They're effective for both online and traditional offline marketing. And they won't cost you anything to implement.

1. PROMOTE ONE THING AT A TIME
Promote only 1 product or service at a time. It limits your prospect's buying decision to either "yes" or "no". Every "yes" answer produces an immediate sale. Avoid promotions requiring prospects to make more choices after making the decision to buy. Some won't be able to make a clear choice. They'll avoid the risk of making a wrong choice by making NO choice -- and you lose the sale you already had.

You can develop separate promotions for each product or service you sell. Or you can combine several products and services into one package for one price. But always make your prospective customer's buying decision a simple "yes" or "no". It produces the maximum number of sales.

2. LEAD WITH YOUR BIGGEST BENEFIT
What's the biggest benefit you offer to customers? That benefit is your strongest selling appeal. Use it to attract prospects to your promotional message.
State your biggest benefit in the headline of your ads. Put it in the first sentence of your sales letters. Include it in a title at the top of your webpage. Use it as the opening of your audio or audio-video promotions. Leading immediately with your biggest benefit captures your prospect's attention and provides a compelling reason to continue reading or listening to your message.

3. PERSONALIZE YOUR APPROACH
More people will buy from you when they feel you are talking directly to them about their individual needs. Develop customized versions of your sales message to cater to the specific interests of prospects in each market you target. Use the language and style of prospects in each market to communicate your message to them.

It's easy to use different versions of your sales message when you control who gets it. But how can you personalize your web site to appeal to prospects in one market without losing your appeal to other prospects visiting your site?
One way is to create special web pages for prospects in each market you target. Customize the content of each to appeal to prospects in that group. Then add a link to each of these special pages on your home page.

4. PROVIDE SPECIFICS
Marketers often describe their product or service with words like, "It's fast, easy and inexpensive". But a specific description of how fast, how easy and how inexpensive will generate more sales.
For example, a general statement like, "Our clients get more sales", is dull. It won't produce sales. Replace it with a specific statement like, "Most of our new clients enjoy at least a 17 percent sales increase in the first month". This statement creates excitement. It motivates prospects to sign up now so they can start enjoying that 17 percent increase in THEIR sales.

5. DRAMATIZE FEELINGS
Customers usually buy on impulse, not logic. They base their buying decision on how they feel about your product or service. Get them excited about using your product or service and you'll increase your sales.
Revise your ads, sales letters and web pages to dramatize the emotional rewards your customer will experience when using your product or service. Use vivid word pictures to help them imagine themselves already enjoying those benefits. For example, a financial planner could describe what it feels like to enjoy an affluent lifestyle without debt.

Each of these 5 selling tips will help you increase your sales. They produce immediate results. And they won't cost you anything to implement.

Copyright 2001 by Bob Leduc

Bob Leduc retired from a 30 year career of recruiting sales personnel and developing sales leads. He is now a Sales Consultant. Bob recently wrote a manual for small business owners titled "How to Build Your Small Business Fast With Simple Postcards" and several other publications to help small businesses grow and prosper. For more information... mailto:BobLeduc@aol.com?subject=Postcards, Phone: (702) 658-1707 (After 10 AM Pacific time) Or write: Bob Leduc, PO Box 33628, Las Vegas, NV 89133