Saleswithsingh

Sales manager

Good Citizen

Contributor

Personal Narrative

How important is appearance on sales calls?

We all know the importance of tonality when attending sales calls.

How much role does clothes and appearance matter for reps for killing it in sales?

or you are going to hit the quotas with t-shirts and shorts and the appearance doesn't matter much to you...

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35 comments

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antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

I basically never even have my camera on.. with that being said, I still look decent. If I look like a slob, I perform poorly as my self image can't take a joke.

Saleswithsingh

Good Citizen

Sales manager

This is insane bro! How are you closing so much deals without even opening your camera?

I'm curious, in what industry you are working in..

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

I sell into the hotel industry. But I have one of those faces for radio anyway.... that's why I don't turn my camera on. lmao. on a serious note, most of the GMs and Hoteliers don't turn their cameras on either. Every so often I will get someone to jump on Zoom with their camera on and I tell them they don't need it on and they get excited and shut it off. haha

Saleswithsingh

Good Citizen

Sales manager

This is true! I was selling to hotels and restaurants of New York and Florida in 2021.

Most of them don't even use professional emails.

Some of them were using WhatsApp for handling there reps and team.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

If the client has their camera on, then my camera will be on. Regardless my hair and makeup are done and I've got on a cute top. If it's team calls my hair and makeup are done, but I typically wear bright colored vneck shirts. Find em cheap on JCrew dot com.

Kirby

Politicker

Sales Representative

Was this a sponsored comment?

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

The only thing for me is you cant have bed head and look like you just woke up. Minimum throw a hat on

COVID for sure helped with dressing more casual. Really depends on the client too

Saleswithsingh

Good Citizen

Sales manager

I think industry plays a major role here.

Financial firms are super strict with dressing.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Totally, but still i have FinServ clients and it’s not a big deal if you have a t shirt on.

Saleswithsingh

Good Citizen

Sales manager

Have you experimented with it to see difference in conversions?

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

I mean I have since sometime I didn’t think we would be on video and they turned it on. No difference, but it wasn’t a presentation just a quick one off convo

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

I try to look decent and it usually works.

SaaSam

Politicker

Account Executive

I make most of mine with T-Shirts and a ballcap and I sell to high profile law firms. I don't think many prospects care about what you're wearing so long as you don't look like a slob. That being said, you can usually tell if they are the kind of people that would expect you to be dressed up on a zoom.

Saleswithsingh

Good Citizen

Sales manager

Now I have to think about the things I have learnt about sales...

Law firms are super strict and you are closing them within a tshirt and a cap. Incredible!

SaaSam

Politicker

Account Executive

At high 6 figure average deal sizes, I would add.

People overthink dress code too much. Even lawyers often don't wear a button-down and a tie unless they have to appear before a judge that day.

DevSomeBiz

Valued Contributor

Senior B2B Sales Guy.

Depends on the marketplace. I work with professional organizations, and you'll never see me without a button down, even on Zoom. I rarely see a client in person without a suit on. Other verticals are more forgiving. What do you sell?

Saleswithsingh

Good Citizen

Sales manager

I'm selling Marketing services planning to transition into SaaS.

What does your organization do?

DevSomeBiz

Valued Contributor

Senior B2B Sales Guy.

Outsourced NearShore Engineering.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

I'm on camera for basically every call but don't dress up - just look put together and not sloppy.

In person or at a conference I think it's key to dress well and look sharp.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

its not THE most important thing, but if you dont look professional, its kinda getting off on the wrong foot.

Also if your message isnt incredible, then you looking sloppy will become a bigger deal.

Just wear a button down and dont let your hair be insane and your all good. (assuming your a dude. if your a woman than i dont think I can comment haha)

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

I think it depends on the industry and who you sell to. I don't recall wearing formals even 1 single day.

Saleswithsingh

Good Citizen

Sales manager

what's your industry?

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

During the week and on camera meetings, I'm always presentable, but not formal. If my customers have their cameras on, I'll put mine on as well, and I will always meet customers on camera for our first demo/presentation, even if I shut if off later, so that I'm "real".

In person, I'm generally a notch above business casual, unless the customer is more formal; then I'll meet them at their dress level.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Don’t wear a T-shirt if you are client facing.

salezkween

Opinionated

Enterprise Account Executive

I really hope all of you are showering before sales calls.

I make sure I *look* like I have a morning routine and have been up for hours living my put together life. Clothing wise, if I wear a tshirt I put a button down or cardigan over it. Otherwise, casual profesh tops.

I wear tie dye grateful dead shirts to all my internal meetings tho- they get what they get.

Fenderbaum

Politicker

Retired Choirboy🪕

I would always be prepared.

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

polos are an easy way to look nicer than you feel like dressing and I'm already bald so I don't do shit lol. I do like to play with my background to make people laugh or start small talk though.

SticksAreUnbelievable

Valued Contributor

ADR (Account Development Rep) Sales Representative

Hi guys, I am new here (reading quietly) but man do I have an opinion on this! I was in medical marketing for 15ish years and always dressed business casual. I found longer hair and a full face of makeup got me into more meaningful conversations with male and female doctors and lawyers. When I didn’t dress the part or had a short hair cut, it didn’t get the same traction. That line of work and in Pharma, the look is everything.

Now I sell in-home retail. I wear a t shirt and jeans everyday. I always shower and smell good but rarely wear more than some mascara and chapstick. Sometimes, I will throw on a polo but always wear jeans.

People are at ease because I am a 49 year old woman and in no way fancy or look pretentious.

It isn’t up to the company’s dress code but I was number one in retail sales for the whole company my first year there so nobody says anything to me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

HappyGilmore

Politicker

Account Executive

Depends on the client & your own personal preference but I think as long as you don't look like a slob, you'll hit the quotas with t-shirts.

Saleswithsingh

Good Citizen

Sales manager

Did you notice any change in closing percentage with or without a professional suit?

playerone

Politicker

Regional Account Executive

I sell to marketers who rarely even turn on video so since they aren’t looking at themselves (which people on video calls normally do) I make it a point to look good.

FoodForSales

Politicker

Appearance always matters!

SoccerandSales

Big Shot

Account Executive

I think industry plays a huge role, for example, I sell to a lot of doctors so if they are on camera in a button down and white coat, I would look a slob with anything under a button down on. That being said, I always think it safe to dress a step above what you think they will go with on the first call as I prefer to be over-dressed for sales calls than under.

GDO

Politicker

BDM

I try to look decent. Because I need them to trust me. However, that’s just first impression. One of my colleagues is really knowledgable and he just wears whatever

fresh

Catalyst

Sales

Matters to me especially for first impressions. Perception is everything (sometimes), heh.

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Saleswithsingh

How important is appearance on sales calls?

35 comments

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