On a lovely Sunday afternoon, it was very quiet as usual, and I felt like there should be some noise in the background. I turned on the TV and QVC was on. If you don’t know what QVC is, it’s one of the largest television/online shopping networks. They feature a large range of products which are presented by very enthusiastic, knowledgeable guests. The item being presented was a simple table, but you would not believe how much they had to talk about for an entire segment about a basic table! I felt inspired to share with you some tips that you can apply directly to your curvy-friendly business to increase sales.* Naturally when you’re selling a product, you like to talk about all the features and bells and whistles that makes your product fabulous. While this is great, you need to tell your prospects about the benefits and WHY to buy…and do so repeatedly. What this does is solidify what your product/service can do for them in a more realistic way. They may not understand all the features, but if you tell them WHY in a way that makes sense, then you will capture their attention and be at the forefront of their memory when they are ready to buy.* Give examples and stories of how to use your product. These are otherwise known as testimonials. However, if you tweak your testimonials a bit so that they tell a story and paints a picture of what the customer will experience once they’ve bought your product, it truly brings your products to life. It’s absolutely amazing how people can use the exact same product in so many different way.* Plug shameless promotion on all the media attention you have received. Even if you were picked up by a local newspaper or quoted on someone else’s blog, publicity is publicity. This helps to increase your visibility and build your credibility which all leads to more sales for your business.* Do not make money the deciding factor for prospects to purchase your products or services. In today’s economy, spending hasn’t stopped completely, it has changed, and everyone is keeping an eye out for the best deals and values for their hard earned dollars. You don’t have to heavily discount your offerings but you can offer easy payments or provide additional value that won’t stretch your business budget too far.* Connect with your audience in a more personal way, people really don’t want to be sold. In your copy, pretend that you’re talking to a friend; how would you share your offerings with them in a way that fosters relationships? Eliminate a lot of “I” and add more “you” in your marketing messages.* Get other people to talk about what you do and what you’re offering. This is a little bit different than a testimonial. A testimonial is usually a one-time statement that someone told you. What if you were to invite your clients to actually present your products and services to others as guests? It definitely sounds a lot better to your potential clients coming from someone else than it does coming from you talking about all the great stuff you do. As entrepreneurs, we’re very biased and it can come across in our messages. Let happy clients do the ground work for you and watch your sales skyrocket!* Never rely on one form of media to reach your audience. Video has been an increasingly popular medium that is being used to connect with others. Develop a strategy that allows you to effectively and efficiently use technology: phones (teleseminars), video (webinars), blogs, email, social media, etc. Go where your target market is and connect with them in ways that captures their attention.* Give your customers an opportunity to talk about why they purchased your product before it arrives in their inbox or mailbox. One of the most fun parts of watching QVC is when they take callers live right after they’ve made the purchase. They’re so excited, they just can’t wait to tell everyone about how great your product/service is and what they plan to do with it. Ask your customers what they’re looking forward to, what do they expect, and see what they say.* Always tell your clients what’s coming up next or give them a sneak peek of what’s to come. We’re naturally curious human beings and if you have something interesting coming down the pipeline, we want to know about. Use this strategy to peak their interest so this way your audience is always expecting you to bring them something fresh and new.* Rinse and repeat with tons of energy and enthusiasm! For goodness sake, the segment on QVC was about a table, but I was really engaged and almost fascinated. Have fun with your business, test out some of these techniques and continue to do what works.Do you watch QVC? What techniques will you try for your business?
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