Effective Sales Tools for the small business smart checklist

Do you use tools that help grow sales in your business? Sales are the lifeblood of any business. Yet how many of us have had training in closing a sales deal as small business owner? With a new year about to start, it’s time to review your sales process and help your business grow.

Set a budget that you and the team can aim for in 2023

Working with your customer

The art of selling is to focus on the prosperity and happiness of your customers!

“Don’t bother telling the world you are ready. Show it. Do it.” – Peter Dinklage

Setting up an effective CRM system lets you manage your customers and their relationship with you. Are your customers frequent users of your business that need weekly or monthly sales follow-ups? Not only about purchasing but post-sale follow-ups. These measures all drive sales. You can plan as sales intelligence allows you to understand your customer’s future needs.

For more information about factors like occupancy rates etc, see our other article keeping customers coming back.

The more touch points you have with a customer, the more chances they will remain with you. The longer they remain with you, the more valuable they become, leading to business value. Business value is what will deliver you business freedom

Take a moment and ask yourself how much in terms of revenue my business has done:
– For This week
– For This year
– Compared to this time last year

Are you having the best year ever? Are you monitoring these vital statistics?

After you have addressed these vital questions, now look at the trends. Data in your accounting system is your friend. Look at:
– Trends of turnover
– Forward orders
– What sells when, how and why
– What doesn’t generate a large margin
– What stock gathers dust, and why

So your XERO, Quickbooks or MYOB will be able to produce some of these valuable sales reports. Accountants like us can help you work out what is profitable and what should become a runt or no longer stocked product or service.

Your sales department should be focused machine on the yearly budget. What I hear you say “ I don’t have a sales department “ If you don’t, then adopt one, even if is you.

Your sales checklist to create effective sales tools

Check if any of the statements apply to you.

• I do not waste time training people who are not trainable in sales.
• I manage the company’s daily sales quota.
• I always keep sales brochures available for potential customers.
• I keep a written copy on just in case.
• I know how to close a sale so that the customer benefits and I make money.
• The company supports my sales effort wholeheartedly from concept to close.
• I have a multifaceted system of referrals and word-of-mouth.
• I am fully aware of what customers need and want and adapt to them.
• I keep sales and marketing costs low, even if it means lost sales from time to time.
• I make my appearance, company, and product as attractive as possible.
• I create focus groups and record responses and reactions for my evolving action plan.
• I involve every staff member in various aspects of strategy development, allowing each the opportunity to contribute.

Look at where you are taking your business’s sales.

In small businesses, effort = reward. Small leads to large, and smart sales plans lead to profit and adding value to your business.

Ignore your accounting system at your own peril. Make sure you monitor your sales, follow the trends and focus on the end game. A healthy sales result for 2023!