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  • August 12, 2022

6 Sales Strategies That Worked Five Years Ago – But Won’t Today

Sales strategies are always changing. What works today may not work tomorrow. That’s why it’s so important to stay up-to-date on the latest sales techniques. However, there are some sales strategies that have been around for a while and still work today. In this blog post, we will discuss six of these sales strategies. But we want to warn you – just because they worked in the past doesn’t mean they will work tomorrow!

Always Be Closing

The first sales strategy is to always be closing. This means that you should always be working on making a sale, even if it’s not the right time for the customer. This can be done by asking questions about their needs and then offering solutions that fit those needs. For example, let’s say you’re a car salesman. You might ask your customer what their budget is for a new car. If they say $20,000, you could then show them some of the cars on your lot that fit into that price range. By doing this, you’re always trying to close the deal – even if the customer isn’t ready to buy right away. However, this strategy may not work tomorrow because customers are becoming more savvy, and they don’t want to be pressured into buying something. They want to feel like they’re in control of the situation. So, while this strategy may have worked in the past, it probably won’t work tomorrow.

The Hard Sell

The next sales strategy is the hard sell. This is when you use high-pressure tactics to get the customer to buy something. For example, you might offer a limited-time discount that expires today. Or, you might say that there’s only one left in stock, and if they don’t buy it now, they’ll never be able to get it again. This strategy can work because it creates a sense of urgency and gets the customer to make a decision quickly. However, it can also backfire because it can come across as too pushy. Customers don’t like feeling like they’re being pressured into buying something. So, while this strategy may have worked in the past, it probably won’t work tomorrow.

The Soft Sell

The next sales strategy is the soft sell. This is when you take a more low-key approach and let the customer make their own decision. For example, you might simply present the product and its features without trying to push them into buying it. Or, you might give them time to think about it before making a decision. This strategy can work because it allows the customer to make their own decision without feeling pressured. However, it can also backfire because you’re not being assertive enough. Customers may not understand that you’re trying to sell them something, and they may just walk away without buying anything. So, while this strategy may have worked in the past, it probably won’t work tomorrow.

The Bait and Switch

The next sales strategy is the bait and switch. This is when you lure the customer in with one offer and then try to sell them something else. For example, you might advertise a product at a discounted price and then try to upsell them to a more expensive model once they’re in the store. Or, you might offer a free trial of a product and then bill them for the full amount after the trial period is over. This strategy can work because it gets the customer in the door with one offer and then tries to sell them something else that they may need or want. However, it can also backfire because it’s dishonest, and customers will feel like they’ve been tricked. So, while this strategy may have worked in the past, it probably won’t work tomorrow.

The High-Low Price

The next sales strategy is the high-low price. This is when you offer a high price for a product and then give the customer a discount if they buy it now. For example, you might advertise a car for $30,000 and then offer a $2000 discount if they buy it today. Or, you might advertise an item for $100 and then say that it’s on sale for 50% off – making the actual price $50. This strategy can work because it makes the customer feel like they’re getting a good deal. They see the high price, and then they see the discount, and they think that they’re saving money by buying it now. However, this strategy can also backfire because it can make the customer feel like they’re being ripped off. They see the high price, and then they see the discount, and they think that the original price was too high. So, while this strategy may have worked in the past, it probably won’t work tomorrow.

The Freebie

The next sales strategy is the freebie. This is when you give the customer something for free in order to get them to buy something else. For example, you might offer a free coffee mug with every purchase of a coffee machine. Or, you might offer a free month of your service with every year-long subscription. This strategy can work because it entices the customer with a free gift and then gets them to buy something else that they may need or want. However, it can also backfire because the customer may only be interested in the freebie and not actually want to buy anything else. So, while this strategy may have worked in the past, it probably won’t work tomorrow.

Sales Coaching

If you are using any of these strategies that we have discussed and they are not working as well as you would like, it may be time for some sales coaching. Sales coaching can help you learn new strategies and techniques that will work better in today’s market. It can also help you improve your existing skills so that you can close more sales.

These are just a few of the sales strategies that worked in the past but won’t work today. So, if you’re stuck in a rut, it’s time to try something new. Experiment with different strategies and see what works best for you and your business. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to sales, so find what works best for you and run with it.

A pretty interesting post, huh?

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