Simple Things You Can Do To Get Out of Sales Slump

Don't get down in the dumps when your sales are in
a slump!

Most businesses hit a slump now and then. Sometimes when
your in a slump it just takes a little extra push to get
the sales rolling in again. I have what I call a slump
file. Inside I have a list several profit generating ideas
that I keep handy to help boost sales when business is
slow.

But first let's talk about preventative measures you can
take to help keep your slump in sales from being so hard
on your bottom line.

When your in business you know that follow up is the
equivalent to the goose that laid the golden egg. You must
follow up with every customer who makes a purchase or your
business is dead.

A good idea is to incorporate some slump preventing
measures into your follow up process. It is very simple
really. When you follow up with a customer who makes a
purchase just include a customer satisfaction questionnaire.
Ask a few basic questions like, Is the product to your
satisfaction? Did you find it easy to place your order? Did
you have any trouble with delivery? You get the idea!

This information will allow you to improve your sales copy,
customer service and ordering process. Also include your
recommendation for other complementing products or a plug
for your favorite affiliate program this will increase your
profits in the long run.

It's a good idea to start your own slump file. To get you
going use some of these simple techniques to help increase
your sales. As you learn more tip's and tricks you can add
them to the file. Keep it handy and any time sales are low
instead of just staring at your computer screen refer to
the list to rev things up.

- Offer to give a percentage of your profits to a worthy
cause. Your customers will appreciate your willingness
to give and it will also make them feel good about making
a purchase and helping out at the same time. It could be
to a favorite charity, local school, church, to help the
environment or endangered animals depending on your
personal preference and the type of business your in.

- Send your customers a surprise gift like a discount on
their next purchase, a free consultation or offer a free
product to them for referring a friend. Set up a good
customer loyalty program and your sales will very rarely
slump.

- Give away a follow-up email course or a series of articles
on an auto-responder. Include your offer with each lesson.
Multiple exposures to your offer increase your chances of
making the sale.

- Try revamping your classified ads so they don't sound
so much like an ad and more like an invitation. Don't
try to make the sale right off the bat. Try giving
something away instead. Anything you can think of to get
the prospect to respond or take action. Then lead them to
the sale.

- Have a website, make it sticky. The longer a visitor
sticks around your website, the greater chance they will
buy. Do this by running a contest, adding surveys, posting
articles and tips or giving them a list of resources and
tools. Give people a good reason to hang around and
bookmark your site and you will get more sales.

- Your business is slow but you still need to advertise.
To help cover the cost try splitting the cost of online
advertising and marketing by partnering with a similar,
non-competing business. You would both put up half the cost
or simply swap ads even articles.

- Go hunting for some free press coverage. Think of a good
way to get your business in the news. Do this by hosting a
community event or donating your product or services to
the local community or senior center. I just read about
one lady who built her whole catering business on the fact
that she donated her pastries to local chamber of commerce
events! And another man let the local youth center paint a
mural on the wall of his office building. You know the
media was all over him. See, simple ideas can go a very
long way.

There are many more things you can do just use your
imagination. One time I had a name your own price sale
on some of my less popular products and it worked out
great. So the morel of this story is don't let a slump
get you down just come up slugging and your win every time.