101 Best Sales and Marketing Ideas
IDEA 60:
ENHANCE YOUR PROFILE AS A PROFESSIONAL
All sales people want to be seen as professional. That’s sensible enough, but “professional” is an umbrella term, and we must ask what characteristics are perceived as making someone seem professional, and making people believe that they are.
In part, achieving this is a question of enhancing or making visible the various characteristics that will work for you. But maybe it is worth considering something else, something that publicly labels as professional.
Idea
From the Chartered Institute of Marketing….
It’s worth taking what you do seriously, both to enhance your profile, and part of your ongoing development. If selling is what you do, consider whether you should join the professional body in this field. The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has been around for a long time. It actually started life in the area of selling (before the term marketing had entered the dictionary, in fact) as the Sales Manager Association. It is worldwide organization, and has more than 50,000 members
Membership is by election, and linked to qualifications. Members can put letters after their name –for example, on their business card –and membership provides a plethora of other benefits. These range from a magazine to meetings arranged via branches, which provide a regularly opportunity for learning and networking. One possible way of becoming a member is via the Institute of Professional Sales, originally a separate body, but now an integrated part and the sales of the CIM, which focuses exclusively on sales people and the sales process.
In practice
- A professional membership can augment your image, and offers an ongoing opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills.
- Check other professional bodies that are relevant to you too. Many sectors have a variety of professional bodies that can fulfil this propose.