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> Get Articles > Internet Marketing > Is There Really Such a Thing as 'No Selling'?
Is There Really Such a Thing as 'No Selling'?
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Angela Wu
angelaonlinebusinessbasics.com
Online Business Basics
http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com/
'I think I finally found something I can do!', Joanne wrote,
'This company doesn't need me to do any selling at all. All
I have to do is advertise a telephone number and their staff
handles my sales. I think I finally have a chance!'
Ah, the 'no selling' pitch: it has wide appeal, due to the
intense dislike or fear many of us have about selling
anything to anyone.
When we think 'sales', we usually think of the typical
scenario of selling a product or service. However, there
are many forms of selling. When you're online, you sell:
__Your personality.
It's well-known that it's more likely for a visitor to
purchase a product if they like you. The Internet is a
vast, cold place: you don't actually meet your visitors
face-to-face and there's no way for them to assess your
personality except by what they read on your website or
in your email.
That makes it all the more important to sell yourself:
do you come across as a likeable, honest business person
with integrity? Do you come across as someone who's a
'straight shooter', who will take care of your customers?
__Your Credibility.
If you have a website or newsletter and you regularly
post advice, tips, articles, etc. you need to establish
credibility as an 'expert'.
Are you professional? Do you provide solid, usable
information? Can people contact you? Are you
knowledgeable about your topic?
It sounds obvious, I know ... but because the Internet
offers a low-risk, low-cost way for people to try to
make money, some of the most ridiculous scenarios crop
up. For example, I once saw a post on a message board
from someone who was trying to sell a report on how to
increase traffic to your website using search engines.
And you know what?
He was asking for advice on how to get his web pages
ranked higher in the search engines. It was absolutely
mind-boggling.
Write about what you know.
__Security or Comfort.
Ever get email telling you how you can lose 50 pounds,
consolidate your debt, invest overseas, get in on the
'ground floor' of a business opportunity?
So has everyone else.
With the amount of unsolicited commercial email (spam)
being sent to unwillingly prospects, people are
understandably hesitant about giving out personal
information. That includes stuff like their credit
card number to something as simple as their email
address.
Visitors will be much more comfortable about doing
business with you if you make it clear that you will
respect their privacy (and you WILL, right?) and not
disclose their information to anyone. Likewise, make
sure you take credit card orders on a secure server and
**let your visitors know** that their information is
secure.
This is important even if you're *giving away free stuff*.
Some people are naturally more cautious than others ...
and even if they're really interested in subscribing to
your free newsletter, for example, they may hesitate to
give you their email address if they don't feel comfortable
that you won't abuse it.
The point is, everything you do online can be considered
'selling' in one form or another. Don't get taken in by
opportunities that claim that you don't have to sell. You
do. And the better you learn how to do ALL types of
selling, the better success you'll have online.
_____
Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, an
exclusive newsletter for eBusiness beginners. OBB features
ongoing tutorials on how to build a profitable Internet
business on a shoestring budget. You don't need a million-
dollar budget to be successful! Find out how you too can
join the thousands quietly earning a living online:
http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com/article.html
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