Blog 9: How to make sales during COVID-19

Hi Everyone! 

Today I want to talk about how to make profitable sales during COVID-19. Whether you're a saleswoman like me, or just a small business owner, or even an Etsy shop owner, I want to give you some advice on how best to move forward during the pandemic. COVID-19 has financially wiped out many many businesses, and heavily affected certain markets. It can be easy to get depressed and wonder if you'll even make any money during the pandemic. It's important to remember to stay positive and know that things will slowly get back to normal and that you may have to adapt to some changes. Having a successful business during this pandemic is difficult, except if you're a toilet paper or mask company. As a successful sales-coach, I wanted to give you some tips on how to keep moving forward and succeeding during this trying time. 

1. Research the market you're in or market you're selling to, to see how badly COVID-19 has affected it. 

       Before deciding to sell anything, you should check to see if your targeted audience has been hit by COVID-19. If they have, you may have to adjust your prices depending on how badly the market has been hit. Certain markets, like hotels or schools, have been hit harder than others, like retail or online stores. Know what market you're targeting and make sure you can match their needs with your prices. You may not get as much profit as you were hoping for, but it's still profit nonetheless 

2. Be respectful of your clients/audience's take on COVID-19 

    While you may not worry about wearing a mask, if you're meeting with a client, take into consideration their possible fears about the pandemic. Be respectful and wear a mask, to show you're aware of others. If possible, you may also socially distance, depending on your client. Keep these things in mind to show respect and consideration for your target audience. This will help to boost your reputation and make you look like a considerate salesperson. If you're selling stuff online, include a blurb about how your items will be cleaned or safe for customers to use. 

3. Be patient, things may take longer than you're hoping for 

    Working in a shifting pandemic market can be frustrating, and will test your patience. It's important to continue to be patient and realize that the market will continue to move, and when it does, be ready for it. This may mean in the lull of sales, to research more on better advertising to gain more clients, or to learn a new skill with social media or business management. Things will pass eventually. 

4. Take the time to network during the pandemic 

    With people stuck at home, COVID-19 has created an opportune time to network. There are zoom lectures and webinars for select markets, as well as small businesses. Find a webinar through LinkedIn or another platform and join. You may just learn something or meet someone important. These days, success can be all about who you know. Networking is something that people brush off or give little importance to, but these days, it can really help your business. 

I hope these tips motivate you to continue moving forward, no matter what you're doing. It's going to be hard, but we're all in this together. Let us know if you've found any ways that you've succeeded during this time, and feel free to share! 

Until next time, 

Katie