Let’s talk about sales, baby.
It’s a word that so many marketers hate these days, but it’s because we don’t really know the true MEANING of the word! We think sales, and we think of the vacuum cleaner salesman showing up at the door during dinner.
And then it gets worse, because when we call ourselves marketers, we immediately lump ourselves in with the sleazy salesmen that no one wants to be around.
But friends, today is a very special day because we’re going to turn that entire notion on its head and talk about how to become a master marketer without ever coming close to sleazy selling in any way, shape or form.
Here are five ways on how to sell without being salesy!
1. Get Going with Your Content marketing.
In case you haven’t heard, content marketing is the only kind of marketing that’s even LEFT. It’s also inherently generous because you’re literally sharing your very best stuff for free, on a regular basis, with an attentive audience that needs your solutions. When you do it right, content marketing is the backbone of your entire marketing effort.
2. Consider your email list to be a group of friends.
If you invited everyone on your mailing list over for dinner one night, would you greet them at the door with a sales pitch? Of course not! So consider every email you send to be like opening the door for your friends. Get to know them, share funny stories, and build a trust-based relationship before ever considering trying to sell them something.
3. Introduce people to each other.
This one is a bit counter-intuitive, so hear me out. When someone you know is facing a challenge, try to refrain at times from being the person who solves it. It’s great if you can, but more often, consider introducing that person to someone else in your network who can solve the problem. As an entrepreneur, you’re a connector, and the more people you can introduce to each other, the more you become the person everyone goes to when they need something.
4. Believe in your solutions.
Enthusiasm is contagious, but so is boredom. If you don’t deeply believe in the potential of your idea to help people, then others will simply not be lining up to buy what you sell. Especially as personal brand entrepreneurs, we simply must believe in what we do because it’s so much a part of who we are. So seriously, friends, you must believe in what you want people to buy. That belief will translate naturally and organically into the sales copy your write.
5. Speaking of sales copy…
Invest the time and resources required to write sales copy properly. It is a VERY different form of writing than anything else you’ve written, and if you’ve never done it before, there’s definitely a right way and a wrong way to do it. A friend of mine, Ray Edwards, is the best source I know of for quality copywriting training. His seven-step method will help you get your message across in a way that your audience will feel compelled to take action on afterward!
If there’s one big takeaway here, it’s to remember that people want to do business with other people. Talk to customers like they’re simply guests in your home, and build those lasting relationships. Remember… Relationships should be treasured, not used.
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