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n this article, we’ll discuss Is the 80-20 rule true for sales?
The 80/20 rule is a standard sales theory that states that 80% of results come from 20% of actions. Put another way, most of your sales come from just 20% of your efforts. The 80/20 rule was initially developed by marketing guru Seth Godin, who applied it to marketing tactics. If you spend 80% of your time on 20% of your activities, then you’ll see a lot of success with the remaining 80% of your efforts. The 80-20 rule holds for many different fields and can be used to guide any business owner or entrepreneur. This principle is so common and has endured for so long that it has become a cliché—a “truth” that everyone knows but few are willing to believe. But the truth is that most people do only 20% of their work when they should be doing much more. So why is the 80-20 rule valid for sales? Here are the reasons why:
80/20 Rule: The Ultimate Guide
What does the 80-20 rule mean for sales?
The 80-20 rule is a rule of thumb that states that 80% of results come from 20% of actions. The 80-20 rule applies to various industries and is particularly common in sales. For example, salespeople often need to prospect new clients. Still, they sometimes need to determine which prospecting activities will be the most fruitful. To determine how to maximize their efforts, salespeople can use the 80-20 rule to guide their decision-making.
The 80-20 rule is also known as the “Pareto principle.” The Pareto principle is named after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who discovered that 80% of the landowners in Italy owned 20% of the land. Pareto was surprised by this finding and decided to study it further. He discovered that this 80-20 rule reoccurs in many different industries and fields. He also noticed that the 80-20 rule still needs to be fixed. It varies in other contexts, depending on the sector or area.
Why is the 80-20 rule valid for sales?
The 80-20 rule is a rule of thumb that states that 80% of results come from 20% of actions. While some steps may seem insignificant, they are vital to your success as a salesperson. For example, prospecting for new clients is a crucial activity that salespeople need to do. But there are other activities that a salesperson should be doing.
Many salespeople spend too much time on activities that don’t bring in leads. They spend hours in meetings, sending emails, and making phone calls that don’t result in any new business. Meanwhile, they spend very little time on activities that bring in leads.
This happens because salespeople need to know which activities they should focus on. They need to find out which activities are the most effective. The 80-20 rule can help salespeople make better decisions about how they spend their time.
So what can you do with the 80-20 rule?
The 80-20 rule is a rule of thumb that states that 80% of results come from 20% of actions. Because this rule is applicable in many different industries and fields, it can help salespeople make better decisions about how to spend their time. The 80-20 rule can help salespeople decide which activities are the most important.
For example, you may wonder which activities to assign to your sales team if you’re a sales manager. In addition, you might wonder which actions will bring in the most leads and be the most effective. The 80-20 rule can help you better decide which activities to assign to your team.
The 80-20 rule and sales reps
The 80-20 rule can help sales managers assign activities to different sales reps. Different sales reps have different strengths and weaknesses. For example, some salespeople are naturally better at prospecting than making calls. In contrast, others are better at making calls than prospecting. The 80-20 rule can help sales managers decide which activities to assign to which sales reps.
For example, sales manager Vinny wants to assign leads to his team. Vinny’s team members are all sales reps. Vinny wants to assign leads to the sales reps who are best at converting them into clients. He knows that some sales reps are better at prospecting than others. Vinny can use the 80-20 rule to decide which sales reps should receive the most leads.
80% of your sales come from 20% of your customers
The 80-20 rule can help sales managers decide which customers to spend more time on. Every salesperson has their favorites. They have customers who enjoy working with them and bring in a lot of business. Some salespeople have customers whom they have a personal relationship with. Other salespeople have customers whom they speak to on the phone. The 80-20 rule can help sales managers decide which customers to spend more time on.
For example, sales manager Vinny has a team of sales reps who sell various products and services. Vinny’s sales team sells everything from software to paper clips. Vinny has his favorites. He enjoys working with specific customers more than others. Vinny has customers that bring in a lot of business for him. Vinny has customers whom he has a personal relationships with.
80% of your sales come from 20% of your ad spend
The 80-20 rule can help sales managers decide which ads to spend more time on. Every salesperson has their favorite ad campaign. They have ads they enjoy spending money on, bringing in many new businesses. Ad campaigns are a huge part of advertising. Every salesperson uses ads to reach their target audience and attract new business. However, some ad campaigns bring in a lot more leads than others. The 80-20 rule can help sales managers decide which ad campaigns to spend more time on.
For example, sales manager Vinny has a team of sales reps who spend money on ads. Vinny’s sales team runs a variety of different ad campaigns. Vinny’s sales team runs ads on Google, Facebook, and radio. Vinny has his favorites. He enjoys spending money on certain ads more than others. Vinny has ad campaigns that bring in a lot of new leads for his sales team. Vinny has advertisements with whom he has a personal relationship.
80% of your sales come from 20% of the time you spend prospecting
The 80-20 rule can help sales managers decide how much time their salespeople should spend prospecting for new leads. Every salesperson has different strengths and weaknesses. Some salespeople are naturally better at making calls than digging for further information. Other salespeople are better at prospecting than they are at making calls. The 80-20 rule can help sales managers decide how much time each salesperson should spend prospecting for new leads.
