What are your processes for getting sales?

Alex and Betsy,

I definitely agree 100% in the relationship-building approach to getting sales. I think it is probably one of the most powerful methods of getting sales because it has an emotional or personal stake in the decision. With a relationship you build trust, communication, and most importantly you learn how to address the needs of your customers. Social networking tools are just another medium in which people can build relationships to help get sales.

Standard WOM and referrals are not dead in my opinion, and they are not moved into extinction with the unveiling of all of these new online methods of communication. If anything, I think these are just tools that more effectively spread WOM messaging and referrals to a broader audience and give you the opportunity to build relationships on a much larger scale. You can still do one-on-one marketing and customized messaging, now you just have more options than meeting face to face.

Cheers!

I've found that facebook is a great source of new and prospective custom. I make a point of announcing sales, special offers or news related to what I sell in the applications available there. Another professional forum I use has an announcement page where folk can list their wares and services, this is a huge plus to the site in giving and receiving!

Usually once a month I get out to sell on terra firma, at fairs.. it's nice to have that physical contact with customers which is absent in on-line selling.

 Hello, this is Betsy. Happy Sunday to all.  I Have started another business. I am now a distributor of Send Out Cards.  I use send out cards to stay intouch with my customers, and to stay intouch with my family and friends. I enjoy it so much that I decided to be a distributor. check out the link at the bottom of my signature and try it for yourself.

Hi,

Thanks for this useful information.  I'm a new one in this forum.  I must appreciate the tools provided by you.  Please keep updating me in this regard.

CSK

I used to own a store located in a shopping mall selling cell phones, plans and accessories several years ago. It was a typical retail business model based on foot traffic and convenience. However, I felt the need to change my sales model in order to increase the sales volume. I pursued an aggressive sales promotion plan such as giving way 3 free accessories when you buy a plan, free accessory replacement for one year etc. The cost of the accessories such as holsters, hands free kits(except Bluetooth devices), chargers are so low that I decided to sacrifice the profit I would be making by selling accessories for the sake of selling more plans and drive more traffic to the store.

I also tried to develop a relation-ship building method mentioned in this thread. You would think that would be just a waste of time and effort when you have a store in a mall where you expect a steady traffic to the store most of the time but you need to try everything you can think of in order to pay for ridiculously expensive store rent. Yes, customer flow is there but you are also facing a stiff competition because you can easily find 6-7 different carrier kiosks, stores within a few hundred yards! I don’t even need to mention the brick and mortar competitors outside the mall and online competitors. I built a client email database over time and sent emails periodically to my clients to inform them about new products, promotions etc. I organized raffles offering free products or deep discounts in order to appeal to both new and existing clients.

I also built a small direct sales team as a new sales channel. The sales people worked from home and they went after business and corporate clients by cold calling and site visits. They were quite successful in establishing and developing relationships with business clients which opened new horizons for the business. The direct sales team also brought in new influx of business clients shopping for personal needs to the store. As a result my sales went up significantly.

It's a typical and at the same time a good question. There're people who are specialized in both the categories you have mentioned. I have read a lot of posts where i see people talking that they hate selling products through telephone & love selling it door - door. Also there are people who hate doing door - door selling & loves telephonic sales leads.

So often I see people thinking blindly that if they put their website online they can get more business and that it will just come because they have a website.  I try to build the popularity of the website locally where I'm already connected before trying to compete with "the entire world" online.  And then continue to pick focused and nearby regions to promote their website in.

Focus on the customer goes far beyond the words coming out of your mouth. Your focus directly affects your body language, your tone, and your message. These are three of the key factors that customers use to determine if they like you and if your product can solve their problem. The content of your message will naturally be in-line with what the customer would like to hear if you focus on the customer and nothing else. When you are in-sync with the customer, then the customer will guide the conversation all the way to the commitment to buy. You need to care about the customer personally and care about solving their problem before you can ask them to buy from you. Many salespeople are well intentioned but lose focus of their customer somewhere during their conversation. It is this ability to maintain your focus that will not only differentiate you from your competition; it will win you more sales.

both are important to me...word of mouth creates long term client satisfaction...as always I am a huge proponent of being private with others...refering happens...enjoy your time & relations...my industry has changed to where what I provide is in higher demand....all the corporate need... the play stockholders & our public have had desiring corps who fly corp jets opened the hire to private cos like myself to fill the gaps...what many non private flyers understand is so limited....until you travel outside the box do you gather the information to aide you in better decision making when it comes to commercial or private air travel...Jet Girl