Every small business owner quickly learns that whether they have been trained formally or not, they are in the business of sales and marketing. Sales and marketing are what increase profits to keep the doors open and the dream alive. Below I offer 3 tips on revving up your small business sales engine to increase your profits.
1. Call a current customer. Your current customers are the number one best source you have for new business. You may be thinking, How is that possible? They’ve already bought from me? That’s true, and because you have already convinced them of the value of your product or service once, they are likely to want to do business with you again.
2. Ask for a referral. Call a current customer and see if they have any associates who might benefit from your product or service that they would be willing to refer you to. If they have been pleased with your product or service, they are likely to agree to this request.
3. Dial for dollars. Sales is a numbers game. If you want more sales, you have to make more contacts. Make at least 25 cold calls a week. That sounds like a lot, but it’s just 5 calls a day. By the end of the month, you will have made 100 calls to new sales prospects! In a year, that’s 1,200 potential new customers.
Small Businesses who have applied these techniques have increased their sales and profits. You can experience the same, along with stronger branding of your business, greater awareness and increased customer counts. To learn more about increasing small business sales and profits, visit the Association of Small Business Marketers website.
