You’ve always loved working in sales, and now, you’re interested in becoming a .
You know the market is competitive and that the customers can be tough — but that level of a challenge is what attracts you to the industry.
But even if you have a past history of sales, remember that selling cars (whether new or used) is a completely different beast. You need to take the time now to study up on the most important car salesman tips if you want to make it in this industry.
Don’t worry — we’re here to help you.
Keep on reading this post to get invaluable advice about how to be a good car salesman.
1. Know Your Cars Inside and Out
You can’t learn how to be a successful car salesman if you don’t take the time to get to know every detail possible about your inventory.
Customers can — and should! — ask you incredibly specific questions about the cars in your lot. Make sure you know the answers, or risk looking unprofessional and inexperienced.
If you’re selling used cars, know the mileage, past accidents, and any other information you need to know about your inventory. If you’re selling new cars, you need to be able to explain how the most recent model is different from those sold in the past.
2. Get to Know the Client’s Pain Points
Taking the time to learn as much as you can about your customer’s pain points and lifestyle will go a long way.
First of all, it will help you to make the right recommendations when it comes to the kinds of cars that will be a good fit for them. If they have kids, they’ll need a different car than a newly-divorced woman who is ready to get back out on the town.
Ask why they’ve decided to shop for a new car now, and what they did and didn’t like about their old vehicles.
Make sure you get an understanding of their financial situation, as well. One of the most important car salesman tips is to avoid making a client fall in love with a car that’s way out of their price range.
3. How You Dress Matters
This is the easiest tip on our list, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less important than others.
Remember that how you dress makes a direct impression on your customers. You want to show your success, but not look like an oily car salesman that routinely profits off of the ignorance of others.
Focus on showy accessories, like watches and shoes, and keep the rest of your outfits classic.
Make sure your desk always looks well-organized, too.
4. Ask for Referrals and Reviews
About 90% of consumers read online reviews about a business before they decide to make a purchase or pay it a visit in the first place.
You need to make sure that your potential customers have something to read.
First of all, always claim your business listings on places like Google My Business, and completely fill out your profiles. You should even consider to upload photos of the cars you have available.
Additionally, consider what your website can do for you.
In addition to being a place to showcase reviews, you can also start a car blog to help buyers learn about your inventory and establish your authority in the industry.
Speaking of reviews: make sure you send a follow-up email after each appointment asking for one. You also shouldn’t be shy about asking for referrals. Check back in with your customers to make sure they’re still happy with their cars a few months after the purchase.
5. Remember the Customer Has the Power
Perhaps the most important piece of advice when learning how to be a good car salesman is to avoid being pushy.
Car salesmen have such a bad reputation when it comes to high-pressure sales tactics that there are whole hosts of articles out there dedicated to helping clients get around them.
This means that clients definitely know when you’re being pushy, and they can outsmart you just as much as you think you can outsmart them. But pushy salesmen aren’t just annoying — for many people, they’re a good enough reason to walk away.
Listen more than you speak, be patient, and remember that the customer is truly the one with all the power.
6. Don’t Trash Talk Other Dealerships
Finally, one of the most important car salesman tips is also one of the most difficult to follow.
No matter how much you want to, resist the temptation to trash talk other dealerships. Doing so makes you look desperate, unprofessional, and certainly won’t win you any future partnerships with other dealerships in the area.
Even if a customer starts talking about a bad experience they had, listen, say something like, “I’m so sorry that happened to you,” and move on.
Follow These Car Salesman Tips for Success
We hope that this list of car salesman tips has you inspired to start selling.
Interested in learning more about how to for your car dealership or auto parts company? Need access to more sales tactics? Want to make sure you understand the ins and outs of car insurance?
No matter what you need to succeed, we want to make sure you get it.
Keep checking back with our blog to make sure your company has the forms it needs to stay up to code, and that you have the advice you need to make this your most profitable year ever.
