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What does a business to business sales manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Bill Thorne
What does a business to business sales manager do

A business to business sales manager is responsible for monitoring the company's business transactions and ensuring that the team meets sales goals and targets. Business to business sales managers review business accounts and perform adjustments to sales plans as needed to adhere to clients' requests and customer demands. They also conduct data and statistical analysis through the evaluation of market trends to identify opportunities that would generate more revenue resources for the business and increase the brand's image in the market.

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Business to business sales manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real business to business sales manager resumes:

  • Develop and manage customized patient education programs for nationwide distribution through healthcare nonprofit associations by securing third-party pharmaceutical sponsorship.
  • Research and implement a CRM, new products and procedures to accommodate sales procedures and dealership needs.
  • Update database (CRM), increase revenue, hit targets monthly/quarterly/yearly, perform above expectations, make it happen.
  • Handle practices for pull-through initiatives with patients including advertising, marketing, events and quarterly business reviews for profitability.
  • Create marketing content for pages and promotional initiatives, newsletter design and implementation, create designed and produce PowerPoint presentations.

Business to business sales manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 15% of Business To Business Sales Managers are proficient in Customer Service, Business Sales, and Business Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Customer-service skills.

We break down the percentage of Business To Business Sales Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 15%

    Performed and/or supervised intensive customer service/relations activities7.

  • Business Sales, 6%

    Managed the Business Sales Department achieving sales goals while overseeing and coordinating network implementations for local Jacksonville businesses during employment.

  • Business Development, 5%

    Increased revenue through new business development and strategic retail program execution across all segments of business.

  • Market Trends, 5%

    Monitored and evaluated market trends to identify penetration strategies.

  • Sales Professionals, 3%

    Supported and managed the sales professionals by providing ongoing support and early management interaction.

  • Trade Shows, 3%

    Participated in trade shows and community and professional organizations to maintain high visibility.

Common skills that a business to business sales manager uses to do their job include "customer service," "business sales," and "business development." You can find details on the most important business to business sales manager responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a business to business sales manager to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "sales managers must collect and interpret complex data to target the most promising geographic areas and demographic groups, and determine the most effective sales strategies." Business to business sales managers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "utilized delphi to maintain database of all business contacts. "

Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling business to business sales manager duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "sales managers need to work with colleagues and customers, so they must be able to communicate clearly." According to a business to business sales manager resume, here's how business to business sales managers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "offered all aspects of broadband services for qwest communications. "

Customer-service skills. business to business sales managers are also known for customer-service skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to business to business sales manager responsibilities, because "when helping to make a sale, sales managers must listen and respond to the customer’s needs." A business to business sales manager resume example shows how customer-service skills is used in the workplace: "cultivated customer relationships before, during, and after the sale to consistently meet or exceed targeted sales objectives. "

Leadership skills. A big part of what business to business sales managers do relies on "leadership skills." You can see how essential it is to business to business sales manager responsibilities because "sales managers must be able to evaluate how their sales staff performs and must develop strategies for meeting sales goals." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical business to business sales manager tasks: "possess expert skills in marketing strategy, business development, team leadership, needs assessment and relationship building. "

Most common business to business sales manager skills

The three companies that hire the most business to business sales managers are:

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Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume
Business To Business Sales Manager Resume

Compare different business to business sales managers

Business to business sales manager vs. Product manager/sales

A sales product manager is responsible for monitoring the sales performance of a specific product and ensuring that the marketing strategies adhere to market standards and client requirements. Sales product managers work closely with the marketing and public relations team to enhance the product's brand image on various market platforms to reach the target audience. They also conduct data and statistical analysis to identify business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profitability.

