Many sales people use the title. Some have it on their business card. When you start thinking about what role you play in your business, do you think “Sales Consultant”?
I mean, every business sells a product or service and at least one if not all people in the business are part of that sales team in some fashion. So it seems fitting then doesn’t it. You sell a product or service for you company so you are a sales consultant….or not? The definition of a “consultant” is “a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area.”
Let me illustrate this topic in a different light before I go further. Most people reading this have treated themselves for some sort of cut or sickness. Some have treated another person in this same fashion (child, spouse, etc). Or maybe you have a dog at home that got sick and you nursed it back to health (because the vet charges a fortune!). The fact that you treated that person doesn’t make you a doctor and nursing your dog back to health doesn’t make you a vet. It takes years (and years and years) of schooling to receive the expertise and certification necessary for those titles. Thinking along those lines, are you still able to say you are a “sales consultant“?
A consultant is usually an expert or a professional in a specific field and has a wide knowledge of that subject matter. The overall impact of a consultant is that clients have access to deeper levels of expertise than would be feasible for them to retain in-house, and may purchase only as much service from the outside consultant as desired.
To wrap up the question (Sales Consultant……or Not?), I challenge those that call themselves sales consultants. You may sell a product or service. And you most likely are a consultant in your field (ie: tax consultant, flooring consultant, printing consultant, etc). Because you are probably not a “sales consultant“, you would benefit greatly from regular sales training and sales coaching. Look to the outside to help you sell the business you professional consult others on. It will definitely improve your sales revenue!