The fastest way to increase sales is to start spreading love to everyone with whom you deal.  You’ll demonstrate that you care about them and that you’ll be providing them with an excellent business experience.  As a result, they’ll place more orders with you and will recommend you to others.    

Why Love’s the Key

We do business with people for a variety of reasons.  The simplest reason we buy from others is because we want them to provide us with something.  For you to have more people asking for your services than from your competitors, start doing the following things that will cause them to notice you:

1. Greet everyone you see

When you come in contact with anyone, always be sure to greet him or her.   No matter where you are--walking down the street, riding in an elevator, or working out at the health club--make sure you say something to those with whom you come in contact. Say something simple like “Hi”, “Good Morning”, or “Good Afternoon.”  You never know when that person may play a role in your life; so when they do, you’ll want them to think good thoughts about you.

2. Keep control of the cell

Whether you’re in a group setting or meeting one-on-one with someone, don’t let your cell phone interrupt the moment. There’s no faster way to make someone feel like “less than nothing’’ than by taking calls while immersed in a conversation with them. Stay in the moment, instead of focusing on who might be calling.

3. Ask for permission

When you get someone on the phone, ask if it’s a convenient time for him or her to talk. Resist the urge to launch into a discussion unless you have first asked them about their time availability. Usually, people who you ask will gladly give you permission to continue your conversation and they’ll appreciate your asking.

4. Send out cards

When holidays roll around, send out appropriate cards to your clients. No matter if it’s Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Valentine’s Day or Easter, people who receive your greetings will think good thoughts about you when they open your card.

5. Give more than you receive

Many distributors forget to show appreciation towards a very important industry group—the suppliers we buy from. Perhaps they only think of suppliers as service providers. The truth is that without suppliers, you, the distributor, would have no way of making a living.  If a factory completes a rush job for you or a rep goes out of his way to deliver a sample, make sure you show appreciation by sending a thank-you note or email.  You never know when you will need their help again.

6. Messages mean something

Occasionally leave voice mail messages for clients stating how much you appreciate their business. Do so on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon when you know they’re not likely to answer. You’ll make quite a positive impression when you leave a friendly, concise message telling them how much you appreciate their business.

7. Shake the hand that feeds you

When you meet someone, look them straight in the eye as you shake their hand with a sense of purpose. Avoid using a limp wrist and then looking away as you greet people. Firm, confidant handshakes coupled with eye contact and a sincere smile demonstrate openness and confidence—two attractive and contagious traits.

8. Learn about their “loves”

Make a point to quickly find out about your new customers’ personal/professional interests. Then keep an eye out for information they might find interesting by reading newspapers and magazines and clipping articles for them. If you know that one of your clients loves to play golf and you subscribe to a golf magazine, pass them along to him when you’ve finished reading them. Or send a client articles about his favorite sports team when you run across them. Talk about a way to build customer loyalty and camaraderie!

9. Share with others

Make customers a part of your life by occasionally sharing photos of your activities with them. Most people will be flattered when you send them photos of your family or of important events in your life. And encourage them to do the same with you. That way you’ll always have meaningful talking points and things to discuss, in addition to what you plan to sell them. 

10. Hug competitors

Try being nice to your competitors and to people with whom you’ve experienced problems in the past. Instead of being distant and aloof when you’re around them, be pleasant when you run into them. By doing so you are retaining an edge over them, because they’ll wonder why your attitude has changed towards them. You’ll gain their admiration in the process and you might even make some new friends.   

11. Always be reliable

In today’s world it sometimes seems that no one actually does what he or she says they’ll do when it comes to buying or selling something. Either the buyer puts off the seller, or the salesperson fails to follow-up with the potential buyer. Show people you deal with that you are different by being reliable. If you tell someone you will follow-up with them in two days, make sure to do so.  Your word is your bond and your actions prove that you truly care about someone.

Small acts of spreading love towards others will cause good things to happen to you. Not only will you be happier, which increase your productivity and your business, but you’ll find that other people start doing nice things for you, too.  Don’t hold back; start showing people today that love is in the air.