How To Make More Sales Without Sweating

It's easy for me to assume that everyone who visits this blog is a domainer, as these are usually the people I speak to most, both online and off.

But of course, many people from different walks of life come along either randomly or because they've been sent here by someone else.

So today, I am addressing this blog to those business owners and managers who want to increase their online sales but haven't got a clue about where to start.

Step 1. Decide that you will gladly share a proportion of the profit from each sale that is generated with ANY person who can generate it.

Step 2. Decide how much that commission payment can be.

Step 3. Resolve to be 100% honest in all of your dealings.

Step 4. Help your chosen sales partner(s) to develop content for their web site with the help of sales materials, some induction training to what your company does, product or service guides - in fact, anything that somebody else can use in order to sell your product or service effectively.

Step 5. Remember at all times that an online freelance sales agent will not be stepping on the toes of your own sales people because the leads they generate are passive - in 100% of cases, the customer is making the first approach.

Step 6. Allow the agent to do whatever they wish in order to generate enquiries to their own web site. This can include pay per click search engine placement, giving away information, generic search engine placement, type-in domain name, whatever.

Step 7. Don't be offended when your agent won't have your name or contact information on their web site. As long as you are honest and fair with the commission, you'll always get the deals that result from the enquiry.

Step 8. Always pay your commissions promptly and witrhout complaint. Whereever possible, pay commissions on a residual basis to provide a real incentive for the agent to stick with you.

If you do all of this, here is what a good agent will do for you:

Reward 1. Be enthusiastic about your business and learn as much about it as you!

Reward 2. You'll get free promotion via a highly optimised and sales oriented web site.

Reward 3. You'll get extra business that you would not ordinarily have got.

Reward 4. You'll have an extra sales resource that if treated correctly, can grow your business beyond your wildest dreams - and if you don't, so what? It didn't cost you anything to find out!

Now, what happens when you find this miraculous person who can turn in extra sales and profits for you? How much should you pay them?

There is a simple answer to this. If it's a professional service you're selling, the costs of providing that service might be very low. The profit on the sale of the service will be very high. I recommend 50% of the profit in cases like this.

On the other hand, you might be selling a product that doesn't carry much margin. 15-20% of margin might be more acceptable.

What about high value consumer items like home improvements? For this, the commission would have to be a minimum what you would pay a direct sales person on a commission-only basis plus some more.

Why pay extra? Simply because you have no cost of sale, so the profit is greater. The agent in this case is taking the risk on your behalf.

So, these are my thoughts on how you should consider working with an online partner who can bring in new business online.

But, one question remains....

How do you find somebody who:

• Understands & Is Fully Expeirenced In Professional Selling
• Can Learn Your Business Inside Out
• Can Develop A Site That Captures Visitors
• Is Able To Promote The Site Effectively
• Has The Communication Skills To Write Copy That Sells
• Can Convert Visitors Into Clients
• Is Trustworthy and Able To Deliver.

Difficult isn't it?

Do such people exist? I know of only one in the whole world so far. You're reading his blog.

For this reason, I can be extremely selective about the companies and people I work with (not for, you'll note).