Don't get down in the dumps when your sales are in a slump!
Most businesses hit a slump now and then. Sometimes when your in
a slump it just takes a little extra push to get the sales
rolling in again. I have what I call a slump file. Inside I have
a list several profit generating ideas that I keep handy to help
boost sales when business is slow.
But first let's talk about preventative measures you can take to
help keep your slump in sales from being so hard on your bottom
line.
When your in business you know that follow up is the equivalent
to the goose that laid the golden egg. You must follow up with
every customer who makes a purchase or your business is dead.
A good idea is to incorporate some slump preventing measures
into your follow up process. It is very simple really. When you
follow up with a customer who makes a purchase just include a
customer satisfaction questionnaire. Ask a few basic questions
like, Is the product to your satisfaction? Did you find it easy
to place your order? Did you have any trouble with delivery? You
get the idea!
This information will allow you to improve your sales copy,
customer service and ordering process. Also include your
recommendation for other complementing products or a plug for
your favorite affiliate program this will increase your profits
in the long run.
It's a good idea to start your own slump file. To get you going
use some of these simple techniques to help increase your sales.
As you learn more tip's and tricks you can add them to the file.
Keep it handy and any time sales are low instead of just staring
at your computer screen refer to the list to rev things up.
- Offer to give a percentage of your profits to a worthy cause.
Your customers will appreciate your willingness to give and it
will also make them feel good about making a purchase and
helping out at the same time. It could be to a favorite charity,
local school, church, to help the environment or endangered
animals depending on your personal preference and the type of
business your in.
- Send your customers a surprise gift like a discount on their
next purchase, a free consultation or offer a free product to
them for referring a friend. Set up a good customer loyalty
program and your sales will very rarely slump.
- Give away a follow-up email course or a series of articles on
an auto-responder. Include your offer with each lesson. Multiple
exposures to your offer increase your chances of making the sale.
- Try revamping your classified ads so they don't sound so much
like an ad and more like an invitation. Don't try to make the
sale right off the bat. Try giving something away instead.
Anything you can think of to get the prospect to respond or take
action. Then lead them to the sale.
- Have a website, make it sticky. The longer a visitor sticks
around your website, the greater chance they will buy. Do this
by running a contest, adding surveys, posting articles and tips
or giving them a list of resources and tools. Give people a good
reason to hang around and bookmark your site and you will get
more sales.
- Your business is slow but you still need to advertise. To help
cover the cost try splitting the cost of online advertising and
marketing by partnering with a similar, non-competing business.
You would both put up half the cost or simply swap ads even
articles.
- Go hunting for some free press coverage. Think of a good way
to get your business in the news. Do this by hosting a community
event or donating your product or services to the local
community or senior center. I just read about one lady who built
her whole catering business on the fact that she donated her
pastries to local chamber of commerce events! And another man
let the local youth center paint a mural on the wall of his
office building. You know the media was all over him. See,
simple ideas can go a very long way.
There are many more things you can do just use your imagination.
One time I had a name your own price sale on some of my less
popular products and it worked out great. So the morel of this
story is don't let a slump get you down just come up slugging
and your win every time.
About the author:
Lisa M Cope, A Work at Home Mom on a Mission! To help other
parents learn how to build a Successful Business Online and
enjoy the financial freedom it takes to stay at home with their
children. Grab your FREE ePack Today and Get the Resources YOU
Need to Succeed! http://www.flipidy.com
