You could be taken aback when I say life is formed on the principle of exchange, a form of trade, or in a more technical sense, sales. Every individual, institution or business tries to barter what they have for what they want. We exist in a continuous circle of sales, selling skills, value, products, talent, and expertise in exchange for wealth, fame, growth and many more. Therefore, In today’s age, the principle of exchange becomes more relevant than ever, when it comes to selling online.
If we follow this thought process, you will realise it becomes easier to sell when you understand humans, their psychology and what could convince them. So next time you intend to sell online, ask yourself this, “if someone markets their product the way I just did, will I buy it?” This question will give you insight on why people buy: not because they care about your product but for the benefits it offers and what it helps them achieve.
To tap into this, you need to show that you understand your target users’ pain points and prove to them that your product offers solutions to these problems. For example, Shola should not sell a travel neck pillow made from the best fibre quality.” She should sell a travel neck pillow that prevents pain or neck strain from long hours of travel and provides comfort when sleeping. By doing this, Shola has highlighted the benefits of getting a travel pillow and demonstrated the product value, which will potentially increase the likelihood of a sale.
Before I continue, we should note that online marketing is very competitive and highly saturated with products that offer the same solutions as yours. To stand out, it is important to know your target users, develop your unique selling point, and build your brand identity. This will help differentiate your product and attract your target customers.
Eat what I bring to the table now, I don’t want to hear you were not fed after I served. Now that we are done with the appetiser, it’s time for the main course.
What Are The Necessary Skills To Sell?
Now that we understand that online marketing is a crowded space, and to stand out, you need to bring your A-game. We need to know the necessary skills to sell like a pro!
- Product Selling Skill: This is where you show off your product’s amazing features and advantages. Don’t just list specs, show how it solves real problems. For example, if you are selling a smartwatch, highlight how its heart rate monitoring and GPS tracking can help users crush their fitness goals.
- Solutions Selling Skill: This skill involves selling the solution your product offers by understanding the pain points of your users. For instance, if you are selling a productivity tool, you could identify common pain points like time management and organisation. Then, you would showcase how your tool addresses these specific challenges, making it an attractive solution for users.
- Insight Selling Skill: In many cases, users or customers do not know they have a problem and in cases where they do, they do know the appropriate solutions to them. Hence, the purpose of insight selling skills as a way to provide consultancy-level guidance to your users. Let’s say you’re selling a high-end smartphone. Instead of just listing its features, you could ask questions about the user’s lifestyle, budget, and preferences to determine the best solution for their needs. Just imagine you have to sell a phone to a tech-bro or a very busy professional. You know it becomes necessary to highlight how the phone’s advanced camera and editing software can help them stay productive on the go.
Strategies To Improve Selling Online
Hey you, tell me the main course wasn’t delicious. I dare you! To complete this three-course dinner comes the most mouth-licking dessert ever: strategies on how you can improve the likelihood of selling your product online.
- Sell benefits, not features.
- Be empathetic.
- Create educational content to establish your business as an authority and credible.
- Build a community around your brand and customers.
- Allow feedback and reviews from customers and post your testimonials.
- Reward loyalty by offering incentives, or exclusive deals.
Dining with me always comes with a take-home. Today’s special is to always remember that selling online is a continuous circle of exchange, where you constantly adapt and improve to meet the needs of your target users.
