5 Big Sales Mistakes Business Owners Keep Making

Are you making these 5 big sales mistakes in your small business?

Sales is the lifeblood of your small business. The life of a solopreneur business-person takes a lot of focus, commitment and energy. There are a lot of moving parts and you have to wear many hats all at once. Increasing revenue is always top-of-mind when it comes to planning your time.

One of the most important questions to ask yourself every day is “am I missing out on sales?”. It’s fine to increase your sales, but what if you’re actually losing customers because of something you’re doing, or not doing, right now? There are lots of ways to leave money on the table when you’re interacting with potential customers.
Here are 5 big sales mistakes that small business owners are making:

Not having any add-ons
When a customer is buying, they’re in a “buying state”. This is the perfect time to recommend additional products or services, not later. If you don’t have any add-ons, peripherals, extras, etc, add them now or you’re missing out. Tip: Do your best to ensure your add-ons, impulse offers and compatible recommendations are high-profit items.

Payment processing problems
Too many times vendors have issues accepting payment. Seriously? Sign up with Square or something similar so you can take credit cards, offer payment plans, debit, or even crypto. Don’t get in the way of people giving you money. You are in business, right?

Slow customer response times
This is maybe the most obvious, and most common issue out there today. Browsers in a shop being ignored. Emails not being responded to. Calls not being returned. Level 1 stuff. Even worse, some entrepreneurs are straight-up cold, rude or dismissive to potential customers. Are you having a rough day? Do your best to shine for your customers because people only buy from people they like. Good customer service means being pleasant (and offering a friendly greeting right away) professional, proactive and grateful for your customers. Only losers are too cool to smile, and only idiots don’t care about being charming. Without customers, you have no business.

Not asking for referrals
You’ve made a new customer! Congratulations. The best way to get even more customers (and sales) is to ask them to refer you to other people they know who may be interested in the same thing. Don’t wait! Do it on the spot. Maybe you could offer an incentive on a future purchase? Customer acquisition costs are high, and nothing is less expensive and more valuable than a referral.

5. Not having a sales planl
A goal without a plan is just a dream they say. The same is true of sales. Have a plan, and a revenue target. If you’re not sure where to start, take the You Can Do it! Sales course to help organize your goals, make a clear plan and learn some great tactics to grow your business.

If you’re making any of these mistakes today, stop. Get to work on making sure that you are covering the most important basics of being a merchant in business. If you have a store, keep it clean and organized. If it’s a website, make it clear and looking good. If you’re a service provider, go the extra mile to delight your customers. If you are selling a product, make sure it’s fantastic. There’s too much crap out there. Don’t add to it. The world needs you and your business. If you show up consistently every day ready to win, you will win more and lose less. Remember, your top obstacle to success is your own mindset. Winners play with the intention to win. Start with the end in mind and fill in the steps on the way there. Cut no corners, offer value at every turn and never forget to say “please” and “thank you”.

Do you have any tips that you can add to this list?