Digital Tools to Increase Sales

One of the most challenging aspects of managing a business is handling the ups and downs of sales. Sometimes, what affects our sales performance is out of our hands, like market fluctuations, lack of personnel, or environmental disasters. The important thing is to focus on what you can control to keep that cash register ringing. Here are some tools you can use to increase sales.

What is not advertised, does not sell

Have a marketing plan. You don't need to have a big budget to market yourself. Forbes business magazine recommends that you allocate 5% to 10% of your profits to marketing. For a small business, $1,000 a month might be reasonable. These days, the Internet is the fastest and most cost-effective way to market yourself. DataReportal - a digital statistics portal - estimates that in 2022, in Puerto Rico, 2.5 million people used the Internet.  To reach them, evaluate running digital campaigns on Google Ads or Facebook Ads. This will help you position yourself when your prospective clients search for your services. Evaluate your strategy and make budget adjustments to optimize it based on your prospects, sales and the digital promotions you have carried out.

Use a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system

CRM is a computer program that helps you organize relevant customer and prospect data, such as contact information and purchase history. This tool will allow you to store your customer information in a cloud so that everyone in your sales, marketing, and customer service teams has access to it. This way, you will be able to study your sales cycle and identify what opportunities are slipping away. It will also make it easier to develop marketing campaigns that are designed based on your customers' habits. Some the  benefits that a CRM offers include following up of communications and emails,  monitoring your sales force interactions with customers and prospects, and measuring the results of your advertising and operational efforts.

Personalize your communication with messaging services

Free tools like WhatsApp Business and Messenger provide the ability to talk one-on-one with your community. You can create automated texts and include welcome messages and answers to frequently asked questions through messaging. This allows you to get closer to your customers and prospects and is a great way to provide service to customers who come across your product for the first time. Also, for customers who live abroad, this is a convenient way to make calls without incurring long-distance charges.

Diversify your payment methods

In the digital era, the use of cash to make a purchase is decreasing. In addition, electronic payment services offer safety measures and trust. Consider accepting payment methods such as Popular's Checkout Payment System¹, Paypal, and ATH Movil to facilitate your customers' transactions.

Promote yourself with influencers

This tool goes hand in hand with your marketing plan. Today's brands, in addition to products, sell experiences that their customers identify with. Influencers are a good way to connect with audiences that relate to the product or service you offer. An influencer doesn't have to have millions of followers to help you sell. They just need to have credibility in your business niche. Most influencers have their fees to make publications on their social networks, although some also work on a exchange basis. Always evaluate the influencer's profile to evaluate if they align with your vision and values, so you can reach your customers. Finally, remember that your positive attitude will be fundamental to improving your sales. Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple once said, "I am convinced that what separates a successful entrepreneur from an unsuccessful one is pure perseverance".

 

¹The product is offered by Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. Checkout Payment Systems service is subject to charges. For information and pricing details on commercial products and services, please contact the Commercial Support Center at 787-756-3939 or your Relationship Officer.

²Requires that both the owner of the account and the person who will receive the transfer, to be registered in the service. To register, you must have an active debit card with a participating financial institution with the ATH Móvil Service. Only individuals who are 18 years of age or older may use the service. Other restrictions apply. Please access athmovil.com to register and to view the terms of conditions or the list of participating Institutions. ATH Móvil is a service of the ATH® Network from EVERTEC Group, LLC.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of accuracy or applicability for any particular purpose. Neither Popular nor any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or related companies shall be liable for any special, direct, or indirect harm stemming from the information contained in this article. Should you require further information or guidance on the subject of this article, you should always seek the advice of a competent professional of your choice.