What Do You Sell?

This title seems like a simple enough question, no trick to it really.

If you sell insurance, you sell a piece of paper
If you sell remodeling, you sell boards, drywall and paint
If you sell tax preparation, your sell a big fat envelope full of filled out forms
If you sell automobiles, you sell four wheels, metal and a way to get around

It’s hard to argue with any of these assertions isn’t it. I mean, that’s what you sell – but that’s not the point is it?

What you really sell is – what the buyer believes that are getting when they buy your product or service. Stop selling what you sell and start selling what people want to buy.

Funny thing is – many small business owners don’t even know what that is. And, it’s the most important thing there is to know.

Stop thinking in terms of what you sell and start thinking in terms of what your clients buy or think they buy.

If you sell insurance, maybe they buy a feeling of responsibility or company stability
If you sell remodeling, maybe they buy the feeling they get when friends drop by or knowing that their family routine won’t be too screwed up
If you sell tax preparation, maybe they buy peace of mind or a refund
If you sell automobiles, maybe they buy that sideways glance at the stoplight or knowing their teenage daughter will make it home safe at night

Figure out what your prospects buy, not what they should buy, what they do buy and start communicating that in your marketing message to them.

Like this post? Share it with others
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • del.icio.us
  • Sphinn
  • Google Bookmarks
  • StumbleUpon
  • Digg

Posted by: John Jantsch on May 20, 06 | 5:05 pm
Category: Positioning | Tags:

View Comments
  • Value is critical, but even more critical is that your service or product be seen not just as valuable but as an investable opportunity. How do you demonstrate it as an investable opportunity? By very clearly articulating the deeper benefits of your service or product. Which is what John speaks to in this post. Purchases are rarely based solely on the tangible item, but on the deeper benefits (often intangible) that the consumer will reap as a result.
  • Mike has a point. Without value the rest does not matter.

    Customers want value for their money.
  • Value.

    That's what everyone should be selling. Value.

    To distinguish your product from everyone else's you need to be able to put a value on it. It's better, it's safer, it's quicker, it's less expensive, it's more comprehensive, it's something you can get with your product above all the others.
blog comments powered by Disqus


Popular Searches

Small Business Marketing Magazines


Free - No strings attached - Business and Marketing Magazine Subscriptions

Target Marketing
CRM
Internet Retailer
eWeek
Electronic Publisher
Print Media and more


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial
-NoDerivs 2.5 License
.
Subscribe



Subscribe to the Duct Tape Podcast
subscribe via iTunes

Duct Tape Marketing System

Duct Tape Marketing System

Duct Tape System - Complete small business marketing system in 14 workbooks and 4 audio CDs.


Marketing Plan Pro powered by Duct Tape Marketing

Marketing Plan Pro

The Duct Tape Marketing System now comes as Marketing Planning Software. We teamed up with Palo Alto Software, the makers of Business Plan Pro, to bring you the most powerful small business marketing plan tool going. More info here . . .


Referral Flood by John Jantsch

Referral Flood by John Jantsch

Referral Flood - How to create a flood of new business without spending one dime on advertising - by John Jantsch

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter

First Name * Last Name * Email *

Connect Socially