Powerful Sales Accelerators During Economic Crisis (click text title)
One natural business truth is that you have to sell if you want to stay in business. Currently, achieving sales success seems overwhelming given the reported months of over 450,000 job losses and the U.S. Congressional Budget Office announcing estimates of the $11 Trillion budget deficit for the next decade. We are witnessing the world’s largest economy appearing to shrink by over 2.3 percent this year alone, the most since 1946.
However, as companies continue to cancel orders, return goods to vendors, cutting jobs and overhead expenses. Many opportunities exist for high quality home based business entrepreneurs that offer cost effective niche products or services.
Increasing sales during economic crisis particularly for the home based business entrepreneur may be the single most important learned skill of any business survival plan. Every contact, company large or small during a tough economy is a potential new sale. Customers are responding to discounts seeking the “most bang for the buck” cutting expenses across the board. Take heart entrepreneurs: sales is a craft, not an art. It can be learned.
During competitive economic climates first think in terms of building personal relationships, “people do business with other people." Consider the "lifetime value" of a customer, not just a one-time sale. Finding money takes consistent efforts practiced overtime. Don’t be fearful always ask for the sale when the moment is right. Learn the sales skills that can increase your bottom line.
Listening: A great salesperson hears what the customer wants - their concerns and priorities. When calling on a customer listen so you can understand how your product or service meets the customer's budget needs better than a competitors.
Ask questions: Ask the customer relevant questions to draw them out. "What do you like in your current situation?" "What don't you like?" "What features are the most important?"
Present clear benefits, not what you do: You work with your product or service every day, so it's natural to focus on the details of your work. But customers don't always want to know the ins-and-outs of your business; they want to know how you save them money while meeting their needs.
Be honest: Lying is not only unethical and possibly illegal. It's also a sure-fire way to lose clients and potential customers.
Compare, don't criticize, your competition: Stay, factual - positive - compare your benefits and value with your competitors.
Build relationships: We all prefer to do business with people we like and trust. You might want to make a little less profit to begin an ongoing customer relationship. Get to know your customers; find out about their businesses or families. One way small businesses can beat out the big guys is by building strong relationships.
Get aggressive: Create cost effective ways to find work for your business. Develop online web search engine optimization (SEO), social network groups, or post your business card with local shop owners. Find low cost workers including school intern assistants use personal contacts. As your work load grows, you will have less time to solicit new business with more of your time spent servicing existing clients.
Do your homework, be prepared to get that sale, take a deep breath and relax. As long as you are prepared and understand the sales process, you will do just fine. Whether you are cold calling a potential client or making a person-to-person presentation, always think of how to close the deal. Remember these sales tips;
Believe in your product or service
Practice your presentation
Create the Need – Why does the customer need your product or service?
Think of your objection handling strategy
Review what went right or wrong after your sales calls
Learn to accept "No" for an answer
Measure your sales success making adjustments – challenge yourself to do better each time
Sales are a natural and powerful part of any business life. You don't have to be a naturally-gifted salesperson to be successful. The sales process gets easier with each success. Just do it!
For more information email sustainablevirtualteams@yahoo.com or call (503) 621-4953.
One natural business truth is that you have to sell if you want to stay in business. Currently, achieving sales success seems overwhelming given the reported months of over 450,000 job losses and the U.S. Congressional Budget Office announcing estimates of the $11 Trillion budget deficit for the next decade. We are witnessing the world’s largest economy appearing to shrink by over 2.3 percent this year alone, the most since 1946.
However, as companies continue to cancel orders, return goods to vendors, cutting jobs and overhead expenses. Many opportunities exist for high quality home based business entrepreneurs that offer cost effective niche products or services.
Increasing sales during economic crisis particularly for the home based business entrepreneur may be the single most important learned skill of any business survival plan. Every contact, company large or small during a tough economy is a potential new sale. Customers are responding to discounts seeking the “most bang for the buck” cutting expenses across the board. Take heart entrepreneurs: sales is a craft, not an art. It can be learned.
During competitive economic climates first think in terms of building personal relationships, “people do business with other people." Consider the "lifetime value" of a customer, not just a one-time sale. Finding money takes consistent efforts practiced overtime. Don’t be fearful always ask for the sale when the moment is right. Learn the sales skills that can increase your bottom line.
Listening: A great salesperson hears what the customer wants - their concerns and priorities. When calling on a customer listen so you can understand how your product or service meets the customer's budget needs better than a competitors.
Ask questions: Ask the customer relevant questions to draw them out. "What do you like in your current situation?" "What don't you like?" "What features are the most important?"
Present clear benefits, not what you do: You work with your product or service every day, so it's natural to focus on the details of your work. But customers don't always want to know the ins-and-outs of your business; they want to know how you save them money while meeting their needs.
Be honest: Lying is not only unethical and possibly illegal. It's also a sure-fire way to lose clients and potential customers.
Compare, don't criticize, your competition: Stay, factual - positive - compare your benefits and value with your competitors.
Build relationships: We all prefer to do business with people we like and trust. You might want to make a little less profit to begin an ongoing customer relationship. Get to know your customers; find out about their businesses or families. One way small businesses can beat out the big guys is by building strong relationships.
Get aggressive: Create cost effective ways to find work for your business. Develop online web search engine optimization (SEO), social network groups, or post your business card with local shop owners. Find low cost workers including school intern assistants use personal contacts. As your work load grows, you will have less time to solicit new business with more of your time spent servicing existing clients.
Do your homework, be prepared to get that sale, take a deep breath and relax. As long as you are prepared and understand the sales process, you will do just fine. Whether you are cold calling a potential client or making a person-to-person presentation, always think of how to close the deal. Remember these sales tips;
Believe in your product or service
Practice your presentation
Create the Need – Why does the customer need your product or service?
Think of your objection handling strategy
Review what went right or wrong after your sales calls
Learn to accept "No" for an answer
Measure your sales success making adjustments – challenge yourself to do better each time
Sales are a natural and powerful part of any business life. You don't have to be a naturally-gifted salesperson to be successful. The sales process gets easier with each success. Just do it!
For more information email sustainablevirtualteams@yahoo.com or call (503) 621-4953.
