Many people have a preconceived notion about selling. They think you have to be pushy and aggressive to sell your products or services. But, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
We’ve all been bothered by pushy sales people before, and we certainly don’t want to be anything like that. And unfortunately, those negative experiences have caused many of us to be scared to market our businesses at all.
But, you don’t have to harass family, friends and every complete stranger to grow your business. The best sales are effortless, natural and actually fun!
Selling is simply having a conversation about why you love what you do. Once you open up and start sharing your story, you’ll start selling! It can be as natural as discussing your kid’s summer camp or the books you’re currently reading.
Here are two questions that will help you promote your passion without the pitch:
- Why do you love your business? Before you can share your passion with others, you have to understand it yourself. Here are some examples:
- If you’re a photographer, do you love seeing families take time out of their busy schedules to capture precious memories to look back on? Or do you adore seeing children grow and change year after year?
- If you’re a talented seamstress, do you love seeing Instagram photos of newborns wearing your handmade dresses or booties? Or do you love the idea that this piece of clothing will be passed down to the next generation?
- If you’re a piano teacher, do you love that instant a child or adult finally masters a piece of music? Or when you can see the confidence on their face and the pride in their smile?
It’s important to think about what makes you excited about your business, because that’s what people are interested in. As Simon Sinek says, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”
- How can you share your passion with others? How do you get the word out without sounding pushy or being annoying? Here are a few easy ways:
- Get social. There are endless free platforms for you to use. Use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, your church bulletin, work forums, or your website to promote why you love what you do. People will enjoy seeing your clients (with permission of course) showing off new outfits, mastering a new song, or walking through a hay field hand in hand. Keep it about the why, not the what.
- Talk about it often. There are times when your photography business will come up naturally in conversation, like when a friend gets pregnant or a couple gets engaged. Then there are other times you need to be intentional about sharing what you love, like at your daughter’s ballet lesson or your spouse’s work dinner. Don’t practice a pitch. Instead, talk about the proud reaction you had from your 80-year-old piano student after she mastered Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Who doesn’t want to hear a story like that?
- Stay on people’s minds. At Dave Ramsey’s office where I work, we have forums where people can buy, sell or promote whatever they want. Many people promote their side businesses (think computer repair or quilt making) on a regular basis. They aren’t pushy. They’re friendly. And every couple months, these business owners send out simple reminders about what they do and how they can help. Don’t be afraid to remind your friends, family, coworkers and clients about your passion. With our busy lives, we could all use reminding!
What if you do all these things and nothing happens? You haven’t failed just because you don’t land a sale right away. A conversation today could wind up in a huge order come Christmas. So be patient, keep talking, and stay passionate. When you share your heart, the sale will naturally follow.
Photo by Rodion Kutsaev
Whether you’re in the idea phase, the creation phase, or the selling phase of your new business, there’s no doubt you have questions. Christy Wright’s Business Boutique is where you can find the answers. Christy will speak alongside an incredible lineup of women leaders and business experts, including Lysa TerKeurst, Christine Caine, Rachel Cruze, and more. You can catch her in Phoenix Arizona, May 13th and 14th, or in Dallas Texas, May 20th and 21st. Learn more at www.businessboutique.com.
Christy Wright
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