What are the best practices to train your Distributors?
Discovering Distributor Training Needs
Finding and understanding the unique needs of distributors can help you plan and conduct training more effectively. These distributor needs to coincide with customer requirements as they are the direct point of contact for customers. Additionally, distributors are spread over different geographical locations. Therefore, it is important to understand the unique needs to accommodate training needs for all.
Conduct Efficient Distributor Training Programs, Webinars and Events
Conducting regular training for your distributors helps them gain better knowledge of the product and its uses, which helps them decide a path for their selling activity. Therefore, efficient training programs can magnificently boost sales. Take advantage of annual sales meetings, webinars, teleconferences, etc., to connect with distributors frequently and keep the communication line active. The most robust and continuous training program can be ensured using Learning management systems for eLearning Programs.
Improving Distributor Selling Techniques
Distributors are one of the main channels of selling. Providing them training means giving them the skills and knowledge to better market your product and recommend it to customers. A person-to-person recommendation that carries more weightage and Distributor training improves the skills required for improving sales. Channelizing distributors is channelizing sales. Therefore, providing timely training is as important as marketing and advertising needs.
Align Company and Distributor Expectations
Suppose that you have several new products launching soon; you need to get your distributors trained in advance to get on to the product selling strategy as soon as the product is launched. This keeps the distributors on the same page as per the expectations of the company. Educate and engage distributors on product improvements and features, benefits, how it is different from other competitor products, and how they should sell them.
Digitization of Distributor Training
Distributors and dealers are the highest in the selling channel and spread over different geographical locations. It isn’t easy to arrange instructor-led training now and then since there is a lot of time, effort, and money involved in it. The method is tedious, and it also increases the cost of spending. Digitization allows having digital learning using a learning management system, video conferencing, virtual classrooms, etc. Distributors can have the comfort of accessing training courses and define a self-paced learning path for themselves.
Enhancing Social Learning Among Distributors
Using Learning Management Systems encourages social learning. Distributors can connect over various online forums, social groups, communities to discuss and understand products better. Community building helps to boost your brand, and customers better adorn it. In addition, it helps create an environment for distributors to share and learn from each other’s real-world experiences and wisdom about the subject matter and discover the best practices.
Engaging Distributors using Gamification
Gamification as a feature helps make training programs more engaging and interactive for learners. Quizzes and Leaderboards can be used for competitions to make learning enjoyable. Quizzes can be held every week and competitions once a month—rewards like badges, points, scores, and social media recognition can be shared on different channels.
Regulating the Training Process
Having timely and regular training programs is as important as the traditional marketing and advertising activities that any organization carries out. Therefore, involving all distributors regularly so that they are up to date with your product knowledge. This is only possible when you have a robust learning program like using an LMS for eLearning programs that can be updated and made relevant with the changing nature of products or upgradation each time without taking much time.
Constantly Collaborate and Keep-in-touch
Maintaining a strong channel of communication largely influences the performance of your distributors. When constant engagement, distributors tend to get their doubts solved, discuss their sales challenges and help you plan your training programs accordingly. The question-answer sessions can primarily help in understanding the actual scenario and support get solutions.
