Sales Development Representative Training: What you need to know to prepare for this new role

blog
April 2024
7 Min

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Summary
When looking for training to become a Sales Development Representative, it is important to have the information that allows you to choose the right training. Find out what you need to remember to make the right choice and make rapid progress.

Sales Development Representatives (SDR) play a crucial role in sales teams by seeking new customers.

Well-trained SDRs speed up the sales process by generating leads, that is, by finding people who are likely to be interested in what is being sold. This is called prospecting.

These salespeople must then assess whether these leads are actually interested in the offer and if it is the right time for them to buy.

Why invest in SDR training?

The SDR profession generally marks the start of a successful commercial career. Although it is an entry-level position, becoming an SDR can be very lucrative.

Thanks to the combination of a base salary and bonuses, high-performing SDRs make a very good living. This position also offersexcellent opportunities for development.

But in order to meet sales quotas, deal with rejections, and manage a significant workload, it is crucial tolearn to apply the right methodss. Otherwise, you may be overwhelmed by stress or not feeling up to your missions.

Une Sales Development representative qui sourit et porte un casque
An SDR that has just finished a telephone prospecting call

Also, employers are looking for salespeople who can guarantee concrete results. A solid SDR background provides the skills needed to excel in this role.

In addition to these benefits, there are several reasons why people should train before applying for an SDR role.

Discover the different types of prospecting that exist

Individuals who are retraining to this profession may not have previous sales experience. However, several channels for acquiring potential customers exist, such as:

  • Emailing
  • Cold calls
  • Messages sent on social networks
  • Door-to-door (also called field prospecting)

A competent SDR should be able to design prospecting campaigns personalized, adapted to the interests and needs of each prospect.

The training should therefore teach you how to:

  • Create campaigns through the various channels above.
  • Adopt a personalized approach in order to increase your chances of turning prospects into customers.

Mastering new sales tools

Software proficiency is crucial for SDRs. They should be proficient in using tools such as:

  • Les software related to social networks, like LinkedIn Sales Navigator. These solutions help SDRs find quality leads. Especially since the ability of an SDR to quickly obtain accurate information about a prospect from reliable sources is crucial for its success.
  • Les CRM such as HubSpot and Salesforce, which facilitate the organization of the work of salespeople. The SDR role requires a high level of organization.
  • Les digital automation solutions such as Zapier. Automation saves time while ensuring effective customer research.
  • Apps for scheduling and reminding appointments.

Be supported in putting knowledge into practice

Nowadays, there is a lot of content online. You can learn a lot of things without attending a training course.

However It is the practice that really makes progress. Participating in a training course is a good way to get feedback on your performance.

We are more quickly confronted with the obstacles inherent in the sales profession. We can then count on the players to overcome them and make rapid progress.

What does good SDR training provide?

A good SDR training course teaches you how to create added value for the customer and to convince them that it is in their interests to listen and pay attention to you.

Une futur SDR qui sourit
Several people in the process of SDR training

To do this, SDRs need several elements such as:

Personalized sales techniques and processes

SDRs use a variety of sales techniques and processes depending on their mission.

Qualification of prospects

The training should teach you how to qualify prospects for Determine which ones to contact first.

During the first exchange, the main objective of an SDR is to assess whether the prospect is potentially interested in the proposed solution. The BANT model (Budget, Authority, Need, Deadline) is a common technique for qualifying prospects.

  1. You contact a person who has decision-making power.
  2. We assess the real need of the prospect for the offer.
  3. We ensure that the client has the necessary budget to commit.
  4. We determine the urgency of buying to know when to close the sale.

Outgoing calls

As an SDR, you'll be making lots of outgoing calls. Sometimes this will involve reaching out to prospects who have never heard of your business.

Other times, you'll reach out to people who are already familiar with your solutions or services to see if they want to know more.

In order to prepare for these phone calls, you need to learn to create effective call scripts. You will then have to know how to deal with objections. The CRAC method is one of the most well known and effective techniques in this respect. It is about:

  • Dig to better understand what the prospect is having trouble with.
  • Rephrase what you understood.
  • Argue to reassure the person.
  • Check that the person is actually reassured.

Emails and social networks

Prospects receive lots of emails on a daily basis, so yours should stand out. The training should teach you how to write powerful messages and how to use social networks to reach prospects.

A practice based on real opportunities

Good SDR training includes practical exercises. However, training on real opportunities is even more effective. Akimbo allows you to train with prospects from partner start-ups during Bootcamp to excel in business development.

Individual feedback

Personalized feedback will allow you to continuously improve in areas such as communication, writing persuasive messages, and making successful sales calls.

What types of profiles are the courses to become SDR aimed at?

SDR courses are suitable for those who want acquire methodology for success as well as good organizational skills and excellent time management.

You have to be ready to be fully involved, to enjoy challenges while enjoying social interactions.

This job is not reserved for extroverted people as one might think. Above all, big salespeople are excellent listeners. In addition, prospecting actions rely heavily on emails.

Thus, the most successful SDRs are often more introverted, distinguishing themselves by their Listen attentively and their ability to quickly address needs and objections customers.

Young graduates

For young people who have just obtained the Bac and who are looking to make a powerful entry into the professional world, training allows them to:

- develop practical knowledge

- develop strategies to generate high quality leads and sort them quickly while engaging them.

Young graduates can thus quickly acquire essential skills and stand out in the field of B2B sales.

Profiles in retraining

Regardless of your background, if you don't have sales knowledge, SDR training will allow you to succeed in this new field.

Your previous experience can even enrich your interactions with prospects and allow you to have a unique perspective on the sales process.

How do I choose the right course?

Regardless of the type of training you are looking for, you should always check fundamental elements to assess the relevance of an option.

Une Sales Development Representative en train de passer un appel de prospection en étant assise sur un canapé
An SDR that has a structured approach to prospecting because it has chosen the right training

Here are the steps to follow when looking for an organization to form:

Verify certifications

When exploring SDR training options, be sure to check certifications and accreditations. Courses recognized by official and qualified organizations (for example Qualiopi) are more likely to provide high quality content and added value to your professional career.

Read Google reviews and online testimonials

Google reviews and online testimonials are great resources for evaluating the quality of a course. Feedback from past participants can give you honest insight into the benefits and areas for improvement in each program.

Contact the people who have taken the training

Do not hesitate to contact former students of the course you are considering.

Their personal experiences can give you valuable perspective on what to expect, how the training has impacted their career, and whether it meets your expectations. You can also use customer cases from training organizations and LinkedIn to contact them.

Attend an open house

Some organizations offer open days, during which you can attend test sessions or interact with trainers. This can be a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the training experience and determine if it fits your learning style and goals. Akimbo offers them regularly.

What salary can you expect based on the training courses taken?

When considering the benefits of SDR training for your retraining, it is natural that the salary issue is one of your concerns.

Even though salaries vary depending on many factors, such as geographic location and company, a Well-chosen SDR training can significantly improve your salary prospects.

In addition, according to a survey by Harvard Business Review, sales professionals with structured training experienced a average increase of 30% in their revenue.

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