To All The Frustrated People...

by max5ty
10 replies
Sales not going as planned?

Want a common sense, simple solution to sell more?

Want a new car? A better house? Fancy clothes? Better stuff for your family?

Well, all you have to do is sell more. Sounds simple but lots of people complicate things.

I've been in sales and I've been in marketing so I'm not telling you something I haven't done.

I started selling door to door in 1970 when I was 10. Was selling a little alarm that went on your door. When someone opened the door the alarm went off. I thought it was a great idea, after all, who couldn't use one of these nifty little things?

I just knew I was on my way to being the next 10 year old millionaire.

Did my plan work? No.

I spent two days going door to door and sold a grand total of one. My dear old piano teacher was my only customer. Not sure if she felt sorry for me because she knew I'd never be any good at the piano, or if she just thought I looked pathetic. Either way, my alarm selling career never took off.

Wasn't my last failure. There were too many others to mention.

Failures can teach a person a lot of very valuable lessons.

Here's a couple of those valuable lessons I discovered. Guess I shouldn't say "discovered" because they're nothing new. The "discovered" part means I simply put them to use. You can too.

The Plan...

First: I'm using websites as an example because the market seems flooded with offers. The great thing is, you can use these well known ideas with any product. Notice I said "well known?". They're well known but over looked because most have determined in their mind it takes too long to see any profit. Piffle.

1. Focus on your local area.

Some want to market to the whole world. Why? There's enough business around where you live to keep you busy for years. You have things in common with local businesses. You know their competitors. You know some of their clients and even some possible clients.

Usually those who market to the world are using a shotgun approach hoping to hit the easy targets. The easiest targets are right outside your door. The problem? It takes a little more effort.

2. Give away free stuff.

"Hey Mr/Mrs customer, I've built a website for you. Try it out for a few days and see what you think. I've also got some free reports you'll want to read like how to rank your site on the first page. How to write killer content. How to build a list. How to sell more to your current customers."

Whatever you give away, make sure it's some top notch stuff. Stuff they wouldn't normally get without paying for it.

Some will sit back and say, "Wow, aren't you giving away some money making secrets?".

Yep, sure am.

"Aren't you worried some will take advantage of you?". Some will. Am I worried? Nope.

When you give, you become a professional in your customers eyes. They're not wondering if you know what you're talking about...they can see. They're not wondering if you're a "fly by night" salesman. You've already proved you're not because you gave them your product to try out.

When I first started as a copywriter I didn't go around trying to drum up business by saying, "Mr/Mrs Customer, I can write you an ad that will get you more customers than the one you're running now". I simply rewrote their current ad, went and visited them and said here's what I can do...and here's what I did. I gave them loads of free info...matter of fact I overwhelmed them with free stuff.

You'll not only get more customers when you give, you'll also get more for what you're selling.

Problem is, most feel like they're being taken advantage of if they give free stuff away.

Think about this. How do you think your customer feels when you show up or call out of the blue with another "great way to skyrocket" their business? Don't you realize you're not the first, and won't be the last?

The day a business owner opens for business, the parade starts...

the endless parade of sales people stopping by.

T.V., Newspaper and radio people wanting to sell advertising. Next come the marketers that have bought the latest "get rich" course. Everybody is going to help the poor business person. I know because I've owned my share of businesses.

Why not be different? Why not give before you expect to get? You'll be a breath of fresh air.

Some will say, "I've heard this all before". Great, then if you're doing it you're making some big money!

I'm offering a couple tips that I've tried. Tips that have worked and will continue to work.

Put what I've said to the test.
#frustrated #people
  • Profile picture of the author scottgallagher
    Great message you've shared. Simple, direct and real. No B.S.

    This is from your experience, it shows. Thanks again.
    Signature
    Father, Entrepreneur, Author, Adranalist
    I teach entrepreneurs to build a sustainable Internet Marketing Agency with real value. I have many free resources and paid training programs available

    -->My Training Website
    -->My Agency Website
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    @ Max5ty,

    Awesome message. Even works on forums. People who are begging you to look at their sig barely get any clicks, but people who just give freely get clicks on almost every post they make. Are some going to take advantage and rehash your content?

    Sure.

    Is someone going to make a report out of this very post you just made or a blog post, and not give you credit?

    Absolutely.

    Do you care?

    No because there is abundance.

    I love this message and if you had a sig I would click it, just to hear more of what you have to say.

