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Sales Development Rep
What is a Sales Development Rep?
A Sales Development Rep (SDR) is a sales professional who focuses on the early stages of the sales process by identifying and qualifying potential customers. They reach out to leads, engage prospects, and set up meetings or demos for the sales team to close deals.
Synonyms: Sales Development Representative, SDR, Lead Development Rep, Sales Prospecting Rep

Role of a Sales Development Rep
Sales Development Reps are responsible for generating interest in a company's products or services. They use various methods like cold calling, emailing, and social media outreach to connect with potential buyers. Their main goal is to qualify leads and pass them on to sales executives or account managers who handle closing the sale.
How Sales Development Reps Fit in the Sales Process
SDRs work at the top of the sales funnel, focusing on lead generation and qualification. They filter out unqualified prospects so that the sales team can concentrate on high-potential opportunities. This division of labor helps improve efficiency and increases the chances of closing deals.
Skills and Tools Used by Sales Development Reps
Successful SDRs need strong communication skills, persistence, and the ability to understand customer needs quickly. They often use customer relationship management (CRM) software to track interactions and manage leads. Tools like email automation and sales engagement platforms also help them reach more prospects effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the difference between a Sales Development Rep and a Sales Executive? A Sales Development Rep focuses on lead generation and qualification, while a Sales Executive handles closing deals and managing customer relationships.
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Do Sales Development Reps close sales? Typically, SDRs do not close sales; their role is to set up qualified meetings for the sales team.
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What industries use Sales Development Reps? SDRs are common in technology, software, and B2B companies but can be found in many industries that rely on outbound sales.
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How do SDRs measure success? Success is often measured by the number of qualified leads generated, meetings set, and the conversion rate of leads passed to sales.

