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Last Updated on December, 2024
In the olden times of before-the-internet-BC, sales were a tough nut to crack. Either you were good at it, or you were terrible at it.
Thankfully, today, anyone can be a phenomenal salesperson due to the multitude of online resources available to help hone your craft. You can use online sales courses to brush up on your skills or learn them from scratch.
However, choosing from the hundreds of courses out there can be a very overwhelming task. You don’t want to spend money on a course that doesn’t work for you!
I’ve compiled a list of the 11 best online sales courses across various platforms. Read on so you can find the perfect course for you!
Jeff Bloomfield is the founder of Braintrust and a former Genentech senior leader. In this course, he takes you on a journey to explore what it takes to be a good salesperson.
Jeff Bloomfield believes a sincere desire to help others solve their problems makes a great salesperson.
Content Covered:
Strategies that will help put yourself in your customers’ shoes.
How to think like a sales professional.
How to position your product or service as an effective solution.
A step-by-step guide to developing your sales process or identifying weaknesses in your current process.
Pros
Covers all the basics of sales.
Has an exam you can take at the end of the course to test your knowledge.
Gives you the chance to gain 2.2 National Association of State Boards of Accountancy certified CPE points.
Cons
It could be too simplistic for someone partially well-versed in sales.
More real-life examples could enrich the course further.
In this course, Jeff Bloomfield borrows from neuroscience to scientifically explain how trust works and how this intersects with sales.
He covers everything from what parts of the brain are activated during the buying process, to how to figure out your level of trustworthiness as a salesperson.
Using science as the basis of your sales tactics is a surefire way to improve your sales performance AND uplift your company’s credibility. What’s not to love?
Content Covered:
The science behind trust (for example, the difference between transactional and relational selling, the trust matrix and the trust continuum, and more!).
What parts of a customer’s brain are activated during the buying process?
What consultative qualifying is and how to integrate it into your sales strategy.
How to apply Jeff Bloomfield’s Ultimate Customer Engagement Model- and get customers to close the deal themselves!
Pros
Jeff Bloomfield is a formidable figure in the sales world, so you will be learning from one of the best.
The course borrows from other disciplines to give you a greater understanding and a more holistic view of sales.
The course will earn you 2.2 CPE credits and a LinkedIn Learning certificate.
Cons
While this is an excellent course for anyone already in sales looking to improve their skills, it will provide little help to complete beginners in the field.
First impressions are made within the initial seven seconds of meeting someone new. If you’re in the cold calling business, the first seven seconds may be ALL you have to hook a potential client- and with only your voice, no less!
You HAVE to present the best version of yourself to seal the deal.
It’s good that in this course, Sales Professional Miles Croft teaches you exactly how to do so in this short but practical course.
Content Covered:
Why the first seven seconds are make-or-break in a cold call?
What tone to take?
How to form an instant connection with your prospective client.
What mindset to adopt when cold calling?
How to stay open and transparent.
Pros
Miles Croft is a successful sales coach, so you will learn from the best.
End-of-chapter questions will help you retain information and keep you engaged.
This niche course will have you cold-calling like an expert in no time!
Cons
Cold calling may only be a skill that is needed for some sales jobs.
Cost: Available as part of a subscription plan starting at $10/month (billed annually)
Experienced hostage negotiator Chris Voss translates tactics used in persuading kidnappers, terrorists, and bank robbers into strategies YOU can use to come out on top in everyday negotiations.
Chris Voss lectures at several prestigious business schools, such as Harvard, and founded Black Swan. He also authored the book “Never Split the Difference: negotiating as if your life depends on it.”
Content Covered:
Apply the techniques Voss has used in life-or-death situations.
Use tactics to build trust and a good relationship with your prospective client.
Learn how to achieve your sales goals through collaboration.
Learn to read speech patterns and body language.
The art of framing questions that can influence the other party’s thinking.
Adapting to different situations.
Pros
The course includes footage of actual FBI negotiations.
The chance to learn from one of the world’s leading hostage and business negotiators.
Involves techniques that are easy to apply.
The course is well-produced and of excellent quality.
Cons
The course does not look at negotiation in a sales context.
Cost: Available as part of a subscription plan starting at $10/month (billed annually)
Daniel Pink is a master of persuasion, having studied it for over 20 years. He is the author of several NYT bestselling books about sales and persuasion, such as “WHEN” and “DRIVE.”
This course teaches you to incorporate science-backed principles to make your sales process ethical and efficient.
Content Covered:
The critical elements of a successful pitch and 6 different pitching techniques.
How to persuade someone using science-backed techniques.
