Giving away freebies is a great way to build a list of potential customers. By offering freebies such as free samples of your products, free guides for using products that you sell, free software, a free newsletter, free bonuses for buyers, free trials of your services, coupons, etc., you will generate interest in your business and products or services.
The key is to gather contact information from those who want to take you up on your free offer. Get the names and email addresses or mailing addresses, and possibly the phone numbers, of those who request your free item. That way you can send follow-up messages to them, giving them more info on your products and services, offering special discounts, etc. When they hear from you several times, they will become familiar with you and become more comfortable about purchasing from you.
If you don't overdo it by deluging them with contacts, they will feel that they know you and that you are a person they can trust. This does not mean that you should send them a bunch of unrelated offers. Your freebie should have something to do with a product or set of products that you are selling, and your follow-ups should appeal to potential customers who have shown that they are interested in what you are selling. For instance, if you are giving away samples of an additive to increase gas mileage, you would not send follow-up messages concerning wedding favors. Your follow-ups should have something to do with products or services that would relate to customers who have expressed interest in their vehicles.
A great place to publicize your freebies is a website called Freebie Force. Thousands of people are members of this website service which publicizes categories and lists of free stuff. These folks check the website regularly to request things that businesses are offering for free.
For more information on giving away and getting free stuff, visit the How To Get Free Stuff Squidoo Lens.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
A Hint From a Great Salesperson
Several years ago I came across a paperback book by a car salesman. I don't recall the name of the book or author, but I remember thinking that the book almost made me want to be a car salesperson. However the limitations of needing to work nights and weekends would not work for me as a mother with kids at home, and I never pursued that career.
I remember one important thing that this salesman always did - and it resulted in a lot of repeat business as well as new business for him. When potential customers came to look at cars, he would ask a lot about their lives, such as how many kids they had, what kind of car would suit their lifestyle best, what kind of job they had, etc. He showed a real interest in them as people, and that led to making sales.
But he didn't leave it at that. When he sold a car, he'd fill out a card with the name and address and phone number of his customer. He'd get the names of the family members and birthdays and anniversaries. He'd note any personal info that he had obtained. He sent a thank-you note soon after the sale and would include something in the note that let the customer know that he remembered something about him. He then sent them and their family members cards for birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. Other times he'd drop them a note and let them know when there would be a sale that might interest them. He'd ask them to send their friends in.
What he did was to build personal relationships with his customers. He knew when one of their kids was old enough to get a car or when they might be due to trade in a car for a newer model. So he'd send them a note or give them a call. By showing continued interest in them, they felt that he was "their" car salesperson. They would automatically think of him when they or anyone they knew needed a car.
Yes, it was a lot of work to keep up with his customers like that, but it paid off! He sold a lot of cars to former customers, their family members, and their friends.
This is something for us to think about. How can we show our customers that we look at them as real people and value them? Perhaps collecting their email addresses and sending them occasional messages that are not purely advertisements would help. But there is certainly even more value in sending your customer a birthday card or hand written note! Once you get a customer, you want to keep her for life!
I remember one important thing that this salesman always did - and it resulted in a lot of repeat business as well as new business for him. When potential customers came to look at cars, he would ask a lot about their lives, such as how many kids they had, what kind of car would suit their lifestyle best, what kind of job they had, etc. He showed a real interest in them as people, and that led to making sales.
But he didn't leave it at that. When he sold a car, he'd fill out a card with the name and address and phone number of his customer. He'd get the names of the family members and birthdays and anniversaries. He'd note any personal info that he had obtained. He sent a thank-you note soon after the sale and would include something in the note that let the customer know that he remembered something about him. He then sent them and their family members cards for birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. Other times he'd drop them a note and let them know when there would be a sale that might interest them. He'd ask them to send their friends in.
What he did was to build personal relationships with his customers. He knew when one of their kids was old enough to get a car or when they might be due to trade in a car for a newer model. So he'd send them a note or give them a call. By showing continued interest in them, they felt that he was "their" car salesperson. They would automatically think of him when they or anyone they knew needed a car.
Yes, it was a lot of work to keep up with his customers like that, but it paid off! He sold a lot of cars to former customers, their family members, and their friends.
This is something for us to think about. How can we show our customers that we look at them as real people and value them? Perhaps collecting their email addresses and sending them occasional messages that are not purely advertisements would help. But there is certainly even more value in sending your customer a birthday card or hand written note! Once you get a customer, you want to keep her for life!
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Making Sure Your Employees Aren't Driving Customers Away
If you own a business, one of your big concerns may be the perceptions that your employees give your customers or potential customers. If customers are waited on politely and quickly, they will have a good experience in your place of business. But if your salespersons ignore them, are rude, or do not communicate the right information to them, people visiting your business may never return again.
Since you can't be observing and listening in on every interaction between your salespersons and customers, you might need to do spot checks using mystery shoppers. If you aren't sure how or why to use mystery shoppers, read the article, "Mystery Shopping Improves Bottom Line for Business." This will give you insight into how getting regular reports from secret shoppers will make you aware of improvements, corrections, and retraining that are periodically needed so that you will not only bring in customers, but will retain them. Customers who are pleased with their experience in your place of business will spend more money and may even refer their friends to spend money. And that means that you'll be accomplishing your goal to make more sales!
Happy Selling!
