If you sell (or are trying to sell) to small business owners, you know cracking the code can be challenging. However, if you are a small business, you already have the key – what are your buying habits?
This may still seem consuming, so there are some tips you can use (regardless of if your business is small or large) to find success when attempting to sell to small businesses.
Small Business Owners Aren’t Planning Too Far Out
While most small business owners would love to have a three- or even five-year plan, the truth is, they usually don’t. Many will also tell you they feel pretty good about things if they create a one-week plan. When you run a small business, you have to be flexible, especially since time and money are often sparse.
What this means is that when you are creating marketing material to send small business owners, don’t focus on future ROI messages or the value received over time. Usually, these owners are searching for a fix that will work right now. Talk to them about the pain they are facing now and how your solution will fix it.
Focus on Value – Not Price
While most small business owners don’t want to buy based on price, they may still be willing to do so. If you don’t give someone a reason to see why your solution is the best one out there, they will likely base their buying decision on the lowest priced option available.
However, if you can demonstrate your “fix” is better and available when needed, then switching to the solution you offer won’t be quite as painful, then the chances are that a small business owner will be willing to pay more.
In most cases, the main issue is that the buyer doesn’t believe the information you have provided. They may not trust themselves to implement the suggestions you have made either. This means you have to demonstrate by creating a relationship, don’t just try to sell – education. Prove to a small business owner, you understand their business by using their language, and if you start talking the industry lingo, chances are they won’t hear anything else.
Small Business Owners Are Loyal to a Fault
Most small business owners will be loyal to the businesses that are loyal to them. If you can fix their issues in a way that is affordable, effective, and simple, and the business owner trusts your actions and words, they will purchase anything else you present to them. They will begin to go out of their way to keep buying from you because they know about your track record.
When it comes to selling to small businesses, you have to know the right formula. The information here gives you some invaluable insight to apply to any upcoming pitches you have. By taking the right steps and focusing on the right methods of selling, you will achieve more success and more sales than ever before.