You spend countless hours and days to make your dream come true,''your very own right to call yourself boss''. As days go by and bills paid, stocks piled, website ready and up to go, what do you do next?
You can't just sit there and wait for an order unless you already have an established clientele from your previous dealings. We are talking here about, new business, new base, new name, new products and new problems.
First line of attack, we set up social networking pages, feeds, news like facebook, twitter, pinterest and so on. Try our best to figure out what all SEO is all about and at times spending more than we should at promoting when it is cheaper to pay a monthly sum to some IT dude. It's a whole new world in online marketing. Most people don't even know what SEO means. It's Search Engine Optimisation. You can google that.
Basically, our first line of victims will be our family and relatives. Depending on what you are selling, they are the most receptive and if they like you, they might help spread the word and if they love you or the item the chances of them buying is higher.
If its a Tupperware party and you have free gifts to give out, I am sure there will be alot of attendees and some sales. It's the FREE and useful stuff that gets them in.
What i'm getting to is your second line of targets...your friends and acquaintances. Once again this depends on the item for sale. If it is insurance, assurance, some sort of stupid funeral fund I am 95% sure everyone will give you the ''Okay, I will think about it.'' treatment and never want to answer your calls or open your e-mails...what's worse is telling everyone else about it.
I have tried to 'sell/promote' some items in my lifetime and this is the feedback I got from friends.
- Thermomix (AUD2,000) - With home cooking and baking on the rise, surprisingly more people were excited about the product and quite a few people bought it...and a lot of others I found out has it.
- Bel'Air (Essential Oils) - This was a big hit when Lampe Berger was big as well. Sold quite a fair bit and also helped many as this promoted health.
- Insurance/Assurance - Don't bother, I almost lost friends from jokingly wanting to approach them. It is upfront NO!. I admit that I was not born to sell such products. I love my friendships too much.
- Amway/Cosway/Tupperware - Harder these days as every tom dick and harry is a member and they don't need you for further discounts.
- Jewellery - These are not cheap and usually people just buy it on a one-off basis unless you have a rich tycoon who buys diamonds from you every other month or even year. People feel an obligation to buy when it comes to friends but please don't as if they feel this way, they won't even show any interest which is worse. Alot of trust is needed.
- Festive cookies - A whole lot easier to sell be it friends, family or whomever.
- Electric stove - Too many brands out there and it is harder to stand out unless you do a home demo with an opposite sex to the potential buyer...like sending in Jamie Oliver to demo his cooking skills on the stove. Ladies love it and are blinded and buy it.
- Alcohol - Easy kill, when it's discounted its a seller. If it's rare and imported and good, it sells itself.
It is at times hard to part with the friendship, but sometimes a little bit of push might entice them to believe in your products and be your channel of passive advertising. How much is too much depends on yourself. You will feel guilt, shy, reserved, ultra confidence before they put you down and so on but you have to stay strong and believe in what you are doing. Take it as constructive criticisms and character building plus you are getting free knowledge.
The introduction of your venture is also an important event. The initial 'Hey I have something to share with you' is probably one of the most important times and usually using that line is an almost sure fail and the recipient's wall of skepticism builds up. Half the time they will be thinking of ways to reject you nicely. Unless you are selling a miracle or a real double-corn ride on the rainbow. The truth is you have nothing to SHARE but you have something to SELL! and it might not be of any use but just BUY it!.
I have been approached by many friends/acquaintances who want to sell me stuff or want me to join them. I feel there are a few approaches which I think almost got me. They pick their prey and pan out their words very carefully.
Such as...
(Someone selling insurance)
-'I've been in this business for donkey years and I am very flexible with my work hours. It is very satisfying when you can help someone to plan for their future. It is a small sacrifice for a lesser headache when you retire of if something happens to you and you leave your family with a large debt.' Ahem! I have no debts at the moment, I have no children, I have no job, I have way too many insurance.
- 'Oh, there is no such thing as enough in insurance. Even better when you can get your insurance premium paid for free if you recommend a potential to us to sign up or approach.' Geez that's like ME selling insurance just that you are doing the calls...
-'Come join my team, we work for XXX agency and we are one of the Top teams with alot of support and training. We will make sure you excel but you must be ready to work hard.
(Someone selling a car wash service)
-'When you come back to your car, it will be as nicely polished and waxed, you even get to have the products and do an upkeep at your own time. Low maintenance and easy'. I got caught up in this esp under the burning hot sun and a dusty car with bird poop. He did what he promised and gave me the stuff...years down the road I saw the similar product for AUD1.99 in BIG W. FML!
Anyway,
I guess the best approach is to present a like for like example, show some proof of the results, explain the hidden details no matter how bad it is. Be honest with what you are trying to sell and always tell them there is no obligations to buy. Most of the time I tell my friends that they are not obligated to buy and that any feedback or criticisms of the product is good for me, that way I can learn more and still maintain my precious friendships. Most of the time, you can tell if they will buy in the first 15 minutes, there after it is really on your skills and the product's magic to sell itself. Unless of cos you are selling an iPhone or Foxtel.
Don't product push too much, you have to sell yourself as well.
I hope I can make it working on my own as this is unbelievably SO NOT EASY!
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