Recently, we’ve been receiving a lot of questions from people thinking about selling a service over the web, asking what they need to do differently than those people marketing a physical product. It’s a good question because selling a service is totally different from selling either a digital or physical product and there are things that merit a discussion. In this article, we will tell you how to successfully sell your services online products by offering the best.
Whether you are planning to sell your services in forums, social media, or classified ad sites like Shoppok, there are strategies and techniques that need to be taken into consideration to achieve great results.
Below you’ll learn the steps you need to take to start selling yourself online, including building a web presence that will be the foundation of your trade business.
Table of Contents
Build Your Online Presence
Not everyone knows how to build a website. Even in today’s advanced technology where anyone can drag-and-drop to create simple web pages, not everyone has the luxury of time to do this. Although many experts say a website is necessary, it’s not really. With the existence of social media, you can build your online presence around these platforms. Google Business is one of the best ways to start building your online presence. You can create a Google Business account in just a few minutes by adding your business details, contact numbers, and even photos. The best thing about Google Business is it ranks fast and you can see your business on top of the Google search page in no time. Facebook, Checkatrade, and Yelp are some of the better options to create your online business identity. The good thing about these platforms is they are free and provide a review that could be extremely helpful. Of course, if you know how to build a website and have time to do it then having a website is the first option as you can have both a website and social media pages.
The Power Testimonials
Testimonials have the power of tapping into people’s consciousness and reaching them on an emotional level. The majority of individuals tend to trust other people’s experiences with a particular brand, and they rely on them when making their purchasing decisions. Thus, create video testimonials from your previous customers and make them visible on your website and social media pages. That will help you generate a lot more quality leads that you can convert into customers.
Powerful testimonials are those that are legit and not fake every time you finish a job, ask your customer if they are happy and if they are, ask for a video testimonial. You can then offer them some kind of discount or freebie if the next time they need your help again. If you are providing voice-overs, an extra couple of free minutes could make your customer happy.
The Power of Customer Reviews
Apart from including testimonials on your website, you should also allow your customers to leave reviews. That kind of social proof can be very insightful. Not only can reviews let other people know about your offers, but they can also provide you with constructive feedback. You can use them to keep improving your services and provide a better user experience.
You should expect that not all reviews are positive but receiving a few negative reviews at first could be a big help for you to improve your performance especially if you are just starting up.
Utilizing Social Media
As I mentioned above, the best and most efficient way to do so these days is to establish a social media presence and use social networks to their full potential. Social media networks count billions of daily active users, which is why you should use them to reach out to your target customers. Depending on the type of product you offer, some social networks will work better, while others may not yield the same positive results.
Having a social media page like Facebook and Instagram could be a great help not only in building your online presence but also in promoting your business.
If you are an auto-mechanic, join Facebook Groups that have the same topics. By involving in active discussions with members of the other groups, you are not only introducing yourself but also selling your services. Connect with others who have the same business interest through Linkedin.
Freelancing platforms
Freelancing platforms are fantastic for selling services online, and there is a large number of them available. They can help you extend your reach, as millions of people are using them on a daily basis in the search of the particular product they need.
Whichever service you are selling, you can create your profile on one of the platforms. Include all your skills, qualifications, and experience, and state the value you will provide to each one of your clients. Of course, you need to include your contact information as well, so that those interested in your services can contact you.
Online Classified Ads and Job Boards
Many think classified ads are dead but Gumtree and Craigslist are doing great. Online classified ads sites are among the best platforms to sell your products online. If you haven’t tried it yet, visit Shoppok and create an account and post your first service ad. You will be surprised by how easy it is to sell your services online.
Giving Your Best Offers
Customers love “best offers” and “discounts” regardless of the type of product. But for a business person who is offering the product or service, the best offers come with a monetary or time value.
In order to provide the “best offer,” you should package your product or offer free inspection if you are providing skills trade like plumbing, carpentry, and the like. If you are providing personal care like barber, massage therapists, or anything related to personal care, there is always some kind of extra service you can offer for free in order to make your customer feel the worth of their money.
