Do you hate selling?
Maybe you’re even one of the many people who hates sales, salespeople and everything that goes along with it. Honestly, these days I don’t blame you.
From telemarketers to used car salesmen, we’re bombarded with people trying to force us to buy things we don’t really want or need. And these rude, non-listening, aggressive types have given sales a very bad name.
However, it’s almost impossible to be a successful entrepreneur if you hate selling Because the one thing you have to be able to do in business is sell.
You’ve got to sell your partner on your ideas…Your employees on doing it your way…Your clients on the value of your products or services…
The list goes on.
The good part is, most of us are already master salespeople. And have been since we were little kids.
Think about it…
Remember campaigning for weeks (or even months) to get that one particular toy for your birthday?
Or hounding your folks until they let you drive, or stay out late?
And at some point you’ve probably persuaded a friend to go to a certain restaurant, buy a particular item, or wear a different outfit…
Or convinced your child to do their homework, go to bed, or eat their green beans…
In each of these examples, you had to sell someone on something. And I bet at the time you had no issue whatsoever with trying to make the sale. Probably because you felt confident you were persuading each of them to do what you thought was best.
Now let’s fast forward to today…
You’ve got a service and/or product to sell that you really believe in. But maybe you feel uncomfortable telling people why it’s so great. Or with actually asking people to part with their hard-earned dough.
That’s understandable, but it’s also a big problem. Because if you want to grow your business, at some point you are going to have to get clients or make sales.
Thankfully, there are much better, easier, ways to sell than the old used car salesman stereotype implies.
What you really want to do is simply get people to want to buy from you. Because everyone likes to buy, but no one likes to be sold.
Here are 5 of my favorite ways to get people to want to buy from you:
1) Be a problem solver. If you show someone you can solve one of their most pressing problems, you are well on your way to landing a new client (Testimonials and case studies are a powerful way to do this). And if you deliver, you’re likely to have a long-term client and a raving fan for life!
2) Be an educator. Anytime you can teach effectively—whether formally as a speaker or writer, or informally to clients and customers—you are automatically seen as a expert. And if the information you give away is helpful people are going to want more of your expertise.
3) Be an expert. People seek out experts, and are willing to pay them more. The easiest way to become an expert is by speaking and/or writing. Nothing says expert like your own book or you standing behind a podium.
4) Be a resource. Giving someone a quality referral to a solution or provider builds your reputation as someone who cares and is helpful. And it shows you have a lot more to offer than just your products or services.
5) Be someone who cares. Always be on the lookout for ways to make a difference for others. This could be as simple as offering a free tips sheet or report, or even helping someone carry a stack of boxes. Or it could be as complicated as volunteering with your local non-profit or networking group.
The common thread here…?
Not once did I use the words sales, sell or selling. Instead I’ve given you 5 ways to pay attention and find ways to help other people.
Because selling is all about you and your needs. But if you want people to buy from you, it’s got to be about helping them get what they need. They need to know, and believe, you truly have their best interests at heart.
My guess is you already do. You may have just been so focused on making (or avoiding making) sales you forgot to show others you care about them, their happiness, and their success.
Now I’m not saying you shouldn’t focus on making sales and growing your business. Just that this should come in a close second to helping other people.
Once you get in the habit of doing this, sales have a wonderful way of happening on their own.
Simple Solutions for Making Sales When You Hate Selling - To learn more about this author, visit Stacy Karacostas's Website.
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Stacy Karacostas
(Visit Stacy's Website)
Practical Marketing Expert, speaker and
author Stacy Karacostas specializes in
taking the stress, struggle and confusion
out of growing your small business. For
more down-to-earth, business-building
wisdom that’s sure to save you cash and
bring you clients, grab a copy of her free
report “The 7 Deadliest Small Business
Marketing Sins…Are You Guilty?” at www.success-stream.com/7sins.htm.
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