One major mistake some business start-ups make is that they focus more on the product or service rather than how to sell their product or service. Before starting any business try as much as possible to learn how to sell because the money isn’t in your product or service it is in selling the products or services.
It is unfortunate that some individuals have great products and render great services yet they have low to no sales because they haven’t mastered how to sell.
Well, I’m not an expert on this, but I’m confident there are lots of resources out there for you and also individuals who have mastered the art to learn from.
If you sell a product, this is for you. Let me share with you four quick signs to know a customer will likely buy from you.
They will know the exact price of your products but will still ask you for an assertion. If your product is worth #15,100 for instance, they will say “Shebi the price is #15,000?” (The price is #15000 right?). The reduction isn’t from their mind, it’s on their lips. Find a way to convince them to dip a hand into their purse before the reduction gets into their mind. They will see no worth in your product after they reduced the price in their mind.
They will ask every possible question they could about your products. They may have been battling with whether to buy or not. But hearing you explain and answer every bit of their question will build more confidence in them and they will end up paying for your product.
They will want more proves. Proves that it works for you. Proves that it has worked for others and a conviction that it will work for them. Be patient, don’t be mad at them. Just sew the garment of proves for them and ensure it fits well.
They will research more about you. They will ask from the friends of your friends, from your customers. They will make inquiries about your products. If it’s a personal brand, they will look you up on various social media. Once they're satisfied with your and your products or services, you'll be notified of their payments.
These processes may take some hours, a day, a week, or even months. Just keep showing up.
Meanwhile…
The standard of living is currently getting higher day by day in this part of the world. The last time I went to the gas station for a refill, that was in April, 12kg of gas was worth #3400. Fast forward to today, the same quantity of gas is now worth #6400. This is almost a 100% increment. This is not the case for gas alone, the increment cuts across various products and commodities. Even a bean cake I bought for #20 two months ago it’s now worth #50.
The amount you are paid as salary has not increased with no indication of an increase anytime soon. And you still don’t see the need to get multiple sources of income.
Well, whether you see the need to get an additional source of income or not, one thing I know is that inflation respects no one.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to get a high skill (if you don’t have any) to supplement whatever you are already doing.
Survival will be difficult with a single source of income in this period.