For example, sales manager Vinny has a team of sales reps who spend time prospecting for new leads. Vinny’s salespeople spend time cold calling, sending emails, and going to networking events. Vinny’s salespeople are good at all three activities, but they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Vinny can use the 80-20 rule to decide how much time each salesperson should spend prospecting for new leads.
80% of your sales come from 20% of the time you spend in meetings
The 80-20 rule can help sales managers decide how much time their salespeople should spend in meetings. Every salesperson has different strengths and weaknesses. For example, some salespeople are naturally better at making calls than attending conferences. Other salespeople are better at meeting with customers than making calls. The 80-20 rule can help sales managers decide how much time each salesperson should spend in meetings.
For example, sales manager Vinny has a team of sales reps who attend meetings and meet with customers. In addition, Vinny’s salespeople go to networking events, trade shows, and seminars to meet potential clients and build relationships with companies. Finally, Vinny’s salespeople meet one-on-one with customers to sell their products and services. Vinny’s salespeople are good at all three activities, but they all have their strengths and weaknesses.
How salespeople succeed with the 80-20 rule
Salespeople having a strong “elevator pitch” for their product/service will succeed using the 80-20 rule.
Those with a strong “elevator pitch” for their product/service will succeed using the 80-20 rule. An elevator pitch is a short, concise summary of your product or service that you can deliver to a potential client in the time it takes to ride an elevator from one floor to another. You want to get the main points across in a way that captures the client’s interest and leaves them wanting more. There are a few things to keep in mind when crafting an elevator pitch:
Keep it short. Your pitch should be a maximum of a few sentences. A few sentences that cover all the main points without rambling are better than a long, drawn-out speech.
Keep it concise. Always remember that you’re trying to sell something. So your pitch should be more about selling your product rather than you.
Keep it interesting. Your pitch should be interesting enough to pique a prospect’s interest but not so interesting that it sounds like a sales pitch.
Salespeople who can effectively communicate with customers and fulfill their needs will succeed using the 80-20 rule.
Communication is a skill that every salesperson needs to have. You don’t necessarily need to be a great public speaker; however, you must communicate effectively with the people you’re selling to. This means being able to listen and ask the right questions. You want to discover what that particular client needs and what is holding them back from purchasing. Once you get a better idea of your client’s needs, you can determine if your product is the right choice. If not, you must have the money to let them down gently. If it is, you must do everything possible to close the deal.
Salespeople constantly learning and growing with their job will succeed using the 80-20 rule.
You’re bound to hit a few road bumps in your sales career. However, it’s better to get these bumps out of the way now while you’re still in the lower ranks of the company. This will prevent you from making the same mistake again in the future. When you make a mistake, the best thing you can do is learn from it. This will ensure that you avoid making the same mistake twice. You’re bound to make a few sales mistakes along the way. This is normal. However, you want to ensure you learn from your mistakes and do not repeat them. This will make it easier to move up the ranks at your company and hit your sales quota every month.
Salespeople who are constantly honing their skills and staying up-to-date on trends in the industry they sell in will succeed using the 80-20 rule.
You don’t have to be a top salesperson right out of the gate. This takes time and experience. However, it’s essential to make sure you are constantly honing your skills. There are many ways you can do this. You can join a few industry-related groups, read industry-related books, and attend seminars or conferences. When you’re honing your skills, you’re not just brushing up on what you already know. You’re actively trying to improve your overall game and are looking for ways to improve your results. Many people succeed using the 80-20 rule in sales, and you can be one of them.
Final Thoughts: Is the 80-20 rule true for sales?
The 80/20 rule is valid for sales. It says that 80% of the impact of your sales efforts comes from 20% of your customers. It also says that 20% of your customers account for more than 80% of your revenue.
The 80/20 rule can be applied to any business scenario, not just sales. For example, it can be used to determine which products to prioritize and which customer personas to target. The principle behind the 80/20 rule is simple: successful businesses are built by focusing on the right customers and offering them the right products. This means that success lies in knowing who your customers are and what they need before you start selling to them. In other words, you need to know your market inside and out before building a product or service that can satisfy their needs.
Once you have identified your ideal customers, focus on building a great product that addresses their needs. Then, find ways to get in front of as many of them as possible through marketing and distribution channels. Finally, ensure you’re constantly improving the product based on customer feedback.
Do you want to learn more about “Is the 80-20 rule true for sales?” Check out the 80/20 Rule: The Ultimate Guide.

James is the editor-in-chief of 8020ruleschool.com. James is a workaholic and an entrepreneur who has been in the tech industry for over ten years. He has worked with Microsoft, owns multiple websites, and now owns a mattress shop. James has a B.S. in Business Management Information Systems and a Master’s in Business Administration from Liberty University. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Executive Leadership, and once he completes that, he will pursue his Ph.D. in Business Administration – Entrepreneurship. James also seeks investment opportunities, putting his money to work instead of himself. James is true believes in the 80.20 rule and seeks ways to implement the concept in every field in his life.