Hiring: In-House Sales Representative

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Schedule: Hourly, in-office
Compensation: Base salary plus commission on eligible sales.

About the Role

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is seeking a friendly, dependable In-House Sales
Representative to help advertising customers, follow up on inquiries, and build lasting customer relationships. This position works from our office and supports sales through phone, email, and direct customer interaction, while helping prepare and process advertising placements.

Responsibilities

• Respond to customer inquiries and explain advertising products, services, and placement options.
• Identify customer needs and recommend suitable advertising options.
• Prepare quotes, process orders, and follow up with potential customers.
• Maintain accurate customer records and sales activity notes.
• Build relationships with existing customers and encourage repeat business.
• Work toward flexible weekly outreach goals and provide regular activity updates.
• Coordinate with the team to ensure ads and orders are completed accurately and promptly.
• Receive recruitment advertisements, obituaries, and legal ads; prepare ad layouts and send price quotes and layouts to clients in a timely manner.
• Follow up on client approvals and upload ad submissions to Newspaper Manager.

Sales Structure and Incentives

This is an incentive-based position offering a steady base salary plus commission on eligible sales. Representatives are encouraged to grow sales and build strong customer relationships, without mandatory financial quotas or high-pressure sales targets. Success is measured by responsive customer service, consistent follow-up, accurate ad processing, and contributions to sales growth.

Weekly Sales Activity

• Aim for 50 customer outreach attempts per week through calls, emails, or follow-ups.
• Aim for 15–20 meaningful client conversations per week focused on advertising needs, available options, and placement assistance.
  • Criteria for a Meaningful Conversation:
    • Outbound call made using the provided prospect list.
    • Direct connection made with the appropriate organizational contact.
    • Established a clear, actionable next step for either party by the end of the call.
• Record outreach, conversations, quotes, and next steps in the customer tracking system.

These are flexible activity goals, not mandatory financial quotas. Goals may be adjusted
based on ad-processing workload and customer needs. A meaningful conversation is a
two-way exchange with a client or prospect about their advertising needs or next steps.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• A positive attitude, reliability, and attention to detail.
• Comfort using email, basic computer programs, and customer tracking systems.
• Ability to stay organized, follow up consistently, and manage deadlines.
• Willingness to learn basic ad layout and advertising order procedures.
• Previous sales or customer service experience preferred; training available for the right candidate.

What We Offer

• A steady base salary with additional commission opportunities.
• Product training and ongoing support.
• A supportive small-business environment.
• Opportunities to grow as the business expands.

Base Pay & Commission

Base Pay: $20/hour ($38,400 annualized for full-time employment)

Commission Structure:

• Earn a 5% commission on eligible, collected ad revenue from the client’s first-month buy. This applies to all new clients or returning clients who have not placed an order within the last 13 months.
• Routine incoming obituaries, employment, and legal advertising are covered under base pay and are not eligible for commission.

Earnings Example: A client spending $500 on their first ad buy generates $25.00 in
commission on top of your hourly wage.

Benefits: Standard 401(k) retirement plan offered.

To apply: Send your résumé and a brief introduction to dellis@spokesman-recorder.com