    As it stands I am going to start paying more attention to your posts.

    -John
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  • Profile picture of the author maxrezn
    *Laughs as he attempts to click on John's sig...to find that it's only a quote*
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  • Profile picture of the author David Miller
    Originally Posted by max5ty View Post

    Sales not going as planned?



    I've been in sales and I've been in marketing so I'm not telling you something I haven't done.
    A great message and clearly draws the line between sales and marketing showing that both are equally needed in any marketplace. I've found that the more competitive the marketplace, the greater the need for effective and creative marketing before you can expect any significant sales.
    Signature
    The big lesson in life, baby, is never be scared of anyone or anything.
    -- FRANK SINATRA, quoted in The Way You Wear Your Hat
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  • Profile picture of the author kellyyarnsbro
    Very frustating inddeed if the plans doesn't work and expectations are way off. Post is cool, it's real thing that happens, thanks for waking me up.
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  • Profile picture of the author moneyman2010
    Nice post..Yea like the give something a way free it's so true the more you give the more you get.And focus on your local area its a lot easier to start with first.
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  • Profile picture of the author cshilling22
    You make some very interesting points and give some good advice on how to get started. I would just caution people from giving away too much for free. Sometimes it can work in reverse and people will devalue your work in the future because they have gotten it for free. You want to establish yourself as an expert who deserves to get paid a good price for your work and expertise. Don't make them think that they are paying for services, show them that they are INVESTING in their business. Business owners want to grow their business, increase customers, and get a good ROI. If you can offer them that you can earn a client for life and a great reference.
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    • Profile picture of the author misterme
      Originally Posted by cshilling22 View Post

      I would just caution people from giving away too much for free. Sometimes it can work in reverse and people will devalue your work in the future because they have gotten it for free. You want to establish yourself as an expert who deserves to get paid a good price for your work and expertise.
      Would I be correct in saying the mind set ought to be more like you're letting a prospect sample a tiny slice of your fine services, much like a restaurant might offer a small portion of their regular dish as a taste?
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      • Profile picture of the author cshilling22
        Originally Posted by misterme View Post

        Would I be correct in saying the mind set ought to be more like you're letting a prospect sample a tiny slice of your fine services, much like a restaurant might offer a small portion of their regular dish as a taste?
        That could be correct. I am not saying that this is a horrible idea. I just prefer to use a lead in service that is affordable and demonstrates value, usually a mobile website (usually using decoy pricing). That way they are used to paying for the services and are able to see the value I am bringing at the same time. Also once you build up your client level and have a good business going I think you are less likely to want to give things away for free because you are making money and have proven that people will pay a good price for your services, so that is where I am at.

        If it gives people confidence and helps them take action I would say do whatever makes you feel comfortable to get those initial and ongoing customers. Just make sure that you are creating a sustainable business model and are positioning yourself the way that you would like to be positioned.
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    • Profile picture of the author max5ty
      Originally Posted by cshilling22 View Post

      You make some very interesting points and give some good advice on how to get started. I would just caution people from giving away too much for free. Sometimes it can work in reverse and people will devalue your work in the future because they have gotten it for free. You want to establish yourself as an expert who deserves to get paid a good price for your work and expertise. Don't make them think that they are paying for services, show them that they are INVESTING in their business. Business owners want to grow their business, increase customers, and get a good ROI. If you can offer them that you can earn a client for life and a great reference.
      Giving freely is not for the faint of heart.

      Here's how I view it.

      I'll keep it simple.

      If your local auto mechanic were to send out a free report giving you a step by step guide on how to change your oil, the average car owner wouldn't be out next weekend with their car jacked up changing the oil.

      You would however the next time you needed an oil change, probably go to that mechanic because you'd feel a certain loyalty to him. After all, he must really care about you and your car. You wouldn't say, "Wow, I don't value his service that highly anymore after getting that free report".

      If you were to give a business owner a report that gave them step by step instructions on building their own website...the average business owner wouldn't take the time to do it. The ones that did probably weren't going to buy from you anyways.

      What would happen is the business owner would be impressed with your knowledge and your professionalism and feel you cared about his/her success.

      When you give freely to someone, they feel a need to repay you for your generosity. There are those who will take advantage of you, but all factors considered you come out ahead when you're willing to give.

      It can be a tough concept to grasp...but a profitable one.

      Not every idea is something every person is comfortable with. If you're not, by all means keep doing what works for you.
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