Sell to Your Target Market

Selling to Steel Products Businesses

To be sure, steel products businesses are major players in a growth industry -- and that presents an opportunity to sellers who are eager to get in on the action. We'll tell you how to conquer selling obstacles in the steel products business market and dominate the rest of the field.

As it turns out, steel products businesses play by the same rules as any other type of business; they respond to businesses that offer solid, affordable products.

Your approach will vary according to your circumstances and your company's unique sales objectives. But overall, there are several things you will need to consider when devising a system for selling to steel products businesses.

Avoid Ambiguous or Confusing Sales Messages

Messaging is an important part of a successful sales strategy. Confused messaging dilutes the sales cycle and frustrates prospective customers' efforts to discern the value of your products.

For maximum impact, the identification of key messaging should be incorporated into a comprehensive planning process that combines sales and marketing into a coherent strategy.

The next step is to narrow the field to the contacts who are most likely to respond to your messaging. Although there are multiple ways to generate leads, lead lists can be a useful resource for generating a list of prospects that are receptive to your messaging. Vendors like Experian specialize in providing targeted lists of steel products businesses that can be customized to your precise specifications.

Sales Management Tips

Sales managers can be a factor in the success of your sales strategy.

In this industry, sales reps tend to be highly motivated performers who are accustomed to working under tight deadlines. Even so, sales managers need to be careful to strike a balance between encouraging individual performance and maintaining a team atmosphere.

Don't neglect the fact that steel products business owners value teamwork and may react negatively to sales reps who seem overly disconnected from their sales unit.

Casting a Broad Net

The first step in selling to steel products businesses is to cast a broad net. Strategies that are isolated to the local market are not likely to succeed in an environment that leverages the benefits of long-distance sales techniques.

Although a geographic concentration may be a useful strategy for new sellers, you will eventually need to broaden your focus to include prospects outside of your initial range. You can also broaden your prospect base by introducing new products and partnerships into the mix.

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