7 Game-Changing Apps to Skyrocket Your Sales Communication Skills
Picture this: You‘re on a discovery call with a hot new prospect. They ask about your product‘s key features, and without missing a beat, you launch into a crystal-clear explanation. Your voice is strong and authoritative, your pacing spot-on, your tone warm and engaging.
The prospect is hanging on your every word. Twenty minutes fly by, the conversation wraps perfectly on time, and the once-skeptical buyer is now eager to move forward. You, my friend, have just crushed it.
This is the power of elite sales communication skills. When you know how to use your voice to persuade, inspire trust, and articulate value, you can transform the Sales – into relationships and revenue.
But let‘s be real: Mastering the art of verbal communication is a constant work in progress. Whether you‘re an SDR making cold calls or a senior AE running demos, there‘s always room to sharpen your speaking skills. In fact, the data shows that:
- The average salesperson spends over 30 hours per month talking to prospects and customers. (Source)
- Top sales performers speak for 54% of the total conversation, while average performers speak for 68%. (Source)
- Salespeople who use collaborative words like "we" and "us" have a 35% higher close rate. (Source)
The takeaway? How you communicate verbally has a huge impact on your ability to influence buyers and hit quota. And thanks to breakthroughs in technology, every rep now has access to tools to analyze and improve their speaking abilities – right from their smartphone.
I‘ve rounded up 7 of the absolute best public speaking apps that are true game-changers for salespeople. Add these to your arsenal and you‘ll be well on your way to becoming the smooth-talking sales rockstar you were born to be.
3 Premium Apps to Accelerate Your Sales Voice
1. Orai
Price: $12.99/month
Available On: iOS, Android
If you download just one app to improve your speaking skills, make it Orai. This AI-powered app acts as a virtual speech coach, providing real-time feedback as you talk.
Simply fire up the app, select a topic or import your own script, and start speaking. Orai will analyze your pace, energy, clarity, and use of filler words, giving you an overall performance score and tips to improve.
You can view speechtranscripts that highlight areas for improvement, track your progress over time, and even compete with friends and colleagues. It‘s an incredibly intuitive and effective way to practice your sales messaging.
Pro Tip: Focus on one metric at a time. If Orai detects that you use a lot of filler words, make a conscious effort to eliminate them in your next few practices. Narrowing your focus will help you make steady progress.
2. LikeSo: Your Personal Speech Coach
Price: $9.99
Available On: iOS
LikeSo zeroes in on a specific verbal habit that can damage your credibility and persuasiveness: filler words. This app trains you to cut out the "ums," "ahs," "likes," and "you knows" that muddy your message.
Toggle between "FreeStyle" mode to get feedback on unscripted speech or "TalkAbout" mode to practice with prompts. LikeSo will track your total fillers, calculate your "ArticulateScore," and show a live filler meter to keep you on track.
The app also provides fun exercises to improve clarity, expression, and speed. With consistent practice, you‘ll learn to communicate with more precision and power.
Pro Tip: Pay attention to when you tend to use fillers. Many reps fall back on filler words when trying to answer tough questions or explain complex topics. Script out and practice these scenarios in advance.
3. Ummo: Instant Speech Feedback
Price: $1.99
Available on: iOS
Ummo is another solid choice for getting objective feedback on your sales pitches and customer conversations. This app records and instantly analyzes your speech, delivering useful metrics like:
- Talk-to-listen ratio
- Pace
- Clarity
- Energy level
- Use of filler words
- A unique "Credibility Score"
While more basic than Orai, Ummo shines in its simplicity. It‘s perfect for quickly spot-checking your delivery and tracking improvement over time. The "Credibility Score" is especially handy for gauging how well you communicate authenticity and authority.
Pro Tip: Ummo has a "Modes" feature to help you target specific weaknesses in your speech. Toggle on "Slow Talking Mode" or "Fast Talking Mode" to adjust your pace or "Credibility Booster" to work on assertiveness.
