I'm working on a webapp that is targeted at will be directly sold to a pretty specific niche, like a 37signals app. I don't have much experience in direct sales, and was wondering if any of you had any good resources (books/sites/etc) for a beginner trying to get into the sales game. Your advice, tips, etc, you may have as far as marketing and selling an online service are all welcomed, of course. Thanks.
EDIT: It's targeted at the religious market.
First, treat everything like a funnel. First time visitors to repeat visitors to trial accounts to paid accounts to referring accounts. Test around about a bit to determine where you are best able to impact the conversion from one part of the funnel to the next. Make sure your tests are not biased. Randomly assign yourself to a certain number of leads vs a control group. In some companies, the best way to spread the word and impact final sales is through contacting your already paying accounts and getting them to spread the word to their contacts. This works especially well if they have a ingrained interest in seeing you do this (ie, they get value by bringing people on). But usually your best performance is reached by calling, emailing, sending real life snail mail to people that have created free accounts. Also, always CARE about your users, especially your first ones. Care, care, care, care, care. Your first users are typically cutting edge folk that others look to for advice. Even if it looks like a negative ROI to service these users it's not, because they spread the word. You should be emailing these guys back within the hour.
Once you reach enough visitor volume, split test EVERYTHING. Pricing pages, home pages, sales tactics, etc. Send me an email if you want some tips on how to do this successfully, it is part of what I do for a living :) p.engineer@gmail.com
All the best going forward!