9 frames to use when making sales.
Questions that will influence the other party’s thinking.
How to create meaningful connections.
How to read a room and understand social dynamics.
How to better your commercial decision-making skills.
Pros
Covers techniques that are proven to be effective.
A good range of strategies are covered.
The lessons are well-structured and actionable.
Cons
The course could benefit from more real-world examples.
6. The Art of Sales: Mastering the Selling Process Specialization (Northwestern via Coursera)
Instructor: Craig Wortmann
Length: 3 hours in total
Cost: Available as part of a subscription plan costing $39.99/month
Northwestern University offers this sales course through the Coursera platform. It covers everything you need to know as a salesperson and is meant to be learned over four months.
The instructor, Craig Wortmann, is the CEO of Sales Engine Inc. and a Clinical Professor at the Kellogg School of Management.
There are many assessments that you have to complete during the duration of this course. Once you have completed the course, you will receive a certificate accredited by Northwestern University and many valuable insights into sales.
Content Covered:
The knowledge to improve your performance in sales.
How to have effective meetings.
How to conduct sales conversations.
How to pitch and deliver presentations successfully.
How to be a good storyteller.
Pros
This course gives you a solid foundation in sales.
Certification accredited to Northwestern University.
The chance to learn from an expert in the field.
It involves completing a project that will solidify what you’ve learned.
Cons
Expensive compared to the other courses on this list.
Derek Shebby has many years of experience under his belt as a sales director of a Fortune 500 company. In this course, he teaches you how to cold call like a pro and make B2B calls with confidence and charm.
Eventbrite, Volkswagen, and Nasdaq offer this course to their employees. What better testimony for the success of this course could there possibly be?
Content Covered:
How to prepare for a successful prospecting session.
Sales strategies that will make gatekeepers into your biggest allies.
Identifying the four most common objections and working around them.
How to compose a voicemail that will guarantee a callback.
Pros
The course is concise yet full of practical advice.
Derek Shebby is an experienced and knowledgeable instructor.
Cons
This course is part of an 11-part series, which means that in some instances, Derek Shebby may refer you to another part of the series instead of diving into the concept in this one.
This course aims to enrich your sales potential, whether you’re selling yourself in a job interview or making cold calls to potential clients.
Chris Croft’s ‘Sales Hacking’ toolkit is all you need to learn to make sales successfully and build up budding professional relationships.
Content Covered:
How to build up a sales relationship.
How to ‘diagnose a sale.’
The 7 principles of sales efficiency and the measurement of sales.
How to effectively close a sale.
Pros
Chris Croft is an excellent instructor, having trained over 87,000 people and having a 94% rate of repeat business.
The course covers a large amount of information, considering its short period.
End-of-section questions will help you retain information.
Cons
The course looks at the more old-fashioned approach to cold calling, although most of Chris Croft’s advice can also be applied to today’s digital world.
Here are a few things you should consider when picking out an online sales course:
Your level of experience: Some courses are aimed at complete beginners while others are aimed at more experienced salespeople. You need to ensure your level of experience matches the course’s target audience.
How much time you can commit: Some courses are designed to take just a few hours to complete, while others can take several months. Ensure to pick a course with a timeframe you can commit to.
What skill you want to learn: Sales courses can focus on a variety of different specific skills, from pitching to cold calling to many more! Ensure you pick a course that focuses on what you want to learn.
Course accreditation: If you are looking to boost your resume, choosing a course that is accredited is advisable.
What Are the Pros of Taking an Online Sales Course?
Here are some advantages you can gain from taking an online sales course:
You can improve your employability.
You can stay ahead in the incredibly competitive sales industry by continuing to learn.
Learning sales can give you a headstart in becoming an entrepreneur.
Sales is a skill that is beneficial to have in many different industries.
Prices can range from free to approximately $90 per course, with subscription-based platforms costing $14-24 per month, billed annually.
Online sales courses can range from a few hours to several months. As sales is a skill, it is important to consistently practice what is learned over an extended period of time.
Bottomline
There are many online sales courses, but this list is a selection of all my favorites so you know where to start.
Whether you’re looking to improve your cold calling skills or public relations or gain more knowledge about sales, this list will 100% have a course that will fit your needs.
So what are you waiting for? Seal those deals now!
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Author
Carlos Eduardo
Hey there, I’m Carlos Eduardo, the Founder and Author of Scorebeyond. Delving deep into 20+ years of education transformation through innovative e-learning, I’ve poured my expertise into this platform. My enduring legacy continues to drive the path towards a future empowered by knowledge!
