22 sales memes that get it right

Like playing an instrument or practicing yoga, learning to succeed at sales can be a lifelong endeavor.

Fortunately, not every career lesson needs to be accompanied by a 500-page handbook. These days, the ubiquitous internet meme can drive home a point with little more than a familiar image and a few pithy words.

Keep reading for 22 memes that get at the heart of the challenges and rewards of a career in sales.

See also:

20 of the best insurance jokes

31 of the best retirement jokes

10 reasons why humor is a key to success at work

People in sales can avoid stammering through their pitches by perfecting their opening lines.

There are a number of ways to generate leads, including using an online visitor registration program through your website, and promoting social media reviews from satisfied clients and customers.

22 sales memes that get it right

Especially in the insurance industry, there may not be a one-size-fits-all sales strategy. So consider honing your personalized marketing strategy. Salespeople also need to solidify client relationships in order to deliver a product package that perfectly suits each account.

Only 2 percent of sales are made after the first contact, according to the National Sales Executive Association.

Even though your prospects may have been burned by poor sales experiences in the past, there are still ways to effectively establish your credibility and forge trust.

Forty-eight percent of salespeople never follow up with prospects after their initial contact, according to the National Sales Executive Association.

In sales, it always helps to have a fantastic closing line.

According to LinkedIn, women occupy 39 percent of the sales roles in the United States. In financial services, the percentage of women advisors is only about 20 percent. (The desire to deconstruct contemporary women's issues and feminist theory actually spawned blogger Danielle Henderson's "Hey Girl…" series of memes featuring Ryan Gosling, above.)

According to research from HubSpot, nearly half of all salespeople actually consider prospecting to be the most challenging part of the sales process.

Research indicates that it takes about eight cold calls to reach a prospect, and only a fraction of those calls will result in a meeting.

Given the challenges inherent to cold calling, this tactic may be most effective when it's part of a broader overall sales strategy.

22 sales memes that get it right

Three out of four sales people who use social media as part of their strategy outperform their peers.

Not everyone is well-suited to sales. People who tend to succeed in the field exhibit such personality traits as being halfway between an extrovert and an introvert, and therefore comfortable in most social situations, as well as ego-driven, which pushes high achievers to meet and surpass goals.

"Good salespeople feel good about themselves after a job well done," according to a study from NextGenLeads.com. Anyone struggling with sales should ensure they're not using business-killing language.

22 sales memes that get it right

There are always new ways to master lead generation. Don't just rely on a prospect contact form.

One of many reasons that some sales people don't close as often as they could is, they fail to adequately prepare.

22 sales memes that get it right

Coaching and mentorship can be beneficial to both developing and advanced salespeople. 22 sales memes that get it right

One key to surpassing your goals is to frequently revisit and revamp them. 22 sales memes that get it right

Procrastination may be a salesperson's worst enemy. But you can beat it by better understanding your own habits to avoid behaviors that cause you to procrastinate.

22 sales memes that get it right