Types of Sales Position

Types of Sales Positions | Indeed.com

The article highlights the significance of sales roles within companies, emphasizing the importance of reliable and effective salespeople for selling products or services. It mentions that careers in sales offer opportunities for building relationships, experiencing rapid career advancement, and receiving recognition. Sales positions are described as ideal for individuals who are self-motivated and enjoy collaborating with others. The article also outlines common types of sales positions.

The article explains that sales positions involve selling products and services to clients. Sales professionals need to know about their company’s offerings and be able to communicate effectively with potential clients. They must understand client needs and explain how their products or services can meet those needs.

Careers in sales also require strategic thinking, strong interpersonal skills, and good time management. Salespeople spend a lot of time interacting with people, so they need to be friendly, good listeners, patient, and professional.

Sales professionals often have flexibility in creating their schedules as long as they meet their sales goals. Therefore, being self-motivated and organized is important for success in sales.

The different types of sales positions include:

• Sales associates or representatives. Salespeople are responsible for finding and selling to new clients.
• Management positions. Sales managers oversee teams of salespeople.
• Director or executive positions. Sales executives focus on organizational and operational issues.

The most common types of sales positions

Here is a list of the most common types of positions in sales.

Sales administrator

Sales administrators manage:

• Maintaining client databases
• Managing sales representatives’ schedules
• Sending invoices
• Collecting payments
• Answering and routing phone calls and emails
• Organizing department meetings

Sales support

Sales support staff members work to support the sales team with analyzing data, creating client profiles, scheduling appointments, completing paperwork and helping close deals. 

Client services

The client services team develops relationships with clients to foster loyalty and resolve any issues clients may have.

Lead generation and research

Lead generation and research staff members research and identify potential leads for sales representatives. Lead generators may also create leads through the following sources:

• Cold calls
• Email marketing
• Coupons
• Blogs
• Social media

Sales associate

Sales associates are generally found in retail stores and may be responsible for merchandising, assisting customers, processing sales and performing store opening and closing duties.

Sales representative

Sales representatives are responsible for bringing new business into a company. Sales representatives report to sales managers and are found in many different industries, including:

• Advertising
• Automotive
• Marketing
• Retail
• Healthcare
• Insurance
• Equipment
• Advertising

Sales representatives may focus on inside or outside sales:

• Inside sales representatives. Inside sales representatives sell products and services from within the office, usually via phone or online.
• Outside sales representatives. Outside sales representatives sell products and services outside the office, traveling to potential clients’ offices or businesses to conduct face to face meetings.

Account representative

Account representatives manage existing client accounts to ensure clients’ are satisfied and their needs are met. They answer client questions and check in with clients on a regular basis. Account representatives may also participate in up-selling and cross-selling.

Direct salesperson

Direct salespeople market and sell products directly to consumers, often as independent consultants rather than employees. They may host parties to sell products or promote products on social media.

Brand ambassadors

Brand ambassadors promote products or services to friends, family and their social media followers. They are seen as representations of a brand and work to increase brand awareness and sales. Brand ambassadors are typically paid a commission based on the number of sales generated by a unique link or promotional code buyers enter at the time of purchase.

Sales managers

Sales managers oversee a team of salespeople and typically perform the following duties:

• Designate territories to salespeople
• Train new sales team members
• Assign quotes to salespeople
• Report to upper management or executives

Account manager

Account managers are the point of contact for current clients. They work with current clients to retain their business and may sell additional products or services that can benefit the client. Account managers develop relationships with clients and provide support and guidance.

Business development manager

Business Development managers work to bring in new business by:

• Identifying potential clients
• Giving presentations
• Setting appointments for sales representatives
• Cultivating relationships with key businesses

Retail store manager

Retail store managers oversee the daily operations of retail stores. 

Account executives

Account executives work to secure new business and meet the needs of and maintain relationships with current clients, either businesses or individuals within a company. Account executives can be designated to specific types of accounts, such as:

• Corporate sales account executive. These executives manage the accounts of corporations and work with key contacts within the corporation.
• Regional sales executive. Regional sales executives are responsible for working with the accounts in a designated region.
• Sales account executive-small and medium business. These executives work with small- and medium-sized companies.
• Enterprise account executives. Enterprise account executives are responsible for managing larger accounts.

Sales directors

Sales directors are the highest-ranking sales leaders. They lead entire sales divisions, monitoring performance, ensuring client satisfaction, overseeing quality assurance, researching new products and analyzing sales data. Sales director positions may include:

• Director of inside sales
• Director of outside sales
• Director of national sales
• Executive vice president of sales