When you read the title of this article, you may find yourself confused, and that is completely understandable.
SDR position sometimes may be confusing even to those who know what SDR stands for, and you can imagine how confused are people that don’t even know that.
Today, I’m here to talk about the SDR sales position, what SDRs do, why they are important, and how they operate.
I highly suggest you keep reading since, contrary to the potential confusion, this position isn’t that complicated and is, actually, quite desirable by many.
This means that maybe some of you will be interested in learning more, acquiring some new skills, and potentially becoming one of the SDRs that we’re going to talk about today.
But, enough of the introduction, now that you know what our topic is revolving around, let’s jump straight in and see what SDRs are all about!
What is an SDR? – The Basics
First of all, you should know what SDR is in order to fully understand what I’m about to talk about and the whole topic of this article.
So, let’s take a look at the SDR job description:
Sales development representatives are responsible for outbound prospecting. They research and reach out to new clients who might be interested in the products the company sells, and introduce those clients to the company.
This definition may seem confusing, and I don’t blame you for that. Let’s dive in and take a closer look.
First of all, SDR stands for Sales Development Representative which may not mean much to you at the moment, but stay patient with me!
Sales development representatives are responsible for the first half of a two-step process that is not being encouraged instead of a classic process where a salesperson finds a lead, makes them into a prospect, and closes the deal all by themselves.
Instead, the process we’re talking about is a two-step where SDRs find leads, talk to them, interest them in what they’re selling, and after that, the second step takes place where other sales reps finish the negotiations and close the deal.
But, more on that process a bit later. For now, the most important thing for all of you to remember is the fact that the sales development representative is responsible for the first step that includes finding leads and making them interested in what you’re selling.
But, the essence of what SDRs are lies in the fact that their main focus is outbound prospecting, and that’s what I’m going to focus on here.
Outbound prospecting is a direct marketing channel, whereby you identify your target customers and then directly reach out to them and introduce them to your company, its products, and its services.
This is quite important, especially when you take into consideration how important is the process of identifying potential leads and how much everything else depends on it.
The majority of their importance lies in the fact that the whole process of selling is dependent on them and their skill to find new customers and people that are interested in your company’s product or service.
If we were living in a world without SDRs, we wouldn’t have any clients!
SDR vs BDR – The Differences
A Sales Development Representative (SDR) or Business Development Representative (BDR) are typically roles in an early sales career focusing on generating new client leads.
An SDR focuses on qualifying inbound leads while a BDR focuses on prospecting outbound leads. Neither one is responsible for closing business.
Technically all the differences can be summed up in this sentence. Although being very similar by many traits, there is a difference or two when talking about SDR and BDR.
When talking about technical differences, an SDR can focus on a cold lead or a warm lead, whereas a BDR mainly uses cold email, cold calling, social selling, and networking in order to generate leads and direct them towards sales reps that will close the deal.
Technically, both of these positions require you to do the same thing, but the main difference is that you use different methods to do so.
Is It Worth To Pursue A Career As An SDR?
Many people aren’t sure that the position of an SDR is worth pursuing, but there are a few things you should consider before deciding to apply for an SDR position.
I’ve decided to tell you those few things that you should know before being a sales development representative.
First, is an SDR a good job? The answer to this question may vary for some of you, depending on what you consider a good job.
This job includes tons of communication with different people, the possibility of getting rejected often, exhausting conversations, etc…
But what this job also includes is developing strong communication skills, being active, a healthy work dynamic, decent pay, etc…
Now, some of you may ask “How much does an SDR make?” when you hear this. And let me tell you, they earn decent pay, especially considering that this is a position that is pursued at the beginning of your sales career.
Sales development representatives earn about $45,500 per year or a monthly payment of around $4,130.
For a young person that’s just getting into sales and wants to learn about development, sales, and everything else related, this is a hefty payday.
Also, take into consideration that the SDR position allows you to prosper and take some bigger and more important positions.
This is often overlooked as the majority of people are convinced that they’ll be stuck in the position of SDR and won’t make any advancements.
SDR Position – My Final Thoughts About This Job
As someone who has spent years in the sales world, I have to tell you that the SDR position is one of the most-searched-for positions.
The fact that you work in a two-step process in order to generate leads for other sales reps to turn into clients creates quite a stress-free environment that is crucial to the beginners of the sales world.
When only 50% of the job depends on you, you have twice as much energy and focus to put into what you’re doing.
Also, outbound prospecting allows SDRs to develop quite a wide range of communication skills. This will come in handy later on in your sales career.
The good pay and the chance for advancement also help you when trying to stay optimistic and continue to build your sales career.
All these facts are crucial in the answer to the question of “What does a sales development representative do and why are they important?” and should be all taken into consideration.
This position is known for its vast options and that’s why it should keep being famous. But, one thing that sets apart this beginner job from other beginner jobs. That difference is the importance of this job.
The responsibility for finding new potential clients is not a joke and the workload of the company heavily depends on them.
Keep all of this in mind, and I wish you luck if you decide to apply for the SDR position!