The electronic age has brought many changes to the world of marketing and sales. More people are communicating in cyberspace to access more information about products, services and brands. New methods of selling and communicating with customers are invented virtually on a daily basis. And the extended use of social media is placing new demands on marketers, sales managers and sales practitioners around the world. Despite this upheaval, retailers and marketers believe that personal selling — the age-old art of person-to-person communication between a salesperson and a prospective customer, is here to stay — although it should be adapted to incorporate technological developments. 

In this fourth edition of Personal Selling, the authors outline the key steps in the selling process that lead to a successful sale, from prospecting for a sale to the follow-up once the sale has been completed. In addition, it explains the role and place of personal selling, the impact it has on the economy, and how it ties in with and supports marketing. The importance of communication in the act of selling, as well as different approaches and sales presentation methods, are explained and clarified, and a comprehensive discussion on how sales people should manage themselves and their time is included.