Our world has changed. People are digesting information differently than ever before and as a small business owner and entrepreneur, it’s up to us to change the way we are communicating with our customers.

With reality TV, social media and live streaming videos 24/7, people expect small business owners to be visible and real.

As entrepreneurs, we need to spend time with our customers, speak with them directly, and give them the answers they are seeking without holding back.

Here are three simple steps to connect with your customers (clients) on a deeper level which will result in selling more products and services and growing your business.

Step 1: Give your best information away for free.

If you are business owner then you are knowledgeable about your area of expertise. You started your business because you are a visionary and could see that people were struggling with something and your solution addresses the problem for them.

One of the fastest ways to get known in your industry is to give your best information away for free even if it’s the very information that people hire you for. In other words, if you want to sell more then… give more. I’m not saying give it all away. However, being generous will not only build trust, appreciation and credibility but it will also trigger word-of-mouth marketing as you invite your audience to share the wealth (your free information) with their colleagues, co-workers and friends. As you build your following, your fans will opt-in to your list which will give you the opportunity to nurture the relationship over time.

Tip: Create a quick and short (2 mins max) how-to video packed with helpful content or create a downloadable eBook or PDF that can be easily shared by your prospective customers. Doing this will help you build a following of loyal fans and repeat customers. For example, here's my free content-rich guide for Authors called, “4 Proven Tactics to Become an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author.”

Step 2: Dust off your webcam and GO LIVE!

The second fastest way to generate more sales is to go live.

As you likely know, Facebook boasts 8 billion daily video views. That means that “100 million hours of Facebook videos are watched every day.” Are you there? Well… your customers are.

According to the New York Times, “Digital video is booming.” And, analytics firm, eMarketer, confirms this with their 2016 stats…

> “Facebook video posts have increased by 94% in the U.S.
> Facebook Live videos are watched 3x longer than regular videos and;
> Brands are experiencing success with a “6.3% engagement rate for Branded Facebook videos.”

The key to success on Facebook Live is not to sell directly to your audience but instead to personally engage with your prospective customers. The best way to do this is to consistently invite them to free workshops, webinars and to download valuable opt-in gifts. Give them consistent, special attention to show that you genuinely care about their needs. Be generous and share information openly, ask them for feedback and how you can best support them and then most importantly… LISTEN to what they say and respond specifically to their answers. If you are being authentic and generous, your fans will appreciate and trust you. This engagement will inspire them to learn more about your other products, programs and services.

Tip: The fastest way to find your target customers is to join “groups” on Facebook using the search box. And, remember when you Livestream on Facebook, you can repurpose those videos and repost them in other places where your customers reside like LinkedIn and YouTube. You can also share your videos with existing customers via your newsletter or blog so that your current customers benefit from all the great content and information you are sharing building even more trust and loyalty over time.

Note: You can check out my favorite webcam here. I've used the same webcam for 5 years and it works perfectly every time!

Step 3: Prove it!

It’s been proven that the words and experiences of others sell your products, programs and services better than anything else. Always ask happy customers to turn on their smart phone and film a quick video testimonial about their experience working with you, and your team, and how their business has transformed as a result. When you get these golden nuggets from your customers, go beyond posting it on your website. Share the news everywhere including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and beyond. Put your customers in the spotlight and then you, too, will benefit.

Tip:  There is a simple, brilliant new tool that I highly recommend called UseProof.com. As people opt-in for your gifts, webinars or lead pages, a notification with their picture and a message will pop up that everyone can see that says something like, “David from Michigan just downloaded ‘3 Ways to Generate More Sales’ PDF.” You can label the message however you like. Just seeing other people downloading the gift inspires people to add their name to your list too.

Being more generous, engaged and visible, and highlighting the results of your customers are three strategic ways to generate more sales, make money and build the loyalty and trust of your customers.

Dr. Tamara Monosoff is a bestselling business author, digital marketing expert and creator of the highly-acclaimed Author-to-Income Formula training.  Tamara has been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Wall Street Journal, Oprah, People & Time magazines. Before becoming an author & entrepreneur, she served in the White House and U.S. Department of Education as a Presidential Appointee to the Clinton Administration. 

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