Strong sales are the lifeblood of any business. Whether you’re just starting as an entrepreneur or running a major corporation, reliable sales are the key to growing revenue. As economies and demands shift, this can be easier said than done. Fortunately, a few methods of driving sales stand the test of time. Here are six winning strategies.
1. Plan Your Goals Carefully
The key to an effective sales plan can be summed up in one word: numbers. A solid plan takes stock of what your ledger says now and your best possible prediction of what it will say at some predetermined point. The steps from the former to the latter can thus be plotted out using data. Accomplishing this means developing your business analytics tools and tactics. Consider investing in systems like Google Analytics and number-crunching algorithms to learn where you stand and plan what you hope to achieve.
2. Create a Community
Brands aren’t just businesses. They are identities. Whatever niche consumers occupy, they tend to take pride in the brands that they feel embody what their community stands for. Social media gives you a chance to engender this kind of community. Statistics show that existing customers (on average) generate a 67% greater value per order than fresh buyers. Keep those customers connected by keeping them engaged in groups, comment sections, and forums. Promotions like VIP offerings are another valuable incentive for brand loyalty. In other words, make your brand a social rallying point for your customer base.
3. Prioritize Market Research
It’s hard to build a sense of community with customers you don’t understand. For this reason, market research should be the cornerstone of your overall selling strategy. Who precisely are your customers, and what do they want? Discovering these things requires a combination of qualitative and quantitative research. Quantitative research should come in the form of questionnaires, point reviews, and demographic research. Qualitative data is more subjective. Impressions gained from focus groups and comments are invaluable for gauging shifting expectations and needs within your target audience.
4. Become a Visual Storyteller
Your customers are living in a world with precious few guarantees. Visual storytelling is a great way to present your bona fides to a skeptical public. Nobody wants to hear a salesperson talk about how great an offering is. They want to see it in action. Social media is a boon here, too. Instagram Stories and TikTok videos showing your products improving shoppers’ lives can practically sell the product for you. Partnering with trusted influencers in your industry can deepen the impact and help let your offerings speak for themselves.
5. Build Your Sales Funnel
The “sales funnel” concept has been around for over a hundred years. It’s about helping you visualize your customer’s journey with your company. The primary goal is lead generation. Although repeat buyers are critical, new business is equally necessary. The first experience many customers have with your brand is your web presence. Keeping your feeds regularly updated, using an attractive color scheme, and optimizing text for readability will convey a sense of your brand’s legitimacy in the market. Also, consider using longer textual formats like blogging. Long-form material lends itself to search engine optimization (SEO) strategies and provides meaningful content.
6. Emphasize Your Difference
You’ve got competition. Standing out in the crowd is vital to building and keeping a customer base. Two words are crucial here: differentiation and distinctiveness. In simple terms, brand differentiation results from a unique selling proposition (USP). It’s about offering something that other brands do not. This could take the form of quality standards or a broader social vision. Distinctiveness refers to the unique appearance and “feel” of your brand. Fun taglines, eye-catching iconography, and memorable logos all combine to make your company unforgettable and unmistakable.
Generating better sales isn’t rocket science. It’s the result of careful planning and imaginative execution. Keep these strategies in mind as you craft your sales strategies for the next quarter.
