You may not be
directly involved in a sales job but all of us are selling ourselves. Whether
we provide a service or a product or even peace of mind such as insurance, or a
relationship - we all need to master the skills of sales.
I have many
friends who have outstanding products but they’re sitting in the dark. Today,
let’s discuss simple principles to jump-start your sales and bring you
immediate increase.
First, the
product! If you want great sale, you must have a great product. If the product is designed to provide a
service or increase productivity then you have a valid commodity in hand.
Know your product. Find out what it can do for people.
Market effectively. Big companies spend top dollars on
advertisement for a reason – it works! How
you market your product will determine how much it will sell. I have a
friend who is very intelligent and has a great product to offer. However, his
sales pitch is very confusing. He doesn’t have a clear presentation. Therefore,
his business is struggling. If you want to increase your sales, you have to market
the benefit of your products over and over with as many people as possible.
Build trust. Hoping to make a quick sale, many
people make the mistake of pushing their product before building trust. We may succeed in making a quick sale here
and there but if you want to build life-long customer base, then you have to
invest time, effort and energy in your prospective customer. When we take
the time to understand what the customer want and how to best serve that need,
then we’ll have clients waiting on us.
Give a custom-made experience. Most successful businesses are those
that are flexible. People don’t buy product or services; they buy the
experience of you and your establishment. Recently, I was with my daughter
Sabrina, buying breakfast in a cozy London restaurant. They had a long list of
menu but I just wanted some eggs and hash brown. When I asked the waitress, she
was more than willing to serve my request. It was delicious and I left a
generous tip. The next day, we wanted to try a different restaurant. When we
sat down I asked for the same breakfast. This time the response was, “We don’t have that on the menu; we don’t
serve that.” I was taken back at the owner’s response and I almost wanted
to leave. We’re the only people in the restaurant and I didn’t want to be rude.
So we endured the unfriendly service. The difference between the two restaurants
was vast in their attitude. One was there
to serve and give us a custom-made experience while the other was just going
through the motion. Guess where we ate breakfast the next day!
Be patient. A “no” for now is not “NO” forever.
Customers are in the process of making decisions. Give people some time. In our
recent missions trip to India, we’re driving to our meeting place when a young
boy on the street approached my window to sell a banana. I like to help people but
I also like to know their story. It wasn’t more than a minute when the youngster
got tired of my questions. I had money in my hand ready to buy his bananas but
he left! Soon we stopped to pay toll at a toll booth. Another young boy came trying
to sell us corn. This young boy was hungry and he was patient. He started
running beside our car when we took off. We stopped and gave him a day’s wage.
The first boy got impatient but the second young man got blessed with hundred
bananas! What’s the point? Be patient. If
your customers are not ready to buy right now, keep educating them about the
benefits of your products and services. From time to time, go back to the “closed
doors” and offer your services again. You’ll be amazed how your sales will
increase!
Last but not the least;
ask God for favor in your business. Bring God to work with you. He will open
doors for you that no man can shut. You’re designed to have plenty. If you
practice these simple principles, your sales will go off the roof.
“The LORD will
open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in
season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations
but will borrow from none” (Deuteronomy 28:12 NIV).
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