three Best Ways for Salespeople to Master Marketing
Sales and marketing go together like peanut butter and jelly. Despite this obvious truism, many sales professionals lack a clear understanding of the synergies that exist between the two disciplines. In general, salespeople believe that the marketing department of their organization exists to generate leads, and nothing more. The truth is that marketing plays a far more vital role in sales than most realize.
To achieve maximum success in a sales position, it’s crucial for the salesperson to gain an intimate understanding of the ways that marketing connects with their goals. Often, that requires a commitment to professional development. Plus, a focus on the marketing discipline. For salespeople in that very position, here are three great ways to enhance your marketing knowledge.
Learn Through MOOCs
One of the best and fastest ways that a sales professional can pick up some useful marketing know-how is to enroll in a massive open online course (MOOC). These kinds of classes are available through several e-learning platforms like Coursera and EdX. They can be an invaluable resource for salespeople looking to add specific marketing skills to their arsenal. MOOCs also have the benefit of self-pacing. This is great for a busy sales professional trying to learn new skills on their own time. Most, if not all of these courses are available for free. The only investment a salesperson must make is their time.
Go to a Boot Camp
As the name implies, a marketing boot camp is a short, focused training course designed to impart essential skills quickly. They are an especially good option for salespeople that work in and around major metropolitan centers since they tend to be most available there. A typical marketing boot camp will run anywhere from one to twelve weeks. It all depends on the complexity of the coursework involved. They are typically available in full-time or part-time schedules. Therefore, they’re best for salespeople with managers who see the value of the skills. Additionally, they’re beneficial for those willing to work around any scheduling conflicts.
Pursue a Degree
For salespeople that are looking to enhance their long-term career prospects, earning a marketing degree is an excellent decision. Doing so is more comfortable and more convenient today than ever before. There are many accredited marketing bachelor’s degree programs available online. For those that are looking to go even further, it’s also possible to earn a Master of Marketing degree. And, it can be done without ever stepping foot in a classroom. Although going this route will require a significant investment of both time and money, it is the option most likely to deliver returns. It also provides credentials that open up career paths that would have otherwise been unavailable previously.
Never Stop Learning
As a sales professional, it is important to realize that there is no such thing as having enough knowledge. It is important to continue to learn as much as possible about every part of the customer journey, as it is the key to long-term success. Marketing is a huge part of that journey, and gaining insight into that part of a customer’s experience will help to determine the most effective ways to drive new sales growth. In the end, sales and marketing professionals are part of the same team, and there’s no limit to how valuable a robust interdisciplinary understanding can be to the modern sales professional.
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