There’s no way around this: a business survives on its power of convincing people to buy products or services. It doesn’t matter how much thought you put into your product or how much you work on design – if you don’t know how to sell it, things will not end up well. This is especially true for startups that at the beginning they don’t even have customers.
Luckily, both startups and established brands have access to sales professionals and marketing people who can help improve the process. Still, there are times when the already-tested way doesn’t provide the results you were hoping for. If this is the case, we have some unconventional ways to boost sales, especially if you’re just starting.
#1: Keep Up with Content Marketing
Every business that has an online presence knows that content is king. You probably also know that it takes time and skill to get to know your audience and build a relationship with readers. Furthermore, content marketing is constantly changing, with new channels constantly popping up and new opportunities to explore.
So, while doing content marketing and promoting your thoughts and ideas as a startup is not unconventional, finding new ways to reach out to audiences and drive sales can be. If you keep an open mind when it comes to new content platforms (TikTok is a great example) and always look for fresh ways to promote your content, you increase your chances of success.
#2: Personalize Your Web Presence
In today’s day and age, there’s no room for businesses without a web presence. Whether you’re a multimillion-dollar corporation or a startup, you must be online in order to exist. In fact, this is old news by now.
However, the approach you have towards your web presence can be the refreshing factor in this old-age equation. To show your audience or future leads that your startup is integrated with modern technologies and up to date with the times, it’s important to use all the channels at your disposal.
This means that your site should use more than just text and images to communicate your message. Sites that are engaging and fun to browse also use videos and even voice to let users navigate easily and enjoy their experience.
#3: Put Together a Course or Video Tutorial
Sharing is caring, right? So, the best way to connect with your audience and possible customers is by sharing your knowledge and experience with them.
You can do this by setting up an eLearning program or by simply making short video tutorials that provide value to viewers. The secret is to offer useful information that adds to your activity as a startup. For instance, if you own a startup in the consulting niche, you can put together a few how-to videos that provide interested viewers with guidance but also pull them into your sales funnel.
A great example in this scenario is Charisma on Command – they started as a YouTube channel and grew into a powerful business where they offer in-depth counseling for individuals and businesses looking to improve their social presence.
#4: Live Chat Support
Most people love the idea of getting in direct contact with a company’s representative. And this is exactly the experience offered by live chat software – it allows you to stay in touch with your audience and make sure their needs are met by your products or services.
It’s also a way to make recommendations and invest in the people who reach out. Overall, it’s a lot more personal than email and people will feel closer to your business.
#5: Use the Power of Blogging
Blogging is a powerful tool in the online environment, which is why it’s still going strong in an era where video and graphic content is extremely popular. And most businesses know how to capitalize on this power.
For instance, an online store selling household items (decorations, bedroom and kitchen furniture, and so on) can benefit from starting a lifestyle blog. On the other hand, a real estate startup can provide valuable tips to a specific type of customer (newlyweds looking to start a family, for example).
#6: Connect with an Influencer
Big brands collaborate with social media influencers all the time and some of these campaigns proved extremely lucrative for everyone involved. However, a startup doesn’t have the marketing budget of a large company, which also means they don’t have access to top-tier influencers.
But there are other people with a good social media following out there. The industry calls them micro-influencers since they only reach several hundred or thousands each months. Still, this is more than enough if the audience is engaged and committed.
#7: Connect with Customers via Phone
It’s an old-school method that works best when your audience is small, but it provides amazing results if done right.
The idea is to call existing customers or strong leads and connect with them in person. These calls should be focused on their issues and how your startup can offer more value and make their lives easier. So, no spam!
#8: Be your own Brand Model
Take a corporate T-shirt and go for a walk, carry a coffee mug with your logo on it. Sounds a bit odd but according to this real estate leads guide this trick works for real estate agents pretty well. Add a joke under your logo to drive the public’s attention and go for it!
#9: Pay Attention to the Sales Funnel
The road to landing more sales starts with a well-designed funnel. This involves using your site and social media campaigns at the top of the funnel while building various steps that attract possible customers closer to making a purchase.
It’s not exactly unconventional, but many startups tend to ignore the power that can be found in taking small steps. For instance, you can create a gateway towards people’s contact information by offering something in exchange (a how-to video guide, a tutorial, or even an infographic). This way, you add value to their life from the start.
Wrap Up
As you can see, most of these strategies are based on old-school ideas but are adapted to fit modern times. Even more, sometimes it pays to implement a method that seems archaic in today’s crazy online world. Overall, it’s important to start building your business with the audience’s needs in mind. Once you manage to implement this mindset, sales will come from both conventional and unconventional sources.
