Small Business – 10 Key Attributes Your Sales Staff Must Have
One of the most important assets that any small business can have is effective sales people. Without them, you simply do not have a business that will work or more importantly make sales. Over the last ten years of operating a number of small businesses I have found 10 key attributes all sales staff must have to be successful.
Attribute 1: They Must Be Friendly and Approachable
Without friendly and approachable sales staff your customers will never buy from you. Let me share with you an example, two days ago I visited a well known sandwich store in Townsville Australia. The sandwich artist (better know as their salesman) was incredibly rude and unapproachable. In fact this young woman was so rude to both my wife and myself we almost walked out of the store and I know for a fact that two other people did, because I watched them. Her problem was quite apparent she did not want to be there and that was obvious.
If you were the business owner and the person was being abrupt and plainly rude, people simply will not take it and they will walk away. I still cannot understand how businesses can survive with rude sales staff. Some do though.
Attribute 2: They Must Always Be Polite
One of the biggest killer of sales is when you get to close to a customer and all of the sudden you let your guard down and say something inappropriate. When ever dealing with a customer you must always be polite and never resort to any vulgar language even if sharing a joke, because in many cases this will kill off a sale.
Attribute 3: Smile and Have a Clean Sense of Humour
The quickest way to disarm a customer is to smile at them. It is amazing how often just a little smile will stop the ranting and raving of a disgruntled customer. Too many people today, walk around on this earth with a scowl on their face and if you do this you will have no chance of making a sale. Nobody wants to buy from a grump.
Attribute 4: Always be well dressed
It does not matter whether you are a panel beater or mechanic, car cleaner or office girl, you should always present yourself in a well dressed manner. When choosing a uniform for your staff make sure that it will always look smart regardless of the work that they do.
Attribute 5: Follow-up all leads
Ninety percent of lost sales, simply are caused by people not following up in an appropriate amount of time. When ever you receive a customer enquiry that you cannot deal with immediately, make sure you inform the customer when you will follow-up with them and ensure you stick with that date.
Attribute 6: Ask the Customers What Their Needs Are
Look, as a small business owner, I am guilty of this, if you do not know what the customer wants, then simply ask them. I can assure you they will tell you. Never fear customers are not afraid of sharing with you their opinions or issues, just ask them
Attribute 7: Help the Customer Save Money and Get A Bargain
Every customer loves a bargain. Just look at the number of $2 shops that popup all around the world. Look at how many people travel half way across the world to travel to places like asia to shop in their cheap markets. Customers love a bargain and love to be shown how they are saving money, even when you are charging them more than someone else. Simply educate them why your deal is better then the next persons.
Attribute 8: Educate the Customer, Offer an Opinion or Have a Clear Recommendation
Salesman who are very successful will always have an opinion on what is the best product or service and why. Tell the customer why you recommend a certain product over another. Clearly educate the customer on what to look for when buying the product or service. If your product is not the one to buy or will not suit them then tell then what is the best option. You will be surprised how often you may not get that sale, but definitely get the next one by being honest with the customer.
Attribute 9: Help the Customer
If you cannot service the customers needs, then tell them somebody who can. We often will go to places like Harvey Norman or Tandy to buy certain products and they always tell us if they can not supply the product who can. Do you know the interesting thing about their strategy, my team and I always go back to them for other things.
Attribute 10: Ask for the sale
If you want the customer to buy something from you, you have to ask for the sale. Do not sit there with the customer like a stunned mullet, get in and ask them, “Would you like me to ring that up for you now?”
Whilst selling a product can be an art form, following these basic 10 attributes will certainly make a big difference in your ability to sell and become an outstanding sales person and make your company an outstanding organization to deal with.
Small Business – Keep Going
You’ve a burning desire, you’re loaded with motivation, your attitude is to kill for, You’ve the tools to realize your small business ideas. Marvelous. Now you only need one more thing. You’ll need to set your mind in a “never give up” mode.
