How to sell to suckers (I mean, your classmates)
To be able to sell to classmates and other people in school, forget the word “embarrassing.” Every successful entrepreneur has learned to swallow their embarrassment and pump up their guts to be able to sell. Having just the right amount of shyness, you can now set out to sell.
Start with your friends. Get them to buy your product or at least get a sample. If you can’t make them your regulars, make them help you get other customers. Ask them to tell their other friends about your product.
You can also bring them along when talking to other friends or classmates. That way, you’ll feel less shy and have more “backers” to convince your prospect to buy your product (Because they’re your friends, they’ll surely support you even if it just means having fun for them.) Having more people with you when you’re selling would also help you make a stir in a place and attract more people to come and look at what you guys are fussing about.
Of course, would you let your seatmates come and go without hearing of your product? Give them samples. Tell them also to refer to you people they know could use your product.
Do the same to your instructors or teachers. Just be more careful though. You wouldn’t want them to think of your product samples as bribes for higher grades! You might also want to find out first if there’s a rule in your school against selling products in school. It wouldn’t hurt to find out and be safer.
Because you’re a student entrepreneur, you can’t possibly buy an expensive ad spot in the yellow pages just to be able to sell to your schoolmates. Try posting print ads with your contact number on bulletin boards. Distribute leaflets. Send out e-mail ads to online school groups. Perhaps try to get a little spot in your school paper even for just one issue.
But remember that however grand your ads in school may be, if your product does not have an inherent appeal, nothing will happen. So to have smooth “selling” relationships, be sure to sell a quality product that those people in school need and can afford.
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Share your thoughts!!!