What does an inside sales manager do?
An inside sales manager is the one who leads the sales team to meet the organization's sales targets. The sales managers recruit, handle, and train the professional development of the sales team. It is their duty to set the goals of the company, provide sales reports, set departmental budgets, and track sales. They collaborate with the marketing department to make sure that the sales staff receives quality leads. Also, they address and resolve complaints from customers.
Inside sales manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real inside sales manager resumes:
- Implement and enforce SalesForce usage for entering leads and using the system through the customer sales cycle.
- Achieve proficiency in all aspects of international business from documentation to freight logistics to pricing negotiations.
- Leverage other sales office resources and administrative/support staff to achieve personal and team relate revenue goals.
- Account management of detail information into CRM regarding all sales call activity and new business initiatives.
- Conduct PowerPoint presentations to potential clients as well as new and existing businesses.
- Focus on software upgrades and migrations to current software products (SAAS environment).
- Promote profit growth by introducing / coordinating logistics and supply chain services with new and existing clients.
- Execute needs assessment, communicate benefits and set appointments for online SaaS product demonstrations via cold calling and networking.
- Wholesale distributor of HVAC equipment and accessories
- Change over database system from SalesForce to NetSuite become administrator.
- Facilitate online product demonstrations & online training of software using PowerPoint.
- Institute and govern a premier network of prominent industry dealers and master distributors for regional product distribution.
- Direct multiple channels of distribution including catalog distribution, industrial distributors, direct company distribution and direct OEM customers.
- Coach to successful usage of internally develop CRM application, ensuring successful capture of customer information and sales and activity metrics.
- Coach employees base on record phone calls using scoring sheet and best practices to increase upselling and overall customer experience.
Inside sales manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Inside Sales Managers are proficient in Customer Service, CRM, and Salesforce. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Leadership skills.
We break down the percentage of Inside Sales Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 13%
Maximize profitability through superior customer service, effective and prompt communication and follow-ups on all pending matters with the customer.
- CRM, 10%
Coached to successful usage of internally developed CRM application, ensuring successful capture of customer information and sales and activity metrics.
- Salesforce, 6%
Changed over database system from SalesForce to NetSuite became administrator.
- Customer Satisfaction, 5%
Introduced new processes, procedures and systems, and led an aggressive cross-training effort that significantly improved efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Product Knowledge, 5%
Utilized product knowledge expertise to overcome customer objections in sales training.
- Sales Process, 4%
Organized and developed highly motivated and successful inside sales team through implementation of effective sales processes and metrics.
Common skills that an inside sales manager uses to do their job include "customer service," "crm," and "salesforce." You can find details on the most important inside sales manager responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for an inside 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." Inside sales managers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "managed and oversaw direct sales team by setting goals, analyzing performance data, training and developing personnel. "
Communication skills. Many inside sales manager duties rely on communication skills. "sales managers need to work with colleagues and customers, so they must be able to communicate clearly.," so an inside sales manager will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways inside sales manager responsibilities rely on communication skills: "facilitated internal and external departmental communications to effectively provide customer support. "
Leadership skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of inside sales managers is leadership skills. This skill is critical to many everyday inside sales manager duties, as "sales managers must be able to evaluate how their sales staff performs and must develop strategies for meeting sales goals." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "provide leadership and guidance by managing performance of inside sales team members and direct sales activities through effective coaching and development. "
Customer-service skills. inside sales manager responsibilities often require "customer-service skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "when helping to make a sale, sales managers must listen and respond to the customer’s needs." This resume example shows what inside sales managers do with customer-service skills on a typical day: "develop plans to acquire new customers or clients, through direct sales techniques, cold calling, and business-to-business marketing visit. "
The three companies that hire the most inside sales managers are:
- Humana98 inside sales managers jobs
- Rite-Hite69 inside sales managers jobs
- Freedom Financial Network
45 inside sales managers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable inside sales manager resume templates
Build a professional inside sales manager resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your inside sales manager resume.
Compare different inside sales managers
Inside 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.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between inside sales managers and product manager/sales. For instance, inside sales manager responsibilities require skills such as "salesforce," "excellent interpersonal," "work ethic," and "sales professionals." Whereas a product manager/sales is skilled in "product sales," "pos," "product management," and "cycle management." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Product managers/sales tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $108,541. In contrast, inside sales managers make the biggest average salary, $81,903, in the technology industry.product managers/sales tend to reach similar levels of education than inside sales managers. In fact, product managers/sales are 2.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Inside sales manager vs. National accounts sales manager
A national accounts sales manager is responsible for maintaining healthy business relationships with clients by managing and monitoring the performance of their accounts. National accounts sales managers establish reasonable sales targets and develop techniques that would maximize sales staff productivity and efficiency. They conduct data and statistical analysis with the current market trends to identify business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase profitability. A national accounts sales manager negotiates contracts and agreements with clients and ensures their brand consistency in the market.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, inside sales manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "salesforce," "excellent interpersonal," and "work ethic." Meanwhile, a national accounts sales manager has duties that require skills in areas such as "national accounts," "healthcare," "product development," and "r." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, national accounts sales managers earn a higher salary than inside sales managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, national accounts sales managers earn the most pay in the education industry with an average salary of $103,530. Whereas inside sales managers have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $81,903.In general, national accounts sales managers achieve similar levels of education than inside sales managers. They're 1.4% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for inside sales managers in the next 3-5 years?
Bill Thorne
Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation
Inside sales manager vs. Account executive/sales manager
An Account Executive/Sales Manager manages client accounts, building positive client relationships in the process. Part of their job is to secure sales, which requires them to conduct research and analysis to find new business and client opportunities, generate leads, offer products and services to clients through calls and correspondence, arrange appointments, and process payments. There are instances where they must assist clients by resolving issues and concerns, ensuring client satisfaction. Moreover, they are also responsible for developing sales plans and strategies while implementing the company's policies and regulations among staff.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from inside sales manager resumes include skills like "crm," "salesforce," "customer satisfaction," and "excellent interpersonal," whereas an account executive/sales manager is more likely to list skills in "account executives," "real estate," "business sales," and "financial institutions. "
Account executive/sales managers earn the best pay in the media industry, where they command an average salary of $51,472. Inside sales managers earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $81,903.When it comes to education, account executive/sales managers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to inside sales managers. In fact, they're 1.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Inside sales manager vs. Business development sales manager
A business development sales manager is in charge of securing sales by reaching out to clients through calls, correspondence, or appointments. Their responsibilities often revolve around performing research and analysis to identify new leads and sales opportunities, offering different products and services, and creating proposals and price quotes for potential clients. A business development sales manager may also tailor payment plans, process billing, participate in various marketing initiatives, and produce progress reports. Furthermore, it is essential to ensure customer satisfaction and build positive relationships to strengthen the company's client base.
Types of inside sales manager
Updated January 8, 2025
