SalesNewz.com

I do a lot of public speaking. And just this week I heard a number of small business owners in the audience commented on how hard business is right now, what with the economy and all…And how so few people are buying whatever it is they are selling.

Now, on the one hand, you can absolutely work to market your product or service as something they really do need to solve a problem or achieve a goal. That’ll help sales. Because when money is tight people have to justify every cent they spend.

On the other hand, you can narrow your focus to those who are still buying. And someone always is, even when most people aren’t. You just have to find them and speak to them in a way that resonates with where they are at right now.

Or, on the third hand (3 hands, I know…I’m a bit odd that way. Alien baby and all that…), you could find ways to get people to fall in love with whatever you’re selling.
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I just finished reading Jason Lee miller’s terrific post on Web Pro News “24 Ways to Get and Keep a Customer“.

In it, he references a Future Now’s 2007 Retail Customer Experience Study that every business owner with a Website should be aware of.

The study states that a 2007 Forrester survey revealed, “only 26% of online consumers were simply satisfied with their shopping experience. This suggests a whopping 74% - three-quarters of online shoppers - weren’t even satisfied. And what of the remaining 26%? They weren’t delighted. They were merely “satisfied.” In other words, the shopping experience was, at best, adequate.”

Twice recently I was personally reminded of how bad some Website shopping experiences can really be-as well as what a stellar shopping experience is like. In the course of one day, I had shopping experience that ranged from frustrating, to great, to near perfection.

Let’s start with perfection… (more…)