After having done two book signings, I feel like I have a good grasp on selling well. Here’s a post I wrote on Steemit on not sounding salesy.
Oh no, not this…
Products, sales, salesmen—these very words are ingratiating to our ears! Almost immediately we turn our heads, jam our palms over our ears, and tune out what’s next.
Thing is, it’s everywhere; we can’t deny it. It’s in the advertisements we see online or on billboards. We hear it in the calls we receive from companies. We even sometimes get it from friends and family (really? more on that below).
Livelihoods dependent upon sales
For those of us whose income comes from sales, the challenge of encountering an audience pre-disposed to turning away can be intimidating. We say, “I don’t want to sound salesy! What do I do?”
I hope to share with you a few tips I’ve learned over the last year concerning the matter of sales. I’ve had practice in dealing with an audience and how to sell while retaining my integrity.
1. It’s Not About You. It’s About Them.
Before we even get into the technical aspects of pitch and how to make your product appealing to your audience, we need to lay the foundation. Your attitude will permeate every word, thought, and action. And if you think your audience won’t pick up on it, think again. Whatever you have to offer, keep your audience first and foremost in your mind. Be sincere. Be courteous. Listen to their stories. Listen to their needs. Fail to do this and you’ll get the door slammed in your face.
Leah Lindeman 