Although I sell millions of dollars of products for my affiliated merchant partners each and every year, I still don't consider what I do as ‘selling'.
Quite frankly, I hate being sold to and can only imagine that you feel the same about the steady barrage of product pitches that you see on sites and in your email.
The point to remember is that your customers are put off by the hype they see too much of every day.
Therefore, make it your job to advise, recommend and endorse products rather than try to ‘sell' them.
-
Be Friendly
The first step is to start from a friendly perspective by getting to know who your site visitors are and what they need and want through polls, surveys or direct request.
-
Show Empathy
Next, prove that you understand and have empathy for their concerns by echoing their frustrations. Share a personal story of your own experience with a similar problem and tell them how you were able to solve that problem with the product you are about to endorse.
-
Be Honest
Above all, be honest. No product is perfect, so a 100% positive product endorsement will be met with skepticism and resistance by your readers. So, be sure to point out any minor shortfalls and limitations. Alternatively, consider comparing and contrasting two different products to give your visitors a variety of options from which to choose.
-
Call to Action
Finally, close your endorsement with an enthusiastic reminder of your thumbs up rating and a recommendation to buy the product.
In a nutshell, take that salesman's hat off and start talking to your visitors the same way you would tell a friend about a product that you really like.
That's how to sell without selling.
*** This article is a modified version of the original which first appeared in Chitika's Blog Bash – 30 Days, 30 Expert Bloggers.
Want to learn more about how to sell like a pro?
One of my favorite books on the subject of selling is Ziglar on Selling: The Ultimate Handbook for the Complete Sales Professional.
The book consists of 343 pages of stellar insights into the world's oldest profession and important life lessons.
This is a must-have book to include in your online marketing / sales education library – and it's cheap!