In today’s competitive sales environment, the salesperson faces two significant challenges. First, the Covid 19 pandemic reduces the amount of face time available for selling. Many of us don’t like making client visits during this time and many prospects don’t want to sit across the desk from us even if we went to their office. Second, the majority of people don’t like to read, especially millennials. This includes sales literature, booklets, and website copy. The millennial prospects would rather watch a three minute sales video.

However, the key principles of marketing still apply: lead with benefits and follow with evidence.

A professional marketing video is particularly effective to demonstrate a product. A great example is the Flex Seal advertisement showing the effectiveness of the product for plugging leaks.  The ad shows a basement window where water pours into the house.  Then, the video shows what happens when the home owner uses the Flex Seal product to stop the leak. Marketing a product that requires hands on use is tailor-made for a video presentation. It allows the customer to see exactly how an item works.

Most of us understand some customers make decisions by price alone; others purchase based on perceived value. Marketing to each type of customers is very different.

When I was in the international trade business, a fast food chain bought large amounts of hamburger meat from Australia and shipped it in frozen food containers. The customer generally requested competitive bids over three months. They made it clear that they would accept the lowest price. For several years we bid for the business and a couple times we landed the work for a quarter or two. However, when somebody was a dollar less; the business quickly went to the lower bid. Customer service seemed to make little difference. A sharp pencil was the only way to make successful bid.

None of us likes losing customers. Over the years, I have had customers take their business to competitors for one reason or another. 

I have always treated departing customers with the utmost kindness and respect.  I strive to make the transition as easy as possible for the customer. I’ve done this for four specific reasons.

Many years ago I went car shopping with my dad. After meeting with the salesperson and kicking the tires on a potential new car, we left the dealership. The first thing my dad said as we left was that salesperson never took down his phone number. He wouldn’t be able to call my dad to find out if he wanted the car. Of course, we purchased a car at a different dealership.

I am part of Business Network International, the largest business networking group in the United States. Currently I am serving as the Growth Coordinator for our chapter. When a visitor walks into a meeting, I don’t just shake hands; I walk them to the meeting hoping they will come back and join.

Regular readers of this blog know that I suggest that all marketing should lead with the benefits and follow with the evidence. The evidence may be the study verifying the need for your product or service. 

Frequently, I receive marketing emails which includes some vague phrase like “studies show” without any attribution. My first thought is so what?