What makes inbound sales different?

[KyleJepson]

Inbound sales transforms sales to match the way people buy. It's all about meeting prospects where they are and helping them move toward a purchasing decision. Is this different from the way you're used to approaching sales, or have you been doing sales in this way but calling it something else? Leave your thoughts in the comments about how inbound sales is similar to or different from the way you've been doing sales.

*To learn more about this, check out the Inbound Sales Fundamentals lesson via HubSpot Academy. 

[alexxliao]

Inbound sales represents a shift from traditional sales methods, emphasizing a more personalized, consultative approach. Instead of pushing products, it focuses on understanding and guiding prospects based on their unique journey. This is different from the more aggressive, transactional sales techniques I've encountered in the past, where the primary goal was closing deals quickly rather than building long-term relationships.

However, I’ve found that elements of inbound sales, such as understanding the customer's needs and offering tailored solutions, align with the best practices I’ve followed in successful sales interactions. What sets inbound apart is the structured approach to understanding the buyer's journey and the use of digital tools, like social media and CRM data, to provide a more helpful and customized experience.

It’s not entirely new, but inbound formalizes and enhances strategies I’ve seen work well in fostering trust and creating value for prospects. In many ways, it’s a refined version of relationship-focused selling with a strong emphasis on helping and educating.

[KKAUR502]

Thank you for the information. It is really usefull for people who are in sales. 

[HCazatt]

Instead of selling items, inbound sales places more of an emphasis on the buyer's journey than typical sales techniques. At every level of the decision-making process, it places a high priority on comprehending prospects' needs and giving pertinent information. Inbound sales places a stronger emphasis on developing relationships and providing value through informative material, whereas traditional sales frequently entail cold calling and pushy approaches. This strategy is more in line with contemporary customer behavior, which favors independent research and decision-making. In general, inbound sales encourages a customer-focused approach that can result in closer ties and more confidence.

[Fheng]

Inbound sales focus on attracting and engaging buyers by addressing their needs and providing value, whereas traditional sales prioritize pushing products through direct outreach and sales pitches.

[VictorC1]

nbound sales differ from traditional sales methods primarily in their approach and strategy. Here are the key differences:

1. Customer-Centric Approach: Inbound sales focus on understanding the customer's needs and pain points. Salespeople act as advisors, guiding prospects through their buying journey rather than pushing a product.

2. Lead Generation: Inbound sales leverage content marketing, social media, and SEO to attract potential customers. This contrasts with outbound sales, which often rely on cold calling and direct outreach.

3. Engagement Before Selling: Inbound sales emphasize building relationships and trust before making a sales pitch. Sales reps engage with prospects through informative content, answering questions and providing value.

[CGrace7]

Inbound sales are different due to its personalized approach, entirely considering and examining the buyers context. Inbound sales is seeking to fully understand the situation of a prospective buyer, often in order to provide them with a solution to a problem they did not even know they had. Representatives that utilize inbound sales generally show integrity to buyers, which can also influence the choosing of that particular product.

[JKamonde]

Inbound sales focuses on the human approach in an automated clickbait world. It focuses on actually helping the customers choose the right product or service best suited for them without bias or malicious intent on the sellers side. It pays attention to all aspects of a customer with a human-centric approach. 

[MSilver9]

Inbound sales centers on understanding the buyer's needs, guiding them with personalized solutions, and building trust, rather than pushing products through generic outreach and impersonal sales tactics.

[EDWARD2]

Inbound sale strategy focuses on customer/seller relationhip experience, Which creates an intimate relationship between the two parties, hence leading to longer time Business and Referals.

This strategy has outweighed the old selling system and obsulate sales persons.

[SMajola]

Inbound sales focus on attracting and engaging buyers by addressing their needs and providing value, whereas traditional sales prioritize pushing products through direct outreach and sales pitches.

[EDWARD2]

That's true, Inbound sale strategy focuses on customer/seller relationhip experience.

[JLipstein]

In order to "meet prospects where they are" you gotta do the research.. The better you do the research at the beginning, the easier it will be to help your prospect be convinced that you have the solution to his problem.

[DCanby]

Inbound sales model is reaching the customer before they begin looking for a solutions rather than waiting to be the solution 

[David24]

In inbound sales model you get to fully know the client,then interact humanly with care rather than pishing a product to just anyone you see with small or no knowledge of who they are or what they need

[abaig01]

Inbound sales is a customer centric approach aiming to create personalized buying experience. The customer is usually aware of the problem but confused with choosing the right solution.

[TheaCorm]

Inbound sales shifts from pushing products to aligning with the buyer's journey, focusing on their needs and guiding them toward a decision in a helpful way. 

[CBarajas8]

The inbound sale model help you understand the customers needs by utilizing the stages of awareness, consideration and decision. Like it was said the world has changed and we have to take a new approach to sales. 

[Ureshii69]

Inbound sales focus on attracting customers who are already interested in your product, using a personalized and consultative approach, rather than pushing a hard sell to random prospects.

[DAMEAZI]

I believe what from the name Inbound, it is really a sales process that is more than trying to sell, but building relationship.

[marcoorozco23]

Inbound sales differs from traditional sales because it is more customer focused and truly understanding their needs to be able to come up with the best possible solution. It is more specific and intentional than traditional selling, and since it is more customer oriented, it often results in better customer-seller relationships.