Why Am I So Nervous About Making a Sale?

The marketing of relationships. To have a prosperous internet business, it is essential. The success of your company will depend on your ability to build relationships online. Looks like a very straightforward idea, doesn't it? However, in practice, what is the meaning of "relationship marketing"? Basically, it's the idea that you need to build trust with your site visitors and ezine readers before you can expect them to do business with you. This is particularly true in the internet world where people are rather anonymous. Establishing a reputation of integrity and trustworthiness for yourself and your organization requires a dedication to customer service and a readiness to assist others without certain reward other than the delight of helping another.
However, making a profit is essential to the long-term health of your company. A prevalent fear among novice and even seasoned internet business owners is being perceived as "selling something" to the same people they have worked so hard to build a relationship with—the very people who are necessary to close the deal!

To rephrase, "relationship marketing" has put an excessive emphasis on the relationship to the point where it comes across as intrusive and disrespectful. There are a lot of new internet business owners who say they feel like they're taking advantage of people's confidence. Assuming you have faith in your product and know it will help your clients, there's no need to feel anything negative about selling it. If that's not how you feel, then you have good reason to be upset. Indeed, you are using the situation!
No one, not even the business owner, is immune to the pain of selling. Readers of my ezine have sent me multiple angry emails in the last year or two in reaction to advertisements for initiatives that I support. The common thread in these types of messages is that I feel a "duty" to my readers, who have grown to trust me as an expert in my field, and that I have somehow failed in this duty by engaging in such blatantly commercial activity as promoting the programs that help me make money online. It has been suggested that I should be satisfied with the revenue stream from paid advertisements in my ezine and not try to gain money by marketing outside programs.
The fact that I am in the process of operating a business is my response to this line of thinking. I'm not putting in extra hours on my site and ezine because I really care. I assure you, I am not that honorable. My motivation is financial gain. The pursuit of financial gain is NOT inherently evil, contrary to popular belief. Misleading, deceiving, or otherwise abusing another person's confidence in order to pursue one's own profit motive is the only time it becomes a bad thing. You shouldn't feel bad about trying to make a legitimate profit; there's no need to apologize.
Where do you stand? Is advertising your goods and services something that gives you the willies? Managing these relationships in a way that your customer knows that you are there to help them, but you are also out to help yourself by earning an honest living may be challenging, so here are some tips to help you overcome that fear and pursue sales from prospective customers.
Put Your Goals in Crystals
Before you even think about making a website or releasing an ezine, you must determine your ultimate goal. Is it something you do for fun or for profit? The presence or lack of a profit motive is what differentiates the two. Okay if it's only a pastime. Have fun and earn enough to cover your costs, but don't worry about trying to make a profit. But know that if it's a company, the bottom line must be satisfied. It's the driving force behind your company's existence. Without a doubt, you'll be serving multiple functions. Crucial, nevertheless, is the profit drive.
Get your goals crystallized by doing whatever it takes. Some people can make up their minds after giving it some thought. Some people can only understand crystallization when presented with it in monochrome. Jot down your goals if that describes you. Making a profit should be one of your primary goals while operating a business instead of a hobby. This is, of course, assuming you are not operating a non-profit, but we will ignore that for the time being. Take note of that goal's nature. Get behind it. Go after it with all your might. Don't be bashful or embarrassed about it. If you truly want to make money, and you plan to accomplish it in an honest and ethical way, then go ahead and chase after it. Just why is this the best strategy to solidify your goals? In the face of the doubters who will invariably appear in your morning meal, they will serve to keep you focused and motivated.
Display an Air of Confidence and Expertise
The term "relationship marketing" does not imply developing personal relationships with clients. Maintaining an air of professionalism will spare you a lot of trouble; be pleasant, but not *extremely* personal. It's feasible to maintain an air of professionalism and helpfulness without crossing the line into becoming too personal. Customers, not friends, are the people you're dealing with. Naturally, you can develop friendships with certain of your customers over time. Relationship marketing is effective, but it doesn't imply you have to be best friends with your clients. Oh, I see. You won't set any unreasonable expectations if you act professionally and in a businesslike manner.
Follow the path that will benefit your company the most.
Constantly comparing your choices to the criteria is one method of self-control. "Will this choice help my company succeed?" If that's the case, go ahead and do it, keeping in mind that there are times when doing what's best for your company is more important than receiving monetary compensation. Otherwise, it's not a good idea. On occasion, your company's bottom line will benefit from an action that your consumer would see as a favor. Giving a consumer a refund when they aren't technically entitled to one but you still have a long-term relationship with them is one example. You do this for the sake of your customers, and it's clear that this is something that will benefit your company.
But there are instances when clients might benefit from this policy. Avoid this kind of issue by subtly stating that you are acting in your company interests whenever your customer, reader, or visitor gains more than what they are entitled to. Be ready to establish boundaries, though. Be realistic about how far you're willing to go before the decision gets too personal and hurts your commercial interests.
If it's the correct choice under all circumstances, being uncomfortable saying "no" should not be an excuse to put your company's best interests on the back burner.
TELL IT LIKE IT IS
Don't be bashful about telling potential clients how much you value their business and the things you have to offer. Discuss it openly, honestly, and directly. For instance, if someone contacts me via email seeking my guidance on starting an internet business, I will suggest things that I believe will be useful to them. I usually suggest Cookie Cutter and Cash Cow to people who are just starting out in internet marketing. Why? Firstly, I am a firm believer in both products and think they provide a novice with an excellent and inexpensive means of rapidly learning the ins and outs of online business.
Also, I make $20 for every sale of either program because I am an associate for them. Do I have a financial interest in recommending any products that are directly related to my business? No. Why? My motivation is financial gain. You can't buy my time. I have faith in the products, and that is crucial. I would also provide alternatives to the things I was endorsing if I thought they were superior. However, I was able to earn a commission from my referrals after I became an affiliate.
Conversely, I do get requests from time to time to suggest a webhost. I'm an inactive associate with a big web host, but I never suggest them because I find their plans to be too pricey. When someone asks me about my web host, I usually point them in the direction of my own. Neither am I an affiliate, and I stand to gain nothing financially from this suggestion. I haven't signed up for my webhost's affiliate program yet because I'm not that enthusiastic about webhosting as a product to promote. This is merely a sincere recommendation, similar to Cookie Cutter/Cash Cow. Why not? The only difference is that I profit from the second option. Your recommendation can be both honest and profitable; the key is to find a way to do both. It's mutually beneficial. Get over your fear of selling and do it. If you don't have it, your business will fail.
Wow, that's funny!

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