Under a constant barrage of advertising, customers simply don’t like pushy marketing. They don’t trust it, they don’t like it and in the end, super pushy, hype-filled sales hyperbole marketing is only going to make your brand seem a little bit desperate - not exactly the best way to win anybody over.
Marketing without sounding “salesy†can take a little bit more thought and creativity, but in the end, it’s worth it, thanks to better sales and an improved brand image. Find yourself slipping into cliché and sales hyperbole a little too often for comfort?
Below are three things that you can do to shape up.
Chuck the Sales Vocabulary Out the Window
You know what I’m talking about. The words that make you cringe a little bit when you see them on someone else’s ads (and let alone as part of your own). They just scream sleazy, salesy, trying-to-sell-you-something. I can’t think of a single business owner I’ve met who wants to have that image.
Some words you might want to permanently ban from use include amazing, life-changing, revolutionary, cutting-edge, awesome and fantastic and there are countless other ones that I’m sure you have your own qualms about.
Steer clear of buzzwords, too, whenever you can. I know I can be guilty of swinging around ROI (return on investment) and “grow your business†like there’s no tomorrow, but it’s never too late to adopt some new vocabulary.
Say What You Mean When Using Limited Time Offers
Brief sales are a great way to drum up urgency and get people buying, but you have to follow through. Otherwise, things get a little bit “boy who cried sale,†once you start sending out emails that look something like “Limited Time Offer!†or “1 More Day of Limited Time Offer!†or “Limited Time Offer Extended!†and “Act Quick, Limited Time Offer Still Going - But Barely!â€
Catch my drift?
Limited time offers can easily become overblown and all hype if you don’t cut the sale off when you say you will. Extending it might work the first time or two, but eventually your customers will stop jumping on sales because they know it’s really more like constant pricing.
Ride the Waves
Keeping an eye on trends can help you better position your own product or service within part of a larger movement. After all, a potential consumer might not trust what you say in your marketing materials, but a big trend can essentially do your marketing for you.
Then, all you need to do is alert the general public to the fact that your business fits their wants and needs.
Sales Exaggeration Photo via Shutterstock
