Personal selling allows the seller to convey more information than other promotions.
There are a number of advantages and disadvantages of personal selling. However, the advantages can outweigh the disadvantages in certain situations. This is particularly true when competition is intense and companies are selling highly technical products. Personal selling also works particularly well when there are multiple decision makers involved in the buying process. Whatever the case, competitors in your industry will likely be incurring the same advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, learn to use personal selling in the right situations.
Convey More Information
You can convey more information with personal selling than with other forms of promotion, like advertising. A personal sales call lasts longer than any ad. Therefore, you have time to discuss the intricacies of your product. Personal selling is particularly advantageous when working with products of higher value, according to the Reference for Business website. You will need to convince buyers more with more expensive items. Most companies use laptop presentations, demonstrations and highly detailed product information when selling items such as computers, medical equipment and industrial products. Pharmaceutical reps can also better discuss the biological effects and advantages of certain new drugs.
More Impact
Personal selling has a greater impact on buyers than advertising or direct mail. The customer does not have to wait to get his questions answered. He can learn what he needs to know right then and there. You as a seller also get a better feel for what the customer wants. You can suggest certain products if you have an extensive product line or tailor your services, such as consulting, to the client's particular needs. You also know what the customer's key objections are on each sell. For example, a customer may be satisfied with his current industrial adhesive tape supplier. They may sell their products for less. However, your company may sell adhesives that last longer and, therefore, cost less in the long run. Subsequently, you can address those key objections and make the sale.
Limited Reach
One disadvantage is that you cannot reach as many customers as quickly through personal sales. Therefore, it will take longer to build awareness of your brand and products, especially if you use personal selling exclusively. Sales reps have to cover one territory or market at a time. As a sales person, you may only speak to 25 prospects a day and make three to five presentations. Reach can be particularly limited in rural areas where fewer prospects are located. One way around the limited reach of personal selling is to use inside sales reps for the smaller markets. Inside sales reps can make a greater number of calls.
Expensive
Personal selling is also expensive, especially when considering the salesperson's salary, commission, bonus and travel time. Some sales reps even travel to other cities by plane. Companies incur a high cost per action with personal selling. As of 2011, a sales call can cost $300 in some industries, according to Knowthis.com, an online reference site. These costs are incurred regardless of whether the sales person makes the sale. Additionally, it costs a lot of money to train your sales reps, teaching them about various products and sales procedures. That is why it best to weigh the pros and cons of personal selling versus other promotional methods.