Karen
Since you can't be observing and listening in on every interaction between your salespersons and customers, you might need to do spot checks using mystery shoppers. If you aren't sure how or why to use mystery shoppers, read the article, "Mystery Shopping Improves Bottom Line for Business." This will give you insight into how getting regular reports from secret shoppers will make you aware of improvements, corrections, and retraining that are periodically needed so that you will not only bring in customers, but will retain them. Customers who are pleased with their experience in your place of business will spend more money and may even refer their friends to spend money. And that means that you'll be accomplishing your goal to make more sales!
Happy Selling!
Karen
Friday, September 5, 2008
Making More Ebay Sales
One of the most popular places to sell stuff is Ebay. However, many people who list their things there are disappointed to find that the competition is so hot for the item they are trying to sell that they either get no bids or end up getting so few bids that they don't get the price they want.
It's important to write a headline and description which grabs attention. Good pictures of what you are selling help too. And don't overcharge on the shipping - that will keep people from bidding on your product.
A little known and rarely used way of getting people to bid on YOUR listing instead of on a competitor's listing is to offer free bonuses to go with your product. If you are selling a book, can you add a couple free books (that you want to get rid of anyhow) as free bonuses to the winning bidder? If you are selling your old computer, can you throw in some free software to add to the deal?
Emphasize the words "Free Bonus" early in your listing. People love to get something for free. It will draw attention and make your product listing stand out from similar ones. If you can write a free report or a list of tips for use of the product you are selling, you could offer that as a Free Bonus.
If you are selling an item which can bring you a decent profit, consider offering a free $500 Gas Certificate to the winning bidder! Now that should grab attention and secure stiff competition for your product! With an offer like that, you just might see the bids soar way over the actual retail value of the item you are selling!
Don't worry - it'll only cost you $16.00 or less to give away $500 in free gas. Click the link to get details.
If you are looking for high ticket items to sell, check out this source for products to sell on Ebay.
If you aren't sure about the best ways to make money with Ebay, you may want to read Become an Ebay Power Seller in 90 Days. It will give you a kick-start to selling on Ebay.
Many people make a bit of extra spending money selling stuff on Ebay. Others make a living and have been able to quit their jobs. But many people fail. Do your research and learn the tricks, and you'll soon be a successful Ebay seller yourself!
Happy Selling!
Karen
It's important to write a headline and description which grabs attention. Good pictures of what you are selling help too. And don't overcharge on the shipping - that will keep people from bidding on your product.
A little known and rarely used way of getting people to bid on YOUR listing instead of on a competitor's listing is to offer free bonuses to go with your product. If you are selling a book, can you add a couple free books (that you want to get rid of anyhow) as free bonuses to the winning bidder? If you are selling your old computer, can you throw in some free software to add to the deal?
Emphasize the words "Free Bonus" early in your listing. People love to get something for free. It will draw attention and make your product listing stand out from similar ones. If you can write a free report or a list of tips for use of the product you are selling, you could offer that as a Free Bonus.
If you are selling an item which can bring you a decent profit, consider offering a free $500 Gas Certificate to the winning bidder! Now that should grab attention and secure stiff competition for your product! With an offer like that, you just might see the bids soar way over the actual retail value of the item you are selling!
Don't worry - it'll only cost you $16.00 or less to give away $500 in free gas. Click the link to get details.
If you are looking for high ticket items to sell, check out this source for products to sell on Ebay.
If you aren't sure about the best ways to make money with Ebay, you may want to read Become an Ebay Power Seller in 90 Days. It will give you a kick-start to selling on Ebay.
Many people make a bit of extra spending money selling stuff on Ebay. Others make a living and have been able to quit their jobs. But many people fail. Do your research and learn the tricks, and you'll soon be a successful Ebay seller yourself!
Happy Selling!
Karen
Welcome to My Blog!
This new blog has been formed for the purpose of helping people who want to increase their sales of whatever products or services they sell. Comments from those who want to share creative and important ideas that will help others are welcome. If you know people who sell things, whether online or in person, refer them to this blog. My hope is that it will become a community of positive people who share positive ideas.
Selling can be difficult and discouraging. It's important to remember that even if you have a good product at a good price, there still will be people who will not buy. It's a numbers game. The more people to whom you present your product or service, the more sales you'll make. Only a certain percentage will buy. Don't take a non-buying decision as a personal rejection. Just keep playing the "game!" Present your product and believe in it and yourself. Don't give up. Realize that it will take a certain number of presentations before you'll find a buyer. Determine what number of presentations you need to make in order to make the number of sales you need to make. Then go for it!
Offering incentives to get people to listen to your sales presentation or to purchase your product can help increase your percentage of successes. Personally, I like to offer Free Gas Certificates as an incentive.
Find an incentive that works for your customers. It may be a discount or a gift. Get their attention with the incentive. Then show them how great your product or service is and ask for the sale!
Happy selling!
Karen
Selling can be difficult and discouraging. It's important to remember that even if you have a good product at a good price, there still will be people who will not buy. It's a numbers game. The more people to whom you present your product or service, the more sales you'll make. Only a certain percentage will buy. Don't take a non-buying decision as a personal rejection. Just keep playing the "game!" Present your product and believe in it and yourself. Don't give up. Realize that it will take a certain number of presentations before you'll find a buyer. Determine what number of presentations you need to make in order to make the number of sales you need to make. Then go for it!
Offering incentives to get people to listen to your sales presentation or to purchase your product can help increase your percentage of successes. Personally, I like to offer Free Gas Certificates as an incentive.
Find an incentive that works for your customers. It may be a discount or a gift. Get their attention with the incentive. Then show them how great your product or service is and ask for the sale!
Happy selling!
Karen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
