Kelley McShane |
The Granny Squibb Co. LLC CEO
When selling a product or a service, it’s important to create a strong and fluid sales strategy. Being able to double down on what’s working, and move on from what’s not, can make or break your business.
Here are some strategies for designing your sales plan.
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Have a sales pitch ready to go. You need to be able to communicate the value of your service or product quickly and effectively. Business owners live and breathe their products, so it’s easy to overlook the fact that people who are new to your brand may need basic context that you may take for granted. You need to be able to verbalize your pitch and have available a sheet or sales deck that can be handed or emailed to someone immediately. This deck or one sheet needs to be crisp, clean and pop visually. It needs to have a concise description of your services or product photos. It needs to include a differentiator and a value proposition. Make it short! Remember, you only have a couple seconds to hook someone.
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Think of your customers as your sales team. If you’re providing a useful service or an excellent product, they will talk about and recommend it. Your customers’ value will extend well beyond their purchases if you stay in touch and continue to support them in meaningful ways. Remember, they already have relationships with other potential clients or buyers. Make them want to sell for you!
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Network! It’s obvious that you should be attending events and networking in your own industry, but don’t stop there! The importance of getting your business’s name and mission out there into communities you don’t naturally fit into is unquantifiable but real. You never know who you’re going to meet.