4 Free Apps to Sharpen Your Sales Communication
4. Toastmasters Timer
Price: Free
Available On: iOS, Android
Designed by the well-known public speaking organization Toastmasters International, this app keeps you on pace using the iconic "stoplight" timing system.
Simply set your desired speech length and start the clock. The app will display green, yellow, and red indicators to let you know how much time remains. It‘s a gentle yet effective way to ensure you stay on track, whether giving a 5-minute pitch or 45-minute demo.
The app also includes a handy "Ah Counter" tool to track your filler words. By regularly practicing with the timer, you‘ll get a visceral feel for sticking to an agenda and communicating efficiently.
Pro Tip: Use the Toastmasters Timer when practicing your cold call and voicemail scripts to keep them concise. Aim to hook your prospect‘s attention within the first 30 seconds.
5. Metronome Beats
Price: Free
Available On: iOS, Android
Here‘s a unique tip for keeping a steady, engaging rhythm while speaking: Practice with a metronome! While typically used for music, a metronome app can work wonders for your sales conversations.
Metronome Beats features a simple, adjustable click that you can synchronize with your speech. Start at around 145 BPM (beats per minute) and aim to speak on each click. This forces you to maintain a deliberate, consistent pace.
If you find yourself frequently lagging behind the beat, you‘re likely speaking too slowly. If you‘re racing to cram words between beats, you need to slow down. The metronome becomes a "pace partner" to keep you in a compelling rhythm.
Pro Tip: Once you‘re used to speaking with a metronome, try setting the pace slightly faster than your natural rate. This will subtly prompt you to speak with more energy and animation.
6. Voice Recorder Apps
Price: Free
Available On: Pre-installed on most smartphones
One of the best (and easiest) ways to improve your speaking skills is to regularly record and listen to yourself. Your smartphone‘s built-in voice recorder app is an essential tool for self-evaluation.
Before important calls or demos, record a practice run and assess your performance:
- How‘s your energy and enthusiasm?
- Are you speaking clearly?
- How‘s your pacing?
- Are you hitting the key points?
- Do you sound confident and authentic?
Aim to record yourself at least a few times per week. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but the only way to improve is to analyze your own performance with an objective ear. Consider sharing the recordings with a colleague or manager to get a second opinion.
Pro Tip: Save your best recordings and listen to them before a big meeting for a quick confidence boost. Regularly hearing yourself at your best will ingrain positive speaking habits.
7. Breathing Zone
Price: Free
Available On: iOS, Android
Last but certainly not least, don‘t forget the power of proper breathing! Before you even open your mouth to speak, taking a few deep belly breaths can dramatically improve your vocal power, clarity, and confidence.
Breathing Zone is a simple, well-designed app that guides you through science-backed breathing techniques. With visual cues and haptic feedback, the app helps you practice deep diaphragmatic breathing and calming breath patterns.
Bookend your speaking practices and real customer conversations with breath work. You‘ll be amazed at how a few mindful inhales and exhales can center your focus and energy. A relaxed, present state of mind is key for communicating with influence.
Pro Tip: If you feel nervous or scattered before a big call, use the app‘s "4-7-8" technique: Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. Repeat at least 4 times. This works wonders for soothing speaking anxiety!
Communicate Like a Sales Pro
The data doesn‘t lie: Your voice is one of your greatest assets (or liabilities) for driving revenue. Becoming a masterful communicator takes time and consistent practice, but thanks to these game-changing apps, you have everything you need to level up your speaking skills.
Remember, even the most seasoned salespeople are constant works in progress. Commit to practicing a little bit each day, whether it‘s recording your side of a sales call, rehearsing a cold call script, or getting real-time feedback on a mock demo. The key is to make communication training a regular habit.
Use these apps in combination with other tried-and-true techniques like role playing, studying sales call recordings, and seeking feedback from top reps. Stay curious, open to feedback, and willing to experiment.
Ultimately, the best communicators are lifelong learners. Keep sharpening your skills and soon you‘ll be the one everyone wants to learn from. Now go download these apps and unleash your inner sales communication rockstar!