It’s a crucial fact, you and your small business, will face serious setbacks and tough to get by obstacles. Doesn’t matter if everything starts smoothly or work great right now. Sooner or later you’ll experience rough days.
You must prepare yourself for this and you need to learn how to tackle these situations with enthusiasm. You’ll have to learn how to land at your feet. Get back on the bike right after you’ve fell off.
When the time comes the following thoughts might come in handy.
When you feel like you never want to see your business again, give yourself some breathing space. Take scheduled breaks, do something completely different.
When you’re all steamed up and frustrated, Take a few deep cleansing breath. Tell yourself to relax. Think about a funny story.
Get the good habit of daily exercise. There is nothing more stress relieving than a hard body exercise.
You must allow yourself to have other activities. Turn your attention to a hobby that takes your mind off the business for a while. When you re approach your task, you’ll see it with new eyes.
Look in the mirror and say it out loud, you look at a real winner. First class material like that, don’t ever give up. Your success is probably just around the next corner. Let your winners mind run free for a while, when you harness it again, it will be reloaded with power.
Have a look into the future, you’re just one step away from achieving your big goal. Of course you want to take that step. Imagine what a waste it would be to quit, just before you would be able to reap the rewards.
It would be such a shame to have done all the hard work, only to not take the last necessary step. The next action you take might just be the one which make the snowball rolling. Keep going.
Get hold of some motivational books and tapes, it’s an efficient and cheap way to stay at course.
All successful small business owners, have been able to overcome all the humps and bumps along the road towards a successful business. Think about that when you feel like it’s time to quit. If they were able to do it, so are you.
You can’t give up, it’s not in your bag of options. Keep educate yourself in your area of business. The more you learn the more you increase your velocity towards your goal.
Online Business: 21st Century Business Trend
Online business is a psychological niche. The 21st century provides endless trading patterns and platforms. Basic barter trade of the medieval age has evolved into cyber trade. Introduction of Internet communication in the 1980′s started the rush for online business ideas that are relevant to anything and everything that is deemed a necessity by human beings.
The World Wide Web is an information provider, which is widely used by people from all parts of the world. Internet users are increasing rapidly, as modern business trends become sophisticated. If you are ignorant about the World Wide Web as a cash-earning tool, you have deprived yourself to benefit from THE business trend of the 21st century. Earning cash in the virtual world isn’t as difficult as you think. To begin with, it does not require a doctorate degree in Computer Science. Basically, all you need is a computer with good Internet access. Real fact is, besides business people, folks that are earning on the Internet are individuals who are students, the stay-at-home mom, senior citizens and the regular layman who seek ways to supplement regular monthly revenue.
Many users visit the Internet to buy basic necessities i.e. clothing, footwear, household products, baby food, kiddy toys, stationary, relevant educational materials. Social online communication becomes an essential way to chat with family and friends. As such, the Internet became a method to create wealth. It simply means trading takes place in virtual reality. All you have to is build a website that features a variation of items for sale.
Online business has low capital risk. Unlike non-online business venture, an online entrepreneur can simply walk away from any anticipated capital risk. Thus, avoiding financial downfall. Therefore, this seemingly risk-free factor has created infinite money-making avenues. Among it is affiliate marketing, which is a risk-free method. Simply by registering with an online merchant/supplier/advertiser, you have access to an enormous amount of products that has demand from at least one country. In a nutshell, revenue is credited to your online account when a buyer purchases a product from your site.
The following are examples of various ways to generate income online.
(1) Content writer
(2) internet surveys for companies
(3) business consultant
(4) language translator
In summary, the opportunities for every individual who wish to excel in making money online is simply enormous. All you require to venture into online business is a minimal investment for a computer or laptop and web hosting. Last but not least, time management, patience, diligence and lots of perseverance.
Online business, nowadays is a common practice that exist in every modern-day individual. As such, online business ideas are enormous. A new entrepreneur can simply emulate any proven model as effective guidelines.