Home Boost Business Lancashire logo

What makes a good sales person?

sales___web 2

It takes a systematic and determined effort to succeed in sales.

There can be little difference between the best and everyone else – but still they win. Small differences in ability, attitude, systems and strategies lead to huge differences in results.

Here Rona McFall shares nine critical success factors on what makes a good sales person.

Attitude

You must decide that you actually want to be a successful sales person and act upon it. Read, train and attend conferences and events so you are confident you can sell.

Prospecting

Researching, profiling and finding the right prospects for your business; those that yield the best long-term opportunities.

Getting appointments

Cold calling is absolutely essential to your business.

Preparation

Researching the individual prospect and their company before you meet them.

Opening the meeting

What you say in the first few seconds is vital to the success of the meeting.

Probing

Finding out exactly what the prospect wants and needs.

Matching

Presenting a great pitch that exactly meets the needs that and wants that you’ve identified.

Closing

Winning the licence to ask for the business by being skilled at overcoming objections and negotiating.

Keeping

Retaining long-term sales from key profitable accounts.

I believe these are essential to be successful in sales and you MUST excel in all of them.

Rona McFall is Head of Entrepreneurial Solutions at Winning Pitch

Regenerate Pennine Lancashire and Winning Pitch deliver boot camps for new businesses as part of Boost’s Lancashire LEAP programme. For more information on Lancashire LEAP click here.

You may also like...

Lancashire innovation growth programme boosted by new senior appointments Lancs Growth Board appointments
4th February 2026
Lancashire innovation growth programme boosted by new senior appointments
The Lancashire Innovation Board (LIB), a cohort of business leaders, academics and policy makers which oversees the work Lancashire County Council’s Innovate Lancashire programme, and the implementation of the Lancashire Innovation Plan (LIP), has strengthened its ranks with the appointment of two new board members.
Scaleup deep dive: what does a Lancashire scaleup look like? Beahurst scaleup web
29th January 2026
Scaleup deep dive: what does a Lancashire scaleup look like?
Two Zero used data from Beauhurst to find key insights about Lancashire-headquartered scaleups such as turnover, staff, prominent sectors and the demographics of these companies’ leadership teams.

Sign up to our newsletter

For insights and events to help your business thrive.

In completing this form, you understand that Lancashire County Council (Boost) has a requirement to process your personal data. Lancashire County Council will only ever process your personal data where it has a clear lawful basis for doing so in full compliance with data protection legislation - UK GDPR and The Data Protection Act (2018). We will ensure the security and confidentiality of your personal data at all times. For full details of how Lancashire County Council handles your personal data please see our privacy notice here . Some information relating to this public funded project may be declared to third parties under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
BGS_logo_network partner stacked Sml
Funded by local govmt
Lancashire County Council

The website uses cookies.

Some are used for statistical purposes and others are set up by third party services. By clicking 'Accept all & close', you accept the use of cookies. For more information on how we use and manage cookies, please read our Cookie Policy.