The annual salary of product managers/sales is $33,250 higher than the average salary of business to business sales managers.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both business to business sales manager and product manager/sales positions are skilled in customer service, business development, and market trends.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a business to business sales manager are more likely to require skills like "business sales," "sales professionals," "business travel," and "site inspections." On the other hand, a job as a product manager/sales requires skills like "product sales," "pos," "product management," and "cycle management." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Product managers/sales really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $108,541. Comparatively, business to business sales managers tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $83,440.The education levels that product managers/sales earn slightly differ from business to business sales managers. In particular, product managers/sales are 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a business to business sales manager. Additionally, they're 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Business to business sales manager vs. Sales account manager

The account sales manager is in charge of the retention of their customer relationship. They have to supervise the portfolio of existing clients, develop new business with them, and seek new sales opportunities. Account sales managers act as liaisons between the company and customer as well as build strong, long-lasting relationships by providing an improved customer experience. It is their responsibility to negotiate contracts and close deals to maximize sales profits. Also, they forecast track sales results and prepare reports on account status.

A career as a sales account manager brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a business to business sales manager. In fact, sales account managers salary is $16,612 lower than the salary of business to business sales managers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both business to business sales managers and sales account managers have skills such as "customer service," "business sales," and "business development. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real business to business sales manager resumes. While business to business sales manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "market trends," "sales professionals," "business travel," and "site inspections," sales account managers use skills like "powerpoint," "work ethic," "sales territory," and "excellent interpersonal."

Sales account managers may earn a lower salary than business to business sales managers, but sales account managers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $68,777. On the other hand, business to business sales managers receive higher pay in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $83,440.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Sales account managers tend to reach similar levels of education than business to business sales managers. In fact, they're 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Businesses to business sales manager in the next 3-5 years?

Bill ThorneBill Thorne LinkedIn profile

Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation

COVID-19 has accelerated the trends we've seen over the past few years as retailers reimagine the customer experience, blending online and offline channels. Mobile apps provide in-store wayfinding and augmented reality to allow customers to quickly search products and identify their exact locations in the store. Additionally, many retailers offer Buy Online, Pick-up In-Store (BOPIS), or curbside pickup options so that customers can pay and checkout with minimal or no contact. We expect retailers will continue to use a variety of tools to help shoppers find the items they need and want.

Business to business sales manager vs. Sales team manager

A sales team manager is responsible for monitoring the sales performance and goals of an organization by strategizing on efficient techniques to sell goods and services to customers. Sales team managers identify business opportunities by analyzing the current market trends that would increase the company's revenues and profitability. They also provide training for the sales team members to maximize their efficiency and increase productivity. A sales team manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in developing sales plans to achieve sales targets.

An average sales team manager eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of business to business sales managers. The difference in salaries amounts to sales team managers earning a $9,386 lower average salary than business to business sales managers.By looking over several business to business sales managers and sales team managers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "business development," "sales professionals," and "customer satisfaction." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a business to business sales manager is likely to be skilled in "customer service," "business sales," "market trends," and "trade shows," while a typical sales team manager is skilled in "grass," "customer care," "customer traffic," and "customer issues."

Sales team managers typically earn similar educational levels compared to business to business sales managers. Specifically, they're 2.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Business to business sales manager vs. Commercial sales manager

Commercial sales managers have various duties and responsibilities. These include managing marketing campaigns via phone, direct mail, and the internet, supervising the sales executive teams to develop and maintaining good relations with healthcare professionals, and managing client relationships and identifying opportunities for new business. Additional duties include evaluating supply chain and logistics infrastructure, negotiating contract terms, and bidding on new projects. Commercial sales managers are also responsible for overseeing the company's business growth, identifying areas that can be developed, and generating quotes for prospective customers.

Commercial sales managers tend to earn a higher pay than business to business sales managers by an average of $14,884 per year.While their salaries may vary, business to business sales managers and commercial sales managers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "customer service," "business sales," and "business development. "Each job also requires different skills to carry out their responsibilities. A business to business sales manager uses "market trends," "business travel," "site inspections," and "reservations." Commercial sales managers are more likely to have duties that require skills in "sales targets," "work ethic," "project management," and "hvac. "commercial sales managers enjoy the best pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $90,326. For comparison, business to business sales managers earn the highest salary in the finance industry.commercial sales managers reach similar levels of education compared to business to business sales managers, in general. The difference is that they're 2.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of business to business sales manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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