Imagine for a moment. You are standing in the line at Wendy’s just about ready to go up to order and two business men come in and are talking about what they need in order to get the kind of sales they want. It just so happens what they need is what you have to offer. So after eavesdropping for a moment to fully understand the situation you turn around and introduce yourself. You talk for a moment and then they say, “We are interested in what you can offer us. Do you have a business card or a something we can look at?”
As a business owner who is trying to increase sales, you have to be ready at all times for presentations. It is exactly what sales reps do for their companies. They have everything they will need in their car. Literature, samples, business cards, catalogs, some even carry around a change of clothes just in case.
You should have at the very least 3 different things in your car and/or on you because the truth is, you never know who you will bump into. There are the things you need to have.
#1- Business card with a reachable phone number. If they have to dial your 800 number than press one for English then they can’t find your name in the listings and have to go to an operator, then get transferred and all they get is your voicemail; this is not helping to win them over. Add your cell phone number or a direct line- it gives a personal touch that will keep you remembered.
#2- Literature is a great way to show/tell someone about your company quickly. Many times in telling someone about our business we might leave something out in all the excitement. So its a good idea to have something to hand them so they can go back to and read it later.
#3- Samples. When talking to people about your business they are going to see the card, see that you are president or vice-president and then listen to you tell them about how wonderful your product(s) is. The problem is that everyone says their products are better than everyone elses. What people want is tangible proof, something they can feel and touch. If you can do it, then you increase or chances of having that sale by 25%.
Preparation is a must in today’s instant society. Always be ready, always be prepared.
D.G. Landolfi is the author of The Woman’s Blueprint to Business Success, a step-by-step guide to teach women how to start and operate their own business. D.G. has a passion for empowering women and showing them how they can be successful. Check out D.G.’s website at www.icanbesuccessful.com.
