Josh Melick, is well qualified to give new business owners sales advice as he has founded three businesses and knows all about the unique challenges which new business owners face. As it can be extremely difficult for fledgling businesses to attract sales, in the first few months of business.
Melick’s first piece of advice is for business owners to work on developing their sales skills. As in the initial phase of their business, they will be responsible for driving sales in order to ensure that their new business is profitable. One recommendation which Melick has for business owners who have little sales experience is to practice trying to sell their business and its products and services to as many people as they can. Starting off with practicing their business pitches with their close family members and friends. Who’ll be able to provide them with valuable feedback.
For those who are not confident with selling and are far more comfortable coming up with business ideas, Melick also recommends that entrepreneurs read as many sales books as possible. In order to learn key sales techniques from some of the most successful salespeople in the world.
One mistake which Melick has noticed that too many entrepreneurs make is that they fail to preplan sales pitches in advance and are often unprepared when they turn up to meetings or make cold calls. Melick suggests that entrepreneurs write at least three different pitches. A short pitch which is useful in situations where time is limited as well as a full-length pitch which can be used to close large deals and a secondary pitch. A secondary pitch being a follow-up pitch that can be given once a customer is already interested in their business.
Melick also promotes the idea that new business owners need to be willing to be creative and to think out of the box when they first open their business. For example, new business owners may want to attract sales by offering a huge, once-in-a-lifetime sale which is sure to drive up sales. Or they may want to throw a party for the grand opening of their party in order to get customers through their front doors if they plan to have a brick-and-mortar store as well as a modern website.
The only warning which Melick gives businesses when it comes to running sales and promotions in order to attract sales is to avoid giving away services and products for free.
Melick does acknowledge that it’s essential for businesses that operate in today’s fast-paced world to have a web presence but he also warns that business owners shouldn’t wait on their hands to make online sales. Instead, they need to proactively work towards driving traffic to their website through in-person sales and the implementation of SEO techniques. Business owners can also create social media pages and campaigns in order to drive traffic to their websites.
If business owners try out all of Melick’s ideas in order to attract sales, they should have no trouble building a popular business that is resilient enough to stand the test of time.