Posted on: 02 December, 2001
Author: Kevin Nunley
For many ... sales are getting harder and harder to comeby. The economy is slowing, ... are more ... ... are cutting back. A period of drooping sales canthrow a ... For many businesses, sales are getting harder and harder to comeby. The economy is slowing, consumers are more cautious, andbusinesses are cutting back. A period of drooping sales canthrow a roadblock in front of your plans to earn a profit.Fortunately, there are some tried-and-true strategies to focusyour business and get profits flowing again. Here are threethings you can do today to almost certainly get sales jumping.Write down your USP and promote it.Your USP is your Unique Selling Position. It's the one thing youhave that your competitors don't. When you promote your USP youget more customers. It makes your business easy to remember.You stand out from all the others.Your USP could be a product or service that people want but theothers don't sell. It could be something a bit more intangiblelike friendly service.One search engine promotion firm I worked with NEVER answeredemail. Another always replies within hours. There is never anyquestion which will get my business.Put your Unique Selling Position on your business card, in yournewspaper ads, and front and center on your web site.If everybody in your business keeps their prices a big secret,publish yours right out in the open where anyone can examine them(you might be surprised how many of us won't buy if we aren'tgiven the price without having to ask).If all the others have the same products, point out how yourproducts are original, one of a kind, first to market.Flaunt those customer comments!Nothing sells products and services like good comments from pastcustomers. Prospects believe the word of a customer long beforethey'll buy into even the best written ad or most lavish TVcommercial.But how do you get good testimonials, especially if your businessis new?1. Nobody says YOU can't provide the testimonial. If you havepersonally used the product you are selling and truly believeit's the best thing since sliced bread--put that in atestimonial. Put your own words in quotations.2. Get someone who is a recognized name in your field to saysomething good about what you sell. Let them mention their owninterest in the testimonial. This is why blurbs on book coversgo, "Best book I've ever read," Joe Blow, author of How to GetRich. Joe lends his good opinion as a way to get a mention forHIS book.3. Put up a comments form on your web site. Clearly mention thatsome comments may be selected for display on your site or in yourpromotional literature. Some people will say good things (which Isure they mean sincerely) just to get their name in print.4. Always include the person's first and last name along with thecity they live in or the business they work for. Otherwise,people will think you made up the testimonial.Let your Order Form also sell.Many times the order form or order page is the drabbest part ofthe sales package. A brochure will feature color photos andimaginative copy, yet the order form will be plain black onwhite. The same goes for web sites where lively web pages leadto a legalistic shopping cart with hard-to-understandinstructions.This is a mistake.Most customers have very busy lives and don't always rememberwhat they did and where. When I worked in radio, we were oftenstunned to learn people often couldn't remember which stationthey won a prize from.The same goes for customers. People may buy from you, then forgetwho they bought from just a few weeks later. That is a realproblem if you are depending on word of mouth (which youshould!).Put your logo bright and bold on every one of your order forms.Make sure your name is stamped onto your customer's memory at thetime of the sale.Some smart business people turn their order form into a brochure.They include an ad and a full list of their products andservices. The order form is on the final page. The brochure alsogives you space to include a coupon for the next purchase.Be sure to include customer testimonials on your order form.Most prospects need an extra bit of encouragement just beforethey commit their money to a purchase. Article Tags: Order Form Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com