Selling is a key life skill

We’re selling every day. When we persuade our friends to go to a party, we’re selling. When we order the take-out for our work group and suggest eating noodles, we’re selling. When we want to change a seat on the train with one nearby passenger, we’re selling. Selling is a key life skill.

Anytime we ask someone to do something for us which is in our best interest but not in others, we’re selling. But most of us don’t know how to sell successfully.

The former CMO of Google Play Patrick Mork provided us ten golden rules.

1、Solve a real problem

Whatever we sell to others, our final goal is to solve their real problems. But for most salesmen, their final goal is just to sell out their products and earn money no matter whether the customers really need it. They’re money-target.

2、 Ask questions

Most of the salesmen sell their products straightly the moment the other side answer the phone. This is deadly wrong! We should learn what they really need by asking questions.

3、 Get people talking

Don’t talk about your products without stopping. Ask proper questions to lead the customers to talk more which could helps you learn more about their real need.

4、 Look to serve, not sell

If our inner monologue is how could I help and serve them better, we’ve opened a new world full of possibilities.

5、 Never follow up

When we email or WeChat our customers, we must be sure we provide worthy information to them instead of asking them whether they have questions about our products. We should focus on providing valuable information instead of straight selling.

6、 Don’t be needy

We’ll be rejected or lose our customers if we’re too aggressive.

7、 Offer a limited set of options

It’ll be hard for us to choose if we have too many choices. Just provide our customers with three options: a high-end, a mid-level and a low-end one.

8、 Create customers

Try to build relationships with your customers and spend time to know them and learn about their need.

9、 Make the ask

Once your customers express their need or hint their willing to buy, be bold to close the deal.

10、Smile and laugh

Smiling will make us feel better and it’s contagious. When we smile at someone, it’s very hard for the person not to smile back.

Life is always about selling. The secret of selling is to serve others and by the way, we get an opportunity to build a lasting connection with them.