The sales pitch: if done well, it’s one of the most effective ways to show a potential customer that he or she should definitely purchase your product.  Salespeople have their own style and flair that they add to their pitches, and you should aim to incorporate your own personality and passion into yours.  However, there are some general guidelines that, if followed, will increase the success of your sales pitch.

• Build a relationship.  Good business is all about relationships.  People want to feel that they are doing business with someone who is knowledgeable, reliable, and likeable.  Be sure to demonstrate that you care about their satisfaction, not just about their money or making the sale.  One way to do this is to initiate conversations in which you show a genuine interest in their lives.  Open with questions that allow the customer to talk about his or her family, hobbies, and other interests.
• Get personal.  Customers want to see who you are as a person, mostly because they want to know that you are more than a salesperson; if they can relate to you, they are more likely to form a positive impression of you.  For example, one direct seller of educational books talks about her decision to change her career path during her sales pitch.  In it, she shares how important it was for her to stay home with her children and be a role model to them as a strong, responsible woman.  Her target market is made up of women who hold the same beliefs, so they can relate to her story and often take an immediate liking to her.
• Know your audience.  Using the example above, that story would not work if the consultant’s target market were made up of mostly young, career-minded single men and women.  That demographic, although able to appreciate her story, would not likely see themselves in her.  Make sure you know who your audience is and what would appeal to them.  Remember, your interest in your customers should be a genuine one, so doing your research is essential to conveying your sincerity.
• Focus on one point.  A sales pitch should incorporate certain details, but make sure the focus is on one particular point (perhaps the solution your product is for problem the customer has).  This point should be very clear, and everything else in the sales pitch should all be tied back to that main point.  For instance, that educational books consultant focuses on her company’s commitment to providing research-backed products recommended by a variety of education experts.  She mentions that this guarantee gives her peace of mind that her children will always be exposed to age-appropriate and stimulating materials.  Each detail of her sales pitch is related to that point.  By the end of the pitch, there should be no question as to what your main point is.

Crafting an effective sales pitch requires time, research, practice, and self-reflection.  However, keep in mind these guidelines for a pitch that will increase your sales.  What do you think makes an effective sales pitch?  Please share your ideas below!

Free e-book “Business Owner’s Road Map to Success.” It has over 50 pages of techniques for everything a small business owner needs to master, from business planning and ethical selling to a success mindset. It’s all there and it’s free for you. To get it, just “Like” our Facebook Page here: http://on.fb.me/KsIN6P Pass it on!