One of my go-to sayings when it has to do with sales is…“I’m not a great salesperson…but I am one heck of a marketer.”

The reason I say that is because of where my focus lies when it comes to the sales process. Here’s where I tend to focus most:

• The customer journey
• The real problems my prospects face
• The real solutions I can give them
• Improving the solution and tweaking it to get clients faster results
• And communicating the value and the shortcuts effectively online

Some may hear this and think…wow, that’s still a great sales pitch…

Some may hear this and think…yeesh this person really needs to learn to sell…

And some may hear this and think, “She just isn’t aggressive enough and doesn’t want the sale bad enough.”

Anyway you look at it, they are both right…and wrong at the same time.

Why is that?

Because yes, some people will hear how I approach marketing to get sales and think that it’s brilliant and that’s because they want to be sold to in that way.

Others will hear it and will think it’s a passive approach. The approach they want to see is one that is straightforward. Less talk and more action.

And others will hear it and wonder why I don’t hunt them down and aggressively ask them to buy my product – because maybe that’s what they like when someone is selling to them (they like to be chased).

The point is…what’s a yes for some is a no for others and what really counts is how you sell to your ideal client and their needs.

Overall what I’ve found in the online space, most people love to buy, but they want to be the one making the decision to what (and when) they buy.

Funny enough this is what’s often missed in the sales process when people are coming from a place of, ‘I gotta just make the sale’.

And the other thing is…people mistake the sales process for being fast. It’s not – in fact, it’s much more of a marathon than a sprint.

So here’s my top 10 list of ways to sell online without feeling sleazy…

Set your intentions. Before you go online stop and really think about who you want to help and how you want to help them. Set the intention to be of service and show up and share as only you can.

Engage your ideal audience. The fastest way to engage your ideal audience is by asking open ended questions and doing this by social media posts. With LinkedIn create relevant polls. With Facebook, join groups where your ideal clients hang out and post questions that help you get to know them more. Instagram, create an engagement reel, where you have people responding back.

Create more videos. And create videos that give a solution and a quick action or help to help those who are struggling (for example – I do livestream videos on LinkedIn every 2-3 weeks that acts as demos).

Overdeliver to your current clients. Yup, read that one again. Overdeliver to those who are already paying you and trust you and ask them if they know anyone who could use your help (yes it’s a referral ask, but when you overdeliver, many times they’ll suggest you before you have to ask for the referral).

Create an opportunity calculator. Create a calculator as a lead magnet and break down what it’s like to work with you and give that to your ideal clients so you can show them where their best opportunities lie. (Click here if you’d like to download the training and the excel for my LinkedIn Leads and Sales Opportunity Calculator).

Build better relationships… even with those who aren’t ideal clients. Yup, that’s right. Just because you’re looking to hit a sales quota doesn’t mean you are only talking to those who seem like the right fit. Expand out, and talk to others and see how you can help. Even if they aren’t ideal…they may know someone that is.

Create thought provoking content. When I say thought provoking, I mean content that’s different from what everyone else in your industry is writing about.  And tie it into what your ideal client is needing and wanting to hear more about. Always have a call to action at the end that offers to support more and answer questions.

Be a follow up machine. Follow up with those who have reached out for help. This is where most sales are actually missed, so make sure you get out your calendar and write in everyone who needs a follow up.

Check in on your past clients. See how you can help them and see what is new and exciting for them….without going right into a sales pitch.

Believe it or not, these 10 things have gotten me sales faster than those other sales opportunities taught in the online space. And they’ve been the easiest thing to do.

And the way to take these tips and keep that pipeline full?

It’s to be consistent with your activity. Marketing and sales is part of your daily routine and ideally, when you’re looking to beef up your monthly sales, you want to spend at least 1/3rd of your time doing activities to fill your pipeline.

If your ideal clients are on LinkedIn, then don’t forget to download my LinkedIn Opportunity Calendar. This will show you what you are leaving on the table for potential sales.

—————————————————————————————————————

Danielle Fitzpatrick Clark is lovingly referred to as America’s Favorite Digital Disruptor. She doesn’t just live, breath, and sleep digital marketing, she embodies the constant shifts and pivots needed to create long-lasting businesses in the online space.

Her company Influence Builder is all about bringing the human element to the online tech and digital space. Specifically focused on helping the lesser-known experts and thought leaders, Influence Builder shows them how to break out of the noise, create powerful platforms, and thriving businesses so they can spread their mission and message to the world. This is the bridge where disruptors disrupt and build with authentic influence.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Danielle Fitzpatrick Clark is lovingly referred to as America’s Favorite Digital Disruptor. She doesn’t just live, breath, and sleep digital marketing, she embodies the constant shifts and pivots needed to create long-lasting businesses in the online space.

Her company Influence Builder is all about bringing the human element to the online tech and digital space. Specifically focused on helping the lesser-known experts and thought leaders, Influence Builder shows them how to break out of the noise, create powerful platforms, and thriving businesses so they can spread their mission and message to the world. This is the bridge where disruptors disrupt and build with authentic influence.