We've arrived at the point with our startup where it makes sense to put a sales team in place - trouble is none of us have experience with sales. We've been collecting leads via our site and I spent the last month using a CRM system to make and track calls (insights from that process here: http://www.scrollinondubs.com/2008/08/07/sugarcrm-observations-tips/). I've closed a handful of deals now on the phone and have accumulated the knowledge from those calls in the CRM in the form of notes and attachments (questions / objections / responses / techniques). My questions at this point are:<p>1. What's the most effective way to bring people in and train them to do sales?
2. Is there a typical format for the "orientation" that gives new sales people the best jumpstart - what are they expecting in the way of that training?
3. How do sales people transfer knowledge that's helpful to other sales people (and what's their motivation for doing so)?
4. What's a typical compensation plan look like for doing tech sales of a $300-$2k product?<p>I'm assuming a lot of this simply comes from the new person shadowing an existing sales person but it'd be great if anyone with experience in these areas can comment. TIA<p>Sean