How to earn and learn to start your own selling business in simple steps 8

1.) Creating an image
• The first step in starting your own selling stint is to visualize your own image. When I say image I am referring to what you want your clients to see you as. What you see yourself as is what your client will perceive of you. Be confident and practice talking, the way you project yourself can spell the success or failure of your potential deal.

2.) Invest in contacts
• In the selling business, making friends is the key. Invest in meeting clients, even if they are unsure of buying from you; show them that you value them. A simple gesture as buying them coffee or simple gifts like food will work wonders. Even if they don’t buy from you they could still refer you if ever they meet people who are interested, which translates into free advertising.

3.) Never be afraid to ask!
• How do we learn? We learn by asking. May it be a client or your supplier asks! Ask your client what it is they are looking for. Ask about their preferences. Hell! Even ask them what they think about you!

4.) Value your client’s opinions
• This is something I learned from one of my best teachers in marketing and has been a great tool in selling, “Opinions are like assholes everyone has them. “ People love sharing their ideas. If they say something bad be optimistic use it as a way to improve your selling point or yourself.

5.) Learn about your product
• How will you sell your product if you don’t even know what it is? Use the internet as your advantage. Research about opinions of others, that’s what reviews are for. Use the advantages that your product offers as your selling points and the disadvantages as a comparison to the competing products.
• If you know your product well enough your client can clear out his doubts about what you are selling, a customer’s enemy is doubt.

6.) Answer “YES and BUT” to any rejection
• I’ll give you an example. Let’s say you are selling a phone and the customer tells you that the other store is selling the same phone at a much cheaper price and is coaxing you to lower your prices. What do you do? Answer in a manner that you acknowledge what he is saying but you have confidence that the product you are selling is better than the other store even though you are selling the same item, the words “YES and BUT” are the key. “YES sir! They are selling at a much cheaper price… BUT are you sure that their product really came from *whatever country*?”
• Filipinos are notorious at haggling, once a seller succumbs to what the customer is saying he has already lost the potential to earn something from the buyer.

7.) Always deliver to an agreement
• Once you have successfully agreed upon a deal never break it. If you agreed that the delivery of the product will be at a certain date and place make sure it comes through! A trait of a great salesman or businessman is never going back on his words. Not only will you able to please your client but also build a great rapport for future transactions. “Trust” is the core of any deal.

8.) Learn to be thankful
• After a deal has been accomplished be mindful to give a simple gesture of appreciation for the business, go beyond the call of duty. You not only show that you are a principled businessman but will also leave a lasting impression on your client further improving your rapport and chances to be referred to other clients.

*These are things I learned from years of selling and from school as a marketing student I do hope it helps you in whatever business venture you want to undertake.* Miguel N. Monzones