It depends on what you're trying to sell. Some products just need someone to take orders. Other products require a more technical sale, and others require more traditional sales skills and negotiating skill.
The most important thing for salespeople is incentives. If you give them an incentive to lie, they will. If you give them an incentive to walk away from a potential sale without making an effort, they will. If you give them an incentive to sincerely represent your company's product and practices, they will.
A large number of CEOs are recruited from sales. It's a motivational, high energy world, and good salespeople make more than almost any other position in a company.
Consider salespeople part of your product's UI. If you give the salespeople perverse incentives, they will make customers dislike your company. The opposite is also true.
I recommend that to find a salesperson you sign up for demos from companies who you think would employ the kind of salesperson you'd want, and if you find one you like, offer him/her a job.
The most important thing for salespeople is incentives. If you give them an incentive to lie, they will. If you give them an incentive to walk away from a potential sale without making an effort, they will. If you give them an incentive to sincerely represent your company's product and practices, they will.
A large number of CEOs are recruited from sales. It's a motivational, high energy world, and good salespeople make more than almost any other position in a company.
Consider salespeople part of your product's UI. If you give the salespeople perverse incentives, they will make customers dislike your company. The opposite is also true.
I recommend that to find a salesperson you sign up for demos from companies who you think would employ the kind of salesperson you'd want, and if you find one you like, offer him/her a job.