Do you enjoy selling your work or would you rather just create?
Did you know that you are a born salesperson and that you can sell your work better than anyone else?
So why not embrace your salesmanship qualities and realize the profits from your gifts?
7 Ways to Sell Without Being Salesy…and Enjoy It!
- First and always, have a good mindset/attitude.
Embrace the idea that you are sharing your genius, your gift with that person, and shower them with love and confidence. Believe in your work and in your ability to connect with the customer.It’s not about you. It’s about them.
How can you make them feel welcome on your site, in your booth, in your ad? How can you improve their life with your art? You need to believe in the importance of your work and in connecting with your ideal customer.
- Be likeable!
Work hard to share content, ideas, and support others so they know, trust and like you. People buy from those they like. People refer others to those they know, trust and like. Be honest, insightful and lead with integrity!
- Come from a place of service
If you approach every sale from a place of service you will win them over. Ask yourself, how can I best serve them? How can I shower them with love?We are all here to serve in some greater capacity. What’s your level of service going to be?
- Be a great listener
As the famous marketing expert Harvey Mackay says “A salesperson tells, a good salesperson explains, and a great salesperson demonstrates.”Listening gives you the secret sauce. Hear their objections and take advantage of the opportunity to meet and dispel their pre-conceived notions.
- Be prepared
Having systems in place, a booth that is well put together, an ad that is well constructed with great copy, a 3 month marketing campaign prior to your event, and the energy to meet and greet your customer is essential.Having this energy and preparedness is the ultimate way to serve and it allows you to attract top shelf customers. Remember we are all energy and we attract to us what we exude and embody.
It won’t do you any good to go to that show grumpy, or to list that piece of jewelry without a loving description or effort.
- Have a thirst for self-improvement
By improving and investing in your business you have the inside track to sales. Your booth, ads, website should exude that professionalism, authority and confidence. By improving yourself and getting support, you’ll find your business at the top!
- Be a goal-setter
Going to a show, paying for an ad, or listing items on Etsy without goals in mind of how fast they should sell, how much you expect to make, or how many connections you intend to make are mindless actions without merit… or measurable results.Start setting goals, setting expectations for yourself and your business and do whatever it takes to meet those goals. You take one small action each day toward those goals until you conquer them and then you ask “what’s next”.
As Ben Franklin said “Plough deep while sluggards sleep.”
Have a way to track your goals, gets stats on how you are doing and ask what you can do better.
And most importantly TAKE ACTION!
Don’t forget to leave a comment and get entered to win a F*R*E*E give-away from Whole Lotta Whimsy! Drawing is June 15th, 2012!
So much to think about and strive for! I am a new jewelry artist and love so much creating my pieces. I now want to learn to sell them. Thank you for the wonderful article.
This is really good stuff Tonya! I’ve watched erin get so fired up that she’s painted both her bedroom and studio. Hoping that some of it rubs off on me! We do do the same heart based customer service with my husband’s orthodontic practice.
I love your style, Tonya! I have believed since day one that my love of what I do is what sells my art but never quite knew what or how to put it all together…you are helping me to refine my sales strategy and marketing goals into what I have always wanted my company to be.
I already re-wrote my shop introduction: Welcome! I create beautiful and unique Garden Jewelry and original stained glass panels to bring beauty and delight into your living areas. Helping to make your garden, patio and windows glow with light and energy to enrich your life and the lives of all who enter your space.
What do you think, Tonya? Much better than “I make unusual wind chimes with stained glass and wood” don’t you agree?
Taking your program is my goal, a short term goal. I want to, I really, really want to.
From my heart to yours,
Liz
Light Works Art Works
Another great article Tonya! This is certainly excellent advice for selling your work and being client-centered – Love it.
I met you several years ago in Tucson at a class I took , Thought your teaching methods where great then. All your articals have taught me something. Your work is important for all kind of artisians.
thank you ,
Marlyn
Loved the whole article. Especially apprecited the reminder that “we are all energy and we attract to us what we exude and embody.”
Thanks again, Tonya for sharing your wonderful self and your invaluable knowledge with us. You are so generous and we love you!! This article is a wonderful reminder about selling our art and remembering that it is about our clients, not about us.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom. It always helps me focus my energy to accomplish my goals.
Tonya,
I love these pearls….I am going to print this off and read it before I start each event! Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Tonya,
I love these pearls….I am going to print this off and read it before I start each event! Thanks for sharing this great ariticle!
Great article! I often find that I do better at shows where I just “have fun” with the people, even if I have to fake it at first, than ones where I “try to make money”. It’s all about the attitude I guess 🙂
Great article! I often find that I do better at shows where I just “have fun” with the people, even if I have to fake it at first, than ones where I “try to make money”. It’s all about the attitude I guess 🙂
Great article! I often find that I do better at shows where I just “have fun” with the people, even if I have to fake it at first, than ones where I “try to make money”. It’s all about the attitude I guess 🙂
Another great article! thank you
Thanks for a great article, Tonya. The hardest part for me is setting goals, measuring the progress and following through. Thanks for reminding me. I always look forward to your newsletters.
Great food for thought. I see all your points as quite important. It’s all about customer service. Now we need an article about what you do when you fall short of your goals. How do you handle disappointment?
Great article. All good points to learn from and food for thought for another article. What do you do when you don’t meet your goals? How do you handle disappointments like that?
Good advise for doing shows. We just need to remember the advise when it counts.
Success in each step outlined prepares you for better success in the next. Almost like a spiral ladder to success.
Great list to center oneself before encountering the public! (And isn’t your favorite person from a dinner party or other gathering usually the one who listened to you and was interested?)
As usual, inspiring thughts and simple steps to success. Thanks, Tonya!!
As usual, inspiring thoughts and simple steps for success. Thanks Tonya!!
Great advice. Selling is the hardest part of the business for me, and the well thought-out and organized steps you’ve outlined are so simple, so practical and make so much sense! Thanks for helping others work towards improving and expanding our horizons.