what is an internal sales representative?

An internal sales representative is a professional salesperson who usually works in the office and sells products and services. It is typically a supporting role, helping and providing support and service. As an internal sales representative, you work with existing customers, but you also try to find new potential customers. You receive orders, handle inquiries and follow up on deliveries. As the internal sales representative, you also support and assist the salespeople out in the field by checking delivery times, terms, agreements or other questions they need help with.

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1

what does an internal sales representative do?

As a salesperson, you always need to know your market and identify a number of entry points that you believe could lead to business. Internal sales representatives also do this kind of research, but without having direct contact with potential customers in the first step. Companies need internal sales representatives to find new entry points, which in the long run should lead to sales and increased revenue.

If you work in remote sales, the computer, various platforms and systems are the tools that allow you to manage your tasks. In an inside sales team, you map out target groups, nurture and support existing customers, but also find new potential customers. Being skilled at gathering information, data and managing and interpreting it gives you a unique advantage if you aim to become a successful internal sales representative. As an internal sales representative, you need to understand your target group no matter which industry you are part of.

Would the role of inside sales suit your planning and coordination skills as well as your social ability to build contacts? Then read on to find out what skills and qualifications you need to succeed in a role as inside sales.

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average salary as an internal sales representative.

The salary range for a role as an internal sales representative is between 27,000kr and 36,000kr per month, but it can be difficult to give an average salary, since the pay is sometimes based on a commission model. In some cases, the entire salary is commission-based and all sales you make determine how much your monthly salary will be. In other cases, it is a combination of a base salary and a commission supplement based on sales during the given period. Many employers see a commission model in some form as a good incentive for the internal sales representative to be more ambitious at work and try to upsell as much as possible.

Female with blue headphones around her neck looking at a screen
Female with blue headphones around her neck looking at a screen
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different roles of internal sales representative.

There are different types of internal sales representatives and it is the product or services you sell that determine which type of internal sales representative you are. There are companies active in many different industries and sectors, but if you are to divide internal sales representatives into two main roles, it is the following:

  • Business to business (B2B): When you work as a B2B internal sales representative, you will be selling products or services to other companies or organisations. You need to do research to investigate the needs of potential customers. You get in touch via phone, email or other digital channels to try to sell the product or service. It is not uncommon that deals within business to business are considerably larger than if you sell to private customers. This means the sales process can be more extensive and it may require several contacts with the customer to close a deal.
  • Business to consumer (B2C): Internal sales representatives who work with B2C focus on private individuals and end consumers. Most often, you reach out to private individuals by phone or other digital channels to try to sell the products or services. The goal is to quickly gain the person's trust before the call ends and the deal falls through. You also contact customers who have reached out themselves and shown interest in the company's products or services, where your job is then to explain the range and try to secure an order.
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working as an internal sales representative.

The goal for an internal sales representative is to increase the company's revenue by contacting potential customers and trying to get them to place orders. You need to be persuasive and confident to keep the customers' attention but also earn their trust.

Below you can read more about tasks and colleagues as well as what the future prospects look like for the role of internal sales representative.

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education and qualifications.

To work as an internal sales representative, you don't need any special educational qualifications. It's also not necessary to have a certain educational background to build a career in sales. It's more about being good at selling, having a good dialogue with the customer, and building trust. However, there are courses in sales and economics that can be beneficial for those who have higher ambitions than just being an internal sales representative. And who also want the opportunity to take on a managerial role in the future.

Vocational colleges offer programmes in sales and commerce, but also in economics. There are academic programmes at university and college level in economics or business administration, which can also be relevant for those who want to become an internal sales representative or salesperson. There are also private education options or courses for those who want to learn more about sales.

In the end, it’s personality and experience that matter most when learning the sales techniques that make someone a successful internal sales representative. That’s why practical knowledge and experience are very important for an internal sales representative.

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knowledge and skills.

There are some important skills for inside salespeople.

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frequently asked questions about working as an internal sales representative.

Here are the most frequently asked questions about working as an internal sales representative.

8

monitor jobs for internal sales representative.

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