6 Ways to Increase Sales That Are Sitting Right Under Your Nose
Nouveau business ideas that are guaranteed to increase sales are peddled across the World Wide Web with what seems like ever-increasing frequency. From purchasing Facebook Likes to pursuing supposedly unpunishable black-hat SEO tactics, the too-good-to-be-true paths relied upon by the foolhardy rarely result in sales that lead to lasting positive results, because legitimately increasing sales can't be happened upon in the bottom of a jar of snake oil. Skip the tactics that are likely to fail or land you in hot water. Here are six simple ways to increase sales that are so simple, they're probably sitting right under your nose.
1. Get Incentivized
You probably already think you've got incentive to increase sales, and whether you're the boss or the sales director, you're probably right. However, there's no reason to avoid looking for more. Are you a securities software reseller? Learn how Cisco incentives help resellers sell more. Are you a marketing firm producing a wide variety of digital and online campaigns? Make winning a Webby Award a true goal. Almost every industry has a way to get incentivized beyond the day-to-day grind of desiring more sales. Let those incentives add fuel to your fire.
2. Sell to the Customers You Have
The customers who have already bought into your business are some of your greatest assets, and keeping them around, happy, and buying from you should be an essential part of your ongoing business plan. Everyone loves the idea of getting fresh leads and converting those leads into customers, but doing so takes a big investment of time and resources.
So, make things easier for yourself: Instead of trying to increase sales by acquiring new customers — a prospect that costs roughly four to 10 times more than retaining current ones — sell to the customers who already like your product or service. Target them with offers, loyalty incentives, and other promotions. Not only will it increase your sales, but it will also make your existing customer base feel appreciated.
3. Get Niche-ier
If you're already operating a successful business, the odds are pretty good that you've distinguished yourself from your competitors by operating within a niche that fits you and your customers' needs. Well it may be time to get even niche-ier. Within the markets you already sell to, identify even smaller niches. Then, target those niches with products and services that appeal more specifically to them. Customize your ad campaigns so those particular segments of your market can more easily see the appeal of what you offer as it relates to their desires.
4. Turn All Your Ads Into Offers
Are you developing new product lines and a new marketing campaign to promote them? Make sure all your advertising includes offers. Even if all you offer is free information related to what you're selling, doing so will generate more traffic and interest, which can then be converted into sales if you play your cards right. Just be sure that you're offering something of actual value to customers and potential customers. Nobody who's looking at buying a fishing boat is going to jump at a tutorial on how to bait a hook, but they would probably like to peruse a white paper regarding different boats' maintenance costs over time.
5. Undo the Customers' Risk
New customers are notoriously shy about shelling out money for a product or service they've never tried before. Instead of trying to coax them into doing business with you via glowing testimonials, a zillion positive reviews, and well-placed calls to action, remove their risk. Offer a money-back guarantee that covers a decent time period — at least 30 days — with no strings attached. By assuming all the risk of the transaction, you position your company and its wares as having unquestionable value. Customers will respond to your confidence and that money-back guarantee, which should result in a measurable uptick in sales.
6. Improve Your Copy
One of the easiest ways to increase sales is to say what you mean more effectively. Improve the copy on your website, social media sites, and print material so when potential customers consider what you have to offer, they arrive at understanding quickly. Lousy copy that’s meandering, grammatically incorrect, unnecessarily verbose, or otherwise off the mark will reduce sales. If writing clear and concise copy isn't your — or anyone in your employ's — strong suit, hire the job out to a firm or individual for whom it is.
Increasing sales doesn't have to be rocket science. As these six tips show, from removing customer risk to getting even more niche, many great opportunities are sitting right under your nose.
