SELLING YOUR PROGRAMS: HOW TO SELL WITHOUT FEELING SALESY

BY MICHELLE KNIGHT

If you prefer to watch this content scroll down to watch the video training.

Since starting my business in 2016, I have learned a trick when it comes to selling my services and products in a way that doesn’t feel gross or salesy!

And I know this is a big concern for you because I receive questions and comments weekly in my business from clients and community members who say, "Michelle, I want to promote my services but I don't want to do it in a way that pisses people off."

"Michelle, I really need to promote my programs and my services and my offers but I feel like people are constantly bombarded with offers every single day."

And if you are hanging out basically anywhere on social media you know this to be 100% true.

Your audience is tired of getting stale messages and regurgitated sales strategies hurled at them. As humans we are looking for a human-to-human connection - read more about how this plays a role in marketing here.

So, since you’re here it already tells me you’re wanting to show up authentically and have no interest in following those stale templates and strategies so this blog will support you in feeling confident to sell your programs and services without feeling sleazy.

Online Selling Tip #1: Make Connections

Your goal as a business owner should be to make connections all the time. And taking it a step further and focusing on building relationships rooted in trust.

If you have your own community that you’re building via your email list, which I highly recommend, by the way, you want to invite them into a conversation, give them permission to message you and ask questions. This makes you accessible and approachable which is great leverage as you’re just starting out.

If you’re into video marketing, you can do a live stream where you’re offering some valuable piece of information and then opening up the opportunity for them to ask you questions.

Make it a goal to make your audience feel like they are welcome to reach out to you because this helps build the trust factor that is essential will asking for the sale.

Zig Ziglar said, “If people like you they’ll listen to you. If they trust you they’ll do business with you.” It’s one of my favorite quotes for business and one we should carry with us when we’re thinking of ways to build that trust with our audiences.

Remember, we are asking people we’ve never met before to invest in our product or service, often sight unseen. And the reality is there are a lot of people offering the same thing, so not only are you asking them to do this but to also make the decision to choose you.

This is where your marketing comes in; more specifically relationships and human marketing.

When it comes to marketing your business you’re actually selling.

I often say selling is happening long before the pitch or sales conversation actually happens.

All of the branding, content and interactions that are part of your marketing strategy are meant to lead people closer to buying your product or service.

The foundation of every sale you make comes from the customer trusting your marketing, messaging and branding over another brand, and that trust happens long before you make an offer, have a phone call or they pull out their credit card.

Online Selling Tip #2: It’s Not Really About Selling

I love to tell my clients and my community that when you switch your mindset around selling to offering everything changes.

Because in reality, it’s about saying, “Hey look, I know this is what you're struggling with and I know that this is what you really, really want in the year to come.”

And you know this because you’ve already started making a connection with them - see how that works!

This shift in thinking changes everything because with it you are coming from a genuine place, rather than a pushy place.

Rather than just coming out of the blue with an offer, you’re helping them see how your offer will support them solve their problem. You’re focused on messaging that centers around how it will benefit them, so they can truly see why investing in your offer is their best next move.

When you’re focused on connection, rather than selling, you’re focused on your audience.

When you’re focused on selling, you’re focused on the product or the service.

If in your mind you're like, I'm going to sell this person.
I'm going to get this person into my program because then I'll hit my number. Or then I'll hit my monthly goal.

You're just focused on the product and the service.

This simple change in your approach to “selling” will have a big impact on your conversion rate and the success that you experience from selling your products and your services.

You're coming from a truly authentic place with your marketing and connecting with where they are, where they want to be and basically offering up your offer, your sale, your promotion, whatever it is, in a way that not only feels good to you but is received openly by your audience.

I can't tell you how many times I have had the privilege of making connections with my audience, reaching out to them through messenger or email and them coming on board with one on one coaching or with a program - it's because they trust me!

CONCLUSION

Here's the thing, selling isn't salesy unless you make it salesy.

So don't make it salesy.

Make it a natural extension of who you are.

Make it a natural extension of the conversation that you've had through your content and communications with your community.

Start to think of it as an offering to solve the problem for your ideal customer. If they’re ready amazing, if they’re not you’ll be here when they are.

Watch the full video below!

P.S. Have you tuned in to The Beautiful Climb podcast? I release new episodes every other Friday on topics around productivity, motherhood, habits, goals and going after the life of your dreams! Check out past episodes and be sure to subscribe at thebeautifulclimb.com