Comparing inside vs. outside sales with Mary-Katherine Walston from WRAL-TV

The world of sales is often broken up into two main camps — inside sales and outside sales. The distinction is a fairly straightforward description of where the salesperson is likely to spend their days.

An "inside salesperson" will spend their time working the phones and emails trying to drum up business. An "outside salesperson," on the other hand, will be out knocking on doors, grabbing coffee and engaging in face-to-face meetings with prospects.

For more information, let's turn to an expert.

Mary-Katherine Walston knows first-hand what the difference between these two types of sales jobs entails. Mary-Katherine has spent some time on each during her career, selling things like radio and television ads as well as software.

"When I think about inside vs. outside sales, I think of two big things," Mary-Katherine began. "First, how do you like to spend your days? Second, how are you most effective in terms of presenting? These are the two buckets."

Figuring out which of these two lifestyles fits your personality shouldn't be too difficult.

Those who experience stress when constantly hustling from one meeting to another, presenting to groups and meeting new people will probably not be cut out for outside sales. If these activities sound like an exciting challenge though, it may be the right direction.

In terms of inside sales, a person should ask themselves how they feel about being on the phone for extended periods of time.

Does sitting inside at a desk with a close-knit team sound like a comfortable routine or dull and repetitive? With both inside and outside sales, one will have to spend time in an office and on the phone, but there may be more variety in outside sales since meetings can take place in the community.

In addition to finding out where you'd more enjoy spending time, she says it's also important to consider where you will be most effective.

"I prefer having an in-person audience, as this allows me to more clearly gauge a clients feelings about a proposal or idea," Mary-Katherine said. "I also have also found that for me, I typically build relationships more quickly when I am able to engage in-person."

After having worked in both worlds, Mary-Katherine has seen the upsides and downsides of each.

"Both inside and outside sales can offer great commission opportunities if you work hard to develop business," she said. "One pro of outside sales, in my experience, is the ability to grow your business over time. While it takes patience, you have the unique opportunity to strengthen relationships with and grow your current accounts, as well as the ability to continuously develop new clients."

When deciding whether inside or outside sales is best for you, it's important to spend some time considering which one is better suited to your temperament, interests and abilities. Being able to enjoy your career and to be effective at it are key to success in sales as they are in any line of work.