This article was originally published on Catersource.

In theory, sales are easy. You have an excellent product or service, you tell a prospect all about it, and they are persuaded by your passion and ask to sign on the dotted line. Simple, right?

Yet, in practice, the sales process is never as cut-and-dry as that. Instead, it is a fluid and flexible process that can change depending on the person on the other side of the table. Now, that doesn't mean you don't have control over the conversation — you absolutely should – it just means that you'll need to adapt your sales approach for each prospect to appeal to their values and needs.

While you do need to be adaptable, it helps to have a framework of the sales process to guide you along the way. Here are the six steps of making a sale so you can be more productive and confident in your next sales meeting…READ MORE.