A strong sales team is a vital part of your overall Business success. But, don’t forget that there are other methods you can use to build sales and many of them will cost you not much or, even, nothing, in many cases.

Optimize the placement of your call to action

As simple as this may seem, many marketers are probably not putting their call to action (CTA) anywhere besides the obvious, a landing page or the product description page. Let’s think about this. You want your audience to contact you. That is the bottom line when it comes to using websites as a sales incentive. CTAs can be extremely useful on your homepage, as well. If you are looking to get a customer to call you; fill out an inquiry form, join an email list, respond in any other manner, use a CTA on your homepage and make it “loud and clear.”

Know and serve your existing customers

The customers you have will remain customers over time if you serve them well. The way your customers interact with your products or services is essential to your growth. It may be they are ready for an upgrade – so you’d be wise to keep a detailed record of their interactions with your company so that you know when and how to reach out regarding a new product they might like or an upgrade to their current version or service. Consider enriching or extending your relationship with your customers. The idea is to be confident that your audience knows what you offer and is comfortable asking for it.

Use your social media connections

Social media is a fickle tool. Individuals use it for fun, entertainment, and checking in on friends. But it is also an excellent way to share your promotions. Make sure your customers fill out information forms that include their Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram handles so they can receive free giveaways and special deals, which, by the way, can increase their likelihood of making a purchase.

Ask your current customers for feedback

The old “Suggestion Box” found in stores and offices back in the day, was just an old-fashioned way of getting input from others. You can find out what your customers need and want in today’s world by merely asking. To nudge your customers into telling you what they would like to see you add or change, add a small form to your webpage. Use questions like:

• Is there a product you would like to see added to our inventory? 
• Do you have a question about one of our services or products? 
• Are you receiving our monthly newsletters? 

Customers are more likely to trust a business that wants feedback from the people they serve.

Be creative

It’s Marketing 101, but always critical, that you have to come up with ways to make your business stand out in the crowd. Customers often feel they have seen and heard it all. They are jaded when it comes to believing what they hear advertised and what they see online. That’s why you have to differentiate yourself. In this step toward making your business stand apart from the rest, you and your team can:

• Find your niche by discovering your specialization – that “something” your company has that other businesses do not. 
• Bring your values into play and even find a cause that lines up with your world view and your services or products. 
• Surprise your customers with a small gift, a personal note, a coupon, or a treat. 
• Be consistently and authentically service-conscious in ways that are unique to your business. 
• Ask for customer reviews. 

Form a partnership with another business

Connect with other businesses in your industry. If you own a jewelry store, for example, you might choose a fashion boutique with which to pair. You could agree to refer your customers to each other. You could ask the jeweler if he or she might design a line that would enhance your latest seasonal inventory. You could find ways to create sales or coupons that take place at the same time to elicit add-ons by customers who frequent both shops.

Keep your focus on using easy and inexpensive tools to stand out from the others and get the attention you deserve.

The SmallBizRising Blog is designed to be an educational content hub pulling information, best practices and practical advice for the small business owner and features topics including accounting, marketing, technology and more.  Be sure to subscribe to stay up to date with new content as it is posted.  The blog was created by The Neat Company and receives contributed content from a group of contributing companies that provide technology, services and solutions to small businesses.

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