Written by Meryl Snow for Catersource magazine
It happens to the best of us. You get into a slump, your state of mind is a bit “blah” and your creativity wanes. Perhaps your bookings start to drop off, and you find yourself struggling to hit sales targets that you used to breeze right past. Does any of this sound familiar.
Maybe you need to kick-start your sales and get some fresh perspective, ideas, and motivation. If you continue to do things the same way you always have, you can’t be surprised if you don’t see any new results. Don’t be afraid to try new things—rekindle your passion in sales and you will see results. Here are six ideas to get yourself back in gear.
Social media
Social media is one of the most powerful tools at any sales person’s disposal—you’d be surprised by how much being active on social media can increase your sales. Social media is a fun, informal space for you to talk to your clients, reaching out to them like they are your personal friends. Avoid “posting and boasting,” and instead explain why you like a particular event, how excited you are about planning a party, or share an interesting cooking method. People will get turned off if you’re just sharing, liking, or retweeting a link from your company. Bring your personality to the table and you will be amazed at how well people respond.
Sell yourself
Your food may be delicious and your reviews fantastic, but without an effective branding strategy that sells who you are, you are sure to get lost in the sea of competitors. People want to do business with a face and a name that they can relate to. Highlight your unique qualities, and like-minded clients will follow.
Get organized
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is vital to your success. Clean your desk (and your inbox): you’d be surprised as to what you’ll find. No, not chocolate (although, yum!) but you may find a lost query or notes from a meeting with a bride last week. Some other helpful organizational tips:
• Do not plan your week on Monday. Start planning the upcoming week the Thursday before.
• Write down exactly what you want to achieve with deadlines.
• Keep a daily list of your activities for when you get interrupted and lose focus.
Compete with yourself
For many people, competition is a motivator, and competing with your own past results is a great way to get your blood pumping and your business booming. Set monthly, quarterly, and annual goals to ensure that your business is always growing.
Know thyself
What’s your skill set? What can you offer a client that no one else can? Step back and think about all of the things that make you such a good salesperson. You may be fabulous in bonding with the client but poor in qualifying them, and therefore lose opportunities. Once you identify your strengths and weaknesses you can work in the areas that you need to improve.
Sales success goes beyond the first event
You invested a lot of time cultivating a client bond, and now you need to continue the relationship after the event. Ask them for referrals and find out if their employer, friends, and family need your expertise. Maintaining these long-term relationships is vital to sales.
Remember, if you are struggling to kickstart your sales, you’re not alone. The struggle to make your goal the best it can be and continue on an upward trajectory is one that every salesperson faces, but by remembering your passion and trying new things, you will see results.