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Selling Sucks!

I just finished Michael Port’s “Book Yourself Solid” yesterday. I found it to be a very enjoyable book as it covered quite a few points, including how to develop your personal brand, create information products, and 7 ways to market yourself. One of the parts I liked best was about being authentic…being yourself…and only working with your “perfect” clients.

After the book, I spent a few minutes on his blog. Here Michael Port has a short video about “Why Selling is a Waste of Time.”

People love buying, but they hate being sold. While I wouldn’t completely agree with him that selling is a waste of time, we do need to change our attitude about it. The best way to sell isn’t to beat down your “buyer” of all their resistances. It’s to find out what they really want and what they value. Then provide them a solution they want.

People love to be led, but no one wants to be pushed. I’m sure you’ve even hear the term, “A pushy salesperson.” Do you like pushy sales people?

If you “push” people to buy, are they really going to be happy with their purchase…and you? Not likely. Find a way to become a leader…who really cares about your clients. Take them by the hand and gently lead them down the buying path. Build relationships. Provide value even before a sale is made.

So selling does suck…even when you make money doing it. Leading people to buy is much more fun. Be yourself. People enjoy buying from those they know, like, and trust. Are you the pushy sales person or the trusted advisor to your customers and clients?

Written by Terry · Filed Under All 

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3 Responses to “Selling Sucks!”

  1. Luis Levy on March 23rd, 2007 9:36 pm

    This is absolutely true. Pushy salespeople are a pain in the butt. I’m a salesperson myself and I try to provide the perfect soft sale, never pushing, always taking care of my clients. I see sales as cooperation, not dispute!

  2. Terry on March 26th, 2007 8:37 am

    Hi Luis,

    Too bad you’re all the way out in Santa Monica. That’s just too far when I buy my next car. :)

    By the way, nice blog. I’m very much into local business people marketing online.

    Terry

  3. Ricky on September 11th, 2007 5:51 pm

    I’ve sold cars for many years now and am an active leader in my church. I’ve never lied to a customer and never intentionally made a customer feel any pressure to buy. As a result, I now have so much repeat business that my income is virtually guaranteed. In our business the favorite catch phrase for managers to yell at you is “Overcome Objections”, but I think as salespeople we should learn to MANAGE objections. Overcoming is arguing. Managing is helping.

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