Quick Tips for Selling

I am super pumped!!!  The new Fall Thirty One catalog is AMAZING!  I leave for National Conference in 6 days!  In the meantime, there is still time left in July – you know, the dreaded “J” month to be a selling ROCKSTAR…

Here are a few tips to help you in ending the month of July strong…..

1. PRETTY SELLS.

If you are in direct sales, you probably have a website from the company.  Maybe they supply you with awesome graphics which is great.  BUT we all want to stand out in the crowd right?  We are on Social Media, pushing products or a service with our own pictures.  Isn’t it how we will stand out.  Well guess what, if it doesn’t look nice, people won’t buy it.  Showing how a product can be used is one thing.  Staging a product to draw attention to it, or to entice some one to buy is totally different.  Pretty is in the eye of the beholder but regardless of your style, it needs to look polished and well put together. I will be honest, I am not the best at this but I don’t give up and neither should you.

2. KEEP IT SUPER SIMPLE.

A long time ago, someone told me if “it takes more than 3 clicks to buy something, people won’t buy it”.  So going on the same premise, if I have to go on a scavenger hunt to find what I want to buy, it ain’t going to happen.  The majority of the world is impulse shoppers, so you need to meet their need to shop.

When you post a picture (remember the pretty picture?), it should include a link to your website or where the person can buy it.  Better yet, when someone clicks on the picture, it should take them to the exact spot they can place an order.

3. LEVERAGE YOUR TRIBE.

Whatever you call your peeps, look at them as ambassadors. People expect us to rave about our products, why not encourage others to rave about them.  Testimonials are great but who will take the time to read them.  Why not ask your customers to… Share their pics on IG or Facebook using your products, have them tag you when they share it and create a specific hashtag so you can track them.  I have my customers using #hopespursecloset

4. FLASH SALES!

People love sales and when there is a time limit, they are more apt to act quickly.  Who doesn’t love a good sale, right?

Examples include:

• New Moon / Full Moon sales – lasting 24 hours only
• Business birthday or Anniversary (did you launch your site on a specific day?)
• Bored at Work sale – runs from 12-2pm ONLY.
• BOGO sales – who doesn’t love a good bundle?!
• Free Shipping Fridays

Vacation Veronica tends to pay a visit at the end of June and seems to stay right through August.  Then September hits and we find ourselves with no parties on the calendar and starting our business all over.  Why not do something different?

We may be halfway through summer break but there is still time to revive your business.  While you are sitting at the beach, or lounging by the pool, spend some time looking at your vices (bad business habits) and identify how you can transform them into strengths which result in sales or leads.

What are you going to do to transform your business before the end of the summer?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

 

Social Media

Social Media can help a business or for an “addictive personality” it can put the kabash on what was starting out to be a productive day….okay, so maybe it is not a great beginning to a blog but so true in my life.

An article in Direct Sales Education Foundation last year called “How to Manage Your Time on Social Media” has some great tips for things to help you run an effective social media presence.  You can click the link to get the details but here are some of the tips in a nutshell:

1. Start from the results you want
2. Plan ahead
3. Go Mobile
4. Avoid spreading yourself too thin (You mean I can get thin by Facebooking or Tweeting?)
5. Stay focused

These are all great tips that I am sure work well for the average person.  I on the other hand can easily loose myself in Facebook reading everyone’s comments, likes, etc.  So for the “addictive personality”, here are some tips that I am trying to manage my time and become more productive while still incorporating social media into my business…

1. When I am in my office for “office hours” – I have a picture of a security camera that makes me think others are watching.  It helps me focus on work and tackling that to do list.  
2. I write my blog first thing in the AM, this way I don’t get sided tracked.  Yes, blogging has become an every morning thing that I absolutely love.  Thank you Vanessa Coppes   
3. I am changing the “news feed” to the people and things that I want to hear about daily.  No, I don’t want to hear about every meal or little detail of your life so I will check in with those people when I have time.  Less is sometimes better.
4. When I am ready to spend time on Facebook, I limit it to a certain about of time – usually AFTER I have finished my to do list.  This is how I stay focused.  

Yes, these are basic but sometimes I have to K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid).  Social media has helped my business by helping me to build relationships with customers, friends and family across the country.  Sharing tips, new products and even blogging about my life (who would have thought some one would want to read about it) has helped to build those connections.

If you are not using social media in your business, you should for so many reasons.  Conquer the fear (for the techno challenged) and meet your customers where they are hanging out.  

Do you have any great tips for managing time on social media?  How do you use social media in your business?  I would love to share your comments with others.  

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!