When making your living in the sales industry, and working with people, it is important to not only get your point across verbally, but you want to allow for your body language to send a clear message as well.

Your body language consists of many key ingredients, but here are the five that are considered to be the most important, along with a description and a few tips to improve your skills.

1. Eye Contact

When you are speaking with a customer, or potential customer, look them in the eye, it will show that you are a confident person, and that you are confident in the product you are selling.

2. Hand Shake

When you shake someone’s hand, grasp it firmly, and give no less than three good pumps. This will once again give your customer the indication that you are a confident person, and that you are genuinely glad to meet them, or see them.

A limp hand shake, better known as the “dead fish” is a way of telling your customer that you are not interested, it is a major turn off!

3. Appearance

Appearance is key, and many studies have confirmed this. People prefer to deal with sales people who present themselves well in appearance. The mind set of the customer is, if this person doesn’t take care of himself, how can I expect them to take care of me?

Would you buy a food product, or utensil off of a person with grimy fingernails? It sounds kind of harsh, but it is the truth.

4. Smiling

Smiling, the easiest thing to do in the world! Smiling is contagious, and it puts your customer at ease, and puts a nice upbeat inflection in your voice.

5. Good Posture

Good posture also shows the customer that you have confidence in yourself and the products that you sell. It also speaks volumes about your personality. Anything less, such as slouching, makes you look like a slacker, and will give your customer the indication that you don’t believe in your product, and that you would prefer to be somewhere else, and doing something else.

These are the five main ingredients to having good body language, and it isn’t very hard to master these skills. In fact you can practice on your friends and family without them even knowing it.

Once you master these skills, they will begin to come effortlessly, and before you know it, they will be second nature to you, and your sales will ultimately increase. Good Luck!