Gone are the days of the snake oil salesman peddling his products while standing on his soap box. Sure, there’s still traps out there just waiting to lure you in with pushy sales tactics and cheap promises – but as consumers, we’re far too smart for these nowadays and way less likely to fall for them.
The reason for that? Pitching is out, value is in.
Gain Customer Trust
Your audience is always looking for solutions to their problems. When they come to you, they’re searching for something – whether it’s advice or a suggestion, or a possible outcome from working with you – if your only focus is to pitch the sale, they might only feel like a number rather than a person.
There’s a reason snake oil salesmen are no longer standing in the middle of the park yelling about the cure to end all ailments. People stopped listening – when you make a promise but do nothing to really show that you’ve got your audience’s back (and best interests in mind), you get ignored.
Instead, you want them to walk away (even if they say no because that does happen) with something they didn’t know or thought of before PLUS the confidence in what you’re selling because you took the time to (1) share value and (2) share RELEVANT information that is of value for your unique audience by getting to know them first.
Here are 5 effective ways to connect so you can provide value to your audience now:
1. Offer a New Perspective
Providing value to your audience doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be something as simple as sharing a piece of advice with YOUR unique perspective attached. This gets your audience thinking and also shows how you are an expert.
2. Reference a Book or Podcast
I love this article about everyday habits millionaires have used to get where they are in life. They make it a priority to read something every day to help improve their mind and life. Many of those millionaires share these resources with their audience. This sharing of valuable information creates trust in your voice, especially when someone enjoys the resource you shared.
3. Share Your Experience
To go hand in hand with the above, the best way to connect deeper with your audience is by sharing your own experiences. This can be something as simple as sharing what you experienced while reading a book or listening to a podcast, or you could share even deeper and talk about struggles or obstacles you’ve faced as a business owner or entrepreneur and how you’ve overcome them. This is a great way to connect with and build trust with customers.
4. Give helpful information about your industry
Now that you’re equipped with all this valuable information and resources (from all those books and podcasts you’re enjoying), it’s time to combine everything together by (1) sharing your unique perspective on a resource or trend that’s relevant to your industry, and (2) share resources or information that supports your audience meaningfully.
5. Give them your time and attention
Last, but definitely not least, authentic connection is key. Practice listening more than talking – this means actually focusing on the conversation at hand and NOT thinking about what you’re going to say next. Actively listen and engage meaningfully in the discussion.
Here’s your reminder: Your Customers are H U M A N!
In the digital age, it’s so easy to get into the robotics of social media and lose sight of these 5 effective ways to connect with your customer base. Especially when all you see are the same poses, perfectly clean desks and houses – it’s not real life.
When your customers are looking to work with someone, you have to remember that they are just like you. They’re just people trying to make it out here in this crazy world, and having a real connection with someone that could really help them is crucial.
Don’t get caught up in only sales tactics and marketing fads.
Be real. Be you. And it will all work out!
Creating Connections – Creates Loyal Customers
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in sales it’s that deeper connections and communications often lead to sales at a much higher rate than a lackluster freebie funnel. This focus has made me a trusted advisor, someone they could count on.
I’d love to explain how to do that here, but it could take a while. There are tons of processes, techniques, and tips for calling in your clients in the Conquer Your Business: Entrepreneur Accelerator. If you’d like to join me and have access to these, click here!
